Grace Notes Gospel Big Band has been sharing conversation of salvation for 25 years

By NewsPress Now

They say music is the language of the soul.

For the last 25 years the Grace Notes Gospel Big Band has been sharing a conversation of salvation.

Richard Shankweiler, co-founder of the band, spoke with 69 News:

“When Roy and I put this band together we said how many concerts are we going to do, He said, ‘Four or five.’ Well, we were a little off. I never got to count how many we’ve done in 25 years, but I’m sure we’ve done close to 700 concerts.

“Our mission has been, and it’s never varied, it’s to introduce people to Jesus Christ through instrumental and vocal music, and to encourage those who have accepted Jesus Christ who are going through everyday problems just like anybody else does. But we have the hope of Jesus Christ, and we want to encourage them with our music.

“And the third thing we do is we worship and praise with our instruments and our voices. So that mission has not changed in 25 years. One of the things that I think makes us special is there’s nobody else that does what we’re doing.

“I’ve seen some recordings, but I have never seen a live being that goes to different churches, church camps, senior citizens’ facilities, it’s just unique. People ask, ‘How long are you going to do it?’ I will continue as long as the Lord gives me breath to play my horn.”