Huntsville Times

Saxophonist jazzes it up for Jesus

Christian soloist ventures into world of music evangelism

By Yvonne White Times Religion Editor

Christian Saxophonist Scott Monroe has been influenced by some of the great saxophonists of the past and present - Boots Randolph, Kenny G, Richie Cunningham....

How's that?

You remember ... Richie Cunningham, the Ron Howard character in the 1970s sitcom "Happy Days."

"I actually started playing the saxophone in the fifth grade because Richie Cunningham played the sax," said Monroe with a laugh. "Being a kid, that's all I knew. So when they came over from the high school to show us the (band) instruments, and I saw the saxophone, that's what I wanted to play. When I finally figured out he (Cunningham) was holding it wrong, my influence completely changed."

The 30-year-old Monroe is having his own influence on the Christian music industry as one of the only saxophone soloists in a full-time Christian ministry. In January of 1996 he left a comfortable job as a music associate at the 5,000 member Central Baptist Church in Hixson Tenn., near Chattanooga, and sold his house to venture into the world of music evangelism.

He will perform a concert at Living Word Church in Huntsville May 4th at 7 p.m.

Monroe has performed in Huntsville on several other occasions thanks to his long-time friend, Lewis Hundley, who lives here and is a volunteer marketing manager for Monroe.

"Lewis is a great guy, and I wish I had enough money to put him on staff, " said Monroe in a telephone interview. "When I was in college at UT-Chattanooga, he was at Auburn and he lined up a couple of concerts for me. He's been a tremendous help, and has even designed a web site for us."

Hundley says Monroe is "someone who is giving it his all to follow the Lord. He's not content just to be doing good works for the Lord, but he is seeking to do exactly what God calls him to do."

George Waller, senior pastor at Living Word Church, said Monroe's music "truly reflects his heart's desire for a special relationship with the Lord. You can trust this young man to minister through his music, in a precious way, God's love and acceptance."

As a youngster, Monroe dreamed of "playing jazz with Count Basie or someone from the Big Band era," but he began changing his mind after attending an Imperials concert.

"Their music was really cool and hip, and it was what we were listening to on secular radio," said Monroe. "God showed me that night that, one, I needed Him, and two, that He was cool enough to be all right for me. As a result of their ministry, I really felt a strong call into the music ministry of my own."

After entering the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, Monroe settled on becoming a high school band director "because I thought there wasn't anything else I could do." Upon nearing his final year of college though, he said God started pulling him back into the ministry.

After graduating from college, Monroe was hired as a music minister at a small Baptist church in North Georgia, where he stayed for about 18 months.

He was primarily raised in the Methodist and Presbyterian churches or "whatever church we happened to be in at the time." He said the one church he didn't want to join was a Baptist church. So of course, he ended up in ... a Baptist church.

He is still a member of Central Baptist Church, and recorded his first project, " The Praise Band Project," with a group from the church.

"Central was a fast-growing, fast-moving church," he said. "It was a very difficult decision to leave, but God had been confirming it in several different ways."

One person who played a major influence in Monroe's decision to enter the full-time evangelism music field was Christian musician Phil Driscoll, a popular trumpet player and vocalist in the gospel music industry.

Driscoll was performing at Central Baptist in Hixson when Monroe said he got a message from God.

"During the closing invitation, Phil Driscoll stopped in mid-sentence and said, `OK, God, I'll do that.' Then he looked straight at me and said, `You're supposed to go and get your horn.' So I went and got it. We just played together through the invitation, but I don't know what we played. After the concert he said to me, `You need to be out there,' which confirmed what God was already doing in my mind and in my heart."

Monroe and his wife, Cindy, a nursing student, ventured out on faith when he left his church position. She changed her plans for a nursing career and took a marketing degree and now helps the ministry as the marketing director.

After the first recording with Central Baptist Church, Monroe then recorded his only solo project, "The Truth Will Set You Free."

Monroe said that two things have been instrumental in reviving people's interest in the saxophone again - Kenny G and President Clinton.

"In the `50s, the saxophone was it," he said. "I think Kenny G's popularity and the president playing it have really brought the saxophone back into the forefront."

Monroe rates the president's saxophone ability as "good. I was really surprised the first time I heard him. He plays like a good college player. When he picks it up, he picks up where he left off."

Monroe once played backup for the president's brother, Roger Clinton, on an album cut at a recording studio in Chattanooga. How good was it? Well, Monroe doesn't even own a copy of the album.

Monroe is one of the few successful Christian saxophonist soloists in the business. He does use a band when he's in the Chattanooga area, but primarily only travels occasionally with a guitarist, Michael Day.

"There are a lot of great Christian saxophone players, but most are playing in someone's band," he said. "Phil Driscoll kind of set the tone for instrumentalists in Christian music. A lot of churches look at the saxophone as a kind of club instrument, so they don't know what to expect. They don't know if they are going to hear club music in a smoke-filled room or what."

Monroe said that people of all ages have been open to his ministry.

"I really don't understand it because our music is so high-energy," he said. "Obviously, if I sang some of the songs I play in churches, some people wouldn't like it. But something like the saxophone goes over well."

He also performs secular concerts, but tries to use familiar church music that will not offend or turn off someone who is not a Christian.

While Monroe's popularity is growing, he said the ministry is not about me. It's about Jesus, and that's what I hope people take hope with them, more than taking home a CD or a great musical time.

While Monroe does believe the Bible is the Word of God, he thinks one word may have been translated incorrectly from the Hebrew language.

"I think the word trumpet was really supposed to have been saxophone, and it should have said Gabriel would blow his saxophone rather than the trumpet," Monroe said with a laugh.

The article above is copyrighted 1997 by the Huntsville Times and used with permission.

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