The Record Online

Fall 2001

Good Start For All The Drifters

When the Grammy Award-winning rock band “Jars of Clay” was in its infancy, its members traveled from Greenville College (where it was founded) to Nashville, Tenn., the proving grounds of all fledgling contemporary Christian music groups and then home of the Gospel Music Association’s annual talent competition. The winner, among other things, received a contract with a record label. “Jars of Clay” won the GMA contest in 1994. Soon, the band was topping the Christian music charts like no other, and winning Grammy Awards left and right.

So there’s an obvious sense of excitement at Greenville College now that one of the school’s newer bands, “For All The Drifters,” has won the most recent GMA contest.

From July 29 to August 4, “For All the Drifters” attended the annual GMA Seminar in the Rockies, at Estes Park, Colo. Performing the best songs in their repertoire, the band advanced through regional and divisional finals to claim the top prize at the contest, Overall Winner – International Finals.

“For All the Drifters” formed at GC in September 2000 as a “lab band” under the direction of Dr. Michael Johnson, Contemporary Christian Music professor and program coordinator. The Drifters cut a CD during January 2001 and continued as a lab band under the direction of Johnson and Warren Pettit, former GC professor who founded the CCM program.

In May 2001, the band appeared on the main stage at the Agape Music Festival in Greenville after winning the festival’s “Battle of the Bands” competition earlier in the year.

“For All the Drifters” is comprised of Justin “J.T.” Daly on vocals, Andy Smith on vocals and guitar, Brian Lee on lead guitar, Chad Howat on bass guitar, and Josh Heiner on drums.

“This band has a ‘now sound,’” said Dr. Johnson. “They reflect a key philosophy of our CCM program as a whole, to stay on the cutting edge of today’s contemporary music.”

The band took its first steps toward the GMA crown at Estes Park with a first place win in the GMA Contemporary Christian Ensemble/Band Division. They performed original songs “Call You Right Back on Sunday,” “CRS,” “My Jesus,” and “Devon’s Song” as they advanced through preliminary and semifinal rounds to the regional finals, which they also won.

This victory advanced the band to the International Finals, organized by the Academy of Gospel Music Arts, where they attained their second and third honors of the week, Contemporary Christian Division Spotlight – International Finals and Overall Winner – International Finals, with a repeat performance of “Call You Right Back on Sunday.”

“It was a very stressful week,” said band member Daly. “We had to win Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to receive the overall award.” But the band members found more at the GMA event than just stress. “We enjoyed the sense of community we developed with other musicians,” said guitarist Smith. “Even after we won, the other bands were very congratulatory.”

Added Daly, “We worked on diffusing the element of competition right at the beginning. We talked to people and made some good connections with other groups.”

Along with the prestige, the Drifters received a $5,000 prize package that included a $3,000 Mackie sound system, a Roland keyboard, complimentary recording time and accommodations at the Eagle’s Nest Studios in Denver and White Horse Studios in Nashville, vocal coaching and performance consultations.

After their regional win, the band headlined at the Cafe Estes with their song, “Penny for the World.” And after the international victory, the band earned a spot on the roster for the closing concert of the GMA seminar. During this performance, the Drifters shared the stage with such CCM icons as Phil Keaggy and Burlap to Cashmere.

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Last updated: November 1, 2001