Mark Lowry Performs at Howard

Christian comedian and singer/songwriter performing

Mark Lowry, former baritone member of Gaither Vocal Band and the author of Mary, Did You Know?, is performing an evening of entertainment on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at 7 p.m. at the Howard Performing Arts Center at Andrews University in Berrien Springs. Joining Lowry will be pianist Stan Whitmire along with the vocalist group LordSong.

Lowry is multi-talented as a Christian singer, songwriter and comedian. For 13 years he sang baritone in the Gaither Vocal Band and he is featured on most Gaither Homecoming videos. After branching out into his own music ministry, he discovered his talent for making people laugh, after filling gaps between his songs while the little old man in the back of his church changed to his next track. “Those few seconds of ‘dead air’ can feel like hours when you're on stage facing a crowd—so, to fill time, I'd start talking about my life and my testimony. People would laugh and I finally realized I was on to something.”

His lyrics have brought him success as well. In 1984 he was asked by his church to write a Christmas play. He was inspired to write a series of questions he’d love to ask Mary, the mother of Jesus. Six years later, Buddy Greene wrote music to these lyrics and the song Mary, Did You Know? is now a Christmas standard.

Lowry attended Liberty College in Lynchburg, Va., with the intention of graduating with a degree in business. He felt God calling him to music and instead graduated with a degree in youth ministry. He performed at Baptist churches across the country, at one point performing in 43 cities in 41 days.

Touring with Mark Lowry is LordSong, an exciting new vocal act from Spartanburg, S.C. The group was co-founded by Michael and Kim Lord in January 2000 and includes family members Heather Day and Valerie Ellenburg. They are driven by a passion for evangelism and a desire to be real and approachable to audiences.

Tickets for this concert can be purchased by calling the Howard Performing Arts Center box office at 269.471.3560. General admission tickets are $30 and Andrews University students are $10. Special rates apply for groups and Flex Series tickets.

Tickets for Mark Lowry are now also available online at Itickets.com (service charge applies)and at Banner Books Parable Christian Store in St. Joseph, Michigan.