Last year’s ASCAP Awards Dinner featured a brief set by Christian rock pioneers DeGarmo & Key, recipients of the Visionary Award. Long known for their live performance, hit songs, and ground breaking videos, the band stepped on stage for their first live performance in a dozen years. The performance was so well received, the Gospel Music Association requested an encore live performance for the 2008 Post Dove Award Party held at the Sheraton Music City on April 23rd, and they have also been invited to play select dates including the K-Love Friends & Family Cruise and at the Cornerstone Festival.

[L-R]: Eddie deGarmo, Greg Morrow, Dana Key and Tommy Cathey
Photo: Michelle Uhri, Uhri Photography

Their first public performance after more than a decade removed from taking the stage together was at the dedication of the new facility for The Love of Christ Church in Memphis, founded and pastored by Dana Key. When the word spread through the grapevine that D&K was performing live for the first time since leaving the road, calls from all over the country poured into the church wanting specific performance information as long time fans wanted to plan their trip. But last night was no exception. Stephen Matthews, a long time D&K fan who has seen dozens of shows, flew in with his wife to enjoy a piece of Christian music history.

• “It was quite an honour to be asked to perform again for our friends and fans. The party was a blast complete with seeing some of our vintage D&K t-shirts from back in the day worn by some of the crowd. It was also mindblower to experience the warm reaction of the new folks, maybe hearing our music for the first time. It will be a great memory for me.”
  Eddie DeGarmo

• “Stepping back on stage after all this time brought back great memories. Playing for people we have known for years, as well as all the new faces and getting the great response they gave was amazing. It is funny, people from the church where I pastor never knew that side of me until we played at the dedication, and they loved it. With a couple of more performances ahead, who knows. I never thought we would have been where we are now, but having people still love it, well, it does make for interesting thoughts of what God might do next.”
  Dana Key

The Post Dove Party was the first time the Christian music industry at large had the opportunity to see D&K live in more than a decade. The boys, together with long-time band members Greg Morrow (drums) and Tommy Cathey (bass), rocked the house, and the capacity crowd held up their cell phones to take pictures and record a piece of a song. D&K provided an opportunity for their fans to hear their favourites from their string of hits including “Casual Christian”, “Rock Solid”, “Boycott Hell”, “Emmanuel”, “I’m Accepted”, “Destined To Win”, “Every Moment”, “666”, and closing with “Long Distance Runner”. Joining Eddie and Dana on Destined to win was Jason Dunn, lead singer for Hawk Nelson. Perhaps the piece that best showcased their signature Memphis Rock sound was the extended jam featuring Eddie’s Hammond B-3 and Dana’s searing guitar.

• “I would not be in Nashville if it were not for D&K. In 1982 when I first heard “Emmanuel” off of “No Turning Back Live” I was stopped in my tracks. I had never heard any Christian music that could compete with the musicianship of the mainstream artists that I was listening to. Hearing D&K last night reminded me of that time and what incredible musicians they are. They haven’t lost a beat.”
  Dan Pitts, Manager, TobyMac & Mandisa

• “Eddie and Dana still have it!”
  Scott Brickell, Manager, MercyMe

When not performing, Dana continues to pastor The Love of Christ Church, and Eddie is President of EMI Christian Music Publishing. Apart from the upcoming cruise and Cornerstone Festival, the guys have no plans for future dates… but before last year, they never imagined they would have the five performances on the schedule. So, who knows? The excitement of the Doves Awards after party, the response from the audience, and the pure fun of doing it again could lead one to speculate.

• “D&K rocked the house at the GMA Dove Awards After-Party. I was pumped that they agreed to come back together for this special evening. They sounded like they had never stopped playing. It was nostalgic for some of us but a new, and no doubt enjoyable, experience for others. Rock solid!!”
  John Styll, President, Gospel Music Association

There are several greatest hits CDs available at your local Canadian Christian retailer. Visit DeGarmo & Key’s YMZ artist page to find out more.

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