For about 15 years, RockSolid has provided a unique outlet for high school-aged Baptist musicians across the state. The group, which performed July 4 at Lake Martin Amphitheater in Eclectic for an audience of 800, is the result of a dream Director Keith Hibbs had as a young man.
“I wished for a group that would be an arm of the (Alabama Baptist) State Board of Missions (SBOM) that could perform in nonchurch venues to let people know that Christians enjoy all kinds of music,” said Hibbs, director of the SBOM’s office of worship leadership and church music.
This year, RockSolid’s 16 members (10 instrumentalists and six singers) performed songs by Zac Brown Band, Chicago, Lynyrd Skynyrd, TobyMac and more. Hibbs chooses and arranges the songs and enjoys including a wide variety of musical styles.
“I grew up loving all different kinds of music, which, I guess, is reflected in the eclecticism of this group,” he said. “We try to sing songs that are not offensive with their lyrics and have a positive, upbeat message.”
And although the group receives consistently glowing feedback and has been able to travel to places like Spain, the Caribbean and Maine, Hibbs believes the best thing about it is the bond members form with one another.
Collin Clardy, a rising junior and member of Thomasville Baptist Church in Clarke Baptist Association, agreed with “Mr. Keith’s” assessment of the relationships RockSolid encourages.
“We just become a family and love to be around each other and have fun doing the concerts,” Clardy said. “We’re really close and really united. There are no cliques or people we don’t talk to.”
For more information about RockSolid, visit www.alsbom.org or e-mail Hibbs at khibbs@alsbom.org.
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