We do this first and foremost because of the way it makes us feel. We do this because it makes us better men. We do this because people come together at our shows, and they forget their differences, and they align in the one thing we all have in common, and that's Jesus Christ. – Producer Jason Deere
Members of The Nashville Tribute Band love music and their faith, and they love how they feel when they combine the two.
The group was formed by two members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, producer Jason Deere and Diamond Rio keyboardist Dan Truman, who decided to create music with a spiritual message. Deere, Truman and the other musicians who now participate in the band believe in uniting people of faith and erasing divisions created by differing beliefs.
"We do this first and foremost because of the way it makes us feel," Deere said in the video. "We do this because it makes us better men. We do this because people come together at our shows, and they forget their differences, and they align in the one thing we all have in common, and that's Jesus Christ."
In the band's most recent YouTube video, members of various religions discussed their positive interactions with the band.
"We just had a great time Sunday," said Pastor John Watts from the First United Methodist Church in the video. "We all love Jesus, and Jesus is our Lord. I've experienced a really reaching out toward us, and I'm hoping to reciprocate, hoping that just builds in the future."
Nicole Moore of the First Church of Nazarene spoke about a Nashville Tribute Band concert that benefitted food banks and attracted the attention of members of her church.
"I think it showed a lot of people what could happen if we just drop those silly lines and start working together," Moore said in the video.
LDS Stake President Eric Asay has also seen the fruits of the band's performances.
"You know, this has changed my heart because I've seen, really, how the Christian faiths really can come together," President Asay said in the video.
The band's first album, "Joseph: A Nashville Tribute to the Prophet," was released in June 2005, becoming one of the best-selling LDS albums and leading to concerts across the world, according to nashvilletributeband.com.
The band has performed at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City and in the Tabernacle on Temple Square, according to its website.
The band's album titled "Redeemer: A Nashville Tribute to Jesus Christ" is available at Deseret Book. Read more about the album here.
Alex Johnson writes for the Faith and Family sections of DeseretNews.com.
Email: ajohnson@deseretdigital.com
Twitter: @axelrad_