Christian Folk Music of the 1970s
Contents
Discover the best Christian folk music of the 1970s. This blog will take you on a journey through some of the most popular and influential Christian folk music of the decade.
The Jesus Movement
Christianity in the 1970s was marked by the Jesus Movement, a rejuvenation of personal faith that came about in part due to the Vietnam War and the social turmoil of the 1960s. The Jesus Movement also led to the creation of new subgenres of Christian music, including Christian Folk music. This type of music was characterized by its use of traditional folk instruments and its focus on personal faith and simple worship.
The Jesus Music Scene
The Jesus music scene was a musical movement that arose during the 1970s among young, countercultural Christians in the United States. Also known as the Jesus movement, it marked a shift from traditional forms of Christian music to a more contemporary style that incorporated elements of folk, rock, and country music. Jesus music artists wrote songs with Electric guitars and harmonica about personal salvation, social justice, andGRP Records spiritual awakening. They were sometimes criticized by older evangelicals for their embrace of popular culture and for their liberal theological views. Nevertheless, they attracted many young people to the Christian faith and had a significant impact on the development of contemporary Christian music.
The Jesus Music Festivals
The Jesus Music festivals of the late 1960s and early 1970s were a key component of what came to be known as the Jesus Movement. These outdoor events were massive happenings, often drawing upwards of 100,000 young people looking for an alternative to the mainstream music scene.
The most famous of these festivals was the Atlanta International Pop Festival, which was held in July 1970 and featured performances by some of the biggest names in rock music, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Allman Brothers Band. While the Atlanta festival is generally regarded as the definitive Jesus Music event, there were actually dozens of similar festivals held around the country during this time period.
These events were more than just concerts; they were a way for like-minded young people to connect with one another and share their faith. For many of those in attendance, these festivals were life-changing experiences that helped to shape their spiritual journeys.
Contemporary Christian Music
The Christian folk music of the 1970s was a direct outgrowth of the Jesus Movement of that decade, when young people across America were turned on to Jesus Christ and began to express their faith through music. This new style of music was an attempt to create a sound that was more in line with the youth culture of the time, and it was incredibly successful in reaching a wide audience.
The Contemporary Christian Music Scene
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a new style of Christian music began to emerge that was influenced by the popular music of the day. This new style, known as contemporary Christian music (CCM), quickly gained popularity among both Christians and non-Christians alike.
CCM artists such as Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and Steven Curtis Chapman were some of the first to find success in the mainstream music industry. Their success paved the way for other Christian artists to crossover into the mainstream, including U2, DC Talk, and Jars of Clay.
Today, CCM is one of the most popular genres of music in the world. It continues to evolve and change with each passing year, but its message remains the same: faith, hope, and love.
The Contemporary Christian Music Festivals
The Contemporary Christian Music Festivals were started in the early 1970s as a way for Christians to come together and enjoy music that was upbeat and positive. The festivals were an instant hit, and soon there were several held each year across the country. Today, the festivals are still going strong, and they continue to be a great way for Christians to enjoy some great music.
The Jesus Music Revival
The Jesus music revival of the 1970s brought Christian folk music to the forefront of the contemporary Christian music scene. This type of music is characterized by its simple melodies, often acoustic instrumentation, and positive, uplifting lyrics. Christian folk music of the 1970s was a breath of fresh air in a time when the world was becoming increasingly secularized.
The Jesus Music Revival Scene
The Jesus Music Revival was a Christian folk music movement of the late 1960s and 1970s. It was started by young Christians who were looking for a more relevant and authentic way to express their faith.
The music of the Jesus Music Revival was heavily influenced by the folk, rock, and country music of the time. It often had a more personal and intimate feel than the music of the mainline churches.
The lyrics of Jesus Music Revival songs often dealt with personal themes such as love, faith, and relationships. They were sometimes critical of the Church and its institutions.
The Jesus Music Revival scene was centered in California but quickly spread to other parts of the country. It had a major impact on mainstream Christian music and paved the way for contemporary Christian music as we know it today.
The Jesus Music Revival Festivals
The Jesus Music Revival festivals were a series of music festivals that started in the late 1970s in the United States. They were Christian folk music festivals that featured a mix of music, preaching, and teaching. The Jesus Music Revival was a time when many young people who had been raised in the church began to turn to Jesus music as a way to express their faith.
The first Jesus Music Revival festival was held in Abilene, Texas in 1978. The festival was organized by a group of Christians who wanted to create a venue for Christian folk musicians to perform. The Abilene festival featured artists such as Kevin Mayhew, Dana Kirchoff, Russ Taff, and Sheldon Curry. The festival was a success and led to the formation of the Jesus Music Revival Association.
The Jesus Music Revival Association worked to promote Christian folk music and organize more festivals. They also started a record label, Vanguard Records, which released albums by artists such as Larry Norman and Phil Keaggy. The association continued to grow and by the early 1980s there were over 30 Jesus Music Revival festivals being held across the United States each year.
The Jesus Music Revival came to an end in the mid-1980s as the popularity of Christian rock music began to increase. Many of the artists who had been involved in the revival went on to have successful careers in Christian rock music. The legacy of the Jesus Music Revival can still be seen in the work of contemporary Christian folk musicians such as Andrew Peterson and Derek Webb.
