Chisholm

“TAKE ONE”

When I moved to Plano, Texas in February of 1982, my Dad, Dr. David Darnell was the Pastor of First Christian Church and my Mother was the church organist and pianist. After having been on the road with my rock bands, Subway in Fayetteville, NC and then Desi Red in Lubbock, TX, I had decided that I wanted to get off the road and do something more than be a rock ’n roller, so Dad invited me to be his Associate Minister. I wasn’t there for two weeks before three guys, Mark Smith, Jeff Jordan, and Skip Headen approached me about singing in their quartet. I had decided I was through with music, but I reckon the good Lord had other plans. I acquiesced to meet with them, and was struck by the unusually pleasing, rich blend of our voices. Little did I realize what a simple singing session with these guys would lead to! “Take One” was our first album. To our shock, we received standing ovations everywhere we performed.

The Shoes of a Fool; Raging River; Sherry; Windows of My Mind; I Found It; Wait for the Light to Shine; Working on a Building; In the Power/Better Road; Gonna Meet Our Maker

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“COUNTRY WAYS”

Recorded in Nashville. For “Country Ways,” we found songs by several top Nashville writers, including Dave Kirby, famous for writing and co-writing songs for Charlie Pride, “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone,” and other songs he’d had charted by George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Ray Price, and many others. Chisholm rented an apartment in Nashville during this time and attended several Country Music Awards shows and multiple showcases for upcoming talent. This album was very well performed by A-team studio musicians, and produced by Elroy Kahanek. “Takin’ My Baby Away,” was a crowd favorite for several years.

You Can’t Change Our Country Ways, Jesse, What Am I Going to Do With Me; Red, White, Blue, and Gray; Takin’ My Baby Away, TLC, Don’t Leave Home Without It, We’ve Got it All, North Alabama, Hobo

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“ON A BETTER ROAD”

Chisholm’s best selling album of all time. The first side was recorded live in Greenville, Texas when performing with the iconic Johnny High Country Music Revue, and the second half is all acapella. This Gospel album in particular features the unique, pleasing, natural blend of early Chisholm days – that sound being the foundation of our considerable success story over the decades of recording and performing!

On a Better Road, I Wanna Know, Operator, Swing Low, Then Came the Morning, In the Power, Sweet Sweet Spirit, Alleluia, Jesus Loves Me, Lord’s Prayer

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“HEART STORIES”

All original “country/pop” flavored songs from Chisholm’s real-life heart stories. Ballads, Country, and Rock all in one album reveal the variety of musical tastes and backgrounds of the individual composers – all songs from Mark, Jeff, Tim and Skip.

This album featured our band called, “The Side Men,” comprised of notable musicians, Buddy Whittington on guitar, Ron Diiulio on keys, Mike Kennedy on drums and Ronny Ellis on bass – all excellent players. The Side Men performed with Chisholm in the Marlboro Contest that Chisholm won out of 7,000+ entrants, and went on to be our backup band in concerts with Alabama, Randy Travis, and the Judds at Reunion Arena in Dallas, and toured with us at dozens of college dates for the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA).

Heart Stories, Don’t Give Up on Love, I’m Coming Back for More, Tell Me Something I Don’t Know, Carolina, Party of One, I Love You Just Enough to Say Goodbye, I’m Giving You Up, Where Strangers Meet, Wrong Thing at the Wrong Time

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“I BELIEVE IN YOU”

Chisholm’s first digitally recorded album. Chisholm was traveling non-stop and performing exclusively in arenas, concert halls, and coliseums. Several Chisholm buyers were corporations who wanted an act that could do both show material and Gospel / Worship music on Sunday mornings. Our repertoire had all of the material perfect for fun and thoughtful worship services. We did Motown, 50’s, Beatles medley, Beach Boys medley, as well as take-offs like, “I’ve Got Friends Who are Going Places,” rather than “I’ve Got Friends in Low Places.” Our music was upbeat, positive and uplifting for the Convention crowds. CD, tapes, and t-shirt sales were amazing at these events!

I Believe in You , Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us, Dream On, Living in America, Celebration, Everybody Go Diamond, Walking on the Beaches, Hold On Tight, God Bless the USA

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“THIS DREAM WAS MEANT FOR ME”

In the early 1990’s, Chisholm was performing for corporate clients almost exclusively. Crowds were large (think “Georgia Dome,” “Hoosier Dome,” the “Pyramid” in Memphis, etc.) upbeat, and responsive – on their feet at every show. Our music took on a more pop, motivational feel, geared toward appealing to positive, excited convention goers. Our energy on stage was part choreographed, part spontaneous, but smooth, and always fun. Amidst the pop tunes, we still had a love for country songs that allowed our vocal harmonies to stand out.

I Wanna Be Rich, Get On Your Feet, Love Can Build a Bridge, Walk on Faith, This Dream Was Meant for Me, When the Going Gets Tough, I’m Still Standing, I’m So Excited, Put a Little Love in Your Heart

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DREAMER

“A CHRISTMAS CARD FROM DREAMER”

We were performing at so many corporate events, that the theme of our music shifted from country and originals to more positive and motivational pop, classic, 50’s and show tunes. So, in 1992 we changed the name of the group to “Dreamer.” One of our first recordings under the new name was this Christmas album, recorded in Nashville, TN, where we had recorded Country Ways a few years before. Ironically, the album feels more country than the new direction of our live shows, and we never lost our love for both Gospel and Country music!

Winter Wonderland, O Come All Ye Faithful, Christmas This Year, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, O Holy Night, Happy Birthday Jesus, Christmas Song, Silver Bells, Candy Land, O Little Town of Bethlehem                   

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HIGHWAY TO FREEDOM

As with anything, the more you do it, the more comfortable you become and the better you get. Dreamer was solid, confident and masterful at delivering live entertainment and music, and also recording in the studio. Our dress on stage was always first class, including tuxedos, suits, and custom created outfits that were dazzling.

Highway to Freedom, recorded in Dallas at Crystal Clear Studio, was the only album to include other singers. It was on the title cut, Highway to Freedom, that we invited three gals to sing and, and wow, they knocked it out of the park! Every song on this album was performed in live concerts. Over the years, our repertoire had become extensive.

Love is a Wonderful Thing, The River, On the Beach, Shout, Highway to Freedom, Hot Hot Hot, Cover of the Amagram, You’ll Never Walk Alone, To the Top, The American Trilogy

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“I HAVE DECIDED”

1993 – Contemporary Christian music with some of the most pleasing, if not intricate harmonies we’d ever attempted. We met Scott Williamson from Nashville, the producer of this album in Dallas at Crystal Clear Studio, and were impressed by his musical mind, not to mention how young he was. His father was an accomplished composer and arranger, so Scott came by his arrangement acumen honestly. This is one of the most powerful albums we ever recorded. “I Have Decided” contains songs of faith, a newer type of sound, and is culminated by one of the most powerful songs of faith in Christianity, “How Great Thou Art.” Mark’s soaring tenor at the end of this song and album still leaves me with chill-bumps. Praise God for this excellent collection of songs!

Trumpet of Jesus, Stop, A Friend, He’s got the Whole World, I Can’t Always See You, Great is the Lord, Great is the Lord, I Have Decided, If There Were No Tomorrows, Heal the World, How Great Thou Art

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“THIS IS THE TIME”

When one of the four founding members, Mark Smith, decided it was time to get off the road and pursue other interests, we unanimously hand-picked  the amazing tenor, John Struble, to take Mark’s place. John had appeared with Chisholm as a solo artist on many shows, and we knew he would make a great replacement. He was a quick study and fit in great.  The title cut, “This is the Time,” featured John and was a staple in our concerts for several years. Several other songs from this album were crowd favorites, including the Oak Ridge Boys,’ “Elvira.” While not the most musically sophisticated song, crowds absolutely loved this little gem, mainly to hear Skip rattle the rafters. This album was recorded at Crystal Clear Studio in Dallas. I’m proud of all of our albums, but there was an ease of singing and a locking of chords on every song that make this a memorable standout from our past.

Welcome to the Next Level, Every Day, Follow Your Dreams, Break My Stride, This is the Time, We Shall Be Free, The River of Dreams, A Little Bit of Love, Elvira, Beautiful – an American Medley              

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“WINNING IT ALL”

Awesome musicians Pete Miller on bass, Wesley Taylor on guitar, Brent Dacus on drums, Brent Pendleton on keyboards – all four musicians traveled with us for many years. This album was self-produced in Dallas and featured a staple, Ray Charles’s “This Ole Heart,” in the four “Best Band in Texas” contests – all of which we won. Another giant hit at our Corporate gigs was Garth Brookes’s, “I’ve Got Friends in Low Places,” that we changed to “Friends that are Going Places.” Dreamer was traveling almost every weekend, and it was about this time that we switched from our bus and trucks for equipment and concessions to flying. That was a big help for our family lives adding two days a week more that we could be at home. I have great memories of each of these songs – arranging, recording and performing! Looking back, I don’t know the exact year this was recorded, and wish I had put that somewhere on each album. Probably 1993’ish.

Dream; Friends Going Places; Winning It All; I Still Believe in You; This Ole Heart; I Just Wanna Celebrate; Saturday Night; Put Your Heart In It; Twist and Shout; Star Spangled Banner

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“DREAM HIGH”

This album. WOW – just WOW! 1995 was a huge year for Dreamer. It’s the year we recorded and released, “The Rhino,” written by yours truly on this album. Crowds went absolutely berserk. There was the Rhino dance that tens of thousands of people would do in unison. It was the “decade of the rhino, and you can hear his sound. He goes, Hey – a – a – a – Oh – oh oh, nothing’s gonna’ stop the rhino.” Next to “On a Better Road,” “The Rhino” put Dreamer on a map we were probably already on (not to brag), but those were great years! The band lineup included Pete Miller on bass, Bobby Hibbits on drums, Wes Taylor on guitar, and and Jay Brown on keys – and they killed it every single performance, as well as in the studio. We call those years the “Hey Day,” to this day. I’ll certainly never forget them.

Let’s Work, Go the Distance, Soul & Inspiration, Chunk of Coal, American Band / Takin Care of Business, Living On a Prayer, Beatles Medley, Finish What We Started, The Rhino, The Impossible Dream

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“THE MISSION”

In 1998, we welcomed John Struble’s replacement, Matthew Tea, to be our newest high tenor. An interesting side-note: Matthew’s brother was singing with the Lettermen, a fifties group still on the circuit. “Headed for the Future” and “This is the Moment” became staples in our live shows, while “Man on a Mission,” penned by myself and Greg Clancy, whose father is the famous Jim Clancy of Vocal Majority fame, was the soaring ballad and title cut. We were still gigging to the tune of some 48-49 weeks out of the year; however, most of the dates were on weekends, enabling us to be at home more.

Headed for the Future, I Never Walk Alone, Drift Away, Indestructable, Man on a Mission, The House is Rockin’, Heroes, Keep the Candle Burning, Satisfied, This is the Moment

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DARE TO DREAM

Matthew was a quite capable tenor and we enjoyed him being a part of many, many performances; but, family duties trumped being on the road with us and he had to bid Skip, Jeff, and me a fond farewell. He was replaced with another gentleman that we had known for several years, John Sharp. We threw John into the fire, so to speak, by hiring him and putting him on stage the same week. I’ll never forget his first gig and first solo with Dreamer. He had the words to the song in front of him on the floor in big letters. But wouldn’t you know a breeze came across the stage taking the words out of his sight. Somehow he got through it, and I would guess not many people in the audience even knew what had happened. I grin every time I think about it!

“Dare to Dream” was recorded in keyboardist, Jay Brown’s home studio and featured several songs that we had performed for years that somehow had never made it to an album. The classic acapella 50’s hit, Silhouettes on the Shade had been the go-to song for small, impromptu gatherings since the ’80’s. Also, God Bless the USA, a tune we had sung in shows for decades, including on-stage with Lee Greenwood himself, once, finally made it to vinyl (actually clear polycarbonate plastic)! This would turn out to be Dreamer / Chisholm’s last album together.

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Tim Darnell – Solo

“HEART OF WORSHIP”

September 11, 2001 or 9/11, as you well know, changed a lot of things including the viability of live venues for musicians and entertainers. Our main clients weren’t having the big events that we’d grown accustomed to anymore. Add to that the fact that we’d pretty much “been there and done that,” the group Chisholm, later, Dreamer, never officially called it quits, but as with most good things, there comes a time to let it rest. In 2004 I pulled together a solo album, “Heart of Worship.” This is exactly what you might imagine: softer, worshipful music that I certainly loved and had worshipped to, and I knew others would be able to worship to as well.

It’s always been about the music for me. The entertaining came naturally – I’ve just always had a good time on stage and audiences without exception responded to the energy and fun. So it is with worship – when your heart is right with God, the Holy Spirit takes over, soothing hurts, mending scars, comforting and healing hearts, lifting us up to greater heights than we can ever ascend to on our own – nothing better than that!

You Are My King (Amazing Love); Heart of Worship; Breathe; Still Listening; Shout to the Lord; Man After Your Own Heart; Mary Did You Know; Worthy Is Your Name; I Bowed on My Knees and Cried Holy; The Anchor Holds

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“EVERY MOMENT IN TIME”

I’ve written hundreds of songs, although many have never been recorded. My Mother was always my biggest fan and I wanted to record some of my originals and songs I knew she liked. Most of my life, we would gather around the piano, which she played with great feel and command. So, on this album, I included a song that Dad really loved that I had never even heard before, much less ever sung. After a Sunday lunch one day, Mom sat down at the piano and we sang, “Though Your Sins Be as Scarlett,” recorded on my phone.

I could barely see the words or the notes, so I limped through it with Mom singing the first verse, and Dad singing the second verse. Good thing I did record us, because it was the last time we would ever get to do it together. Mom went to be with the Lord not long after in November of 2017.  She did get this album before her death and Dad said they played it over and over before her death.

Side note, my wonderful photographer asked if I wanted the wrinkles removed on this pic and I said, I appreciate it, but actually I earned this face. Keep it real! Ron Jones on acoustic guitar is amazing! “Here With Me” I sang to my bride, Cathy, at our wedding in 1985 and at our 30 year anniversary on the beach where we reaffirmed our vows. “Make Us One” was written for my daughter, Lindy’s wedding.

If Heaven; Lord, I Need You; Just As I Am; Make Us One; Jamaican Praise; When He Was on the Cross; I Will Stand; Every Moment in Time; Praise You in this Storm; Something That We Do; The Prayer; You Are God Alone; Here with Me; The Lord’s Prayer; Revelation Song; Though Your Sins Be as Scarlett

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HATZ

“ABIDE”

HATZ is the new group (quartet) I put together in 2015 to continue music and ministry. As you may have guessed by now, I love singing, recording, writing, performing, and worshipping with individuals and congregations. HATZ is comprised of myself and talented singers, Luis Rodriguez, Kirk Taylor, Steve Triplett, and Christopher Sanderson (piano). “Abide” is taken from the Gospel of John and implies remaining in God’s will, His Word, prayer, and faith. The title cut is (original) acapella. The fun, Jamaican Praise, is an original reggae concept taken from the book of Habakuk chapters 2 & 3. “Our Wedding Day” was written for our daughter, Hannah’s wedding to Chase Hames. This album was recorded at Leprechaun Studio in Celina, Texas, and can be downloaded at Apple Music or https://HATZ.HearNow. com

Chain Breaker; Man on a Mission; Create in Me; On a Better Road; He Touched Me; Make Us One; Jamaican Praise; Our Wedding Day; Then Came the Morning; Abide

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The Sophomore effort – 2nd album for Hatz, “Gospel Music is Right For Me,” will be recorded in June and July of 2020, also at Leprechaun Studio. HATZ was the unusual name God gave me for the group, although I couldn’t explain it until I was reading scripture that talks about the Crown waiting for us in heaven. I’ve worn my share of various hats all my life – singer, song-writer, entertainer, business man, wrestler, husband, Dad, Son, and the list goes on, but the most important and best hat is yet to come!

PREVIEW: I turned on my iPhone and recorded one of the tunes in our kitchen. Check out, “Jesus Messiah.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TA1eqDLfAQ You can search for this on YouTube: “HATZ Worship”

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A very special thank you to all the singers, musicians, sound engineers, and roadies I’ve worked with over the decades. I’ve learned from every one of you!

The biggest love shout-out goes to the love of my life, my wife, Cathy. She’s put up with this guy whose career path has been anything but traditional. She’s been the best wife and mother to our children any man could ever imagine or ask for. I love you, my sweetheart!

Cathy and I have the best kids ever. Hugs and kisses to Lindy and her husband, Ben Schiel, who have given us two young Grandsons, Levi and Ezra. Much, much love to our second daughter, Hannah and her husband, Chase Hames, (or is it, Ken and Barbie – LOL)? And, one of the brightest and handsomest young men I’ve ever known is our special 3rd progeny / son, Caleb. Check out his podcast with friend, Hunter Alford, called, “NOT THEOLOGIANS.” Pretty darn sharp! PODCAST LINK: https://open.spotify.com/show/07eoguRyRaKCWxsijq00tj?si=1kUV91R_QPaJjovCm94vGA

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Join me on also on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/HatzMusic/

All of the albums above are available for download. I have CD’s and digital CD’s as well as digital download for HATZ’s “Abide” available, but all the other albums can be digitally downloaded for $9.99 each. Email: TimDarnellAC@gmail.com and we’ll get you fixed up!

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love and support. I really do!

God bless you!

“For the message of the cross is foolishness for those who are perishing, but for those of us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” 1 Cor. 1:18

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