Randy Matthews

Randy Matthews, an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, is remembered as a pioneer of the “Jesus music” movement of the 1970s. He was born on May 7, 1950, in Lamar, Missouri, and grew up immersed in gospel music—his father, Monty Matthews, was a founding member of the famed Jordanaires. In his youth, Randy performed in a quartet his father founded called The Zionaires.

In 1971, Matthews became the first contemporary Christian artist to sign with Word Records, marking a significant moment in the spread of Christian popular music. His musical style incorporated rock and blues influences, which set him apart from the more folk-oriented sound of many other contemporary Christian artists at the time. Beyond recording, he founded a coffee house ministry in Cincinnati as a safe haven for street people.

Matthews’ discography includes the albums Wish We’d All Been Ready (1971), All I Am Is What You See... (1972), Son of Dust (1973), Eyes to the Sky (1975), Now Do You Understand (1975), Plugged In (1981), Streets of Mercy (1987), and The Edge of Flight (1990). Through this body of work, he helped lay a foundation for the contemporary Christian music genre while remaining connected to his Southern gospel roots.