Award-winning author and beloved Bible teacher James W. Goll is excited to announce the release of his inspirational debut music album, Never Alone, from GOLL Ideation Music / Right Angle Music.
Although he is best known as a world-renowned Bible teacher and the prolific author of more than 40 books, including his newest book, The Discerner, as well as The Seer and the award winning The Lifestyle of a Prophet, fans might be surprised to learn that the 65-year-old Goll was a singer long before he was a preacher.
“Growing up in rural Missouri, singing was my lifeline,” Goll remembers. “Whether it was performing at church or school functions, arranging choral sounds or bellowing forth as a soloist, singing was truly my delight. Eventually I became a wedding singer and even sang with my bride at our own wedding ceremony.”
The call to full time vocational ministry led Goll and Michal Ann, his wife of 32 years, on a path of world travel, allowing them to minister in more than 50 countries around the globe. While their lives were filled with much joy, Goll confesses there were also a multitude of challenges, including Michal Ann’s struggle with cancer and her home-going in the fall of 2008, in addition to battling his own three bouts with cancer.
“Times of trial and transition are enormously hard on your heart,” Goll explains. “Even loving God and others as well as you used to can be exhausting as you grieve and try to adjust to your new reality. Finding your bearings must become part of your journey, but it’s not easy. You have to ask yourself some basic questions, like ‘Who am I?’ ‘What do I love to do?’ ‘What brings me life?’ Sounds easy, right? But it’s not when you are still reassembling your identity after a major loss. I had been married to the same person for over half my life, and my identity was wrapped up in being her husband. Now I was a grieving widower and a single dad.”
Once his feet were firmly established on the road to rediscovering life after tragedy, Goll experienced the rebirth of his old desire to sing.
“I love to sing,” Goll declares. “I have been singing since at least the age of three. I would sing Sunday school songs and hymns from the old Cokesbury hymnal. I would sing with the radio. I would sing with Lawrence Welk. I would sing everywhere I went! I sang because it was my life. But in the midst of my pain, I discovered I had not been singing much. Once I put my finger on that fact, I realized the key to unlocking my poor, beat-up heart was to sing life back into it.”
Still, Goll realized that desire, passion and even innate talent were not sufficient to produce the quality album he desired to share with his friends. Before going into the studio, Goll called on renowned celebrity Vocal Producer Diane Sheets (Casting Crowns, Danny Gokey, Natalie Grant) to help hone his skills as a singer.
“James has such a great heart, and so much passion for this project,” says Sheets. “It was an honor to work with him and help bring his vocal skills to the next level, and in the end his hard work really paid off. I believe Never Alone is the album James has wanted to make all his life.”
“I don¹t think I have ever collaborated with an artist who worked harder and came further than James did in this process,” says executive producer Brown Bannister. “And I am so pleased to say that the final product was well-worth the journey.”
Many who have read Goll’s books might expect him to record a worship album, but he felt God leading him in a different direction. The result is an album of inspirational music designed to lift the heart and soul, filled with carefully selected songs that would tell his story of life, love, family and devotion to God.
Produced by McKendree Tucker (SONICFLOOd, August York) and executive produced by Dove and Grammy Award winner Brown Bannister (Amy Grant, Mercy Me’s Bart Millard), Never Alone features ten songs, including such classics as “What a Wonderful World,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Unforgettable,” “Morning Has Broken,” “What the World Needs Now,” “You Are So Beautiful, and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Never Alone also includes “See Me Then,” a beautiful duet featuring Goll’s close friend, recording artist, worship leader and songwriter, Julie Meyer. One of the album’s highlights is “Stick Together,” a delightful duet that Goll co-wrote and performed with his youngest daughter, Rachel Goll Tucker. And Goll contributes his own original song, “I Like to Dream,” which he wrote as a bedtime lullaby for his four children, then adapted for Never Alone. “I included this song as a surprise to honor Justin, GraceAnn, Tyler and Rachel. I like to dream about you!” says Goll.
“Through these songs, I hope to give listeners a picture frame to look through with a heartfelt perspective. I chose ‘What a Wonderful World’ because God does indeed have a wonderful plan for each of our lives. My wife, Michal Ann, was ‘Unforgettable,’ far more than a dream come true. She is ingrained on the memory of my soul, though near or far. For me, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ is a deeply spiritual song that has become the anthem of my life. There really is One who sticks closer than a brother. I believe these songs will give listeners a glimpse into my heart and soul,” says Goll.
“It was a privilege to help James bring his lifelong dream of recording a full-length album to life,” says Bannister. “With truly innovative arrangements provided by the inimitable talent of McKendree Tucker, Never Alone is a beautiful album, with lovely and heart-felt performances of classics that James somehow brings a new and deeper meaning to.”
Never Alone released in January 2018 from GOLL Ideation Music / Right Angle Music and is available from major online retailers including Amazon and iTunes. For more information about Goll and Never Alone, visit godencounters.com.