Well, here is a little about me, myself, and I—not that I enjoy talking about myself; yeah, right! If we are honest with ourselves, I believe all of us have a little self-centeredness in us. Right?
OK, let me start by saying this. My bio spans some 70+ years to date. Shoot, I started writing my Book of Memoirs two Christmases ago and I’ve only finished four chapters. So as this podcast title states “From Dust to Ashes”, I’m still walking this earth and kicking the dust off my feet. I ain’t dun yet. Praise the LORD!
So to keep things from getting too lengthy, I will just break this down into four or five major areas of my life. At the ripe age of 11—and for three years—I took classical piano lessons. Went as far as the teacher could take me. I was really getting into automobiles by then—that is, anything that would move under the power of the internal combustion engine. So I didn’t pursue music any further. By the age of 15—also when I was able to get my drivers license—I had already put together my first racing machine for the local drag strip. Of course, with a little help from a friend or two.
ANow to my surprise, when in high school, I got hooked up with some friends and we started a band. Oh yes, Rock-N-Roll it was! I played keyboard. Graduated in 68′ and bought my first muscle car, a 68′ Road Runner it was. In 1971, I graduated to the Dodge Charger (440 Six-Pack). That car was a beast! I won a lot of races with that one.
Unfortunately in mid to late 1973, I got distracted and deceived and let a dark cloud hang over me. I became a party animal. I lost everything I had worked for all those years, including respect. I spent 20 years in no-man’s land. What a major waste of adulthood and life! However, there is a bright side to the story! Didn’t want to bum you out too much! In 1980 I met this wonderful woman and married her. Had two great and loving children (both girls).
In 1992 I gave my life to Christ, Praise the LORD! My whole life changed, our whole lives changed, and for the better. God brought me back to music. I started writing songs, got a good paying job, became worship leader in Church.
The wife and I have been married 41-years now. Our girls are happily married and we have four grandsons. The LORD has continually blessed our families and us. God is good! In 2012 the wife and I bought a home which enabled me to build my home-music production-studio (Savannah Branch Music & Records).
And now, as you can see, I’ve started this podcast; ‘From Dust to Ashes’. God is Good, Life is Good. Remember, always put Jesus first and He will always calm the storms of life.
God Bless you and yours,
Rev. Donald F. Carpenter; ‘From Dust to Ashes’