Drexel Rayford
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.