DeGarmo & Key

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DeGarmo & Key
Last Known Label	Forefront
First release	1978
Wikipedia Page	DeGarmo and Key

DeGarmo & Key was a band that started in 1978 and continued through 1994. The primary members and the source of the band's name were Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key.

History

DeGarmo & Key was a Christian Rock group that started professionally in 1978. The primary members were Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key. Eddie played keyboards and sang background vocals (and occasionally lead), while Dana played lead guitar and did the majority of the lead vocals. Other members included Tommy Cathey on bass and Greg Morrow on drums. The group's music was of the pop and rock genres. Their best known songs are: Destined to Win (also the title of their 1992's early "best of" album: Destined to Win); Let the Whole World Sing; Six, Six, Six; Boycott Hell; Every Moment; andCasual Christian. Also most noted for their 1986 album "Streetlight", their 1987 album D&K, and their 1989 album "The Pledge". Other notable musicians who have recorded and/or toured with DeGarmo & Key include:Kenny Porter(bass), Kevin Rodell (drums), Chuck Reynolds (drums), Steve Taylor (guitar) (not related to another Steve Taylor, also a popular CCM artist) and Mark Pogue (guitar).

Eddie and Dana have individually recorded solo albums.

During Spring 2007 Dana and Eddie received the ASCAP Vision Award at the 29th Annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards.

Dana Key and Eddie DeGarmo reunited to do a concert on October 21, 2007 at TLC Church in Cordova, Tennessee.

DeGarmo and Key played at the 2008 Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois.

Dana Key died on June 6, 2010 from complications associated with a blood clot; although he had previous health problems, his death was unexpected.

The duo was inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Hall of Fame in January 2011.

Facts

• DeGarmo & Key were nominated for seven Grammy Awards and 17 Dove Awards.
• Eddie and Dana grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, near Graceland. The liner notes from Greatest Hits Volume 1 cites Elvis Presley as a musical influence.
• Season 3 American Idol finalist Diana DeGarmo is the niece of Eddie DeGarmo.
• Eddie and Dana were originally in a short-lived band named Globe. After Eddie & Dana became Christians, they approached the other band members wanting to change the direction of the band to Christian music. After much discussion, Dana & Eddie parted as friends, leaving Globe (around 1973). The remaining Globe members continued and in 1975, changed the name of the band to Natchez. Natchez is still together and performing in the Memphis/Mid-South area 38 years later. Before Dana & Eddie recorded their first studio album, the pair had left Globe(due to becoming Christians), and for a short time, stopped performing music in live venues. They were later influenced by Larry Norman's album Only Visiting This Planet. They saw in Larry's work what they believed God could do through Contemporary Christian music and so started The DeGarmo & Key Band (the name listed on their first four albums), later shortening the name to DeGarmo & Key.
• Bassist Tommy Cathey's trademark look was a black suit and shirt with a white tie, white fedora with a black band, and sunglasses.
• "Are You Ready" from Communication was a cover of the 1970 hit single by Pacific Gas & Electric (band).
• DeGarmo & Key were the first Christian group to have a music video appear on MTV. The original video for the song "Six, Six, Six" was one of a number of videos that MTV pulled from rotation due to violent content. The purge was a public reaction to the U.S. Senate hearings on sex and violence in music. MTV had ironically misinterpreted the song "Six, Six, Six" as an anti-Christian statement. According to industry news reports at the time, MTV exec Sandra Sparrow was unaware that DeGarmo & Key were a Christian band when she included the video in a list of videos to be excised. An embarrassed MTV allowed DeGarmo & Key to submit a re-edited version, which was placed back into rotation. Removed from the re-edited video was a short scene of a man representing the Antichrist being set on fire.
• The album D&K was packaged with a second cassette with identical content, but a different color theme. The package was intended to be purchased at the price of a single cassette, then the second cassette was to be given to an "unsaved friend".
• The Album "D&K" came in 3 different versions --- LP, Cassette & CD. Each version of the album had different song lengths.
• The song "Don't Stop the Music" was a response to the anti-"Christian Rock" position of evangelist Jimmy Swaggart.
• The liner notes to the album D&K, for the song "Brother Against Brother" included the words "dedicated to Jimmy Swaggart" blacked out but still visible on close inspection.
• Of all of the group's backing musicians, Tommy Cathey (bass guitar) and Greg Morrow (drums) played the most with Eddie DeGarmo & Dana Key.

Albums

• This Time Thru -- 1978
• Straight On -- 1979
• This Ain't Hollywood -- 1980
• No Turning Back: Live -- 1982
• Mission of Mercy -- 1983
• Communication -- 1984
• Commander Sozo and the Charge of the Light Brigade -- 1985
• Streetlight -- 1986
• Streetrock: Original Rock from DeGarmo & Key -- 1987
• D&K -- 1987
• Rock Solid: Absolutely Live -- 1988
• The Pledge -- 1989
• Go to the Top -- 1991
• Destined to Win: The Classic Rock Collection -- 1992
• Heat It Up -- 1993
• Greatest Hits Volume 1 -- 1994
• To Extremes -- 1994

Videography

• Visions of the Light Brigade, 1985: featuring music videos for: "Competition," "Six, Six, Six" (edited version for MTV), "Six, Six, Six" (original un-edited version), "Destined to Win" (with Jessie Dixon), and "Alleluia Christ is Coming".
• The Air Care Project: Rock 'n' Roll Outreach to Africa, 1987: featuring music videos for: "Activate", "Up On a Cross", "Casual Christian", and "Every Moment".
• Rock Solid... The Rock-U-Mentary!", 1988: Live concert, featuring the line-up of songs from the album "Rock Solid: Absolutely Live". Also on the video is a brief history of DeGarmo & Key, comically reported by a "news reporter" (played by Jim J. Bullock) while trying to interview DeGarmo & Key.
• Take the Pledge, 1989: featuring music videos for: "Hand in Hand", "Rock Solid", "The Pledge", "Feels Good to Be Forgiven" (Eddie DeGarmo), and also "Heavenbound" by DC Talk. Also on the video is an interview with Eddie DeGarmo & Dana Key by 1989 CCM Magazine editor, John W. Styll.
• Go to the Top, 1991: featuring music videos "shot on location in Memphis, Tennessee": "I Believe", "Ultimate Ruler", "Go to the Top", "Against the Night", "Family Reunion", "The Rest of My Life". Also featured on the video are highlights of Memphis, Tennessee, "shot on location".