The 'Power House' album by WHITE HEART has stormed its way up America's CCM sales charts. Tony Cummings met the band and records the achievements and disasters experienced by the cast-of-hundreds baring the White Heart name.

Brian Wooten, at 36 overcomes any wisecracks one might have planned about veterans Smiley and Gersmehl robbing the creative cradle. Wooten has had two and a half years on the road with the Imperials.

"The guys are chop monsters, all three of them," notes Gersmehl. "These guys were not only great musicians, but great people. We felt that they were the best for where we were. I can honestly say that it hasn't been this exciting for me in years. We go out there and these guys play their solos and it's amazing, everybody really wants to be there for the people."

The new line-up were immediately in the studio to record their debut album for Star Song. Producing was Bill Drescher whose past credits include Rick Springfield and the Bangles.

Gersmehl notes, "Predominantly, Billy and I did the writing, because things were still pretty new. But there were a lot of contributions when it came to the tracking. I think that these guys really put their personalities down on tape. We try to make this an open forum, where everybody can write their own part and be an integral part of the musical structure. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't, but it says a lot for these guys that it did."

With its astonishing intro, a collage where John F Kennedy speeches, crowd noises, the Norwegian National anthem are all segued into a stunning soundscape before the band positively cracks into "Independence Day" one is conscious of a band of rare ability. Mark Gersmehl doesn't take the role of God has given him and his fellow White Heart musos lightly.

"The privilege of being a Christian musician is that you're able to try to understand something about your life, something about the Lord you want to serve, and you can do it in a song. There aren't a lot of people who have a chance or the privilege to do that. It's something I'm really grateful for."

"In the past we've always reacted to situations that happened to White Heart, and that's sort of given us that unity," suggests Smiley. "But now, nothing like that has happened, it's just the instilment of God showing us why we go out there and what is our purpose. What we do want people to think when they hear the name. Do we want it to be a great band, or great musicians? And he answer is no, we hope that's the basis for it, but it's that we hope to make a difference with people.

"That is big idea for me, because there are so many Christian kids out there that have so little self value. And a lot of churches and denominations will teach that God loves you, but you're really nothing. And I really don't believe that. I believe God made all of us in his image, and that's a beautiful thing. We really want to tell Christian kids that God has made that difference in your life and so you make a difference in other peoples' lives. That's really the summation of what 'Power House' says, and it's what we are really about."

The author acknowledges with thanks material originally published in past issues of CCM magazine.