The Archers Reflect on "Legacy Live:" An Interview

With more than five decades of music and ministry behind them, The Archers --- Tim, Steve, and Janice Archer Cruse --- return with Legacy Live, a project that celebrates their roots in Jesus Music while looking forward with renewed passion. In this conversation, the siblings share their heart behind the album, the impact of fan participation, the legacy of Andraé Crouch, and the deeply personal moments that shaped the live recording.

Q: Looking back over more than 50 years of music and ministry, what was the central vision you wanted to capture in Legacy Live?

Tim Archer: This project represents our legacy as a group; it honors our Jesus Music roots and highlights the genesis of contemporary Christian music. We wanted to take people back to the beginning, to remind our fans of their passion as new believers and for them to experience refreshing and renewal. These songs stand the test of time because their messages are timeless, and we believe they will connect with new listeners.

Steve Archer: I think the songs on the Legacy Live project reflect our ability to perform different styles of music-pop, R&B, and some jazz flavor, as well as gospel ballads-to carry our message forward. Whether we wrote the songs or other writers contributed, the consistent message is that God is sovereign; Jesus is our Savior; and our lives are so much better knowing our Creator and having a personal relationship with Jesus!

Janice Archer Cruse: The vision we wanted to capture with Legacy Live is to honor God for the music He allowed us to make in His name over so many decades, and to honor the fans who found our music and it became the soundtrack to their life-change in Jesus.

Q: You invited fans to weigh in on the songs that shaped their lives. How did their feedback influence the final setlist, and were there any surprises in what people remembered most?

Tim: We really enjoyed working with the fans on this! Of course, over the years so many have shared their stories about how certain songs have impacted them, so the song list developed mostly to how we expected it to. Many of the songs that were birthed from a dramatic personal experience were also the most impactful over the years. For example, our cousin Don Ray Aldridge wrote "It Wouldn't Be Enough." He had been entrenched in the rock music scene, partaking in all that lifestyle had to offer. He had a life-changing prodigal experience and "It Wouldn't Be Enough" was the first song he wrote after returning to the Lord. You can hear his depth of gratitude for what Jesus did on the cross in every word, and to this day, it is our most requested song.

Steve: The fans were right on target! The songs they chose have been the ones we performed the most in our live concerts through the years.

Janice: We did a poll, and the songs the fans picked pretty much created the setlist for the concert that became this recording. I was surprised by their selections of "It Won't Be Long" and "Jesus is The Answer." I've always thought most people associated those songs with Andraé Crouch, even though The Archers were the first artist to record them. Andraé gave both to us, as he was a huge influence and a supporter who was so generous to us in our early days.

Q: You made history as the first artists to record Andraé Crouch's "Jesus Is The Answer." How does it feel to reintroduce that song today, in a live setting, to a new generation of listeners?

Tim: We are so grateful to have recorded this song. Its message is simple, profound, and evergreen. It is our hope and prayer that anyone listening who's on the fence about the truth found in Jesus will find hope and conviction that He is always the answer and always the way. Forgiveness, strength and hope are in Jesus.

Steve: We miss Andraé Crouch; he was our mentor and our very first producer! He was loving, encouraging, and generous. He blessed us with two songs for our first full-length album-songs he had not yet recorded. Both have strong messages. "It Won't Be Long" reassures us of the Second Coming of Jesus, while "Jesus Is the Answer" is a declaration for all mankind that there is a Savior sent by our Creator. I pray this new live, in-concert version will touch many young lives and renew dedication to share the Gospel in those who have followed us for many years.

Janice: It's God's divine timing, I believe! God knew before Legacy Live was released that the world needed to hear this song again and right now! I'm seeing all over social media people proclaiming that Jesus is the answer to all the turmoil and division in our world, and it seems the world is responding. We are seeing revival begin again!

Q: Performing again as siblings, what unique strengths do each of you bring to the stage, and how have those dynamics evolved since the early days of The Archers?

Tim: Such a great question! Steve is technically brilliant and an incredible writer and vocal arranger. On stage, he's very tuned in to what's happening next, or which variation of a certain line is coming up. You may notice him giving us subtle cues and guidance on stage. And of course, he has a deep love for God and passion for the lost, so that's a big driver for him.

When Janice joined us, she completed our family harmony dynamic so beautifully. She can preach, she can pray, and she does not hesitate to proclaim the truth of Christ. She leads with empathy, both from the stage and personally. She also works hard to make sure the three of us are on the same page for performances.

For me, I let my heart lead. I want the audience to feel the song, and I put everything I've got into any performance. My goal is for you to feel God's love, compassion, hope, conviction and encouragement. I want you to feel something that will lead you to receive Christ, to repent, to listen to God. My goal is not to entertain. I want you to hear God and then act on it. Together, I believe our dynamics have been fairly constant over the years, and the different strengths we bring all contribute to what you hear on this record.

Steve: I'm going to agree with my brother, Tim, on the answer to this question, he covered it all! The bottom line is those sibling harmonies, our individual creativity, and a desire-instilled in us by our mom and dad-to see lives changed. To God be the glory!

Janice: Tim is very production-oriented, and Steve is awesome with parts and vocal arrangements, although we all hear harmonies well. I have an eye for wardrobe and mostly just try to make sure I'm keeping up with the legendary vocalists my brothers are. As you can probably tell, I'm a huge fan of theirs!

Q: As pioneers of the Jesus Music movement, how do you see the legacy of those early days reflected in contemporary Christian music now?

Tim: I believe the message is the same: Jesus. In the beginning, the focus was on reaching the lost, and Jesus Music was very effective outside the walls of the Church. We witnessed people being saved by the thousands. We saw many young people throwing their drugs and other paraphernalia on the stage as they gave their hearts to the Lord. Still today, the music praises, it encourages, it ministers, it uplifts and evangelizes. There are so many choices in a myriad of subgenres now-something for everyone.

Steve: Recently we have noticed a resurgence in the recognition of many of the Jesus Music pioneers. Younger artists seem to be more aware of the early days of contemporary Christian music, and I hope some of them will pick up the classic songs from the '70s and early '80s and bring them back to life. Some friends of ours, Jeff and Sheri Easter, recently recorded one of our songs from the '80s. It's a song I wrote for our very first live record (Celebrate Live) called "Sunshine On a Cloudy Day." Jeff and Sheri invited us to do background vocals on their recording, and it was so much fun collaborating! It went to #1 on the Southern Gospel chart too-what a blessing!

Janice: We wanted to sing a style of music we could relate to as young people ourselves-songs other young people would want to listen to, all while keeping the message about Jesus. Today's artists are doing the same thing-keeping the sounds culturally current, while keeping the message of the music about Jesus! We may change styles or methods but one should never change the message of Jesus and who He is, what He alone has done, and what He will do when we trust in Him.

Q: Each of you spoke about the emotional weight of this project. Was there a particular moment in the recording of Legacy Live that felt especially meaningful or even sacred to you?

Tim: For me, that moment came during "Pickin' Up the Pieces," the last song in the "Legacy Medley." Well before the live recording I had been diagnosed with Stage 3 oral cancer, something only one out of three people survive. I lost the entire floor of my mouth and almost half of my tongue. I didn't know if I would be able to speak again, let alone sing. For the first few months after surgery, only my wife could understand me. I had to relearn how to speak. So up on stage that night, I was LIVING that song. As I was singing about God picking up the pieces, He was actually doing that for me in real time. That moment was very sacred, and the raw emotion you hear on that track is from a deeply emotional and redemptive experience.

Steve: When my brother was diagnosed with oral cancer, it was very unsettling for me. We started as a duo, the Archer Brothers, and through the years added other wonderful singers and musicians to the group that is now known simply as The Archers. Singing and touring together all these years has brought us much closer than just being siblings. I started sending my prayers, knowing that potential surgery could affect my brother's ability to sing. Fast forward to a wonderful doctor and a miracle-working God, Tim sang so beautifully on this Legacy Live project! When I hear the heart and determination in his performance on "Legacy Medley," he absolutely knocked it out of the park! The live audience that night was definitely deeply moved.

Janice: As I heard Tim sing the most famous song he has ever written, "Pickin' Up The Pieces," for the first time since surviving mouth cancer, I began crying on the opening line of the verse. It was such a testimony being lived out in front of our very eyes. It's a beautiful reminder that God will reach in and pick up the pieces in any part of our life that needs it over and over again! This is why we keep running to Jesus; He is so faithful and only He can do the miraculous!

For further information visit: 
thearcherslegacylive.com, turningpointpr.com or newdaychristian.com.
Follow The Archers on Instagram and Facebook.  

 

Tags : The Archers "Legacy Live" The Archers Interview The Archers