James Payne: 2007 ICM Living Legend; The Prodigy - The Miracle
James Payne: 2007 ICM Living Legend; The Prodigy - The Miracle
By: Vickie Gardner
James Payne likes to be referred to as “A preacher who sings … not a singer who preaches.” Yet he certainly lives up to his title of a Living Legend in Christian Country music. He has been a true pioneer of
this genre and will continue to be an advocate of its advancement and growth. James does not write songs he has read about, he writes songs he has lived. When the industry tried to persuade him to change his style, James became even more determined to stick to his roots. He knew his music could change people’s lives and reach them in a way other styles could not. This had become his heart’s desire, and he wasn’t about to give in.
A Grammy nominated songwriter, James has written over 2000 songs. He has released his 24th project and is currently working on his 25th. His signature song, “The Night Jack Daniels Met John 3:16″ reflects his dedication to this genre of music and many other hits have followed. The industry and fans began to refer to James as the “Whiskey Man.” They arrived at this name because of the last two lines in the chorus of the song ‘I Traded Tennessee Whiskey For Calvary’s Tree, That Night Old Jack Daniels Met John 3:16.’ As the video began to play on TBN and other television networks, James said people would see him in airports, restaurants, on the street and at church, and they would point and say, there goes that “Whiskey Man.” His classic signature song “The Night Ole Jack Daniel’s Met John 3:16,” was not only a hit in Gospel / Christian Country music, but also crossed over on the Country charts. It reached number one on many large Country music stations and stayed there for several weeks. “The Night Ole Jack Daniels Met John 3:16″ also received a Song of the Year nomination.
James said, “When this song went out, over 100 letters a day started pouring into my office from people who were touched by the song. Several came from truck drivers who came to know Jesus after hearing the song on Country radio. I received a letter from Kansas City from a man who said he had been sitting on the couch with a 45-caliber pistol in his mouth. After hearing ‘The Night Jack Daniels Met John 3:16,’ he gave his heart to Jesus Christ and he was instantly delivered from alcohol addiction.” Paul and Jan Crouch both admitted that James Payne’s music touched an audience that TBN had never been able to touch. Both Paul and Jan went to great extremes to insure that the world heard the music of James Payne, producing several amazing videos that brought the story of each song to life. James is quick to express his thanks and gratitude to Paul and Jan Crouch and the TBN family for helping to expose his music to the masses.
James success in ministry is a product of the anointing power of Jesus in a way that very few of us can only begin to imagine. Not many people have the chance to die and live again, but this was not the case for James Payne. God had other plans!
James grew up in a family of nine children. He was only 11 years old when he took his first drink of whiskey. By the time he was 17, he was drinking at least a fifth of Jack Daniels a day. By this time, he was shooting heroin in his veins. His addiction continued to spiral out of control leading to an overdose. He was left laying in a field missing for 3 days. When they found him, they rushed him to the hospital where the doctors performed emergency surgery. James died on the table. James says, “I felt my spirit leave my body and hover over my bed in the hospital room. I heard the doctors pronounce me dead and I watched as they pulled the sheet over my head. Everyone left the room, the lights were out and I realized they were leaving me for the undertaker. Suddenly, I saw a demon came out of a long dark tunnel filled with fire shouting, ‘We’ve got you now!’” It was at this point a bright light appeared in the room. I heard a voice tell the demon to go back where it came from. As the demon ran back into the tunnel, James says he felt himself float back into his body. James said, “When I opened my eyes, Jesus was standing at the foot of my bed. As Jesus touched me on my right foot he simply said, “I’m going to raise you up and you are going to carry the Gospel around the world.” That is all James remembers of that night.
When he awoke the next morning, he opened the drawer at the hospital searching for something and came across a Gideon Bible. He grew up in a home without a bible, so this was the first time he had opened its pages. He opened it and began to read. James said, “I just started praying, ‘Jesus, why would you want me? I’m a drunk, I’m a drug addict, and I’ve never done one good thing in my life. Jesus, I don’t know what I could have to offer you but if you want me, I am YOURS.’”
That day James was the first in his family to come to know Jesus Christ and His wonderful love, faith and forgiveness. Let me tell you, when Jesus touches you, miraculous things begin to happen! James had never been able to carry a tune in his life. He did not grow up singing, it was a gift that God gave to him after he saved him. He began singing in the church where he was attending, and that is where his music ministry started. James recalls, “The first time I sang in church, I sang all the verses and choruses to ‘I Saw The Light’ in less than one minute. I was so nervous my knees were clapping.”
In a short time after, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and became pastor to a congregation including, The Oak Ridge Boys, Opry legends Billy Walker and Jimmy Gatley, and the Hinson Family. James says, “The Hinsons were very instrumental in helping me to hone my songwriting skills and I will be forever grateful.” James’ first song was “The Cloud He’s Coming Back On” recorded by The Happy Goodman Family. The song became a top five hit and earned him 1984 ASCAP Award for Most Prolific Songwriter of the Year!
Today, James’ list of songwriter credits reads like a “Who’s Who of singers.” His songs have been recorded by artists such as White River, Mike Purkey, Vern Jackson, Betty Jean Robinson, The Happy Goodman Family, Rusty Goodman, Kenny Hinson, The Florida Boys, Jimmy Swaggart, Lee Greenwood, Ricky Van Shelton, Wendy Bagwell, Dixie Echoes, Terri Gibbs, The Stamps, The Sound, and Tanya Goodman, just to name a few.
James’ last released project, Honky Tonk Salvation has been a great success in the Christian Country market. Tracks include: “House Of Good News,” “Dancing With Delilah,” “Honky Tonk Salvation,” the title track and first release that climbed to No. 2 on the CC chart. His second release “Mama’s Hall Of Fame,” climbed to No. 1 spot. Other songs are: “Smoking Gospel Grass,” “Blood & Whiskey,” “Way Down Yonder,” “Healing Hands Of Jesus,” “House Built By The Blood,” and “Hanging On A Nail.” James latest successful release “That Same Altar” is currently climbing the charts. “Dancing With Delilah,” his next planned release, I have no doubt will be a phenomenal success.
A new project is also in the works. James says, “Thanks to my son Adrian David Payne and Brent Mason, we recorded a project that can stand up beside the very best Country projects today. The songs are original, positive, well-written, and the highest quality production possible. I know everyone is going to love the new project. I believe it is the very best CD I’ve ever recorded. My son Adrian and I worked together on most of the tracks. My son Mark also helped me in the writing of a few. This project has a modern updated sound. All the musicians agreed it was Mainstream. Our goal is to reach people with quality music with a great message.”
Other projects include, American Pride, John 3:16, Have You Heard The News, Hank, Jesus and Jesse James, his self-titled CD James Payne.
His Christmas project, Three Wise Men And One Fool is one I would advise anyone to purchase. It is original in content and a project the whole family will enjoy throughout the holidays.
He also has several Teaching DVDs available for purchase including: Sowing and Reaping, I’m Next, and Blessings Of First-Fruit Giving. I know you will enjoy these as much as you have enjoyed his monthly articles on Biblical Economics. I encourage everyone to visit www.jamespayneministries.com where you will find these great products and more information on this powerful ministry.
Throughout his 30 plus years of full-time ministry he has appeared on the nation’s greatest networks, preached in some of the greatest churches, and performed with the greatest musicians, and he is not showing any signs of slowing down but rather gaining momentum. He is still in great demand for revivals, camp meetings, and TV appearances. James has become instrumental in helping others in ways he could not have imagined before. His heart’s desire is to follow the destiny he has found through Jesus and to break the spirit of containment off of people’s lives.
I have to admit, upon realizing the success of James, I was a little intimidated. It didn’t take long for that barrier to be broken. Before long, he would have me laughing about something every time he walked into the office. He is what I call ‘down-to-earth real’ and one of the most generous and grateful people I have ever met.
James eyes shine as he talks of his wife Ruby, his sons, Adrian David Payne and Mark Payne, their wives and grandchildren. He knows that he has been extremely blessed by God in so many areas of his life. He is most grateful to Him for bringing him out of a life of misery and to a life of joy and peace with a heart to live for Him and His Kingdom so others can know the healing power of Jesus.
James is not only a Living Legend in Christian Country Music, He is a soul-winning, life-changing, Minister of the Gospel.
This article has been reprinted by permission from Powersource Magazine.