YORKTON - Area musician Troy MacNaughton has released a new disc: ‘Take Jesus to the World’.
MacNaughton grew up on a grain/cattle farm near Swan Plain, Saskatchewan riding horses and working in the field. He started out playing piano and taught himself to play on his mom's guitar and loved music from an early age.
After graduation MacNaughton joined a country rock band out of Regina called Eagle Street as lead singer. Troy then set his sights on Nashville and spent twelve years singing, writing and recording music there.
“I love and I am influenced by many of the country stars like George Jones, Johnny Cash, Keith Whitley and more recently Alan Jackson,” he told Yorkton This Week.
MacNaughton had the opportunity to write with and meet many of his heroes. While in Nashville for a songwriter's night, Troy got to meet George Jones when he was signing CDs for his new ‘Choices’ album.
“I was with a friend of mine and we bought a CD and George was sitting with his wife Nancy and he signed my CD,” he related. “Then my friend was trying to get George to sing a song, so I started singing George's big hit ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’ and George finished the line with me as only he can do! So I got to sing a duet with George Jones!”
But there are two sides to most things.
I also got to see the darker side of show business and I saw many people in the industry fall into addiction with alcohol and drugs. I'll be 26 years clean and sober this year and I'm proud of that,” said MacNaughton.
Now MacNaughton is passionate about writing songs with a message of hope and those are the songs he truly loves. He explained he was saved as a young boy of six, and Jesus came into his life and now he lets "Christ in me the hope of glory" shine through him wherever he goes.
The first recording MacNaughton did in Saskatchewan was called ‘Still On The Throne’. His keyboard player sent the recording to his niece to listen to. She called him later and told him that she was contemplating committing suicide that very night but when she heard the song changed her mind.
A lot of MacNaughton’s songs have brought healing, restoration and faith in God to people who felt depressed and lonely, he explained.
‘The Yellow Flower’ is another song that talks about how there are no small acts of kindness.
No one knows the impact they can have on someone with even just a smile, we may think it is small or irrelevant but it could give someone the hope they are searching for, said MacNaughton. People can make poor choices that lead them to the depths of despair and acts of kindness can give them the helping hand to find hope.
“There are many songs I wrote that have helped minister to me in ways as well when I needed it,” he said.
MacNaughton moved back to Saskatchewan and now lives in Canora with his wife Crystal.
MacNaughton did go back to Nashville and to record an album titled ‘Take Jesus To The World’ which can be heard on Yorkton's radio station The Rock.
He has since written and recorded six more albums and is getting ready to record another.
In addition MacNaughton also sings and speaks at different church venues, care facilities, fundraisers and even the federal penitentiary in Prince Albert.
“It will be my third year speaking and singing at a Full Gospel men's conference in Chilliwack B.C. this fall,” he said.
Whether it's some country or classic rock you love, getting MacNaughton to come and play at your church, public or private event is always fun, heartwarming and entertaining. His music is available to purchase through him or his wife. Message him on his Facebook page.
