Perry City Councilman and former Perry Community School District Superintendent Dr. Randy McCaulley said he heard a “voice in my head and my heart” years ago. On Sunday he took another step in answering that voice.
McCaulley performed several original compositions and a few other numbers from his first CD, “Until He Returns,” Sunday at the Perry Bible Church. The outreach was an unofficial kick-off to what he calls a “Christian Music Ministry” that is intended, McCaulley said, “to spread the gospel message of Jesus Christ.”
“I kept hearing what I came to believe was God’s voice calling me to use my talents to help others know Him and to praise Him,” McCaulley said. “I played special music at church on occasion and played music in various places, but this, I felt, was something different. I was a busy man and kept putting off doing something about it until eventually I could not help but act on it, and I’m glad I did.”
He wrote several songs over the years, always writing and arranging the music first and adding lyrics later. Now he began to seriously consider recording a CD and touring to promote a Christian message.
“I received some good advice from several people along the way,” McCaulley said. “One of those was the suggestion that ‘Randy McCaulley’ didn’t quite have the same impact as ‘Doc McCaulley,’ so that is what I use.”
Recorded over the first three months this year at Sonic Factory Studios in Des Moines, “Until He Returns” used several session musicians of note, including guitarist James Biehn, who is in high demand for his studio work. Also performing are McCaulley’s friend Jerry Peoples, who provides saxophone solos on “Mary, Did You Know?” and “Like Noah Did,” a McCaulley original.
Daughter-in-law Christa McCaulley pairs with Michelle Penenger and her daughter, Breanna — who recently wowed audiences in the lead role of Perry High School’s production of “Peter Pan” — for backing vocals on “Gangstoppers,” another McCaulley composition.
Other originals on the CD include “Finding the Way,” “Angels” and “Who You Say I Am.” McCaulley also adds three cover tunes.
Performing solo, McCaulley relies on the recorded instrumental tracks on a computer for backing, a delicate balancing act.
“It is not easy to do, believe me,” he said. “It has required a lot of practice. I have to balance timing and volume three ways: the computer, my keyboard and my microphone. It can be tricky, for sure.”
Nothing has come easy, McCaulley said, but quickly added he believes potential obstacles have been cleared from his path.
“God has blessed me, has blessed my family and so many parts of my life, and I just have to give something back. This is my way of doing it,” McCaulley said. “Right from the get-go I began encountering the right people with the right connections and the kind of experience and expertise I needed to help my project get going.”
Sunday’s concert featured sales of McCaulley’s CD as well as a freewill offering to benefit Meals From the Heartland, with Curt and Aimee Carlson pledging to match all donations.
McCaulley will take his music ministry on the road beginning April 30, when he will perform in his hometown of Oskaloosa. He hopes to network with churches throughout Iowa to help spread his music and ministry.
“God has blessed me and was calling me, and I finally paid enough attention to answer Him,” McCaulley concluded. “This is His doing, not mine.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74jj_SxEQ9Y
