In 1977, DeGarmo and Key signed on to Pat Boone's record label, Lamb and Lion, and their career in Christian music took off. From the late 1970s to the early 1990s they were one of the biggest bands in contemporary Christian music. They recorded twelve studio albums, were nominated for seven
Grammy Awards, and also were nominated for the Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards 17 times. They also produced music videos. In 1988 the band released a live concert video, "Rock Solid, " and in 1991 a six-song video collection, "Go to the Top, " was released. Their music video
Six, Six, Six (from their 1984 album, "Communication, ") was the first video by a Christian band to be put into rotation on MTV. Their videos were also seen on VH-1, CBN, CMT, TNN, and other cable TV video shows.
Dana Key and Eddie DeGarmo formed Christian recording label ForeFront in 1987. In 1994, they split as a band. EMI Christian Music Group bought ForeFront in 1996; Eddie DeGarmo is still involved with the company.
Dana Key had recorded a solo album in 1990 called
The Journey: Walking with Jesus. He released another album in 1995,
Part of the Mystery, and also was involved in starting up another record label, Ardent Records.
Over the past several years, Dana Key founded, and was currently pastoring, a church in Cordova, Tennessee. In 2007 he reunited with Eddie DeGarmo and fellow D&K bandmates Greg Morrow and Tommy Cathey and played sporadically, most recently in Asheville, North Carolina.
I remember seeing DeGarmo and Key in concert when they were the opening/backup band for a young gal just getting her start in Christian music; her name was Amy Grant. Several years later I attended another D&K show; this time they were being fronted by an up-and-coming band of three young men known as dcTalk. (Both Amy and dcTalk went on to huge success in both Christian and mainstream music.) Both Eddie and Dana were energetic in performance, and very strong in their Christian faith.
Dana Key may no longer be with us and making music here on this earth, but I have no doubt he is more alive than ever and making music like never before, before his God and Savior. His musical legacy, as well as his example of steadfast faith, will live on in the hearts of his fans and all those who knew and loved him well. I will be revisiting that musical legacy as I dig out my D&K tapes and videos.....
Rock on, Dana.
Resources:
www.gomemphis.com/news
www.snarkfood.com/christian-rock-singer-dana-key-dead-at-56/38733/
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_Key
By
Becky Whittemore -
Born and raised in Michigan, and except for a brief stint in Texas, a lifelong resident of the Great Lakes State. I enjoy writing about many different things, including special events, local attractions, mu...
