Damascus Road recording artist Morgan Cryar was recently joined by leading contemporary Christian, Gospel and country performers for the rerecording of his 1986 classic “Pray In The USA.” Recorded at Nashville’s Soundshop Recording Studio, the session was also filmed for a music video.
Co-produced by Paul Mills (NewSong, Twila Paris, Wayne Watson) and Cryar, the all-star line-up featured members of Petra, Eager and Considering Lily, as well as Angie & Debbie Winans, Lisa Bevill, Kenny Marks, Rick Cua, Identical Strangers and Rick Altizer, among many others. Gospel performers included Maggie Staton-Peebles of the Jewel Gospel Trio and Joseph Price of The Fairfield Four as well as country performers Lulu Roman and Terri Lynn.
“I decided to redo ‘Pray In The USA’ because now, 12 years later, the issue of school prayer is even more heated and battle-torn,” said Cryar. “I think our politicians have somehow forgotten the the lessons of recent history. Events in the Eastern bloc have shown us that when governments try to overcome prayer by force, the people of God eventually overcome force with prayer.”
“At the video shoot it was apparent to me that these people, old friends and new, were there because they felt strongly about the freedom to pray,” Cryar continues. “I think having my children at the shoot reminded us all what was at stake. We wanted to make an old song into a new song and thanks to some very talented friends, I think we did it.”
