Bio -- Ginny Owens
Dear Friends: My name is Ginny Owens, and I am the newest member of the Rocketown Records family. I feel privileged and somewhat overwhelmed at the opportunity to write to you about myself and my very first record, Without Condition.
Updated Aug 09, 2001
Dear Friends: My name is Ginny Owens, and I am the newest member of the Rocketown Records family. I feel privileged and somewhat overwhelmed at the opportunity to write to you about myself and my very first record, Without Condition.
As I begin to write, I am considering what exactly it is about me that you might find interesting. To know me is to know someone who is very ordinary in character. I'm content to be just one of the crowd. I prefer to sit in the back of the class. I adore quiet places where I can curl up and read, dream, or just exist. However, to know about my life and how God has ordered its moments, is to know a truly unique and amazing story. I am sure each of you could say the same of your life, couldn't you?
I was born Virginia Leigh Owens (don't tell anyone that's my real name) in Jackson, Mississippi. I began singing about the time I began to talk. Around the age of two, I found the piano and figured out that I could sing "Jesus Loves Me" and play Middle C and E throughout it, and the notes would harmonize fairly well with my singing. I also thought, around this time, that I had the gift of choral conducting. My family tells ridiculous stories about me standing up in the middle of church choir rehearsals and fussing at the singers because they were failing to sing Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" correctly.
Music wasn't the only thing I learned about early in life. Since birth, I had been hearing and learning the story about the gift of God's Son to man. I remember praying to receive Christ somewhere around the age of four; and I wish I could claim that my life has been perfect because of this decision, but of course, it hasn't. What I can claim, however, is that I know that the Lord has had a very specific plan for my life and has patiently and lovingly led me to each beautiful mountaintop and through each treacherous valley.
When I was born, it was immediately apparent I had inherited poor eyesight. Surgeries weren't able to save the small amount of vision I had, and by the time I was two, I was totally blind. I debate even now if it is necessary to mention this to you; but I know that the Lord allowed it and has used this in my life for His glory.
Growing up was, needless to say, a tremendous adventure. My parents were very determined that I should have the same experiences as my peers; so my youngest years were spent much like those of any kid: climbing tall trees, riding bikes, roller-skating, digging in the backyard determined to make it to China. (You know-all the things you did when you were a kid!)
As I grew more aware of those around me and began to understand the great extent to which my "differentness" made them uncomfortable, the brave little girl I had become began to pipe down and spend much more time alone: reading, writing, singing, and playing the piano.
The first song I remember writing came at the age of nine. It had these killer opening lines:
"Don't forget the water; don't forget the soap! Don't forget the bathtub, or you'll have to give up hope! Don't forget Christ Jesus; He who cleansed your soul; 'cause He's the only One who can make you whole." (I know...I can't believe I ever got a record deal, either!)
I wrote music throughout my teenage years, but was usually much too shy to share it with anyone. When I did perform, I would always get incredibly nervous right before and hurry out of the place as soon as I was finished. As a senior in high school, my fear began to subside slightly. I decided that the Lord was leading me to be either a high school choral director or to do some type of music ministry.
I was all set to attend a school very close to home when my youth pastor told me about Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee (seven hours away from home!), where they had a great music program. After initial reservation, I decided to apply to Belmont. Three days later, I was notified that I had been accepted into the school and awarded a full scholarship. I was on my way to Nashville! The Lord has an amazing way of opening double doors and shoving me through them, and this is definitely a prime example.
While at Belmont, the Lord began to offer me opportunities to serve by singing at area churches and leading worship for college and youth events. It was then He began to fill my heart with joy and love for those placed in my path-whether it was a congregation of twenty senior citizens, or a group of college kids who simply wanted a voice to lead them in worship. I began to be more excited and satisfied with the idea that I would live life being a music teacher and maybe leading worship in church occasionally.
I did finally graduate from Belmont with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education. As I began my search for a teaching job, I found school principals were apprehensive about hiring a blind music teacher. It was during this time of craziness that I was introduced to a publisher who took an interest in my music. He decided to sign me as a writer and then proceeded to introduce me to an amazing producer (Monroe Jones) who agreed to produce a demo of three of my songs. I was so stunned!
After finishing the demo, Monroe gave a copy of it to several of his friends. One of these friends was Don Donahue at Rocketown Records. Don liked what he heard and called to get together to talk. Our very first meeting wasn't arranged until only a few hours before it was to happen. I didn't have time to freshen up and, of course, I had chosen not to wash my hair that morning! Nevertheless, I went to the meeting...only to find that Rocketown Records Chairman, Michael W. Smith, was going to be there too! And, as they say, "the rest is history".
Without Condition is the theme of my life. Our Father's love, grace and peace are offered to us without fail, hesitation or condition. If we allow ourselves to live immersed in the love and grace that we are so freely given, the opportunities God will give us are limitless, boundless and without condition.
As for the songs on Without Condition, they are about life...mine, yours, anyone's. Specifically, these words are about my ever-increasing desire to know my Heavenly Father, my yearning to be set on fire by His Spirit, and my longing to live freely and radically in His grace. They communicate my constant need to rest in the immense love I have been given and my longing to give this love to others.
As I begin to write, I am considering what exactly it is about me that you might find interesting. To know me is to know someone who is very ordinary in character. I'm content to be just one of the crowd. I prefer to sit in the back of the class. I adore quiet places where I can curl up and read, dream, or just exist. However, to know about my life and how God has ordered its moments, is to know a truly unique and amazing story. I am sure each of you could say the same of your life, couldn't you?
I was born Virginia Leigh Owens (don't tell anyone that's my real name) in Jackson, Mississippi. I began singing about the time I began to talk. Around the age of two, I found the piano and figured out that I could sing "Jesus Loves Me" and play Middle C and E throughout it, and the notes would harmonize fairly well with my singing. I also thought, around this time, that I had the gift of choral conducting. My family tells ridiculous stories about me standing up in the middle of church choir rehearsals and fussing at the singers because they were failing to sing Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" correctly.
Music wasn't the only thing I learned about early in life. Since birth, I had been hearing and learning the story about the gift of God's Son to man. I remember praying to receive Christ somewhere around the age of four; and I wish I could claim that my life has been perfect because of this decision, but of course, it hasn't. What I can claim, however, is that I know that the Lord has had a very specific plan for my life and has patiently and lovingly led me to each beautiful mountaintop and through each treacherous valley.
When I was born, it was immediately apparent I had inherited poor eyesight. Surgeries weren't able to save the small amount of vision I had, and by the time I was two, I was totally blind. I debate even now if it is necessary to mention this to you; but I know that the Lord allowed it and has used this in my life for His glory.
Growing up was, needless to say, a tremendous adventure. My parents were very determined that I should have the same experiences as my peers; so my youngest years were spent much like those of any kid: climbing tall trees, riding bikes, roller-skating, digging in the backyard determined to make it to China. (You know-all the things you did when you were a kid!)
As I grew more aware of those around me and began to understand the great extent to which my "differentness" made them uncomfortable, the brave little girl I had become began to pipe down and spend much more time alone: reading, writing, singing, and playing the piano.
The first song I remember writing came at the age of nine. It had these killer opening lines:
"Don't forget the water; don't forget the soap! Don't forget the bathtub, or you'll have to give up hope! Don't forget Christ Jesus; He who cleansed your soul; 'cause He's the only One who can make you whole." (I know...I can't believe I ever got a record deal, either!)
I wrote music throughout my teenage years, but was usually much too shy to share it with anyone. When I did perform, I would always get incredibly nervous right before and hurry out of the place as soon as I was finished. As a senior in high school, my fear began to subside slightly. I decided that the Lord was leading me to be either a high school choral director or to do some type of music ministry.
I was all set to attend a school very close to home when my youth pastor told me about Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee (seven hours away from home!), where they had a great music program. After initial reservation, I decided to apply to Belmont. Three days later, I was notified that I had been accepted into the school and awarded a full scholarship. I was on my way to Nashville! The Lord has an amazing way of opening double doors and shoving me through them, and this is definitely a prime example.
While at Belmont, the Lord began to offer me opportunities to serve by singing at area churches and leading worship for college and youth events. It was then He began to fill my heart with joy and love for those placed in my path-whether it was a congregation of twenty senior citizens, or a group of college kids who simply wanted a voice to lead them in worship. I began to be more excited and satisfied with the idea that I would live life being a music teacher and maybe leading worship in church occasionally.
I did finally graduate from Belmont with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education. As I began my search for a teaching job, I found school principals were apprehensive about hiring a blind music teacher. It was during this time of craziness that I was introduced to a publisher who took an interest in my music. He decided to sign me as a writer and then proceeded to introduce me to an amazing producer (Monroe Jones) who agreed to produce a demo of three of my songs. I was so stunned!
After finishing the demo, Monroe gave a copy of it to several of his friends. One of these friends was Don Donahue at Rocketown Records. Don liked what he heard and called to get together to talk. Our very first meeting wasn't arranged until only a few hours before it was to happen. I didn't have time to freshen up and, of course, I had chosen not to wash my hair that morning! Nevertheless, I went to the meeting...only to find that Rocketown Records Chairman, Michael W. Smith, was going to be there too! And, as they say, "the rest is history".
Without Condition is the theme of my life. Our Father's love, grace and peace are offered to us without fail, hesitation or condition. If we allow ourselves to live immersed in the love and grace that we are so freely given, the opportunities God will give us are limitless, boundless and without condition.
As for the songs on Without Condition, they are about life...mine, yours, anyone's. Specifically, these words are about my ever-increasing desire to know my Heavenly Father, my yearning to be set on fire by His Spirit, and my longing to live freely and radically in His grace. They communicate my constant need to rest in the immense love I have been given and my longing to give this love to others.
Originally published August 09, 2001.
