Jerry Fox of Normandy began working on his “Gospel Journeyman” album, which just debuted in 2021 with New Freedom Records, at age 11.

Decades ago, his uncle was showing him guitar chords on a $12 Stella guitar. He attended church and attended singing conventions throughout his young life.

At 16, he began composing original melodies accompanied by what he calls the “monotonous sound of a tractor.” He drove one all summer as a teen in the western Oklahoma heat.

He professes how he knew Jesus, but would soon move on to what he thought was a better way of life, that is, Nashville. “Eventually, I made it to the Nashville school of hard knocks, where, in pursuit of a hit song, I signed a Warner Brother’s recording contract with a band and co-wrote a Billboard top 20 song which served as my diploma. But adolescent dreams of stardom never quite turn out as planned.”

The born-again-Christian

Fox says the attention and adulation, easy money, yes, alcohol and drugs, among many other things, pulled him off into the wrong direction of life. “It was nothing more than idolatry,” he says, “pulling me away from my Christian upbringing, breaking up my marriages and giving me an excuse to hide from the truth.”

Fox says at that point in his life, sure, he was willing to live in “la la land” with the devil-one which he believes often whispered in his ear to ‘live it up!’

“It took over half my life to finally realize there was only one who really loved and cared for me; His name is Jesus Christ.”

Now, he says he is inspired that his new CD of songs like “The Encounter” and “Who Am I?” will be a witness to others, possibly some following his former path in life.

The musician’s life

Fox has spent most of his musical life sharing the stage with nationally recognized recording artists and musicians. In Nashville, he played bass on stage or in recording studios, or had his original songs recorded, by the likes of artists, Crystal Gayle, Don Gibson, Terri Gibbs, Charly McClain, Jimmy C. Newman, Billy Jo Spears, Del Reeves, Ferlin Huskey, and the legendary Merle Travis.

Fox played on the Grand Ole Opry and performed music in all the lower 48 states, as well as in Germany, New Zealand, Belgium, and Canada.

In the 1980's Fox was a founding member of the Nashville country band Bandana. The group was signed to Warner Bros. Records and scored six national Billboard top 40 hits, including “Outside Looking In,”— a top 20 record co-written by Fox. Bandana was nominated by the Academy of Country Music (ACM) membership as vocal group of the year.

Late-in-life revelation

Fox says he experienced what he calls a “late-in-life revelation”—one which had an impact on his life and caused him to return, like the lost son in the Bible in Luke 15:11-22, to his faith in the early 2000’s.

Fox says he re-dedicated his life to serving his Savior. A part of that commitment was a promise to use his songwriting talent solely to praise the Lord and further His Kingdom. 

Gospel Journeyman

Fox’s commitment has resulted in “Gospel Journeyman,” an album of original songs in varied styles including contemporary praise and worship, Southern Gospel quartet, reggae influenced, Christian rock, and a western cowboy ballad.

Produced and arranged by Fox, the CD, which includes a picture of him walking along the Normandy railroad tracks, was released July 2 and is available worldwide for download on all the major digital music platforms including Amazon Music. iTunes, and Apple Music. CDs can be ordered at jerryfoxmusic.com.     The new album is full of original songs the artist has written over the past six years. Some of the songs, he truly believes, are divinely by the Holy Spirit.

“When melody, chords, and lyrics just spontaneously pour out of you, it's a revelation about how God can use one's talent, whatever that may be, to reach the lost and invite them into His Kingdom. For me, it's a refreshing change from my previous attempts at writing calculated commercial secular songs. I don't plan to ever go back.” 

Fox explains his songs 

“More Like Jesus” . . . I wrote this in 2019 and immediately heard the vocal arrangement in my head. As a bass player I've always enjoyed hearing and playing the relaxed infectious groove of reggae music from Jamaica. One of my favorite Christian groups is Christifari with singer David Fohe. My friend Angie Brown and I did all of the harmony vocal tracks with the multi-talented Michael Rudder doing the scat vocal on the fade as well as adding steel drums.”  

“The Encounter” . . . tells the story of a man's supernatural encounter with our Savior after he has all but given up hope. I believe that even when we're seeking the truth we are often in denial about our mortality and the eternal existence beyond. Because God gave us free will it's our nature to resist giving up control when it's actually the most freeing thing we can do. Fortunately, amidst the noise of our everyday living Jesus never gives up on us and is always calling on us to accept His gift of salvation and eternal life.  

“Saved” . . . my personal testimony. Although I grew up in a Christian church-going household and had no doubt there was a God, I didn't turn my life over to Him until I was 20 years old on my knees in a hotel room in Washington, D.C. It was the first time I could recall him speaking directly to me. Within a few years I fell under the worldly influence of the 60s and drifted off into new age mysticism and Eastern philosophy. My pursuit of a career in the music business offered even more distractions from the truth I had been raised to know. It took some setbacks in my life for Jesus to get my attention and draw me back to the shelter of His love where I should have been all along. I'm so grateful that He kept me alive and reasonably healthy during those years I was lost in the wilderness, and thankful that He has allowed me to use my talent for His Kingdom.”