Cope celebrates his career

With a career that has spanned some 20 years, Kenneth Cope is one of the most recognized and revered figures on the local inspirational-music scene.

He has produced seven solo albums, contributed songs to countless other CDs, taught and mentored young artists, ventured into the world of film scoring and is currently collaborating on a multimedia presentation titled "Son of Man" that will chronicle the life of Christ.

Those achievements are being celebrated with the recent release of a "greatest-hits" CD, "Face to Face: Kenneth Cope Collection" (Lumen Records).

It's probably more correct to call it a "favorite-song" collection, says Cope. It includes some of what he considers his signature pieces, a couple of songs that he had written but not sung before, and some that are the most-requested at his concerts.

But there's also a new song, "Come to Jesus," a contemporary Christian song written by Chris Rice. "It has such a nice message. Everyone who hears it is blessed by it. I wanted to introduce it to our local audience."

Cope's previous "Hear My Praise" CD also includes several songs written by contemporary Christian and gospel artists. That's one big change he has seen over the course of his career — this mingling with the larger Christian community. "We've been at arm's length; it was 'us' and 'them.' But little by little, that's changing. We're reaching out to each other, embracing good music, exciting music, where we find it."

As Latter-day Saints, he says, "we are taught that if there is anything virtuous, praise-worthy, of good report, we should seek after those things. But how many of us really seek them? How many of us just wait for them to come along. I think if more of us did seek them out, more good things would be made. There are so many great ideas in the world. We need to seek for them, find them, use them."

That principle and that desire have been at the forefront of Cope's musical career. Faith is at the core of his music. "I decided a long time ago that I was going to devote my energy and my talents to making the name of Jesus Christ greater on the Earth. That is what I am about. It propels every choice, every decision. I hope to create new ways for people to see Jesus Christ — to offer a new vantage point and open eyes. I am passionate about him, and I want that passion to flow out of everything I do."