John Altevogt didn’t play music as a child but picked up the bass in his twenties when some friends were forming a band. He decided to find an easy route and asked what instrument was easiest. When they said “bass,” he decided to give it a try. He went on to be a very successful bass player in the late 1960’s and early seventies. His playing backed a number of famous regional and national acts including opening for Jimi Hendrix.

When he began to realize that thirty must be pretty much “over-the-hill” for a rock and roll musician, he decided to go back to school. After all, who was to see a thirty-something play rock and roll? He became sociologist earning a Masters Degree and becoming a research sociologist. He moved to Kansas to work on his PhD at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

His parents had faithfully taken him to church as a child, so when family struggles came along, it was natural for him to seek refuge with a caring congregation. As his faith grew and he changed churches seeking more in-depth teaching, he began to realize that the church needed to do a better job of reaching the next generation through music. As an elder he pushed for more contemporary worship. John knew that the key to people’s hearts was through music, music that was relevant and not unlike what they were used to hearing.

To make this happen he decided to get the old bass out of the closet and form a praise band. Having not played for few decades, he decided to take some lessons. It was through his music teacher that he got acquainted with other musicians with similar interest.

He began playing bass in a secular blues band as well as Christian blues band. Soon the two began to blur as God used both bands to bring His love to all kinds of people, Christians and non-Christians alike.

So, who wants to see a “thirty-something” play rock and roll? How about a “sixty-something?” It turns out the answer is a lot of people.