Chuck Girard, Jesus Movement Icon, Announces Stage Four Cancer
Chuck Girard, a pioneer of Jesus music in the early 1970s, shared on Facebook Wednesday that he has cancer.
“First of all, I’m deeply grateful for all of you,” he posted. “It’s been an honor to share my music and ministry with you for the past 50 years. Your kind messages and support over the years have been a tremendous source of encouragement and inspiration.
“In the fall of 2024, I was diagnosed with stage four cancer, which by then had already metastasized to my lungs. I began chemotherapy in November and have been undergoing treatment since then. A few months ago, my doctor took me off chemo because it was ineffective. We are now pursuing other treatment options and praying for more time, but ultimately it’s in the hands of God. “Karen and I, and the whole family, are walking in total peace with the comfort of the Holy Spirit, knowing that our lives are in His hands. I’ll do my best to share updates from time to time, and as always I appreciate your prayers.”
Read our interivew with Chuck Girard
The Jesus Movement, when Christians realized it was OK to have long hair and play rock music in church, continues to reverberate today. Few names are more synonymous with that momentous era than Girard. As a founding member of Love Song, widely regarded as the first Christian rock band, and later as a solo artist, he is known for such songs as “Rock & Roll Preacher,” “Little Pilgrim” and “Sometimes Alleluia.”
Revival swept through the youth culture of Southern California, centered around Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa. Girard described that era in an interview with Metro Voice when his biography, “Rock & Roll Preacher,” was published.
“By a process of elimination and study, it was an organic process of the Holy Spirit directing and guiding us,” he said. “We came out at the other end with the ultimate truth of Christianity. God took a bunch of hippies and changed a lot of things in music. It was from the heart, and it was not lorded over by executives. The 1970s were a great decade in Christian music.”
Girard has continued to record and perform in recent years, and he is producing a documentary, “A Band Called Love Song.” The popularity of the “Jesus Revolution” movie sparked renewed interested in Girard and his music.
“I’m always amazed at how much activity there still is on my Spotify account and how often people respond on Facebook,” he said. “I think it’s more my generation, although there are some kids who are interested in the historic music. Most of the audience are people who were into the into the music or their parents were. There still are people who order physical copies off Amazon. I’m surprised that there is as much interest as there is.”
For more information, visit www.chuckgirard.com
