The Herald Bulletin - Tom Evans: 'God has watched over me'

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Tom Evans, music leader at Second Chance Church listens to the message during a church service.
Richard Sitler / The Herald Bulletin

Tom Evans is the music leader at Second Chance Church. Evans is at piano and in the background is Larry Shrock running the sound board.
Richard Sitler / The Herald Bulletin

Tom Evans is eager to play some contemporary Christian during his first solo concert. But, for those who go, look for influences from his rearing in the ?ld Rugged Cross?hills of Tennessee to his rock band days and 1970s?Elton John piano-pounding.
Richard Sitler / The Herald Bulletin

Tom Evans, music leader at Second Chance Church, sings "You took the Fall". In the background is Larry Shrock on the sound board.
Richard Sitler / The Herald Bulletin

Published March 26, 2008 11:47 pm - Tom Evans is eager to play some contemporary Christian during his first solo concert.

Tom Evans: 'God has watched over me'

By Scott Miley

Tom Evans is eager to play some contemporary Christian during his first solo concert.

But, for those who go, look for influences from his rearing in the “Old Rugged Cross” hills of Tennessee to his rock band days and 1970s’ Elton John piano-pounding.

The past is all coming together at 7 p.m. Saturday when Evans sings and plays guitar and piano at Second Chance Baptist Church where he is music director.

But his strongest influence for this concert developed during a four-month soul-searching while in prison.

“When I got out I was going to sing for the Lord, get a job and keep it and be the best dad I could be to my little girl. I kept those three promises, and be darned if I don’t have a new car now, singing like I’m excited when I get the chance to sing,” he said.

And he takes his daughter to just about every concert or activity he can afford. “I’ve become a good father. My little girl has changed my life.”

But this week, the main goal for this 46-year-old Anderson man will be singing at his own concert. Since his incarceration on a domestic charge, Evans has become immersed in the music at Second Chance Baptist Church.

As a teen in Anderson, Evans played in local rock bands including Flat Earth Society, New Haven and Secrets. They did REO, Aerosmith, Bad Company; rocking kind of stuff.

Those ventures likely contributed to his earlier troubles.

“During 25 years, I fell off into alcohol and drugs and all kinds of things. I kind of got lost. I did get lost,” he said.

When he’s not singing, he runs a press and machines for a manufacturer of sport equipment. With a job and a daughter, Evans feels blessed.

With that confidence, he’s excited to go into his first concert.

“I feel like God has watched over me to get me to the point where I can do what I’m getting ready to do.”

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