AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Glass Harp

Artist:Glass Harp

Song:Do Lord

Album:History Makers: The Best of Christian Rock 1970-1986

Glass Harp were pioneers of what became known as Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). There was no name for it when they started out in the late 60s though it soon was called Jesus Music. Glass Harp were from Youngstown, OH. Lead singer and songwriter Phil Keaggy was in bands like The Squires and The New Hudson Exit. In 1968 he formed Glass Harp with drummer John Sferra and bassist Steve Markulin. They released a single in 1969. Markulin left to join his cousin Joe in The Human Beinz who scored a hit single with Nobody But Me. He was replaced by Daniel Pecchio. Glass Harp continued to play gigs with bands like The James Gang. When one of Glass Harp's demos got the attention of producer Lewis Merenstein, he got them a record deal with Decca. Merenstein produced Van Morrison's Moondance. The album Glass Harp was released in 1970. They opened for all kinds of big name bands like Alice Cooper, Chicago, Yes and Traffic. They opened for The Kinks at Carnegie Hall in New York. Do Lord was from the 1972 album It Makes Me Glad. It was their third and final album for Decca. By the time the album was released, Keaggy left to go solo. He went on to be one of the most important and influential figures in CCM. Sferra and Pecchio replaced Keaggy with Tim Burks and Randy Benson. After Benson left, Glass Harp split up in Oct. 1973. Pecchio joined The Michael Stanley Band. You can get Do Lord on this various artists budget comp. Glass Harp first reunited in 1981 at a Phil Keaggy concert. Sferra joined Keaggy's band in 1993. In 2000 they did a show with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra that was released on CD. Glass Harp recorded new music in 2003 and toured to support it. They also appeared with Randy Stonehill as The Keaggy-Stonehill Band. Though they haven't recorded recently, Glass Harp continues to play occasional live shows. Here's Glass Harp performing Do Lord on the Cleveland PBS station WVIZ 1972. They did an hour long show. Some of this show was released on DVD but it's out of print.