WHO IS THIS GUY?
He was a kid raised in a devout
Christian home in the flatlands of the Midwest in Illinois, who connected
early to his church family and found the music of the church positively
fascinating. Neil started singing the Gospel story in his teenage
years. His love for music and his commitment to the Lord Jesus
merged into what would become a lifetime of traveling literally around the
world singing and delivering the Good News. From the early years of
singing in his local home church to his becoming a member of The Couriers
and relocating to Pennsylvania, Neil has enjoyed the journey of five
decades that he has
felt specially called to make.
WHAT MAKES HIM TICK?
For someone to give half a century
of his efforts to anything, it indicates that there is a motivation at work
at the base of his very being. At age 13, Neil said an eternal,
unconditional "Yes" to the Holy Spirit of God who beckoned to
his heart. At that moment in a Gospel revival meeting he made a
permanent commitment to follow the leading of the Lord in his
life. It has been a decision that he has never regretted. So
everything that he has done since has its foundation in that decision.
WHAT'S HIS MUSIC LIKE?
His first love in music is the
grandiose hymns of the church. Beyond these established classics
Neil enjoys the all male quartet sound of Southern Gospel, jazz, big band,
some country music and the popular romantic music of
the 1940s war years. Almost more than the actual sounds of music,
Neil has become intrigued with of the art of writing lyrics. He states,
"We singers are basically storytellers. And Christian singers tell
the greatest story ever told. As a singer and composer,
I'm always looking for more effective ways to tell the great
story."
WHAT HAS HE ACCOMPLISHED?
Compared to the impressive
accomplishments of some, not that much. But he has given to the
church over 50 Gospel songs. His singing has been heard in person
in all 50 United states, every Canadian province and over 60 nations
of the world in missionary evangelism. His life's work has taken
him more than 3,000,000 land miles to 10,000 churches and he has sung to crowds of over 40,000
people and to just one person in a hospital room or nursing home. He is
the recipient of two Dove Awards for his best known composition, (The
cross is my) "Statue Of Liberty", that has been sung by
countless church choirs and itinerant professional singers of a myriad
of genres.
WHAT'S HE UP TO NOW?
After spending almost 50 years
serving as lead singer and pianist for The Couriers, Neil is again
singing with the guys who were his associates in music evangelism for
most of those years. Dave Kyllonen, Duane Nicholson and Neil
have now reorganized as a singing ministry group under the name,
"Dave, Duane & Neil."
www.daveduaneandneil.com
Their former name, "The Couriers", is being used by their
three young
successors who embrace the original vision.
www.thecouriers.com
