1954 Born in Clinton, North Carolina; taken to live on a tobacco farm, perhaps a foreshadowing of the life to follow.
1966 Learns chords G, C, and D from his older sister, a famous assistant director of a local church day camp, in order to play "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron."
1971 Forms the CS&N copy-band "Union Pacific;" gets tired of explaining how a southeastern high school band has the name "Union Pacific;" learns that a guitar can serve to weave a conducive romantic atmosphere when employed judiciously near the end of a date with a special girl, or just a willing one.
1972 Goes to Appalachian State University (ASU) and co-founds "Stoney Creek;" Opens for Daryl Hall and John Oates, Goose Creek Symphony, and the Dooby Brothers; learns the appeal of the Big Stage, Stabbing Spotlights, and Voluminous Applause; begins to contemplate a rise from obscurity.
1973 Becomes a strolling musician at Carowinds, a theme park on the North/South Carolina state line, excitedly anticipating playing his compositions for park visitors; tourists' most common comment is "Can you play any John Denver?" A firm footing in obscurity seems assured.
1974 Seals and Crofts almost use Stoney Creek's equipment for a concert at ASU when a snowstorm strands their semi in Lenoir, North Carolina. The show starts two and a half hours late, though, when Dash Crofts sees Stoney Creek's equipment and says, "We'll wait on our truck."
1975 Joins the bluegrass band "Dawker Mountain Valley Boys," a regular bluegrass band at "Carowinds;" develops a life-long hatred of "Rocky Top," "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," and "Orange Blossom Special."
1976 The Dawkers record the album "Bound to Ride," released in March; "Pickin' Magazine," a bluegrass industry journal consulted by many bluegrass fans and artists, reviews "Bound to Ride" and calls it one of the worst pretensions they've ever heard; quote: "Sounds like a bunch of rock-n-rollers who picked up bluegrass instruments," which was actually right on target.
1976 Drexel goes to live in Austria, but not because of the "Bound to Ride" review; plays regularly in a Salzburg youth center and tours with a Dutch/Austrian/American ensemble called "Sein;" learns that "Kum ba Ya" in German is still "Kum ba Ya."
1977 Records first solo album, "Mountain Climber" in Rome, Italy with an engineer who speaks no English; odd sounding mix; at least in Europe you can drown your obscurity in better beer.
1978 Returns to the USA and tours clubs, performing original music and peddling "Mountain Climber;" common comment -- "Can you play Marguritaville?"
1979 Moves to Louisville, Kentucky, enters seminary, and moves to contemporary Christian music; no one notices, except Julie.
1979 Marries Julie.
1980-1984 Discovers numerous obscure venues which reward original song-writing with tepid applause and equally conservative pay.
1984 Peddles demo tape to a host of Nashville CCM producers; further obscurity universally assured; continues to tour occasionally and play in out-of-the way places.
1989 Daughter, Melissa born; obscurity doesn't matter to her.
1989 Awarded Ph. D. in the Psychology of Religion.
1990 Moves to Middleburg, Virginia; plays in the bluegrass band for a Middleburg Players production of "The Cotton Patch Gospel."
1992 Moves to Winchester, Virginia and becomes pastor of a Big Church with a wealth of committees; hears Robin and Linda Williams perform "Don't Let Me Come Home a Stranger" and feels indicted.
1996 Founds "Doc Rayford and the Deacons" and tours Slovakia playing bluegrass music; upon return to the USA, the mandolin player quits the band and leaves the church.
1998 - Establishes Vagrants Chapel Music, BMI; so far, no Grammy.
1999 Moves to Richmond, Virginia and out of the pastorate to become a denominational bureaucrat; intensifies song-writing; takes first of eight trips to Brazil, two to China, and five back to Austria.
2000 Bluegrass Band "Front Range" records Drexel's song "Roll Call," which goes to number one on the Bluegrass Gospel charts in May of that year.
2001 Receives first and last royalty check from "Roll Call," enough to take the whole family (of 3) to Dairy Queen.
2002 Another version of "Doc Rayford and the Deacons" tours Austria. This time, no one loses his or her faith.
2002-2005 Joins the "Tabernacle Basement Band" for a three-year run of Sunday night performances on the un-broadcast radio show "Coming Home to the Fan;" in September, the Basement Band does its Farewell Tour of all the towns in Virginia east of I-81, north of Rt. 501, and west of US 29 along county Rt. 662.
2005 Becomes pastor of Walnut Grove Baptist Church; obscurity doesn't matter to them, either.
2007 Releases "Cherokee Road" to a carefully nurtured but unsuspecting fan base numbering literally in the tens.
2007 - Selected as a regional finalist in the 2007 Mountain Stage NewSong contest. During the competition in Vienna, Virginia, Drexel is placed between two beautiful, twenty-something women who also happened to be excellent song-writers and performers. At least Julie noticed Drexel.