| Thursday, December 06, 2007 |
|
The Return of Barry Blaze
Posted @ 1:13 PM :: 257 Views ::
0 Comments :: Soul Music
|
 |
By Andrew Baker
Throughout his life, Barry Blaze has really only known how to do one thing, music. Barry was a founding member of the 90's Christian band Code of Ethics, which was heavily influenced by the Euro pop sound that came from bands like Depeche Mode. After 11 years of touring, several number-one hits on Christian radio, two Dove Award nominations and various changes in the band’s lineup, the band called it quits in 2001.
By 2004, Barry Blaze had left behind the music community in Nashville, and was living back in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. He was the worship leader at Chets Creek Church, and excited about his new journey in music with God. But a nearly fatal motorcycle accident almost ended all of it.
In May 2004, Barry was about to ride onto the bridge between Jacksonville and Amelia Island when he heard a voice in his head that told him to pull off the road. Barry didn’t listen to that voice. He rode his motorcycle into bad weather with heavy rain and lightning. Everything went black as he crashed into the bridge, split his helmet, broke all the bones in his ears and ruptured his eardrums. His eyesight was also severely damaged.
The accident left Barry left blind and deaf. As a recording artist, that is a bad thing. He had to learn how to walk and balance himself again, and even after eight surgeries on his eyes and ears, he still hasn’t regained 100 percent of his hearing and sight.
However, as Barry began to regain parts of his hearing and vision, he started doing the only thing he knew how to do, worship God. Eventually he began leading worship again at his church. And he decided to see if his new life could include music.
It was also during this time, that Barry decided to take another try at recording some of his own material again, something he didn’t think he would ever be able to do again. And so it was with a sense of thanksgiving that he wrote his solo album, Patiently Waiting, over a three year period as he continued to recover. And in 2007, Barry’s solo album was released on his own independent label.
With the return of most of his health, and back into music, everything is turning around for this son of a Baptist preacher from Florida. And for new and old fans of Code of Ethics, there will be a new album by the band in early 2008. Talks with record labels are ongoing, and there’s even talk of a tour next summer.
Next: The next section of Barry Blaze articles on Youth Roots will be an interview with Barry, and will include a song from the new Code Of Ethics album.
Click HERE to read part 1 of the interview with Barry where he discusses the return of Code of Ethics
Click HERE to read part 2 of the interview with Barry where he discusses his early years in music and his spiritual formation that led to the development of Code of Ethics.
Click HERE to read part 3 of the interview with Barry where he discusses the end of Code of Ethics, his journey into worship leader ministry, and the role of the worship leader in the church today.
Click HERE to read part 4 where Barry discusses his recovery from his accident while he was leading worship at a church in Florida and the new Code of Ethics. A video with the music of the new Code of Ethics can also be seen in Part 4. |
|
|
|
|