Sunday, Jul. 26, 2009

This just in: Christian music's newsboys coming back

WHAT: Christian band newsboys
WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Aug. 3
WHERE: Stanislaus County Fair, 900 N. Broadway, Turlock
COST: Free with paid admission to the fair
INFO: www.stancofair.com

The newsboys, a highly successful Christian pop/rock group with Australian roots, will perform in concert at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Stanislaus County Fair.

The band, which played to a sold-out crowd in Modesto in March, has received four Dove awards, three Grammy nominations and has 25

No. 1 songs, including "He Reigns," "Shine," "You Are My King" and "I Am Free." Six of its albums have gone gold. The group's most recent CD, "In the Hands of God," was released in May.

In March, Michael Tait of dc Talk joined the band, replacing newsboys' frontman Peter Furler, who continues to write songs and do studio work for the band.

Tait, 43, talked with The Bee from his home in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday about his faith, life and work in the Christian music industry.

The single performer -- "it's a long story," he said -- grew up in Washington, D.C., "the baby of nine kids." His father was a pastor and a cab driver who often used his taxi as a pulpit. Tait said the legacy he received from his dad, who died in the 1970s, is to love people.

"I have compassion for them like Christ has for me," he said. "There are so many hurting people in the world. There aren't enough people who are open to helping them. My dad loved people. His main goal was to reach out and love them where they were."

Tait said his older siblings were involved in music from the time they were 12 or 13 years old. It took him a little longer -- he began singing in churches when he was a 17-year-old high school student. His first earnings came from a basket passed during an offering for the young vocalist.

While attending college at the private Christian college, Liberty University, Tait met Toby McKeenan and Kevin Max. The three formed the Christian rock band dc Talk, which racked up 16 Dove Awards and four Grammys in its 10 years together for songs such as "Jesus Freak" and "Colored People."

The group traveled with the newsboys for about 18 months shortly after the Australian-

born group landed in the United States. Later, the two bands had a somewhat competitive relationship performing in the same genre. So, was it weird when the newsboys called Tait earlier this year to be their lead singer?

"The first thing my mom said was, 'Are you sure Toby won't get mad at you?' I told her, 'Clearly, it's been eight years. (dc Talk broke up in 2000, with each performer going on to a solo career.) We're not getting back together.' And all along, we (members of dc Talk and the newsboys) went to each other's weddings and whatever. Looking back, I can see God's hand in all of this."

Tait, who released two CDs with his band, TAIT, before joining the newsboys, said fairgoers can expect to hear a handful of dc Talk hits along with newsboys' standards and a few new tracks, including a revised "Glorious," from the newsboys' latest recording.

The group will release an album in late 2010 with some songs written by Tait.

He admitted it has been a bit odd, singing and working with the guys from Australia, who have their native quirky humor and slang.

"But I'm odd," Tait said. "I'm a black guy who eats sushi and I snowboard. People say I should be eating fried chicken. I like being out of the box. I don't like having stereotypes holding me back."

And he said he enjoys the others in the band -- Duncan Phillips on drums, Jeff Frankenstein on bass and keyboards, and Jody Davis on guitar.

"Duncan Phillips and I room together when we're on the road," Tait said. "His heart is just gold."

Members of newsboys are known for their wildly energetic concerts. Turlock's event should be no exception.

"It is absolutely amazing," Tait said of the band's staging. "It's another level. I can't wait for the people to see it. We have eight new songs that we've added. Our fans go from 5-year-olds to 80s. It's a free-for-all."

The fair's Christian concerts began in 2003 with Rebecca St. James, coincidentally also from Australia. In subsequent years, Zoegirl, Avalon, 4 Him, Mark Schultz with Big Daddy Weave, and Building 429 with Matthew West have been featured.

The newsboys "are going to be our biggest (Christian artists)," said Pennie Rorex, spokeswoman for the fair. "They've had so many hits, and their concerts draw people from so many different musical interests."

The concert is free with paid fair admission, but Rorex advises people to arrive early. For the past few years, the concerts have been standing room only.

Rorex said there is an adjacent community stage area with picnic table seating where the concert will be shown on a jumbo screen.