Meet Howard Gripp, a man who wears many hats: husband, father, brother, uncle, and proud grandfather of seven. By day, he's an I.T. Director for a chipping potato company, but beyond the office, his world revolves around sports and music. Whether shooting hoops, hitting the golf course or cheering on his favorite football team, his passion for sports is matched only by his lifelong love for music. His musical journey started at six, with an old drum set in his parents' basement, and has now evolved into a more profound calling. Guided by his faith, he's found a new purpose in spreading God’s message through his songs, embracing the motto, “Spreading God’s Word, one song at a time.” Join us as we sit down with this multi-talented individual to discuss his journey, family life, and music's role in his faith.
Could you tell us about your journey to becoming an artist?
Music runs deep in my family—especially on my mother's side. She was a talented organist and sang in the church choir, and she passed that musical gene down to my brother Bob and me. I picked up the drums at six and continued playing music throughout high school. By 16, I had formed a band called Flight and played my first gig, which began my musical journey. I played in rock bands for years and even recorded a CD with a record company in Los Angeles, California, called "Stinger."
Though I started as a rocker, everything changed when Jesus entered my life and placed a calling on my heart to use my talents for something more meaningful. That’s when I transitioned into the Christian contemporary and rock genre. This new direction has reignited my passion, making me feel like a kid again. I'm now driven by a purpose to make a difference in the world through my music, and it’s an exciting journey that I’m eager to continue.
Could you tell us about your latest project? What's the story and inspiration behind the release?
My latest project is my first Christian EP release, which has been an incredible journey. We began releasing songs from the EP in late July, with a new track every four weeks until the total EP drops in early November. The inspiration behind this release is deeply personal, as it reflects my salvation and the journey that led me to this point.
The songs on the EP explore themes of being rescued, redeemed, and forgiven during the lowest moments of my life. They touch on salvation, falling short of God's glory, and finding the strength to rise again, seek forgiveness, and get back on the right path. The focus track, "Fearless," embodies the strength I've found in Jesus, showing that I can face anything life throws my way with Him.
Why did you transition from rock to Christian rock and contemporary?
As I mentioned, I’ve played rock music for most of my life, starting with my first gig at 16. I pursued the dream of being a big rock star, but I promised myself that if I hadn’t made it by age 35, I’d hang it up—and I did. Still, the itch to play never really went away. A couple of years later, I joined another band that lasted a short time. Eventually, I played secular music in a few different acoustic duos.
About two years ago, though, I felt God calling me to do something different with my music. I attended Lifest, a music festival here in Wisconsin, and left inspired to start writing Christian music. But the journey was new, and life got in the way. I went to Lifest again last year, and that’s when everything changed. I saw contemporary artist Ben Fuller perform, and it was as if God was using him as a vessel to motivate me. The next day, I woke up in my hotel room and wrote my first Christian song. My redemption song, "He Rescued Me," became one of the first two songs I recorded.
Since then, I’ve taken a Christian songwriting course through Nashville Christian Songwriters (NCS), and its founder, John Chism, recorded my first Christian EP and started to release it. The past year or so has been an incredible journey—God has been working overtime with the music He’s given me, and I’m excited to see where this path leads.
Could you tell us about your journey to work with NRT Music?
I was introduced to NRT Music at its inception through founder Kevin McNeese. I had the chance to meet with Kevin in Nashville at the Objective music event. It was an incredible experience to become the first artist signed to NRT Music, and I'm excited about the future ahead. My initial connection with Kevin was made through an Artist Development program with John Chism of Nashville Christian Songwriters, where Kevin was involved in the marketing development portion. That’s how our paths first crossed, and I’m proud to call Kevin a close friend today.
What other projects are you currently working on?
I'll record a music video for "Hello It’s Me" in October and release it around early November, coinciding with the full EP launch. I'll work with a Christian company called BackFlip based in Madison, Wisconsin.
Additionally, I've scheduled an EP release concert for the first Saturday in November at my church, Crossview, in Wisconsin Rapids. I'm excited to bring up three talented musicians from Nashville who played on the EP to join me for the concert. It promises to be a great show.
I also plan to record my second EP in the Nashville studio in January 2025.
Who are some of your musical inspirations? Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?
My musical inspirations include Christian artists Ben Fuller, Zach Williams, Matthew West and Christian rock bands Kutless and Skillet.
I’ve enjoyed collaborating with musician Rob Frazier and would love to work with him again. Another artist I’d be excited to collaborate with is Ben Fuller. His powerful lyrics and heartfelt delivery of his songs truly inspired me to start writing Christian music.
Finally, how can we be praying for you?
Please pray for my ongoing growth and journey in faith. Pray that I remain humble and focus on God, avoiding distractions from the various aspects of this journey. I ask for prayers for those battling addiction that they may find faith and hope in Jesus to guide them out of darkness, especially as there are struggles within my own family. Pray that I continue to follow the paths God opens for me and have the wisdom to walk away from those He closes.
Paul Phillips is a Canadian journalist with more than 20 years of experience writing and editing digital and print content. He specializes in health, fitness, nutrition, and travel. He loves music, movies, and, of course, living for Jesus.
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