woostify domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/latestwordpress/lonestar.a1professionals.net_public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131Chris Christian writes about his life in music.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chris Christian<\/span><\/a><\/strong> grew up in Abilene before hitting it big in the music business in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Dallas. He tells his inspiring and entertaining story in his new book, A Grandmother\u2019s Prayer: Moments in a Music Life<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/strong> (True Potential, $29.99 hardcover). <\/span><\/span><\/span>Christian started out as a singer, guitarist, and banjo player and made his name as a songwriter, record producer, and recording artist. He is considered one of the pioneers in developing what became known as contemporary Christian music. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hundreds of his songs have been recorded by some of the biggest names in pop and contemporary Christian music, including Elvis Presley, Olivia Newton-John, Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, The Carpenters, B.J. Thomas, Dionne Warwick, Donnie and Marie Osmond, and Chris himself. He even recorded two Christmas albums with Coach Tom Landry\u2019s Dallas Cowboys in the 1980s.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n His story shows how relationships formed early in his career led from one opportunity to another. At the end of the book, he offers a concise two-page summary of the most important lessons he has learned in his life, one of them being: \u201cDespite what people say, it\u2019s not who you know <\/em>that leads to success. It\u2019s who likes you.<\/em>\u201d <\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just a few months after graduating from Abilene Christian College in 1973, Christian was backing up Wayne Newton in Las Vegas. But he asked Newton for the night off when Elvis Presley came to play at the Las Vegas Hilton. Elvis had selected one of Chris\u2019s songs to record, and he invited Chris and a friend to his performance and then to his suite for an after-show party. <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cI was a 22-year-old kid from Abilene, soaking it all in,\u201d he writes. At the party, Elvis walked up and said, \u201cHello, Chris, my name is Elvis Presley.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAs if I didn\u2019t know who he was,\u201d Christian reflects. \u201cBut with his humble southern manners, (he) felt obliged to introduce himself. I found out later this was normal for him.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n\u201cThen he stood up, clapped his hands, and asked everyone to be quiet. As a hush fell over the room, Elvis said, “This is Chris Christian. A few months ago, I heard a song he wrote, and it touched me. I recorded it recently and he\u2019s never heard my version of the song. I thought it would be fun for Chris and all of you to hear it for the first time. I hope you like it.” <\/span><\/span><\/span>Then he played the recording of \u201cLove Song of the Year,\u201d which Chris had written when he was in high school in Abilene. After the song, Elvis turned to Chris and whispered, \u201cSo how do you like what I did with your song?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What Elvis didn\u2019t know, Christian writes, was \u201cthis was the first song I\u2019d ever had recorded by a major artist.\u201d That night remains \u201cone of the most memorable of my life.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n