Chuck Elmore

I was born in West Texas. My dad was a preacher and my mom stayed home and took care of my older sister, my younger brother and me. They told us often that Jesus loved us, and prayer and Bible-reading were regular parts of our day. My parents led me in a prayer introducing me to Jesus when I was seven. My mom used to tell me that I was the righteousness of God in Jesus.

We were raised in a musical home. My mom played guitar and often sang special numbers in church. Everyone agreed she had a beautiful voice. My sister took piano lessons for a short while, then continued on her own, teaching herself songs by ear. My dad made weekly trips to the Christian bookstore to bring home the latest from The Imperials, The Maranatha Singers, Dallas Holm, Don Francisco, The Rambos, The Bill Gaither Trio, and other Christian musicians of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. We had music playing virtually all the time, and whenever the album we were listening to was finished, we’d stop what we were doing and go turn it over to start it again. I was completely drawn into the sounds coming from those records.
’ve put in some years of leading worship for various churches, youth groups, and college ministries. I absolutely love it. It’s a joy and an honor. In ‘99, I took a job at Hope Christian School in Albuquerque, New Mexico where my wife was a teacher. I had many opportunities to lead worship in chapel and on school retreats. I threw into my set lists songs I had written, and I was encouraged by the responses to them. In 2006 I took on a part-time job as youth pastor at New Life City, also getting a chance to play on the worship team. At New Life City, worship team drummer and then-Christian radio DJ Matt Gentry set up a meeting for me with producer Donn Halliburton, and in February of 2007, the nearly two-year recording sessions for Beyond the Veil began.

My music is directed primarily at the church in hopes to bless and “spur on” the saints, but an evangelistic message is there as well. I strive in my lyrics to present the Good News in accessible and accurate language. The lyrical themes of Beyond the Veil are the faithfulness of God and the believer’s rest in the finished work of Jesus.