Denny Correll (1980) "All To Him "

This track 4 from the 1980 album "How Will They Know" (By Request)
Written by Denny Correll
Dennis “Denny” Correll was born into a musical environment on February 19, 1946. His mother was a big band singer and his father was a gifted pianist and big band orchestra leader. Music filled their home - swing, jazz, R&B, big band, Gospel and rock and roll. While Denny's mom loved Jesus and guided countless people to faith in Christ, his Dad suffered from alcoholism, leading eventually to their divorce. After much prayer, Denny's father did accept Christ as Savior late in his life, was delivered from alcoholism, and was reconciled to his children.

A musician from his earliest years, he was an early member of Love Song, a band that would become one of the earliest pioneering CCM groups. He then joined Blues Image, known for their earlier hit song "Ride Captain Ride". After the breakup of Blues Image, Denny floated around. He joined a group called Manna and recorded a single for A&M Records called Good Old Rock and Roll, then played with a band called 5th Cavalry.

It was at this point that Denny became part of Jesus Music history. It's not a stretch to say that without the influence of Denny Correll, we might never have heard of a band called Love Song. He was known for his blue-eyed soul singing.

Chuck Girard was playing in Las Vegas at the Pussy Cat a Go Go with a band called Six the Hard Way. It just so happened that 5th Cavalry was on the bill as well. Denny, ever the evangelist, gathered all of the musicians together during a break and began witnessing to them about Jesus. Girard was impressed with Correll's passion and conviction and started reading the Bible after returning home to LA. Girard and a bunch of musician friends started searching for God through the Bible but also trying to find meaning, fulfillment, and spiritual enlightenment through drugs. They started calling themselves Love Song and played bars and clubs in Southern California. They eventually visited a church called Calvary Chapel and ended up giving their hearts and lives to Jesus. And the rest was history.

Denny Correll ended up a member of Love Song for a short time and co-wrote one of the songs (Changes) on the group's landmark 1972 debut album.

He released a string of well-liked solo albums which sold well and garnered several CCM radio hits. His love for Jesus and his desire to share the love of God to all was always the motivating factor that can be heard in his songs.

He had three back operations and reportedly fell into some problems with addiction. He was certainly not alone in that (artists such as Chuck Girard and Bryan Duncan went public many years ago with their own struggles).

He passed into the arms of his loving savior Jesus, on November 29, 2002. He was 56. He had been dealing with heart problems and had just left from being treated at Hoad Hospital in Newport, CA. After he was released, he attempted to drive himself home...but never got there. He suffered a heart attack and was found in his car in a school parking lot the following morning. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea by his brother Tim.

Albums released featuring Denny Correll include: "Standin' In The Light" (1979), "How Will They Know?" (1980), "Something I Believe In" (1982), "Living Water" (1983), "Trust" (1991) and "Precious Hymns" (2010).