He doesn't regret that decision and has continued to enjoy music as "an avocation and outlet rather than the main vocation. That comes with a price. There's always a bit of frustration that you can't spend more time with it. But I dearly love what I'm able to do."

His jazz trio includes his son, Matt, on bass. Over the years Jan Hyde, Bob Campbell, Christian Parry and Doug James have played drums.

"Good music takes work," he says. "That's good for any aspiring musicians to know. It's a wonderful gift, but you have to work hard and stay with it."

But the rewards are great. "You combine a wonderful text with music, and you get a synergy that you don't get with either alone. Even without the lyrics, music touches the emotions in ways the spoken word can't."

The "Goin' Home" album is available at Deseret Book and other LDS bookstores, or contact HeartRise Productions at 800-613-3053 or www.ldscds.com.

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E-mail: carma@desnews.com