Founding Member Of Petra Continues To Rock
July 5, 2018 at 7:46 p.m.
By Dan [email protected]
It’s been more than 45 years since DeGroff and three others formed Petra, a Fort Wayne-based band that went on to shatter the illusions of Christian music and leave a mark on the industry.
These days, DeGroff still plays in a band, works at Cardinal Center in Warsaw, and he and his wife are part of the musical worship team at First Methodist Church on Lake Street.
But the passion to make more music has not faded, and he looks back fondly with his role in a legendary rock story.
Fresh out of high school, the 19-year-old Ohio native began attending a junior Bible college in Fort Wayne that was connected to Calvary Temple church when Petra came together.
“When we started, Christian music kind of consisted of what’s in your hymn book, Southern gospel and a whole bunch of musicals written by Ralph Carmichael,” DeGroff said. “And we came out with Marshall amps and long hair and just blasted the doors off.”
Early on, the group found a niche, but still struggled to win over Christian music fans to their brand of rock and rock fans to faith-based music. They performed in coffee houses, churches, parks, small festivals and schools.
Admittedly, none of the four band members were strong vocalists. “But we had two killer lead guitar players. We were just different,” DeGroff recalls.
In 1978, after two albums, though, DeGroff and another member, Greg Hough, departed Petra and the band began a series of different lineups before settling into a prolonged period of success behind lead singer John Schlitt, who had been with Head East before leaving the national rock spotlight and converting to Christianity.
The group remained together until 2006, and racked up four Grammy awards and nine nominations with songs like “Beyond Belief,” “Destiny” and “I am on the Rock.”
DeGroff, meanwhile, stayed busy over the years, playing in Fort Wayne bands. He toured with Troy Shondell and jazz guitarist Denny Jiosa, and has been involved in projects with Christian singers Darrell Sroufe and Mary Lafleur.
In 2004, he teamed up with Hough and another Petra founder, Bill Glover, to form GHF, which stands of God Has Forgiven. The group has released two projects, “Honestly Live” and “God Has Forgiven 1.”
Three years ago, DeGroff released “... Demos and other Moments ….,” which caught the attention of Rottweiler Records, of Fort Wayne.
On the side, the 64-year-old is part of Gary Gerard Group a local blues and classic rock trio run by the general manager of the Times-Union.
Two weeks ago, DeGroff released “SALT,” a progressive rock album on Rottweiler Records that includes nine songs, including three with vocals from Schlitt.
The project is something he’s thought about for years.
“I had to do this. It was in my system – had to get it out of my system or I was going to go nuts,” DeGroff said last week.
DeGroff calls it the musician’s music.
“I just love the technical stuff where you get to shine as a musician. That’s why I listen to jazz.”
Prog rock sometimes feels a bit psychedelic and generally focuses on instrumental prowess. The genre moved to the forefront of rock music in the 70s with the help of Pink Floyd, King Crimson and Yes.
“All that stuff came out when I was in high school and I just loved it, but could never find too many guys who wanted to play it and it wasn’t commercial, but that’s where my head's always been at. And then I started listening to jazz.”
SALT is a reference to Matthew 5:13, which calls on people to be the salt and the light of the world.
DeGroff financed the SALT project. He wrote nearly all of the music and produced the entire collection. He said he held off on rehearsing until he could afford to go into the studio, saying he didn’t want to waste people’s time.
He approached Schlitt a few years ago with the idea of participating. Schlitt said he’d be happy to help.
Schlitt is member of Unions of Saints and Sinners, and has the John Schlitt Band. He also plays with the Jay Sekulow Band, whose namesake is an attorney for President Donald Trump, and has gained notoriety on You Tube for some of its covers.
Schlitt and prog rock, DeGroff said, go well together.
“His voice and his range fits that style of music so well,” he said.
In addition to Schlitt, DeGroff drew on past and current associations to round out his lineup of musicians.
Dan Leu, who grew up with DeGroff in from West Unity, Ohio, and played with him in various bands, plays guitar on the collection.
“I just made up my mind, if I got a shot to do anything, I wanted Dan on it,” DeGroff said.
Curtis George, also of the Gary Gerard Group, provided percussion. Others appearing on the album are Kevin Kyle, John McCorkle and Garry Jones. His wife, Jennifer, plays flute on the song, “Silk and Cookies.”
The basis for two songs, “Runnin’” and “From Yes To No and Back Again,” were first written during his time with Petra and evolved over the years.
DeGroff said he’s pleased with the results. “I really believe ‘SALT” is going to pleasantly surprise a lot of people … in both the Petra/GHF fan base and Rottweiler Records family. I’m extremely proud of it.”
While some might label him a Christian musician, he considers himself a musician who is a Christian.
DeGroff views his time with Petra as a step in his musical journey, but he is fond of the recognition the band carries and the fact that all of the original members were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
“I’ll always be associated with the name Petra and it gives me a lot of credibility as a musician,” he said.
It’s been more than 45 years since DeGroff and three others formed Petra, a Fort Wayne-based band that went on to shatter the illusions of Christian music and leave a mark on the industry.
These days, DeGroff still plays in a band, works at Cardinal Center in Warsaw, and he and his wife are part of the musical worship team at First Methodist Church on Lake Street.
But the passion to make more music has not faded, and he looks back fondly with his role in a legendary rock story.
Fresh out of high school, the 19-year-old Ohio native began attending a junior Bible college in Fort Wayne that was connected to Calvary Temple church when Petra came together.
“When we started, Christian music kind of consisted of what’s in your hymn book, Southern gospel and a whole bunch of musicals written by Ralph Carmichael,” DeGroff said. “And we came out with Marshall amps and long hair and just blasted the doors off.”
Early on, the group found a niche, but still struggled to win over Christian music fans to their brand of rock and rock fans to faith-based music. They performed in coffee houses, churches, parks, small festivals and schools.
Admittedly, none of the four band members were strong vocalists. “But we had two killer lead guitar players. We were just different,” DeGroff recalls.
In 1978, after two albums, though, DeGroff and another member, Greg Hough, departed Petra and the band began a series of different lineups before settling into a prolonged period of success behind lead singer John Schlitt, who had been with Head East before leaving the national rock spotlight and converting to Christianity.
The group remained together until 2006, and racked up four Grammy awards and nine nominations with songs like “Beyond Belief,” “Destiny” and “I am on the Rock.”
DeGroff, meanwhile, stayed busy over the years, playing in Fort Wayne bands. He toured with Troy Shondell and jazz guitarist Denny Jiosa, and has been involved in projects with Christian singers Darrell Sroufe and Mary Lafleur.
In 2004, he teamed up with Hough and another Petra founder, Bill Glover, to form GHF, which stands of God Has Forgiven. The group has released two projects, “Honestly Live” and “God Has Forgiven 1.”
Three years ago, DeGroff released “... Demos and other Moments ….,” which caught the attention of Rottweiler Records, of Fort Wayne.
On the side, the 64-year-old is part of Gary Gerard Group a local blues and classic rock trio run by the general manager of the Times-Union.
Two weeks ago, DeGroff released “SALT,” a progressive rock album on Rottweiler Records that includes nine songs, including three with vocals from Schlitt.
The project is something he’s thought about for years.
“I had to do this. It was in my system – had to get it out of my system or I was going to go nuts,” DeGroff said last week.
DeGroff calls it the musician’s music.
“I just love the technical stuff where you get to shine as a musician. That’s why I listen to jazz.”
Prog rock sometimes feels a bit psychedelic and generally focuses on instrumental prowess. The genre moved to the forefront of rock music in the 70s with the help of Pink Floyd, King Crimson and Yes.
“All that stuff came out when I was in high school and I just loved it, but could never find too many guys who wanted to play it and it wasn’t commercial, but that’s where my head's always been at. And then I started listening to jazz.”
SALT is a reference to Matthew 5:13, which calls on people to be the salt and the light of the world.
DeGroff financed the SALT project. He wrote nearly all of the music and produced the entire collection. He said he held off on rehearsing until he could afford to go into the studio, saying he didn’t want to waste people’s time.
He approached Schlitt a few years ago with the idea of participating. Schlitt said he’d be happy to help.
Schlitt is member of Unions of Saints and Sinners, and has the John Schlitt Band. He also plays with the Jay Sekulow Band, whose namesake is an attorney for President Donald Trump, and has gained notoriety on You Tube for some of its covers.
Schlitt and prog rock, DeGroff said, go well together.
“His voice and his range fits that style of music so well,” he said.
In addition to Schlitt, DeGroff drew on past and current associations to round out his lineup of musicians.
Dan Leu, who grew up with DeGroff in from West Unity, Ohio, and played with him in various bands, plays guitar on the collection.
“I just made up my mind, if I got a shot to do anything, I wanted Dan on it,” DeGroff said.
Curtis George, also of the Gary Gerard Group, provided percussion. Others appearing on the album are Kevin Kyle, John McCorkle and Garry Jones. His wife, Jennifer, plays flute on the song, “Silk and Cookies.”
The basis for two songs, “Runnin’” and “From Yes To No and Back Again,” were first written during his time with Petra and evolved over the years.
DeGroff said he’s pleased with the results. “I really believe ‘SALT” is going to pleasantly surprise a lot of people … in both the Petra/GHF fan base and Rottweiler Records family. I’m extremely proud of it.”
While some might label him a Christian musician, he considers himself a musician who is a Christian.
DeGroff views his time with Petra as a step in his musical journey, but he is fond of the recognition the band carries and the fact that all of the original members were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
“I’ll always be associated with the name Petra and it gives me a lot of credibility as a musician,” he said.
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