There is no doubt music can be a powerful influence in life. It
can affect mood, attitude, even behavior. Gilroy resident Richard
Spremich wants to ensure music has a positive effect on
audiences.
There is no doubt music can be a powerful influence in life. It can affect mood, attitude, even behavior. Gilroy resident Richard Spremich wants to ensure music has a positive effect on audiences.
Spremich grew up in a tough neighborhood of San Francisco’s Mission District. His abusive father left his mother early on, and growing up was a struggle.
Playing music became his way of life, and by the age of 13 Spremich was playing drums professionally.
In high school, he played with a band, Naked Lunch, which merged with another band to form Malo, featuring Carlos Santana’s brother Jorge. They became very popular with their hit recording “Suavecito.”
Unfortunately, success in the music business often has unintended consequences, and Spremich soon found himself addicted to drugs and alcohol.
Three serious automobile accidents later, Spremich was forced to abandon his music career due to neck and shoulder injuries which forced him to stop playing. Continuing to abuse drugs, his marriage and a successful businesses failed.
In 1990, he had a conversion experience while walking by a church in Foster City.
The sound of the hymn “Amazing Grace” being performed inside coupled with the disastrous state of his personal life caused him to realize that his soul’s salvation and a new life lay in accepting Jesus Christ as personal savior and returning to music, but in a different direction: playing as part of a worship team during services at Central Peninsula Church.
Life hasn’t been completely smooth for the Christian musician since then.
He’s lost a good job because of an ethical stand he took against his former employer, and he was nearly crippled by a freak accident while stepping off a curb.
But with the support of his new wife, Melanie, and three daughters he found joy in life only God could give him in “glorifying God by serving people in need, proclaiming the Gospel, and establishing disciples.”
Spremich’s vehicle for doing this is Prince of Peace Records, a new label that produces Christian music.
Its first release is “Conversion” by The Damascus Experience, “a spirit-led group of four musicians playing Christ-centered songs with contemporary rhythms.”
MP3 samples are available on the internet at www.tdxband.com, and it can be purchased on the internet at Amazon.com.
Spremich has also opened a School of Music for piano, bass, guitar and drum players. He describes it as “a safe place where musicians at all skill levels can get musical and instructional ideas that are Christian-based.”
He warns that “when followers of Christ go to the world for instruction and ideas, they lose a hedge of protection, opening a pipeline for the enemy into their homes, which is especially dangerous for children.”
Another project Spremich is working on is establishing Shield of Faith. This nonprofit organization will mentor and help develop new Christian music artists while distributing profits from Prince of Peace Records to other Christian ministries.
For more information about any of these call (408) 848-6555.
