|
 |
John D. Rowsey is a singer, songwriter and worshiper. Born in the hills of West Virginia, he began singing "specials" in his church at the age of four. From that young age, his interest in Christian music never wavered. He entered his first talent show in the second grade and appeared in all talent shows throughout his school years. A writer from a small local newspaper in his hometown of Barboursville, West Virginia, began to take notice of the boy he called the "youngster with the golden voice," and wrote numerous articles about him.
It was during that time that the 11-year-old boy told his family that one day he would be a professional gospel singer. They encouraged him whole heartedly. His first collaboration was with his mom, and later with a family group that would last into his teen years. When John Darin was barely 19, he helped form a trio called New Song Revival;" they would later become New Journey.
From 1985 to 1994, they traveled with a live band and would work regular jobs during the week, singing only on weekends. It was during New Journey's early days that John Darin married his wife Shirley. She played keyboards and sang with them for several years. During that time they had a son, Michael Shade, who they call a gift from God.
In 1995, after several personnel changes and a name change to New Journey, it was decided that the group would go to full-time status. Also about this same time, John Darin's songwriting was beginning to blossom. He signed a publishing deal with Centergy Publishing in Nashville as his songs began to be recorded by several artists in the Christian music field. His big break came when Bill Gaither and the Gaither Vocal Band recorded one of John's songs, "Singing With The Saints." It became the title song to a popular Homecoming video and sold enough units to achieve platinum status. Now nearly every group in the southern gospel industry has recorded one or more of John's songs.
In 1999, John Darin and Shirley made the decision to retire the full-time ministry of New Journey. This would give their son the opportunity to attend high school, rather than be home schooled as he had been prior to that time.
Shirley would have more time to create a "normal" home life, and John would then have to make a decision about his future.
Just before the final appearance of New Journey," Karen Peck and New River offered him the male singer's position in the group. After much prayer, John and Shirley decided he should take the job. The first single he recorded with New River, "Four Days Late," went to the number one position in gospel music and was voted Song of the Year. "The Truth Is" was their next single.
It was written and sung by John Darin, and was nominated for a Dove Award.
His three-year stay with Karen Peck and New River would prove to be a great business decision, as well as building lasting friendships. During his time with New River, John Darin made appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, the Dove Awards ceremonies, GMA Week at Estes Park, Colorado, TBN, the INSP Network, many more Gaither Homecoming videos and concerts, and the National Quartet Convention, all intermingled with a hectic concert schedule. These helped to build his popularity as a writer and singer, and garnered him much respect in the gospel music industry.
After leaving the road, 2003 became a year of new beginnings for John Darin.
Still writing, singing a limited schedule, doing studio work and becoming very active in his church, Christ Temple in Huntington, West Virginia, there was little time to become bored.
As his responsibilities grew along with the explosive growth of the church, new doors began to open once again for John. The next year he was offered a contract with Daywind Music as an exclusive songwriter. The music team at Christ Temple Church was asked to do music for major events with some of the nation's top evangelists: Perry Stone, Morris Cerullo, Benny Hinn, Rod Parsley, and others. John began to add praise and worship music to his song catalog, along with the southern gospel that he had written and continues to pen today.
After winning a Dove Award in 2008 and writing for a Grammy-nominated project in 2008 and 2009 for Karen Peck and New River, God continues to open new doors for ministry. John still volunteers with the choir at his church, but now sings several dates each month. "I feel like I have more to say now than ever before, and music is a great vehicle to say it," John said about his writing. "Life is a journey that never stops and I am still enjoying the ride!"
With national television appearances and two new projects slated for 2010, as well as several songs being recorded by other artists, John is looking to the future with anticipation as God continues to unfold His plan. "His ways are so much higher than mine that I just want to seek God's will for my life and walk in it. I'm learning that He loves us so much that our greatest dreams don't hold a candle to His real plans for us. I trust God like never before,. Experience is a great teacher and He's's always been faithful. I know God too well not to leave it in His hands." He currently sings two or three dates per month, records, produces, writes for himself and many other artists, and works with one of the fastest growing music programs in the country.
Looking to the future John says:
"I've stopped trying to figure it all out. I leave it in
the hands of the Lord because He can take better care of it than
I can. I'm just excited about what the next surprise will be. God
continues to amaze me everyday. Life with Him is a thrill-ride with
unexplainable peace."
"I just
enjoy the ride."
John Darin
Rowsey |
