Mark Lajoie of Living Waters

Story

SITE: http://www.livingwatersband.com https://reverbnation.com/livingwaters EMAIL: [email protected] Winners of an Award for Best EP, Contemporary Christian. One song, "Peter the Rock", was presented to John Paul II by Ambassador Raymond Flynn. On the very first Top Ten Countdown for Catholic Music on Adoration Radio; achieved #1 on that Countdown. The Platinum Auddy Songwriting Award from uplaya.com was given to "Love's in a Name". Living Waters was Nominated as "Best Rock Artist" for the 2014 Artists in Music Awards for "Booze Blues Cruise". Recently, we won the 2017 Radio Music Award for Contemporary Christian Song, for "Do What He Tells You to Do". Living Waters started as a house music ministry group at a retreat center in MA in 1976. In imitation of Lighthouse in Ann Arbor it expanded to a full production with dance, drama, lighting and sound production. Travelling in a converted bus LW played in at least 8 states, including Yankee Stadium, the World Marriage Encounter Convention, Hartford Civic Center and more. Over the decades they developed a very unique Christian rock style that has been described as "uplifting" and "inspirational". There were many highlights: the song “Peter the Rock” was presented to and blessed by Pope John Paul II at the hands of Ambassador Ray Flynn. Living Waters played and sang with Dana and John Michael Talbot. Eventually, the group became a faith family, many members marrying other members in the group & having a lot of talented kids. Now, the band continues to meet and pray together. Over recent years LW has achieved amazing success on the Internet. The band has been featured on Windows Media and the ReverbNation main page. After four decades of continuous existence as a band, they have achieved their long-term goal of a digital album release, “Refresh” on itunes, Amazon mp3 and other sites.) There is also a collection of Christmas classics entitled "The Joy" that is pouring out to refresh hearts and souls. And in 2015, a brand new two-song EP, "Alive Again", is out on major outlets and attracting major attention. In 2016, a collection of recent work entitled "Still Flowing" was released. Find out what all the excitement is about. Dive in & GET REFRESHED! THE TRADITIONAL MAIN BAND LINE-UP Mark Lajoie "Shorts" - lead vocalist, main songwriter, 12-string Ovation, some electric & a few one-finger keyboards! Mike McBride - the other main songwriter of LONG SONGS!, piano & keyboardist extraordinaire, some acoustic Denise Vassel - powerful female vocalist...and unofficial mother of the boys in our house community days Dave Bourque - dexterously amazing bass player, upper vocals, bus-packer & great lead singing in "Let Me In" Greg Loell "Jack Gregl"- LEAD GUITAAHH! Just listen to some of his leads, man....plays akustic, too... W. Anthony "Tony" Vassel - amazing drummer, leader, loves jazz syncopation & giving non-sensical names John Drahos "Henry" - voluminous songwriter; we've done several of his songs as a band; he's filled in often Jim Babish - manager, mixer, planner, pioneer & 'father' of us all and synth player when needed Steven "Pepi" Pipitone - our board mixer through most of our history; we call him "Bill""...and we call Denise "Bill", too.... Josh Loell - In recent times, Greg's son has been an indispensable contributor with mixing, horns, plus more on our newest recordings Of course, there have been many more people involved who are still part of the family. Go check our pictures and our blog: http://livingwatersblog-mlajoie2.blogspot.com/

Profile

Instruments

Genres

Influences

Equipment

Languages

What is music to you? What does it give you?

It is part of who I am. As St. Joan of Arc said, "I am not afraid; I was born for this."

What is your music dream?

To bring real healing, faith, knowledge of the Savior.

If you could change the world - what would you start with?

There would be no more degrading or pornographic music, but, rather, an almost endless variety of what is true, good and beautiful.

Which is the most memorable song from your childhood?

"I Wanna Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles

Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?

Beatles, Boston, U2, Second Chapter of Acts, Mozart, Handel, Vivaldi

What inspires you to make music?

The Holy Spirit.

What is the message you want to send with your music?

The Good News found in the Apostolic Tradition.

How do you feel when you perform in front of an audience?

Out of myself and yet more fully myself.

How do you see the musicians’ reality nowadays? What could be improved?

BIG organizations in every field squash the vitally crucial small, organic families.

What do you think of Drooble?

I haven't really given it a full chance yet, even after all these years. Perhaps, I will, Deo volentes.

What frustrates you most as a musician?

Getting old; running out of opportunities to express myself live.

Do you support your local scene as a fan? How?

Not able to.

What qualities should a musician nowadays have in order to get their music heard by a larger audience?

Authenticity. Skill. An ability to communicate through the music.

Share some awesome artists that we’ve never heard of.

John Polce. The "Requiem" album by the FSSP.