Media/Arts

Aug. 17, 2006

‘Monk Rock’ makes concert stop in Flagstaff

By Catherine E. Hanley
The Catholic Sun

FLAGSTAFF — After attending John Michael Talbot’s first local concert three years ago, San Francisco de Asís parishioner Christina Anaya is looking forward to his return performance.

Anaya vividly recalls how the audience enjoyed its upbeat, fun time as well as the spiritual nature of Talbot’s music and the creative ability of its performers.

“I really hope to get there again this year,” she said.

Local Catholic Mary Esther Stewart agrees. “It was enjoyable, inspirational and, at times, the music was familiar enough for the audience to sing along as their favorite songs were played.”

Talbot and the “Monk Rock” tour — 7 p.m., Aug. 27, at Northern Arizona University — promises to be an electrifying event with something for people of all ages.

Accompanying Talbot are Tom Booth, Terry Talbot and the reorganized band Mason Proffit. Selections include all new songs from Talbot’s 2005 release titled “Monk Rock,” a high energy, electric album known to get audiences on their feet.

Referred to as the “Troubadour of the Lord,” Talbot, 52, traveled a great part of his spiritual journey searching for his relationship with Christ through his music, while striving to use his musical talent for the good of others.

The positive and negative impact of success was a strong energy causing him to search within himself while exploring various pathways to gain knowledge and insight into diverse religions and cultures, he said.

He and his brother, Terry, eventually joined the “Jesus Movement” and recorded their well-known album, “Reborn.”

Talbot was born in Oklahoma City into a Methodist family with a musical background. He realized his musical talent at age 10 when he began learning to play guitar. He dropped out of school at 15 when he and his brother formed a country folk/rock band named Mason Proffit.

Talbot’s journey in the 1970s created great change in his life. For a time, he withdrew from the public eye following a failed marriage. After studying the life of St. Francis, Talbot followed up on his desire to know more about Christ and began studying at a Franciscan center in Indianapolis.

Talbot converted to Catholicism and soon after joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1978. He then started a house of prayer and ultimately formed his own community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity.

San Francisco de Asís parishioners Deborah Ann Ballard and Debra Brandis are members of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity. Ballard portrays the community as being Catholic-based and made up of two expressions:

One, an integrated monastic expression that is the basis of the community, and the other being the domestic expression of those who live throughout the world in their homes.

Ballard and Brandis are very involved in the promotional activity preceding Talbot’s concert.

In addition to the Flagstaff performance, Talbot will perform at St. Timothy Parish in Mesa on Aug. 28 and Our Mother of Sorrows in Tucson on Aug. 29.

For information, call (928) 527-8672.

File photo by Nancy Wiechec
Catholic musician John Michael Talbot, pictured here performing at a Phoenix event in 1998, released “Monk Rock” in 2005. Aside from his frequent music tours, Talbot maintains a simple life at a hermitage for the Brothers and Sisters of Charity near Eureka Springs in Arkansas.