Spiker & My Dear Old Pal Bernie (1982)

Appearing in this photo with me are two dear people. Dave Spiker used to work at Orange County radio station KYMS (now defunct ... er, the station, not Dave). Dave was such an encouragement when I was totally wet behind the ears. He went onto work with Focus on the Family and currently lives and works in Lynden, WA as the President of Imagination Media.

Also in this photo is my dear pal over these many years, Bernie Sheahan. I met her through Michele Pillar when Bernie was a radio rep at Sparrow Records. Eventually, Bernie went to work with CBS/Priority records in Nashville and when I signed to that label, we became worked together and became fast friends.

I don’t quite remember when, but one time Bernie said something to me that is, perhaps, the single most influential thing anyone has ever said to me about my music. She had always been a big fan and supporter, but was also privy to my constant questions and frustrations about the “keep-it-simple-stupid”, lockstep thinking of the contemporary Christian music industry (a.k.a. CCM). The temptation to court easy success by appealing to the lowest common denominator is pretty powerful. One day Bernie simply said “I want to hear Bob Bennett songs without the CCM filter on.” I never forgot that suggestion and it has been a constant reminder for me to write songs that are honest and not predigested. Bernie has always been a great sounding board for me. And though I don’t talk to her but once in a blue moon, when we see each other, our bond is instantaneous ... she is one of the dearest and (along with vocalist extraordinaire Lisa Cochran) one of the funniest women I’ve ever met.