Chesapeake Member Witnesses About King of Kings With Help From the King of Rock

Thirty-nine years after he first heard Elvis Presley singing on the radio, Kevin Booth is using songs by the king of rock ‘n’ roll to point people to the King of Kings.

Interview by Taashi Rowe

Kevin Booth was 5  years old when he first heard Elvis Presley singing on the radio. There was just something about music from the “king of rock ‘n’ roll” that captivated this kid growing up in a small town outside of Baltimore and turned him into a lifelong fan. Booth, now a member of Chesapeake Conference’s Hagerstown (Md.) church, says he’s had a long road back to Jesus and the church, and 'the king'  is helping him point people to the King

Kevin Booth performs Elvis' gospel songs at the Hagerstown (Md.) church.

of Kings.

Taashi Rowe: What was it about Presley’s music that impressed you so?

Kevin Booth: There was just something about Elvis’ music that clicked for me and I loved him. It wasn’t long after that I saw him perform on TV wearing the American eagle jumpsuit and a cape. He was like a super hero and he was bigger than life to me. My mom and dad started buying me records. I think they thought I’d get over it. I was about 12 years old when I started publicly performing his music.

Rowe: How did you become involved in the Seventh-day Adventist Church?

Booth: I grew up in a semi-Christian home. My parents went to a Baptist church sometimes. But I first came to the Lord and the Adventist Church around 1991. I had gone to a Christian rock concert with some friends and gave my heart to the Lord that night. I then prayed, “Lord, there are hundreds of denominations out there, and I don’t know where to go. Send me to the one that teaches only from the Bible.” Over the next three weeks, I was surrounded by Adventists, including friends I never talked religion with before. It was unbelievable. I then discovered the Linthicum church [near Baltimore]. I took Bible studies with some elders and became baptized.

Rowe: That’s great! How did you balance your faith and your music?

Booth: Things went well for a couple years. Music was always a huge part of my life. I started pursuing country music thinking I could hold on to my relationship with Christ. I did for a while. But after performing in bars, honky tonks and traveling all over, I eventually fell away from my relationship with the Lord. I would go to church every now and then, but I knew in my heart our relationship wasn’t where it should be.

Rowe: When did things start changing for you?

Booth: I didn’t realize it at the time, but even though I wasn’t walking with the Lord, He had His eye on me. About eight years ago, I was doing what musicians do in bars—drinking and partying—when I met my wife, Billie Jo. After a year or so of dating, we moved to Martinsburg, W.Va.

Rowe: How was your music career doing at this time?

Booth: Well, my country music career never really took off. But I started doing what I did as a child. My wife and I put together Elvis shows. We just used a computer and a PA system and traveled all over the country. We were especially successful in the Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia area and stayed busy.

Rowe: This must have made you very happy.

Booth: From the outside looking in you would think so. I had a wonderful wife and little girl and success. I should have been happy but I really wasn’t. One morning, about a year and a half ago, after my wife left for work, I just broke. I fell down on my knees and opened my Bible to Psalm 51. I cried out to the Lord. I knew in my heart that I left God. He didn’t leave me. Last January I was re-baptized and I recommitted my life to the Lord at the Hagerstown church.

Rowe: What drew you to the Hagerstown church?

Booth: I knew that once I recommitted my life to the Lord how important it was to be among fellow believers and get back into active relationship with the Lord. So I looked for an active, community driven church and was extremely drawn to the fellowship there.

Rowe: How did your return to the fold impact your blossoming music career?

Booth: Throughout 2013 I stopped doing Elvis shows because I felt like God was calling me away from that to devote 100 percent of my time to Christian music. Sometimes we assume that we know what God is calling us to. I turned to doing gospel shows but I wasn’t as busy as I used to be, and I wasn’t bringing in any money.

Rowe: But you stood firm in your faith? That must have been very difficult.

Booth: It was very challenging. But then a couple months ago, I got a call from Elder Gary Gibbs, [Chesapeake Conference’s Ministries Development director]. I told him I had an idea about doing a gospel concert based on the gospel music of Elvis Pressley. I thought it was a great way to reach people who normally wouldn’t come through our doors for a church service. He agreed. We did our first concert at the Dover (Del.) church. Then we had two more at the Grasonville and Rock Hall churches in Maryland. The most well-attended one was at my home church. We drew approximately 180 people and three-quarters of the attendees were not Adventists! It was absolutely thrilling!

Rowe: I didn’t realize that Elvis recorded gospel music.

Booth: Elvis recorded tons of gospel music. He was the biggest star the world has ever known and he found peace in singing gospel music. He even won three Grammys for gospel music. I would occasionally sing some of his songs at my other Elvis shows and people would come up to me afterward, tell me their hearts were touched and ask for prayer. The Elvis Gospel Show opened up a whole new world for me. I spent all of last year trying to figure out what to do and it was dangling in front of me the whole time.

Rowe: What’s the Elvis Gospel Show like?

Kevin Booth and his wife, Billie Jo, and their daughter, Abby, attend the Hagerstown church. Photo by Jolene Thomas.

Booth: I share my testimony and share that the one thing that brings true happiness is a relationship with God. There are two audience favorites that I always end with—“He Touched Me” and “How Great Thou Art.” People tear up with those songs.

Rowe: So, you’ve come full circle?

Booth: The Lord put the idea for the show in my heart. I was hoping that non-Adventists would come out to these programs, and praise God that’s what’s happening so far. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s our job to reach the unreached and go wherever God sends us. I believe that’s what I’m doing.

To learn more about Booth’s ministry, visit kevinboothmusic.com.