Randall Evan Stonehill (born March 12, 1952) is an American singer and songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the pioneers of

contemporary Christian Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. Contemporary history is either a subset of the late modern period, or it i ...

music. His music is primarily

folk rock Folk rock is a hybrid music genre that combines the elements of folk music, folk and rock music, rock music, which arose in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s. In the U.S., folk rock emerged from the American fo ...

in the style of

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, hav ...

, but some of his albums have focused on new wave,

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' (G ...

pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, ear ...

roots rock Roots rock is a genre of rock music that looks back to rock's origins in folk, blues and country music. It is particularly associated with the creation of hybrid subgenres from the later 1960s, including blues rock, country rock, Southern roc ...

, and

children's music Children's music or kids' music is music composed and performed for children. In European-influenced contexts this means music, usually songs, written specifically for a juvenile audience. The composers are usually adults. Children's music has hi ...

Early life

Randy Stonehill was born in Stockton, California.Source Citation: Birthdate: March 12, 1952; Birth County: San Joaquin. Source Information: Ancestry.com. California Birth Index, 1905–1995 the son of Leonard N. Stonehill and his wife, Pauline Correia and is the younger brother of Jeffrey Dean Stonehill. He graduated from Leigh High School, in

San Jose, California San Jose, officially San José (; ; ), is a major city in the U.S. state of California that is the cultural, financial, and political center of Silicon Valley and largest city in Northern California by both population and area. With a 2020 popul ...

, then moved to Los Angeles where he stayed with Christian rock singer,

Larry Norman Larry David Norman (April 8, 1947 – February 24, 2008) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, record label owner, and record producer. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of Christian rock music and released more than 100 album ...

Career

Stonehill's first album, ''Born Twice'' was released in 1971, with financial help from

Pat Boone Patrick Charles Eugene Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer and actor. He was a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He sold more than 45 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and appeared in mo ...

. The album—one side a live performance, the other recorded in a studio—was recorded for a mere $US 800, and according to Stonehill, "sounds like every penny of it." A year later, Stonehill made his film acting debut in '' The Blob'' sequel, '' Beware! The Blob'' (also known as ''Son of Blob''), with

Cindy Williams Cynthia Jane Williams (born August 22, 1947) is an American actress and producer, known for her role as Shirley Feeney on the television sitcom '' Happy Days'' (1975–1979), and ''Laverne & Shirley'' (1976–1982). Early life Williams was bo ...

, in which he performed the unreleased song "Captain Coke". He also made a cameo appearance in the 1973

Billy Graham William Franklin Graham Jr. (November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018) was an American evangelist and an ordained Southern Baptist minister who became well known internationally in the late 1940s. He was a prominent evangelical Christi ...

film ''Time to Run'', performing his song "I Love You". In 1976, Stonehill released the

-produced '' Welcome to Paradise'', for which Andy Johns did the engineering. This became a landmark album for the songwriter and was voted the "third most important contemporary Christian album" in a mid-1980s poll of Christian music critics. In the late 1970s, Stonehill joined forces with rock band

Daniel Amos Daniel Amos (aka D. A., Dä) is an American Christian rock band formed in 1974 by Terry Scott Taylor on guitars and vocals, Marty Dieckmeyer on bass guitar, Steve Baxter on guitars and Jerry Chamberlain on lead guitars. The band currently cons ...

for the "Amos 'n' Randy Tour". Daniel Amos went on to be Stonehill's band for his next two releases, and Stonehill later provided backing vocals on a number of Daniel Amos' projects. 1984's '' Celebrate This Heartbeat'' teamed Stonehill with longtime friend

Phil Keaggy Philip Tyler Keaggy (born March 23, 1951) is an American acoustic and electric guitarist and vocalist who has released more than 55 albums and contributed to many more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets. H ...

for the song "Who Will Save The Children?" In 1989 they formed The Keaggy/Stonehill Band with Daniel Amos bassist Tim Chandler and The Swirling Eddies' David Raven on drums. Keaggy and Stonehill also teamed up several other times, both live in concert and in the studio. They recorded and performed as Phil Keaggy and Sunday's Child in 1988. They also joined singer

Margaret Becker Margaret Becker (born July 17, 1959) is an American Christian rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She has had twenty-one No. 1 Christian radio hits, won four Dove Awards, and been nominated for four Grammy Awards. Biography Becker was born ...

, drummer Joe English (former member of

Paul McCartney and Wings Wings were a British-American rock band formed in 1971 by former Beatle bassist Paul McCartney, his wife Linda McCartney on keyboards, session drummer Denny Seiwell, and former Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine. Wings were noted for thei ...

) and several others that same year for the Compassion All Star Band's album ''One by One''.

Marriages and family

Stonehill has been married three times, to Sarah Mae Finch, Sandra Jean Warner, and Leslie Sealander, with the first two marriages ending in divorce. His second marriage produced one daughter, Heather. Finch later married

Discography

* ''Born Twice'', 1971 debut album * ''Get Me Out of Hollywood'', recorded 1973, not officially released until 1999 * '' Welcome to Paradise'', 1976, produced by

* '' The Sky Is Falling'', recorded 1977, released 1980, produced by Larry Norman * ''

Between the Glory and the Flame ''Between the Glory and the Flame'' is an album by Randy Stonehill, released in 1981, on Myrrh Records. Track listing All songs written by Randy Stonehill, except "Givin' It Up For Love" and "Farther On" which were written by Randy Stonehill an ...

'', 1981, produced by

Terry Scott Taylor Terry Scott Taylor (born May 24, 1950) is an American songwriter, record producer, writer and founding member of the bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies (credited as Camarillo Eddy). Taylor is also a member of the roots and alternative ...

* ''

Equator The equator is a circle of latitude, about in circumference, that divides Earth into the Northern and Southern hemispheres. It is an imaginary line located at 0 degrees latitude, halfway between the North and South poles. The term can al ...

'', 1983, produced by Terry Scott Taylor * '' Celebrate This Heartbeat'', 1984, produced by Barry Miller Kaye * ''Stonehill'', 1984 EP, produced by Barry Miller Kaye * ''

Love Beyond Reason ''Love Beyond Reason'' is an album by Randy Stonehill, released in 1985, on Myrrh Records. The album contained the hit single, "I Could Never Say Goodbye," which was a duet with singer Amy Grant. Grant had recently become one of the biggest names ...

'', 1985, produced by Barry Miller Kaye * '' The Wild Frontier'', 1986, produced by Dave Perkins * ''

Can't Buy a Miracle ''Can't Buy a Miracle'' is an album by Randy Stonehill, released in 1988 on Myrrh Records. Track listing All songs written by Randy Stonehill and Dave Perkins except where otherwise noted. Side one # "It's Now" – 4:03 # "Don't Break Down" (St ...

'', 1988, produced by Dave Perkins * '' Return to Paradise'', 1989, produced by

Mark Heard John Mark Heard III (December 16, 1951 – August 16, 1992) was an American record producer, folk rock singer and songwriter from Macon, Georgia. Heard released sixteen albums, and produced or performed with many artists, including: Sam Ph ...

* ''

Until We Have Wings ''Until We Have Wings'' is an album by Randy Stonehill, released in 1990, on Myrrh Records. Track listing All songs written by Randy Stonehill, except where otherwise noted. Side one (studio tracks) # "Faithful" (Randy Stonehill And Giovanni Au ...

'', 1990 studio/live album, produced by Mark Heard * '' Wonderama'', 1991, produced by Terry Scott Taylor * ''

Stories Story or stories may refer to: Common uses * Story, a narrative (an account of imaginary or real people and events) ** Short story, a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting * Story (American English), or storey (British ...

'', 1993 compilation, with 3 new tracks produced by Terry Scott Taylor * '' Lazarus Heart'', 1994, produced by

Jimmie Lee Sloas Jimmie Lee Sloas is an American session musician, producer, and songwriter, who plays bass guitar. History Jimmie Lee Sloas, born in Ashland, Kentucky, grew up in Fairborn, Ohio and Isonville, Kentucky. His father, Dave, was a member of the ...

* ''Our Recollections'', 1996 compilation * ''

Thirst Thirst is the craving for potable fluids, resulting in the basic instinct of animals to drink. It is an essential mechanism involved in fluid balance. It arises from a lack of fluids or an increase in the concentration of certain osmolites, such ...

'', 1998, produced by Rick Elias * ''Uncle Stonehill's Hat'' Uncle Stonehill, 2001 children's album produced by

* ''Edge of the World'', 2002, produced by Bob Kilpatrick and Stonehill * ''Together Live!'', 2006 live album recorded with Phil Keaggy * ''Touchstone'', 2007 * ''Paradise Sky'', 2008, produced by Randy Stonehill and Mike Pachelli * ''Mystery Highway'', 2009, produced by Phil Keaggy and Randy Stonehill * ''Spirit Walk'', 2011, produced by Mike Pachelli and Randy Stonehill * ''Stonehill and Storm – Breath of God'', 2013, produced by Buck Storm * ''Lost Art of Listening'', 2020

Compilations and productions

* ''Time to Run, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'', 1973 album, produced by Anthony Harris (Stonehill performs on three tracks) * '' Strong Hand of Love'', tribute to

, 1994 * '' Orphans of God'', tribute to

, 1996 * '' First Love: a Historic Gathering of Jesus Music Pioneers'', Jesus Movement artist reunion album, 1998 * ''

Surfonic Water Revival ''Surfonic Water Revival'' is a various artists compilation album which was recorded and released in 1998 by KMG Records. The album pays tribute to the pioneers of Surf music like Brian Wilson, Jan and Dean, the Belairs, the Hondells, the Surfar ...

'', tribute to

surf music Surf music (or surf rock, surf pop, or surf guitar) is a genre of rock music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Southern California. It was especially popular from 1958 to 1964 in two major forms. The first is instrumental s ...

, 1998 * '' When Worlds Collide: A Tribute to Daniel Amos'',

tribute album, 1999 * '' Making God Smile: An Artists' Tribute to the Songs of Beach Boy Brian Wilson'',

Brian Wilson Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...

tribute album, 2002 * ''There's a Rainbow Somewhere: The Songs of Randy Stonehill'', Randy Stonehill tribute album, 2022

Videography

* '' Beware! The Blob'' (also known as ''Son of Blob''). Motion Picture, 1972. * ''Time to Run'',

World Wide Pictures World Wide Pictures (WWP) is a film distributor and production company established as a subsidiary of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in 1951. It is involved in the production and distribution of evangelistic films, the produc ...

. Motion Picture, 1973 * ''Love Beyond Reason: The Video Album'', VHS, 1985 * ''One Night In 20 Years'', anniversary live concert, VHS, 1990 * ''First Love: An Historic Gathering of Artists from the Jesus Movement, Volume 2'', VHS, 1998; Re-released on DVD, 2005 * ''Together Live'' in concert with

, DVD, 2006 * ''Fallen Angel: The Outlaw Larry Norman''. Documentary, 2009

Works

* "Married Strangers", ''Christianity Today'' (Spring 1999)

References

Official site

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stonehill, Randy American performers of Christian music Musicians from San Jose, California 1952 births Living people American male guitarists American male singers American male songwriters Larry Norman Myrrh Records artists Songwriters from California Singers from California Guitarists from California 20th-century American guitarists

Early life

Career

Marriages and family

Discography

Compilations and productions

Videography

Works

References

Further reading

References