Studio Updates and Upcoming Shows

Chuck — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:47:52 +0000

Hey, friends! I wanted to let you know that I’m extremely encouraged with the progress and quality of the new studio project. I’ve been working some of the new songs out with friend and bandmate Andy Othling before getting into the studio with producer Donn Halliburton. The fruit of those efforts is amazing! We are about a third of the way through the album, and maintaining a steady pace. In live music news, it’s been awhile since we last performed, and with the exception of a private Valentine’s Day banquet, we haven’t played much since December. But when it rains, it pours, and this seems to be the start of the rainy season. In addition to several concerts this spring and summer, I have been asked by my Pastor, Alan Hawkins, to lead worship at New Life City Santa Fe through April and May (they meet at Lutheran Church of the Servant off Rodeo Road and Legacy Court Fridays at 7pm). I am also in talks with friends on the west coast to set up a Southern California tour later this summer. I’ll publish the details as soon as I have something solid. Check the events calendar on the site for upcoming shows. Blessings!

Making the need known

Chuck — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:09:19 +0000

I am back in the studio working on a new album that I’m very excited about! I feel the songs are strong musically and will be a blessing to those who hear them as well. This album will be a continuation of the themes of Beyond the Veil, with the same emphasis put into edifying, exhorting, and singing life over the listener. Musically, we are trying a more organic approach regarding guitar tones and drum sounds, and I’ve been encouraged by what we’ve done so far. I currently have eight songs completely written, and I’m finishing up four more (though I’m not yet sure if I’ll include all 12 songs on the album). We are working at a steady pace, and I hope for the album to be released by the end of the year.

This, like my first album, is an independent project, meaning I do not have the financial resources of a record label to see the project through to fruition. I am trusting the Lord and asking for the support of people like you who have been blessed by my music and ministry. As a spiritual mentor of mine used to say, “Make the need known, trust God for the results.” I am in the process of coming up with the funds for the project, and I estimate that the album (including studio time, mixing, mastering, photography, artwork, publishing fees, and CD duplication) will total close to $7,000. That’s a lot of money by normal standards, but it’s a great value for the high quality of work done by the people I’m blessed to collaborate with (producer Donn Halliburton, album layout designer Kenny Barela, and many others). I believe that sowing into this project is sowing into the Kingdom. If you would like me to mail you a letter containing additional information about the album including lyrics and conceptual direction, please email your address to chuck@chuckelmore.com.

Would you prayerfully consider supporting this project? I have set up an online donation option via PayPal here on the website (see below). If you’d prefer, you can send checks payable to Chuck Elmore to 4830 Pan American Freeway NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109. If you are part of a church interested in bringing me or the band to minister with your congregation, that would be another option for financially supporting this project. You can visit the “Booking” page on my website for further information. Please note that my ministry is not a non-profit organization and your donations would not be tax-deductible. Regardless of your ability to support this new venture, I am truly blessed and grateful for the support you have shown me thus far. May the Lord bless your kindness and generosity.

Free Download: “Crown” – A New Demo from Chuck Elmore

Chuck — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:13:49 +0000

Listen here, download below.

Here is an offering of firstfruits from a new batch of songs. This is an acoustic demo (a bit rough around the edges) and not the finished version, though I think it captures the essence of the song well. I plan to record this again in the studio with Donn Halliburton (producer of Beyond the Veil), as we are now working on my new album.

I wrote “Crown” on New Year’s Day. I wanted to sing words of blessing over the listener. As the songwriting progressed, a lyrical path emerged that went from pain to surrender to salvation to growth and came full circle to ministering to those in pain. I pray it blesses you.

Thanks to my wife Becky for lyrical help, and thanks to bandmates Andy Othling and Stephen Dumas for helping me record this. The lyrics are included below.

“Crown”
words and music by Chuck Elmore. Copyright 2010.

May the snares that you’ve stepped in fall open, may the wounds there not leave any scars
The affection that you’ve long been chasing, may you realize it’s already yours

May you not offer sweat for redemption, may you instead accept divine blood
May the stones that are thrown turn to water and bury you under the flood

You may go down with covering in tatters, you may go down abused and forlorn
You will rise as a child of your father, you will rise up renewed and reborn

May the lies you have bought start to crumble, may regret and remorse disappear
Let the fear and the hopelessness tremble and your light cause the darkness to clear

May you run to the souls who once shunned you, to the captives in chains deep inside
May you show them the locks have been broken, may you open their prison doors wide

You will proclaim the news of His favor, you will carry a name of renown
May your hands raise up those who are downcast and your head bear the weight of a crown

May your head bear the weight of a crown, you’re the King’s child, put on your crown

Chuck Elmore – vocals and guitar
Stephen Dumas – guitar solo
Mixed and engineered by Andy Othling

Download “Crown” for free HERE.

Creative Excellence in Visual Arts

kenny — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:13:05 +0000

I wanted to take a moment to brag on my good friend, Kenny Barela. I’ve known Kenny for close to 7 years, first as a seeker of God and a good friend, second as an amazing visual artist. Kenny and his wife Rebekah have worked side by side to make their advertising and design company, Sum Agency, a success. They have worked with numerous high-profile clients on both a local and global basis, and their work is excellent.

You know Kenny’s work from my website. He’s the designer and webmaster. If you’ve sported one of my t-shirts, you’ve worn Kenny’s work. He was recently commissioned by internationally-known Christian musician Misty Edwards to do the album art for her latest two projects. I’m very excited to say Kenny will be doing the artwork for my next album, which I start recording this month.

Kenny and Rebekah also have a side venture called Locolygrown, which humorously captures the vibe and culture of New Mexico on great-looking t-shirts and other apparel. Be sure to check it out!

Working with Kenny has been a real pleasure, not just because of the high caliber of his work, but because he values the things of God. I pray that Kenny is blessed as much as he has blessed me and others.

Soaring on New Wings!

kenny — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:06:04 +0000

Christmastime, 2009. My family decided to host the members of my band for a Christmas party…some egg nog, some finger foods, a modest gift exchange. I surprised each of them with a gourd shaker that I had hand-crafted, painted, and filled with mustard seed. My wife Becky and the band surprised me with a Gretsch White Falcon.

Now, I don’t assume that those of you reading this are “gearheads” like the guys in my band, but this instrument has been called the Cadillac of electric guitars. It has been my dream for many years to own a Gretsch, and while I was dreaming, why not dream for the White Falcon? I wrote down this dream on a list of twenty things I would love to do regarding music and ministry, then I forgot about it. My wife found the list, conspired with my guitar player Andy Othling who got the rest of the guys involved, and the dream was realized, about 20 years before I thought it would be!

I don’t mean to gush about it, but this IS significant. This is an extravagant gift. This is a guitar you work up to. This is a guitar played by Chet Atkins, George Harrison, The Edge, Bono, and a whole host of distinguished musical dignitaries (technically, Bono plays his own signature model, an emerald green version called the Irish Falcon, but I digress). You earn your stripes before you play this guitar. I honestly felt unworthy of it when I opened the case and first saw it. In sharing testimony about this gift, Becky talked about how the Lord kept putting a guitar on her mind for a gift to me this year. She found my dream list, asked Andy about it, and worried about the price tag. But Andy offered to help and get the band involved, and Becky took the leap of faith. It was only after the guitar was purchased that a check came in the mail from an unexpected source wanting to bless me and the music ministry (thanks, Evonne), and that was final confirmation to Becky that the Lord was giving me permission to dream big (thanks, Jesus).

I am slowly getting over my compulsion to “earn it.” Becky helps me with this. Whenever I ramble on about musical heroes, she just says, “They’re men, just like you.” Thanks, babe. And thanks Andy, Matt, Chuck, and Stephen.

So I’m learning to fly, and I do have wings. It is my prayer that the songs that come from this gift will lift you up, too.

A FREE gift for you: A brand new Christmas release by Chuck

kenny — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:15:59 +0000

Listen here, download below.

This year has been an amazing and fulfilling time in my life. February saw the release of Beyond the Veil, and I continue to be blessed by positive feedback and the testimonial words of how this music has ministered to people. I have also had a great time playing concerts with the band (Matt, Chuck, Andy and Stephen), and the fan support at those shows has been tremendous. I have also been blessed by the support and airplay of Albuquerque’s KDAZ 730AM (thanks Birga and Jim) and KNKT 107.1FM (thanks Steve, Peter, and Chip). In the wake of all this, I have been writing new songs for the next project, and I’m excited to get back into the studio by the turn of the new year.

To express my gratitude to all of you and my gratitude to Jesus for his generosity and grace, I’d like to give you a song. I wrote “Do You Have Room” several years ago, inspired by a sermon my dad wrote and preached called “When God Was A Little Boy.” I was taken by the title, as it brought a fresh perspective to the wonder of the incarnation. I knew I had to write a song to express it. It is my only Christmas song at this time, but I have such a love for the music of this season that I plan on writing more somewhere down the road. Just follow the instructions on the screen to download it. I pray this song blesses and encourages you. Merry Christmas!

Download “Do you have room” for free HERE.

If you’d like to make a $1.99 donation for the song that will go directly to the Youth at New Life City toward their upcoming mission trip to Brazil, you can do so by clicking on the “Donate” button below.

Do You Have Room? Lyrics

kenny — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:14:04 +0000

Gently sleeping little child, Ancient of Days in a newborn frame
Now come to us and we shall call His name Emmanuel
Angels brought the news with joy, Go to the manger and there you will see
In swaddling clothes a wondrous mystery, God as a little boy

In a stable, no room in the inn, the Lamb of God to take away our sin
Born for death that we might live again, Do you have room to let Him in?

Wise men came from far away to witness what to them had been foretold
A brand new face upon their God of old, born unto them this day
And the star shines brightly still, though only seen through the eyes of faith
Come and receive this glorious gift of grace with peace and goodwill

Credits:
Chuck Elmore – Vocals, acoustic guitar
Andy Othling – Electric guitar
Shannon Harden – Cello
Donn Halliburton – Keyboards, percussion, additional instruments

Engineered and mixed by Andy Othling and Donn Halliburton
Produced by Chuck Elmore, Andy Othling, and Donn Halliburton
words and music by Chuck Elmore copyright 2009

Coming To a Church Near You?

kenny — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:10:00 +0000

The band and I have played a number of places since my release concert at New Life City (my amazing home church). We’ve played festivals, benefit concerts, telethons, coffeehouses, retreats, and churches. While in England we led worship in a movie theater and a centuries-old Anglican church (incredible experiences), and we’ve even played in people’s homes. As the new year approaches, we’re gearing up to play in and around Albuquerque and other parts of the state. We’ll even minister across state lines if we can get to and fro within a reasonable amount of time (we’re all currently paying our bills with day jobs).

What I’d love to do more is minister my music in churches. I yearn to connect with and encourage the body of Christ with my music and the words of the Gospel. It’s a joy to exhort and edify the saints, young and old, and I feel called by God to do so. If you or your church would like to bring me out to minister (solo or with the band), please visit the booking information page on this site and give me a call.

Dig the New Look!

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:08:36 +0000

Hey, friends! I’ve been talking with graphic artist and webmaster Kenny Barela (check out his skills at http://www.sumagency.com) and we’ve agreed to make my site more interactive. Enjoy it, and visit often to keep up with new concert listings, video posts, blog entries, and information about my current and pending music. Blessings!