Tim Jacobsmeyer
As the son of a Lutheran Pastor and the parish choir director, I grew up surrounded by the music of the church. I began taking piano lessons at the age of twelve,and was soon accompanying hymn singing for Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.
One summer a year or two later, my mother, who was serving as a hospital volunteer, told me about a patient who was a jazz musician. This musician said that when he played piano, he didn\'t use sheet music. He was able to do something called \"playing by ear.\" I couldn\'t see how anyone could so such a thing, but I was totally facinated by the idea and began to do some experiementing myself. One day, as I sat at the piano, I began to hear somnething that actually sounded a little like \"Moon River.\" This was good, since that was the song I was trying to play. From that point on, to the chagrin of my piano teacher and every music instructer I have had ever after, this became the way I played piano and keyboards.
In my teens I played in rock bands at all the usual places: rollar rinks, National Guard Armories, and teen centers. After graduation, I was off to college to major in music.
But a degree in music education was not for me and at that time,Music Composition was just way to weird so, (and I would never suggest this to anyone else), I left school and become a professional entertainer.
It was my intention to become a big rock star, but it seemed that all of those positions were already filled.
I spent the next couple decades or so playing in four to six piece bands in the usual places: Hotels, restaraunts,
and night clubs. I often tell people I have a music degree from Disco Tech. In 1979, I married Sandi, the singer in the band. In 1980, we left the band and spent the next seven years playing as a duo. In 1988 we were blessed with a daugher, Jessi. Steve Perry sings, \"the road ain\'t no place to raise a family.\" He\'s right. The days of being in a traveling band came to a close.
Often, when a Christian Musician recounts his or her history, you hear stories of straying from the faith or accounts of depraved living. Though I am a sinner like everyone else, I\'m afraid I can\'t give you an interesting story of some big conversion or turn around. I never considered myself anything but a Christian. Often the only Christian in the band, long trips in the van, from one gig to another, gave me the opportunity to talk and share my faith with other band members. I still wrote music for worship and sang with the church choir when back in town.
Moving to Florida in 1988, I played as a single entertainer on Clearwater Beach. At the same time, my family joined a local church and I became involved with the music ministry there.
Over time, I found that music for worship became the focus of most of my writing. Asked to write a Christmas Pagaent, I ended up creating an original musical entitled, \"Rough Wood and Rusty Nails.\" Slowly, the beach gigs began to diminish and Church gigs began to take over.
One day, in the latter part of the last century, I found myself employed full time at a Lutheran Church as a \"Parish Assistant in the area of Music and Worship.\" In 2001, I released my first CD entitled, \"Songs of Thankfulness and Praise.\" This CD was inspired by the mucic of Chip Davis and Manheim Steamorller. When I first heard their Christmas CDs and their use of keyboards and synthesizers,i was hooked and determined to take the same approach to the music I grew up with: The hymns of the church. Technology finally came down to a level I could afford and this twelve song, instrumental CD became a reality. In 2003, I released my second CD, \"Angels We Have Heard On High.\" This Christmas album, an instrumental as well, is also made up of twelve popular melodies. Although instrumental recordings, I often arrange the music to tell a story. The liner notes for both albums explain the various treatments of each selection. These notes also contain my own story and testimony.
I currently serve as music director at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Largo, Florida. My next project is to record my Christmas Musical \"Rough Wood and Rusty Nails.\"
I never became a rock star, but I have a job that keeps my family and myself with food to eat and a roof over our heads. I also get to be involved in a positive way in the lives and faiths of the people I have been called to serve. I don\'t know how He does it, but somehow, God really does make it all work out. So, thanks be to God.
Thanks also to that jazz pianist my mother met so long ago.
Tim Jacobsmeyer