Liberation Suite

Liberation Suite (sometimes LibSuite) was a Jesus Music era Christian rock band. They originated in San Marcos, Texas but soon moved to Great Britain, where they found their greatest success.{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=John J. |author-link=John J. Thompson |title=Raised by Wolves |url=https://archive.org/details/raisedbywolvesst0000thom |url-access=registration |chapter=The First Wave |year=2000 |publisher=ECW Press |isbn=978-1-55022-421-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/raisedbywolvesst0000thom/page/56 56]}} Cross Rhythms characterizes the band as having a "special relationship" with the United kingdom and a straightforward approach to music and ministry.{{cite journal |last=Rimmer |first=Mike |title=Liberation Suite - Fight for the Light |date=September 2002 |issue=71 |journal=Cross Rhythms}} Typical of Jesus music, they played songs in a variety of styles including country, new wave, and rock.{{cite journal |last=Platt |first=Karen Marie |date=January 1981 |title="Suite" Rock 'n’ roll Returns to U.S.A. |journal=CCM Magazine |issn=1524-7848 |volume=3 |issue=7 |pages=68, 71 }}

Background

Liberation Suite formed early in the Jesus Music era, prior to 1971 in San Marcos, Texas.{{cite journal |last=Baker |first=Paul |date=May 1988 |title=Whatever Happened to... Liberation Suite? |journal=CCM Magazine |issn=1524-7848 |volume=10 |issue=11 |page=9 }} The group got their start as a backup band for a choral group called Sound 70 based in San Marcos, Texas, but began traveling with evangelist Bill Lowery and the Christ is the Answer tent ministry in 1973.

In 1974 they moved for six months to Northern Ireland, which was at that time war-torn by The Troubles. Here they ran what was essentially a street concert ministry, as well as playing many concerts in schools, colleges, and large concert halls. During this time they also played at the inaugural Greenbelt Festival in England. They then moved to London after being signed to Word Records' Myrrh label. Throughout 1975 the band toured with Malcolm and Alwyn, Barry McGuire, and Jamie Owens. In 1976 they toured Europe with Chuck Girard before moving back to Texas until 1979, when they relocated to Los Angeles.

During a brief reunification period in 1980 they recorded their second album, Stride For Stride, and again toured Europe.{{cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2002 |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |location=Peabody, Massachusetts |isbn=1-56563-679-1 |edition=First printing |chapter=Liberation Suite |pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/528 528–529] |chapter-url=http://www.liberationsuite.com/html/meet_the_band.html |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/528 }}

They moved back to Texas in 1981, members moving into other types of ministry or work, regrouping from time to time for a few concerts or recording.

Several other versions of the band lineup toured parts of America and Europe, and recorded in 1990–92.

In 2008 they released Live In Europe, a live concert from 1976, recorded in Sweden.{{cite journal |last=Cummings |first=Tony |title=Liberation Suite - Live in Europe |date=April 2008 |journal=Cross Rhythms}}

Discography

1975: Liberation Suite
1981: Stride for Stride
1990: Water and Blood
2002: Fight for the Light
2000: Liberation Suite - 25th Anniversary Edition
2008: Liberation Suite: Live In Europe

Members

Randy Hill – drums, vocals 1971–
Howard Lyon – trombone, vocals 1971–
David Bynum – bass, saxophone, vocals 1971–75
Paul Lyon – trumpet, flute, vocals 1971–77
Barry Bynum – vocals, guitar, keyboard. 1971–1992
Jim Hazel, guitar, bass, keys, vocals 1976–
Fred Perez – bass guitar 1979–81
Craig Connally – bass 1971–74
James Yager – keyboards, vocals 1989–
Matt Sutherland – bass 1996–
Terry Clark – keyboards, vocals 1975–76
Duane Clark – bass, vocals 1975–76
Stephen Houston – keyboards, vocals 1975–76
Miles McKee – manager 1974–76
Steve Fleming – audio engineer 1974–81
Nev Nicholson – road manager 1975–76
Clark Dunlap – roadie 1973–74
Joe Arredondo – guitar, vocals 1977–1980

References

External links

{{Official website|http://www.liberationsuite.com}}
[http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/artists/Liberation_Suite/8756/ artist profile, reviews] @ Cross Rhythms

Category:Christian rock groups from Texas