When I was growing up in the '90s, it felt like Whiteheart was second only to Petra as far as popular Christian rock bands go. Yet, comparatively, they weren't active for that long a period. After only about 15 years and several member changes, the band decided to retire. With 1997's Redemption, Whiteheart offered fans one final album before riding off into the Christian music sunset. As that final album turns 25 this year, I look back at the classic rock band's illustrious career.
Setting the Stage
Whiteheart was well known for undergoing several member changes during its run. Of their original lineup, only Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl remained with the band until the end. Fortunately for Whiteheart, these were the band's primary songwriters, helping keep Whiteheart's true core intact. Rick Florian joined as the band's third lead singer for their 1986 album, Don't Wait For The Movie.His powerful arena rock vocals instantly became an iconic fit and helped Whiteheart feel right at home in the sounds popular in 1980s rock.
As supporting members changed around them, Florian would join Smiley and Gersmehl in the band's nucleus. When the band wound down their run in the latter half of the '90s, the three men were the sole members remaining as they went to record their final album.
Shedding their iconic flowing 1980s hairdos, they also refined their big arena rock sound into a more acoustic-driven rock sound reminiscent of what bands like Jars of Clay and Smalltown Poets were doing at the time. With support from some studio musicians, this combination produced what would be the band's most polarizing album yet, a final endeavor into a new sonic frontier for a band that always prided themselves on a more artistic musical presentation.
A New Direction
Never one to shy away from the struggles Christians face, the atmosphere of this record is decidedly darker. The melodies are often somber and low-key. The musical hooks are subtle and understated. Even many of the choruses don't explode into the classic Whiteheart bombast but keep a low-key introspective mood.
"Honestly" is a great example of one of the album's ballads in this new style. "Man Overboard" and "Steel and Stone" check off the boxes for being rockers, but their influences make them so much more mysterious and moodier than some of the band's previous output.
"Fall On Me" offers perhaps the band's most radio-ready cut, boasting some of the most upbeat moments on the record. "Love is Everything" gives listeners a sober reflection on the value of our loved ones in one of the record's best melodies. "Remember This" is one of the record's few anthemic moments and stands out more as a result.
The band closes off the album (and their discography) with the rocking "Jesus," an energetic and gritty rock number that sings of the truth of who Christ is.
Fans used to the sound that evoked comparisons to bands like Toto and Yes would likely be shocked by the album's musical direction. Yet, it seems oddly fitting that the band bowed out with what is easily their most mature sounding to date.
One of the Greats
The farther we get from the early decades of Christian music, the more artists from eras past seem to get overlooked in the growing body of musicians to leave a mark on the industry. Whiteheart's music doesn't seem to have the impact on modern artists that those who stuck around into the 2000s do. Still, their mark can be felt in some corners of the Christian music world. While aside from a few reunion shows here or there or a musical nugget, the band has largely remained in retirement, some of their members still make music in their own spaces.
Co-vocalist and keyboardist Mark Gersmehl writes and records music with his wife Brynn (from the Christian band, Rachel Rachel) under the name Soulbreather. While musically unlike his work with Whiteheart, fans of his signature deep vocals can still find something to love in their body of work.
Billy Smiley remains active as part of the classic Christian supergroup, The Union of Sinners and Saints. While Rick Florian has largely left the music industry behind him, every now and then you can spot him popping up for a show or as a guest vocalist on a project.
Whiteheart might not be a band younger Christian music fans know much about. But for those willing to overlook a style that is a product of the decades in which it was recorded, they might just be surprised how much they'd enjoy looking back at their body of work. As someone who grew up with Whiteheart, but largely discovered most of their music in recent years, I can say firsthand it was like discovering a whole new band for the very first time.
J.J. Francesco is a long-time contributor to the NRT Staff. He's published the novel 'Because of Austin' and regularly seeks new ways to engage faith, life, and community. He is currently working on releasing a brand new novel.
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