Christian Rock Legend Dana Key with the Lord at 56

By Michael Ireland
 

NASHVILLE, TN  -- Dana Key, of legendary band DeGarmo and Key passed away Sunday night June 6 from a ruptured blood clot. Key was a senior pastor at TLC Community Church in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 56.  Photo: DeGarmo and Key Band

According to CCM magazine, from the onset of their friendship, at the ripe old age of about 7 years old, Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key knew that music was going to be their lives.

"They started their first band in sixth grade and chased the dreams of wealth, fame and rock n' roll through most of high school. At 16, though, Dana Key was led to Christ by none other than Eddie. At that point, they did a 180 and committed to rocking out for Christ. They wanted to 'communicate a clear, honest Christian message through straight-ahead rock 'n' roll!'" the magazine said on its website Monday.

CCM says their first album, 'This Time Thru', hit stores in 1978. They signed with Lamb & Lion label under Pat Boone and went on to record 17 albums together. Along the way they picked up seven Grammy nominations and 17 Dove Award nominations.

The CCM story says that in 1988 Eddie DeGarmo released a solo album (Feels Good to Be Forgiven) as well as his Phase II album in 1990. That same year, Dana Key also released a solo album entitled The Journey: Walking With Jesus. Key's final album was released in 1995, Part of the Mystery.

Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key are also recognized for writing major hits for other artists including Amy Grant and Sandi Patty, as well as using their gifts to create Sunday-school programs and promote Zondervan's NIV Student Bible.

The original band members were: Dana Key: Lead Vocals and Guitar, Eddie DeGarmo: Background Vocals/2nd Lead Vocals, Keyboard, Tommy Cathey: Bass, Background Vocals, and Greg Morrow: Drums/Percussion, Background Vocals.

According to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, Key is a direct descendant (great-great-great-great-great-great grandson) of the famous Francis Scott Key, author of The Star-Spangled Banner.

DeGarmo & Key toured the world, headlining and opening with other major Christian Rock bands including Servant, Petra, Joe English, Amy Grant, Resurrection Band, Jesse Dixon, Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart, and dc Talk (their roadie crew for a period). Dana released two solo albums as well.

Following retirement, Dana served as the head of Ardent Records, and hosted a TV show, featuring new, younger, Christian bands. Dana had been serving as the pastor of a small church in Cordova, Tennessee, The Love of Christ Church (tlc).

CCM spoke with Eddie DeGarmo about his thoughts on his friend and colleague: "Dana Key was an awesome guy. Extremely talented for sure, but he was much more than that. He was absolutely passionately in love with Christ, his wife Anita and their three children. He lived his life fully dedicated to building God's kingdom with every breath he took. He was a true pioneer. He could preach the Gospel in a way that compelled thousands to accept Christ and he could play guitar and sing like you were getting a glimpse of his soul. He was my friend and my brother.

The world will miss him. I will miss him dearly."

CCM said it would continually update this story as more details are provided. "Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to his family and friends."