Country recording artist swings through Fallon

Click to Enlarge Christy Lattin • LVN photo Christian country music artist Justin Todd Herod visited Fallon radio station KHWG Wednesday morning. After his on-air interview, Herod recorded several songs from his latest album, which will be broadcast on KHWG's Ol' Time Gospel Hour today at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. Browse and Buy Lahontan Valley News Photos

CHRISTY LATTIN
CHRISTY LATTIN, clattin@lahontanvalleynews.com
August 19, 2007, 12:05 AM

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County music artist Justin Todd Herod stopped in Fallon Wednesday during a short Northern Nevada tour to chat with local radio station disc jockey Dee Gregory and record acoustic versions of his latest songs.

Herod, who displays perfect Southern manners, talked with Gregory on air before meeting with a fan in the office and sitting down for an interview. He played at the Jarbidge Days festival earlier in the week and was headed to play for two churches in Washoe Valley Wednesday evening.

"I love the people out here," Herod told Gregory. "They're really great folks."

Herod is promoting his fifth album "Be Still," released earlier this year on the Backroads label. His music is contemporary Christian country and his message is simple - he wants people to know how God changed his life.

As a young man, Herod said he played guitar and sang in nightclubs in Texas when he was only 12 years old. He continued in the county music scene, and according to his online biography, was a member of an "up and coming" band in the mid-1990s when he realized the path he was on couldn't fill the void in his soul.

"I had a prodigal son experience," Herod said. "Even though I'm not proud of that, it's a testimony of how God changed my life."

Shortly after he gave his life to God, Herod began writing Christian country songs. He has more than 100 songs published and recorded. He spent two years writing and recording his last album, with songs like "Raising Heaven," "Last Call" and "Lord of the Rings."

Not only is the 42-year-old a musician and recording artist, he's the senior pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Palestine, Texas, and is attending seminary school in Dallas. Because of his commitments at home, including a family of four boys, he can only hit the road six to eight times a month and flies to all his destinations - no bus tours for this "hick boy."

His face lights up when asked about his sons and their musical talent. Herod's 10-year-old plays the drums with the church worship team, and he bragged on his 8-year-old, who loves to sing country music. For all their musical and athletic abilities, Herod is concerned about just one thing.

"I just want them to follow the Lord," he said.

While he's recorded albums with a smaller label, Herod would love to have the backing of a major label - providing one thing. He and the label need to agree on Herod's agenda and philosophy of encouraging people to have a relationship with God.

"I believe in authenticity in my life and beliefs," Herod said.

He stayed at KHWG a couple hours, long enough to record a few acoustic songs from his latest album. The recording will be broadcast during the Ol' Time Gospel Hour today at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. on 750 AM.

Herod's albums can be purchased and listened to on his Web site, www.justintoddherod.org.