ABOUT

The Man & The Music

The story behind the work of Jamie Page

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WE HAD -

an electric bass, two acoustic guitars, a pair of bongo drums, and a banjo.
Needless to say, our version of Smoke on the Water was very unique!

Jamie’s love for music began when he heard one of his classmates play The Marine’s Hymn on the accordion.  Jamie was fascinated that a first-grader could inspire others with his music.  Jamie headed right home and told his mom he wanted to learn how to play the piano.

To get him started, she began teaching him how to properly finger the keyboard by playing scales and easy finger exercises.  This, of course, frustrated Jamie as he wanted to immediately get to the “Halls of Montezuma.”  Many times Jamie has wished he’d listened to his mom and spent more time on developing better technique.  After nearly exasperating his mom, and grandmother, Jamie finally learned how to play The Marine’s Hymn and a couple of other tunes he picked out by ear.  However, within a year, Jamie’s fascination with the piano began to wane.

When he was 9 years old, Jamie’s father answered the call to ministry and moved to DeBeque a little town in western Colorado.  It was there Jamie began studying music with his band director, Armand DeBeque.  Mr. DeBeque introduced him to both the ukulele and the trombone.  Regarding the trombone, Jamie notes, “It wasn’t until the 7th grade my arm was long enough to reach the notes past 6th position.”

“We had an electric bass, two acoustic guitars, a pair of bongo drums, and a banjo.  Needless to say, our version of Smoke on the Water was very unique!”

In 1970, the Pages left DeBeque and moved to Platteville, Colorado where Jamie discovered songwriting.  Being a fan of John Denver, Jamie began writing songs about mountains, trees, rivers and lakes.  It was also in the 7th grade he formed his first “rock” band.  Jamie chuckles when he recalls the instruments that made up that first rock band.   “We had an electric bass, two acoustic guitars, a pair of bongo drums, and a banjo.  Needless to say, our version of Smoke on the Water was very unique!”

While at Valley High School, Jamie was heavily influenced by another band director, Darrell Raines.  It was Mr. Raines who stirred a love for music in Jamie that would never wane.  In the summer of 1976, Jamie attended his first Christian Artists’ Camp in Estes Park.  It was there his personal faith was challenged as never before.  During that week at Estes, Jamie personally responded to Christ and realized, for the first time, his musical gifts were from God.  It was during that week Page also determined he would use his God-given gifts to encourage others towards Christ.

During the summer of 1978, Jamie and his band, Jerusalem, (Alan Kawakami, Clayton Loos, Bob VanHare, Barb Bastian, and Cliff Wagner) recorded their first professionally produced record at Bill Gaither’s Pinebrook Studios.  In the fall of 1978, Jamie enrolled at Central Methodist University to formally study music at the Swinney Conservatory of Music.

“I will forever be indebted to CMU for the amazing opportunities they gave me.  During those years I really grew as a musician and as a songwriter.”

While at college, Jamie traveled with several student music groups as ambassadors for the university.  Jamie’s groups performed at churches, camps, and on college campus throughout the Midwest.  “I will forever be indebted to CMU for the amazing opportunities they gave me.  During those years I really grew as a musician and as a songwriter.”

In 1985, Page established Front Page Music with his long-time friend, Alan Kawakami.  The music production company was formed to assist Jamie’s developing career and to help other young artists realize their musical dreams.  Later that year, Page released his first solo project, Spirit Mover, for Destiny Records.  The project was recorded in Hollywood, California and was produced by Lynn Barrington.

Page spent the next few years travelling throughout the US with his four piece band (Clayton Loos, Steve Himmel, and Tim Roller).  In 1987, Jamie released his second solo project, Shake the Foundation.  STF was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee and was co-produced by Page and his new songwriting friend, Geoff Thurman.   It was in 1988 that Jamie’s ministry focus took a new turn.

In late October of 1988, Jamie preached his first sermon as the new pastor of Faith Family Church.  Jamie notes he was so nervous during his first sermon that he nearly passed out and had to finish preaching from a folding chair.  While Jamie set aside his day-to-day pursuits of music in order to answer the needs of a growing church, he remained active as a songwriter and eventually released three more projects between 1988 and 2005: Mighty River, Still There, and It’s About Time.

Jamie has been married to his high school sweetheart, Sarah, since 1982 and they are the parents of two wonderful children – Angela and Andrew.

Presently, Jamie continues to serve as the Lead Pastor of Faith Family Church.  He continues to write music and has recently returned to the studio with a desire to record and share his music with all who want to listen.

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