Gregory Stephen Popp

I grew up in South St. Louis. Born and raised a Catholic, I attended Catholic grade and high school. Despite my education I found in later years that I had a lot to learn about my faith. But the wonderful thing about our faith is that the deeper you look, the more you explore and question, the stronger it becomes. As Scott Hahn says, Catholocism is like a lion - it defends itself.

I've loved music since I was very young. I was influenced by bands like Rush, Boston, Styx, April Wine, Foghat, Journey, The Police, Cheap Trick, Sammy Hagar, and a host of one-hit-wonders from the 70s and 80s. I played in mainstream rock bands in high school and college and played in bars after college. As I look back, I always seemed to like the songs that had something to do with God. They were out there, but they were few and easily lost amid the thousands of songs written about love and relationships.

When my wife and I had our first child, I decided to put my guitar down. And I did - for two full years. Then my wife made the decision to join the Catholic church. Her conversion experience through RCIA led me to a stronger relationship with God and a much stronger faith. I began to play guitar at Saturday evening mass thanks to a very generous friend, Mary Carty, who allowed me to join her group. As time progressed, Mary moved on, and I "inherited" her position as "fearless leader" of the Come-On-Down Choir. She gave me my first CCM CD: Breath of Salvation by a local artist named Javier Mendoza. I loved it and soon I was listening to lots of CCM artists. My current favs are Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, Mercy Me, Switchfoot, Matt Maher, David Crowder, Matt Redman, Caedmon's Call, Peter Mayer, and FFH (just to name a few, and in no particular order).

I have a wonderful wife, Laura and two fantastic children Alex and Megan. I also have a crazy beagle named "Skittles." I program computers as my "real job." I play an Alvarez Yari six string, a Yamaha 12 string, and a Gibson Les Paul custom electric. I have 2 crate amps - One on indefinite loan from the aforementioned friend, Mary, for my acoustic and a smaller one for the electric.

Deborah Ann Meister

When I was in the sixth grade, the Dominican sister in charge of music at our school put a guitar in my hands, and I learned to play Michael Row the Boat Ashore. We had a small youth choir at the time with mostly guitars that led us in singing those early Catholic songs we all cringe to hear nowadays. When I graduated from college, I went on to play music on guitar, organ, and piano in seven different diocese across the U.S., as my husband’s job took us from coast to coast every two years or so. I’ve come to learn that music is a vital part of the faith journey for many people. And so it has been for me. My avocation of music ministry is a gift that has deepened my relationship with Christ, by allowing me to serve the church, and has brought me into friendship with many excellent Christian musicians, none of them more talented than my GSP friends.

We moved back to St. Louis in 1996 and into St. Paul Parish. I recently gave up teaching college English for editing and full-time writing, after completing an MA in Theology with the Dominicans at Aquinas Institute of Theology. I feel that God has brought me full circle and feel very much at home, among good friends. 

More about me here
http://debordante.tripod.com/

and here 
 http://debordante-baratin.blogspot.com/

Christopher Jacob Rehor
1963-2006

I live in St Louis Hills with my wife Kristi, daughter Anne and our psychotic yet lovable husky, Zoe.  During the day I work as a computer programmer.  When I’m not doing that I like to spend time with my family.  Music has always been an important part of my life and the desire to play the drums grew from listening to early Rush albums.  Over the years I developed a taste for all varieties of music.  On any given day I could be listening to a Louis Armstrong 78 on my Victrola or a Pat Metheny CD or possibly System Of A Down on my iPod.  And most recently I’ve been introduced to some very good CCM artists which I never really considered before.  It’s always good to keep an open mind.

James William Bradley

I also grew up in South St Louis County and was raised in a strong Catholic family. I attended Catholic grade school, then attended public high school and graduated from college with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.

I began playing guitar in 4th or 5th grade when my older brother took lessons and then turned around and taught me what he had learned. I put the guitar away when I began part time work and went to college, not to touch it again until after I married and my wife and I began raising our children.

I had never played in a formal group, but started playing with a couple of different groups at Church in the early 90’s at Mass , youth retreats and other celebrations. Several years ago our bass player left. The group decided we needed another and turned and looked at me. I am still learning, but have enjoyed the challenge.

I have really enjoyed playing with this group. Their talent humbles and amazes me and my faith has grown as a result of our work together. Our friendship is truly one of life’s great blessings.

God’s greatest blessings have been my wife Carolyn and our three sons - Dave, Brian and Mike. The boys are all grown, have graduated from college and are pursuing their own carreers. I work as a Construction Supervisor for a local electric and gas utility.

Christopher Himstedt

          Growing up, the oldest of 4 (3 boys and a sister) far from the “mainstream city” of St. Louis in a town called High Ridge, set me in my ways of life.  Not quite a redneck, and certainly not a city boy, I spent most of my childhood playing outside sports, bike riding, and tree house building.
 
          My musical interests came from listening to my mother play the piano (Black Walnut Waltz was my favorite) while I danced funny little dances in the basement.  Eventually, with a lot of plunking around, I found the piano was something I could use as a form of therapy.  The music in my head was finding its way through my fingers to the ivory keys.  I never played anything other than improvisational stuff, but this was a huge part of my life. 

          After moving out on my own, I didn’t have my piano to play, so I borrowed a guitar from my brother and taught myself to strum a few chords.  I didn’t take this serious until around 2002 when I was asked to fill in for one of our Church musicians.  Since then, I have been strumming and singing as St. Paul’s Catholic Church every Saturday afternoon.  The group of musicians that I play with are a blessing to me and I am glad God has given me the gifts of friendship that have been the result of many prayers and practices.

God has blessed me also with a very patient and loving wife, Renee and two beautiful daughters, Samantha and Andrea (Sam and Andi).  Without their love and support, I would be lost.  I have been a professional photographer for 18 years and for fun I have been a breeder of reptiles (mostly boas) for about 25 years.  I can’t forget my Golden Retriever, Holly Berry, who stays by my side late night after late night while I play my Taylor 814Ce, American Fender Stratocaster, Yamaha 12  and 6 strings or my Alvarez Jazz Fusion acoustic guitars.

Tracy Marie Schamburg

I was born into a “musical family,” both of my parents were jazz musicians.  My father was a drummer and my mother a phenomenal pianist.  Thus, at a very early age I began singing and appreciating music.  My mother told me that when I was a little girl I would say :  “ when I grow up, I am going to be a singing psychiatrist!”  Ironically, I now have a family counseling practice in South St. Louis County in addition to my work with the GSP Band.  I have recently published a psycho-educational book for children, addressing sexual abuse: Catie the Caterpillar.  This book also has references to God being a part of the healing process and was published by a Catholic publications company, Liguori Publications.

I have worked in the counseling field for the last fifteen years but just began singing again about two and a half years ago.  I was a music-voice major in college but  “put it away” to be practical, have a career, family, etc.  I’m still not sure how anyone in St. Louis really found out about my musical background (I am a Proud, Native Texan!) but somehow my “secret” got out and I started singing with Greg, et. al. in 2003.  What a blessing this group and this opportunity has been!  Now, I don’t just get to sing again, I get to Sing for the Lord!
  I have two beautiful, funny and challenging sons, and no “bio” would be complete without mentioning our dog, Romo!