Thirty years ago today — May 13, 1996 — our song Crucified With Christ went to #1 in the country for Phillips, Craig & Dean on the Christian Music charts.
Because all three of the guys in the group were strong songwriters, when Don Koch and I first met them, I honestly wasn’t sure what we could bring to the table. But from the beginning, it felt like we connected.
The first project we worked on together was Trust, released in 1995. I co-wrote three songs on that album — each one with a different member of the group.
Randy Phillips brought the original idea for Crucified With Christ to us. The song seemed to come together quickly because it was more than just a lyric — it was a journey we had all lived.
Two of my favorite memories connected to this song happened before the project was even released. I was in Estes Park, Colorado, at a music conference when I got word that the song might not make the album. Someone had reportedly said it sounded too “church.” As it happened, I was playing golf that day with Stan Moser, who was head of their record label. I told him what I had heard. He smiled and said, “Don’t worry. It’s not only going to make the record — it’s going to be one of the biggest songs of their career.”
The other memory took place in June of 1995. I was in Texas on a trip with my late father. We met Dan Dean and his wife for breakfast at Denny’s, and afterward we sat in his car and listened to the finished recording for the first time. It absolutely blew me away.
When the song reached #1, it stayed there for three weeks. It was nominated for Song of the Year in 1997, and in 2000 it was named the #1 song of the 1990s on the CCM Inspirational radio chart.
Now, thirty years later, the song still holds up — and the friendships with the guys in the group still run deep.
Eighty years ago today, this song contract between Brock Speer and Stamps-Baxter Music was signed. He was just 25 years old at the time — fresh out of the Army.
If you follow my posts at all, you know I’m fascinated with the history of gospel music. I love the stories. But this one is personal to me — partly because of the unique way the agreement was structured, and even more so because of my love for the Speer Family.
Brock’s son, Brian, showed me this picture recently, and I was intrigued on several levels:
1. The agreement was a bill of sale, not a royalty-based contract like songwriters sign today.
2. The sale price was $5.00 — payable in songbooks.
3. The witness who signed the document was G. T. (“Dad”) Speer, Brock’s father.
There are a few other interesting pieces to this story. In those days, publishers didn’t copyright individual songs — they copyrighted songbooks. This particular song, A City Called Heaven, would have been protected under the book title Sentimental Songs.
The book was available only in shaped-note format and sold for:
* 50 cents per copy
* $2.00 for five copies
* $4.50 per dozen
* $18.00 for 50 copies
* $35.00 for 100 copies
One more bit of trivia: of the 41 other songwriters included in this book, one was Brock’s father, and another was his uncle — the legendary pianist Dwight Brock. Dwight would later become president of Stamps-Baxter.
I told you this one is personal to me. In the 1990s, I had the privilege of managing the Stamps-Baxter song catalog for the Benson Company. I was also blessed to spend five years on the road playing with the Speer Family.
How do I know so much about this particular book?
Well… I have a copy.
So thankful for these ladies! My beautiful wife and mother!
My beautiful daughter-in-law who is not too far from welcoming my first grandchild!
My beautiful daughters who keep my world full of life and laughter!
And missing my beautiful mother-in-law! She was the energy in every room she was in! If anyone tells you time makes the loss easier, they obviously didn’t know her!
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We’ve got a brand-new episode of I Love To Tell The Story, and you are going to love this one.
Our guest is the legendary Johnny Minick-singer, songwriter, producer, piano player, and pastor. His journey alone is remarkable... but when you add in the unforgettable years he spent as a member of the Happy Goodman Family, you’ve got stories (and laughter!) that could fill several episodes.
In this conversation, you’ll discover:
* How to say Willie Nelson in Spanish.
* What Liberace may have learned from Howard Goodman.
* The one thing Johnny was told to never do again by the Goodmans.
* And perhaps most meaningful of all—a powerful lesson in servanthood from someone who has truly lived it.
It’s heartfelt. It’s hilarious. It’s inspiring. And it’s exactly why we love to tell the story.
For more stories like this,
visit: @
Don’t miss this special episode of I Love To Tell The Story.
ar Watch the video on our YouTube channel: @/
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# For more stories like this,
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@daveclarkwrites@aliannamom
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Dave and I never get tired of hearing the stories behind this wonderful amazing wacky crazy music world we are so blessed and honored to be a part of and we never tire of wanting to dig in more and get the stories out there. Hopefully to inspire, encourage, challenge and keep them alive. Loved hearing John’s story.
Our guest on this episode of I Love To Tell the Story is singer, songwriter, speaker, author, and worship leader - John Chisum. For more than 40 years, John has faithfully served the Church through his songs and leadership, while quietly mentoring countless young artists and songwriters along the way.
Many of his songs will be familiar to you, and you’ll especially enjoy hearing the stories behind them — including his co-write on one of the most beloved Southern Gospel songs of our generation.
John’s journey is both challenging and inspiring. But just as meaningful is the easy, genuine conversation shared here between three longtime friends. It’s the kind of conversation where stories unfold naturally and time seems to slip by.
We’re glad the cameras were rolling — and we’d love for you to join us.
@daveclarkwrites@aliannamom@johnchisumofficial or wherever you find your podcasts!
I was sad to hear the news this morning that songwriter Don Schiltz passed. He was one of those people I never knew personally, yet he still had a profound effect on me as a songwriter.
His lyrics were a clinic on how to pace the payoff of a song. He had a way of drawing you in with the first line, keeping it interesting all the way through, and still saving something pretty amazing for the end.
Everybody knows his songs—“The Gambler” or “Forever and Ever Amen,” recorded by Randy Travis. I think my favorite was “The Greatest,” that Kenny Rogers recorded. The biggest thing about his songwriting was that almost every song I heard that he was a part of made me want to be a better writer.
I got to meet him one time—September 22, 2022—at the Grand Ole Opry. We were there with Emily Ann Roberts, and Don was also on the program. I don’t do it often, but I asked my friend @zachfarnum if he would be willing to introduce me to Don. He did, and the legend couldn’t have treated me better.
While I’m grateful for the picture with him, the second picture is my favorite and probably more telling. Emily Ann said Don had a song he wanted to pitch to her, so of course I was intrigued and went to listen. He had with him a big old notebook full of songs—the guy who wrote “The Gambler” was still carrying a book of songs to pitch to artists.
RIP, Don. Grateful for the songs and the way you got there. You’re still teaching me.
@ilove2tellthestory NEW PODCAST EPISODE -
Tomorrow, April 7
This week we welcome Craig Nelson — a legendary Nashville studio musician whose five-decade career shows no signs of slowing down. You may recognize his name from iconic Christian music records, or hear his double bass on countless Nashville Symphony sessions.
Believe it or not, his playing may even appear on some of your favorite video game soundtracks.
Craig’s professionalism, versatility, and diligent work ethic have taken him on a fascinating journey - one packed with stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
This is an episode you don’t want to miss.
Listen at ILove2TellTheStory.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
@daveclarkwrites@aliannamom@ilove2tellthestory
Forty years ago today I received a letter from my hero — a moment that meant more to a young songwriter than he could ever know. By then I’d been in Nashville for ten years, working as hard as I knew how. I got one label cut a year after I arrived, and it was nine more years before the second one came.
After all those years trying to write what I thought would get cut, I made a change: I started writing what I was actually going through — writing what was real. That shift was a turning point for both my writing and my career. The song Bill referenced was one of those vulnerable, raw lyrics I honestly didn’t care if anyone ever recorded.
Ben Speer, my publisher at the time, had sent the demo to Bill, and that letter was his response. It was a shot in the arm to a kid who desperately needed to know he was on the right track. Ben recorded the song with the Speers on the Stepping Out on Faith record, and in 1992 Jake Hess cut it for the Statesmen Revival album. Five years later, in 1997, Jake recorded it again on his solo record.
One memory of the song that means a lot: when my dad was alive he would call regularly to tell me what channel the Gaither Homecoming videos were showing on so I could watch. One morning he called with a different tone — more emotional. He told me the channel and I knew I had to turn it on. They were airing a video tribute to Jake Hess, and the soundtrack was Jake singing “I’ve Been There.”
Thank you, Bill Gaither — not only for the letter, but for remembering the song and helping it find a home.
