『From pews to pastures, meet the other Jack Daniels』のカバーアート

From pews to pastures, meet the other Jack Daniels

From pews to pastures, meet the other Jack Daniels

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 His father either had a great sense of humor or a knack for coming up with names. He called the acreage he farmed along the Red River in Lafayette County Miracle Farms, inspired by one of his favorite sayings: “God grants the miracle — we do the work.” But why did Mr. Daniels name his son Jack? “I have a lot of fun with the name,” Jack Daniels told me. “Apparently my dad had a pretty good sense of humor.” In the latest episode of my podcast, I sat down with Jack to talk about the story behind Miracle Farms — its roots, its name, and the faith that still shapes the work that happens out near the Bodcaw community in Nevada County. Along the way, we learn a few amazing facts about the man who keeps things rolling at the farm. Jack hopped on the lead bus from our school district as we arrived, guiding it through the gate and out into the parking pasture. His wife, Sunny, greeted our students as they filed out into acres and acres of agri-tourism fun. Minutes later, Jack was loading passengers onto the hay wagon, then taking his seat on the tractor that would pull them around the farm. Later in the morning, as I tried to corner him for this interview, he hopped on a four-wheeler promising to return shortly. “Jack-of-all-trades” might be a more fitting name than the eponym with the founder of a Tennessee whiskey distillery. Take his education, for example. A graduate of Hope High School, Jack studied both music education at Southern Arkansas University and diesel and heavy truck mechanics at Red River Vo-Tech. How many musicians do you know who also have an interest in heavy mechanics? The music part made sense for a man who grew up singing and playing and currently serves as worship leader at Garrett Memorial Baptist Church in Hope. But the mechanics part — that’s where his story takes an unexpected turn. And what a story it is. Jack toured for 20 years with David Phelps, five years with the Gaither Vocal Band, and two years with The Martins. He figured knowing a bit about diesel mechanics might come in handy for someone who lived part of his life on a tour bus. “I’ve had the great opportunity to be involved in gospel music for 40 years now,” Jack told me. “I’ve traveled with a lot of icons and people that I really, really look up to and think the world of.” Jack got his start in gospel music at age 14, performing with his father’s family group, The Ambassadors. “My dad and I started when I was 14 years old, back in ’84,” Jack said. “We traveled regionally for years and years, and I stayed with them all through high school.” After graduating from Hope High School, Jack joined the well-known gospel group, The Martins, playing piano with them for nearly two years before deciding to pursue another interest. “I’d always loved working with machinery,” he said. “I was raised on a farm, always working on equipment, and I thought, if I ever join a gospel group, it’d be good to know how to fix a bus if we broke down on the road. So I decided to learn a little diesel mechanics to go along with playing the keyboard.” That practical thinking led him to Red River Vocational-Technical School, where he studied diesel mechanics. But Jack’s love of music never faded. Before long, he enrolled at Southern Arkansas University, earning a degree in music education — all while continuing to travel and perform with his family’s group, The Ambassadors. It was music, too, that brought him together with the love of his life. While singing at a church one evening, he caught the attention of a young woman named Sunny. “She just fell in love,” Jack says with a smile, then admits, “I think it was the other way around.” The two have now been married twenty-six years and have six children. To no one’s surprise they are all musically inclined and frequently perform at local venues. About a year into their marriage, a family connection opened the door to a whole new chapter. Jack’s cousin is married to David Phelps — the world-renowned tenor whose soaring voice helped define the Gaither Vocal Band. When Phelps called one day to ask if Jack might like to play piano for some of his solo shows, Jack said yes. That yes turned into twenty years of music, travel, and unforgettable moments. “Twenty years go by in a hurry,” he says. “I traveled the world — played Carnegie Hall twice, performed in London at the O2, and just about everywhere in between. It was an amazing twenty years.” During that time, Jack became close with Bill Gaither and the Homecoming family. He even drove Gaither’s bus for several years and occasionally filled in on stage, playing auxiliary keyboards, mandolin, or dobro. “Really great opportunities,” he reflects. “I got to be part of something special.” Even with all the miles Jack Daniels has logged on the road, his heart has never strayed far from the land. Farming runs deep in his veins — three generations deep, to be ...
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