The Dana Key Interview

This interview took place at Ardent Studios in Memphis, TN. I'm not sure of the actual date though. Ron Masters supplied the questions for an interview.

Tell me a little about yourself. Are you married? Kids?

DANA: Yes, I'm married. My wife's name is Anita. I have 3 children, a girl, who’s name is Scotty... that's actually her nickname. Her real name is Joanna Scott Key. We almost named her after Francis Scott Key, who wrote our national anthem, because I'm related to him. He's my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather... but we Chickened out. Our 10 year old son is named, Andrew...and our 6 year old son is named Eli.

What is your favorite Scripture Verse? Why?

DANA: My favorite verse is Romans 8:28,29 because it talks about the sovereignty of God, and the fact that He works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to his purpose. I think it's pretty amazing that everything that happens to us, even the bad stuff, is stuff that God has orchestrated in our life for a reason. And I think that's really cool.

Tell us about "Key Time-Out". How many stations broadcast it?

DANA: Time-Out is produced by CCM Magazine.. radio magazine. And I just got through taping my shows for the next two weeks, just a few minutes ago. It goes out to 400 stations. It runs once a week. It's a 2-3 minute commentary on popular issues revolving around mainly secular entertainment. I review secular songs that I think may be objectionable ... or groups or albums. And then I recommend, where fitting, Christian Alternatives. But it's not limited to music, because I also in the past have reviewed Video games, as well as movies, if there is a compelling reason to do so.

BrianJ: Oh you do? Video Games'?

DANA: I had some really nasty things to say about Doom for instance. Actually Doom 2 ... Doom 1 was okay.

Are you easily recognized on the street?

DANA: I tell you what, I'm recognized if I go to a ... (He pauses to think) Yes and no, like if I'm in an airport carrying a guitar ... virtually every time someone will come up to me ... or on an airplane. Y'know, if I'm just at McDonalds, then probably not. If I'm at a church or where there are a lot of Christians ... then yes, that happens a lot. Now I've cut off my ponytail and shaved my beard ... but have a mustache. So I think that that fools some people sometimes. There hasn't been any pictures of me released like I look now as of yet.

What are some of the Cd’s spinning in your CD Player?

DANA: As far as CDs I'm listening to these days, I've been listening to a lot of Harry Connick Jr. lately, and big band stuff just because it's so unlike anything that I ever record. It's been kind of a fun diversion for me. Someone gave me a Harry Connick Jr. record, and I really dig it.

Y'know the thing about CDs are that I listen to everything. I go down and buy the top 10 albums virtually once a month, and listen to them completely. Because I'm asking myself, 'Why do people like this music?', 'What is it about it that's attractive?' So I'm always listening to stuff...but just for fun I've been listening to really old Jazz and Blues lately. I guess it's just a cool diversion from Pop music.

Read any good books lately?

DANA: William Bennett has got a book. He's basically the editor of a book called, "The Book of Virtues." I've been reading that a lot to my children at night, and I really enjoy it and so do they.

Do you have an extensive guitar collection? What’s your favorite?

DANA: I have 8-10 guitars ... I've lost count. My favorite is my acoustic. It's a Langian, and it's made by Dale Langian. He's from Norway... I believe, and he works in a store called, 'Dale's Music' in Holland, Michigan. He's made about 700 of these guitars so far. It's handmade ... and only other one that I know of ... well, Kenny Marks has one in Christian Music, and Phil Keaggy plays one. And he uses 'Baggs' pickups inside which is why I like it, because it plays like an electric guitar, and it's got 'Baggs' pickups which I think are the coolest for the Acoustic guitar.

Do you still enjoy picking… even after all these years?

DANA: Yeah I love to play. I'm most comfortable with a guitar in my hand.

Have you ever had to come up with a solo and outs pops a "Wow! Where’d that solo come from?" experience?

DANA: Oh, Absolutely. All the time... I've played solos on records that I can't play now for some reason. I can't reproduce them. Y'know, sometimes just a weird thing will happen in a solo... usually it's a mistake, but it was a cool mistake. Then you have to back and figure out how you did it so you can do it live, and that's always a challenge when you mess up and like it.

(John Hampton sticks his head in the room to close the door)

DANA: That's John Hampton Ladies and Gentleman, the legendary producer of DeGarmo & Key, as well as the Gin Blossoms, and Audio Adrenaline... who was interrupting our session.

Have you ever lent your guitar talents to any other artists’ albums?

DANA: I've played on everybody's record at one time or another. I started as a Studio Guitar Player working on Al Green stuff when I was like 15-17. And I've played on a lot of Christian records... Amy Grant, and of course DeGarmo & Key, Mylon Lefevere, David Meece, Big Tent Revival's stuff… of course because I produced them. I even played a bit on Small Town Poets which is coming out in March...they're from Atlanta.

Has there been any one song that has generated a lot of mail or fan letters?

DANA: The one song that has generated more fan letters than any I've ever written is 'Dear Mr. Clapton' off of my last Solo album. I think it's because it's such a weird song about such a weird subject and it touches so many people in a personal way that it causes you to want to go write me a letter ... I guess, because it's such a compelling subject ... the death of Eric Clapton's son, and basically the song is my fan letter to Mr. Clapton, explaining to him that there will not be 'tears in heaven' according to Revelations.

BrianJ: Has he heard the song?

DANA: I sent him a video as well as a CD about 6 months ago to London by way of Los Angeles, his management company, but I have not heard back.

What was your most embarrassing "on stage" moment?

DANA: My most embarrassing moment on stage ... boy, I've had a lot of those, but I was playing a solo in Valdosta, Ga ... and I was trying to be a Rock virtuoso when I stepped off the stage into an orchestra pit ... and I landed on my feet, which was nice ' and I was still playing the solo ... so I didn’t interrupt the solo. I just disappeared from stage...but the embarrassing moment was when the song was over, and I couldn't get out of the orchestra pit to get back on stage without help... that was kinda embarrassing.

What was your most satisfying "on stage" moment?

DANA: My most satisfying stage moments have always been the final 10 minutes of a DeGarmo & Key concert, or a solo concert...because I normally give an invitation for people to come and trust Jesus. And when I see people come down, especially when I see tears of repentance in their eyes, it makes me feel like this is all really worth it, and I feel very privileged to be a part of their coming to Christ.

Was Degarmo and Key accepted when you first started.? Was there a lot of opposition? Did you ever want to quit?

DANA: No. It was in 1979 in deep South, and our first tours for the first couple of years were always in deep Florida or Southern California, because those were the only two places that received the type of music we played with open arms. Here in the South, especially in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas, we were sometimes picketed. Sometimes people threw stuff at us.

Who was the most spiritually refreshing band or group that you traveled or toured with?

DANA: I’m not gonna answer that because I've traveled with Petra, Whiteheart, Mylon LeFevere, Big Tent Revival, Amy Grant, The Resurrection Band from Chicago ... in their early days, Jessie Dixon, Farrell and Farrell, and there was a group now defunct called, Servant that was really popular in the 80s ... early 80s. And y'know, they were all wonderful people, and for me to pick one above the rest would do a disservice to the other people. Well, DC TALK were our roadies for 2 years. I traveled with them... I wanted to strangle them most of the time though.

Do you feel that overall, the current CCM movement is moving in the right direction?

DANA: Yes and No. The part that troubles me about Christian Music right now is that all of the major labels are owned by secular conglomerate companies. EMI owns about 1/3rd of all the Christian record companies now. For instance, I read today that even Tooth and Nail had purchased by EMI. I think what happens is when you get a secular conglomerate involved, the bottom line is the only thing that is important to them. They are not concerned about ministry or the character of the artists that they sign. They just want artists that sell records, and they couldn't care less what they do in their spare time. I think that is bad. It's a bad attitude that is growing in Christian music. The thing that I like about that though, it's kinda bittersweet because ... Because of EMI and other huge record giants getting involved in Christian music now. There's more opportunities that are available to get on mainstream radio ... like DC TALK and Jars of Clay have been able to do recently. And quite frankly the only reason why they're able to do that is because DC TALK is now with VIRGIN Records, which is a secular company, and Jars of Clay is with a Secular company as well.

BrianJ: Did DC TALK just make a switch to Virgin Records?

DANA: Yes they did. Forefront still handles their Christian distribution, and has some voice in their marketing, but they are signed directly to Virgin Records now. Y'know, it's good and it's bad. More exposure but at what price?

Any more solo projects being worked on? Any producing of others?

DANA: Yeah, I'm working on 4 songs right now. I usually work on 2 or 3 songs at a time, because I can't get a grip on a whole record... there's just too many songs. I have the availability of these recording studios here at Ardent, so I prefer to only work on 2 or 3 songs at a time, get those pretty much finished, See if I like .them, and then go on to the next batch until I have a record. When will I release a record? I have no idea when I will release another solo album. My life is so complicated right now because I play a lot still. I usually appear with me and an acoustic guitar these days. At the same time I'm trying to mentor some of these young and upcoming groups like Skillet, Small Town Poets, and Big Tent Revival. I like to spend as much time as I can with those guys. So it's just difficult for me to find spare time to get into the recording studio and work on my own stuff.

How can listeners best pray for Dana Key?

DANA: You know, the most important thing for me is that I stay close to Christ. Other things seem to work themselves out if you stay close to Jesus. Y'know, Finances, problems, children raising, and concert dates... ail that stuff seems to line up a lot better when you are really close to Jesus. And I would like for you to pray for me in that regard.