Watts taking stage at Third Sunday

By FAITH SWYMER
swymer@sanfordherald.com
Jan 18,2009

SANFORD — It took nearly 30 years and a social networking site, but two Lee County High School graduates and former contemporary Christian bandmates will harmonize once again.

Tonight at Rocky River Baptist Church's monthly "Third Sunday @ Rocky River" performance series in Siler City, Sanford resident Chip Watts will pick up his guitar and perform with the church's pastor and his high school friend Greg Burriss — only fitting since Burriss first introduced Watts to contemporary music back in 1980 and spurred his journey into performing Christian worship in churches across the state.

"The band was called The Second Coming Band — they were excellent musicians, but they had a sweet spirit about them," said Watts of the concert he went to at age 16. "We were so inspired by their music, we wanted to be like them, sing like them."

The pair formed the group Malachi, a contemporary Christian seven-member band named after a book of gospel in the Bible, that performed at the city's Christian coffee house and youth rallies. But mostly, the band was about friendship. Between the two, there was a sense of idoltry from Watts of Burriss, looking at the smart, talented lead actor of most of the school's musicals, while Watts was known more as the humorous one of the bunch.

"We were all involved in music and theater in high school," said Burriss. "I think having that... with that same common bond we thought strengthened our faith and gave us an outlet for creativity."

However, the band went their separate ways when Watts went to college and Burriss headed to the seminary. Watts continued to play in bands in college, but finally settled on a solo path as a singer/songwriter and worship team leader in Boone.

But last year after 20 years in Boone and several in Winston-Salem, Watts and his family moved back to Sanford, where his father served for years as the minister of Jonesboro Presbyterian Church. He landed a job at Lee County Nursing and Rehab in Sanford as a speech pathologist, another place that held a special connection to Watts.

"It's been special to me to go where my dad used to minister," he said.

The flexible hours have allowed Watts to continue his music, although he admits to mostly practicing at home with his acoustic guitar and his children when he has the chance. However, after signing up for the social networking site Facebook, he was able to reconnect with Burriss — along with several other former bandmates — and offered to perform at Rocky River Baptist Church without knowing about the Third Sunday series.

"I'm very excited to have him come and reconnect with him in that way," said Burriss. "It felt really natural to get together and work together again."

The pair will perform three pieces together, including a upbeat worship song Watts penned called "Holy, Mighty, Awesome God." As part of a rehearsal, the two men have met this week to practice for the concert — the first time they've done so since the early 1980s.

"I didn't care what the venue was, it was just to get together and sing again," said Watts. "It takes you back to 30 years ago."