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Changed Lives: Spotlight on Zach & Rodney

Zach and RodneyRed Hen Records artists Zach & Rodney have had the most impactful year of their history — two back-to-back Dove award nominations, working with award winning writers, and even having a major country singer featured on their latest album.

And just this week, the band found out they’ve been nominated for Breakthrough Artist by Absolutely Gospel Music Awards.

But for Zach Mashburn and Rodney Hedrick, it’s not about the awards or the notoriety… it’s about changing lives. That’s because Rodney’s own life was changed back in the late 1990’s.

While pursuing a career in country music and getting into trouble with the law, Rodney was sentenced to perform community service at a church, with the condition he attend a Sunday School class taught by the janitor & choir director of the church at least one time.

While attending, he surrendered his heart and talents to the Lord, taught the same class he attended, accepted the call to preach, and married the janitor’s daughter, who just happened to have a 12-year-old guitar-playing brother named Zach Mashburn. So was the duo Zach & Rodney formed.

Here’s a video of their most recent Dove nominated song (Country Recorded Song of the Year), The Cookes & The Hinsons:

As Rodney says, “we are humbled by receiving more ministry opportunities than ever before.” The duo has teamed up with Red Hen Records and country singer Michael Lee to soon release a new album, “Back to Back Country,” which will include songs of faith, family, fun, and freedom.

Band members wrote or co-wrote 8 of the 10 songs. Co-writer on “God’s Honest Truth” was award winning singer and songwriter Gerald Crabb (“Through the Fire,” “Sometimes I Cry,” “Please Forgive Me”). Legendary Ronnie Hinson (“The Lighthouse,” “That I Could Still Go Free”) has a part in 2 songs on the project. And the patriotic tune getting much attention “Where I Live” was written with Mark Narmore (“That’s What I Love About Sundays”). Country great Daryle Singletary is even featured on the tune “New Wine.”

It’s nothing new that Zach & Rodney are concerned with changing lives. In 2007, they founded Why Us Ministries, and wrote this song, featuring their real life inspiration, Patrick Henry Hughes:

Zach & Rodney don’t do this on their own. Behind the scenes supporters include Rodney’s wife Deana and their three girls, Zach’s wife Laura, and Michael Lee’s wife Julie and their 3 children. Zach’s wife Laura even provided background vocals on their single “God’s Honest Truth” written by Rodney, Michael Lee, and Gerald Crabb.

We’re happy to have Zach & Rodney as members of our Backstage Pass community here on OnstageSuccess.com. Has Tom’s teaching helped them? “Perhaps the greatest impact is how we’ve been challenged to focus more on moments than music,” says Rodney. “In fact one of our band quotes is ‘we take life changing moments and create life changing music’ — perhaps we could switch that right around and say ‘we take life changing music and create life changing moments,'” he jokes.

Don’t miss seeing Zach & Rodney live for some of those life-changing moments they’ve developed! You can see their schedule here, and like them on their Facebook page here…

 

Tom Jackson

Tom is uniquely talented and skilled at transforming an artist's live show into a magical experience for the audience; helping artists at every level create a live show that is engaging and memorable, teaching them to exceed their audiences' expectations and to create fans for life. Tom has taught indie and major artists of every genre. He has worked with Taylor Swift, Le Crae, Home Free, The Tenors, Shawn Mendes, The Band Perry, Francesca Battistelli, Jars of Clay, & many more. Tom also teaches at colleges, conferences and events worldwide.

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Greenroom Comments

  1. “Why Us” — Awesome, thank you. And thanks for both of these two great songs, Z & R.

    • On the behalf of Z & R thank you for the comment about the great article Jodi put together and the songs. Thanks for checking it out! The new album should be out in the next couple months. Z&R.

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