The Story Behind the music of
Al Greco
Music Rhythm
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Making an impact for Wherever He leads. Al Greco is a Christian musician, songwriter, performer, and evangelist. He has recorded 20 albums since 1995, under the Christian music label Incubator Records. He is passionate about performing music for the Lord and going wherever God leads.
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Al was born in Omaha, Nebraska to a Sicilian family. It was his mother who led him to accept Jesus as his Savior at age seven. His parents divorced when Al was eleven. Although he knew the Lord, the divorce left Al without any positive male influence. When Al’s mother remarried, they moved to Los Angeles, California. Growing up in the 1960’s, Al was profoundly influenced by the music around him. It was not long before he got his feet wet in the LA rock and roll scene and became a musician himself.
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Feeling homesick for Omaha, he ran away at fourteen. He lived on the streets until the police brought him home. In response to this crisis, Al’s mother agreed to let him move back to Omaha and live with his real father.
Al told God he wanted to go home to Omaha, but he would stay in Chicago instead if God wanted—it was His choice. Al applied to both Moody Bible College in Chicago and Grace University in Omaha.
Al served overseas in the military after high school. He The Lord soon made Al’s path clear: Moody rejected him returned to the United States and became a police officer on the technicality that he had an outdated GPA. The only himself in Chicago. Everything may have looked remedy was to start over at a junior college to reestablish Alright on the one. Within the same week, outside, but as “I was empty. I was in debt. I was miserable.” however, Grace University Al explains, called and accepted him. “I was empty, I was in debt. I was miserable.” His life was He had returned to Omaha and attended Grace for about plagued by addictions, including smoking and drinking. a year when the Lord opened the door to a full-time 16 years passed on the police force before Al hit rock bottom. ministry. Initially, he focused strictly on evangelism, Sitting alone in his police cruiser one night on the shore of but later God called him to minister through music as well. a lake, he broke down, weeping fiercely. The full moon His ministry now includes singing, song writing, and was larger than he could every remember seeing it before. playing the bass guitar, presenting a message in every song. Suddenly, Al felt a tug on his heart to get out of his vehicle. Al spends his time ministering in prisons, local missions, He looked up into the night sky and cried out to God. This hospitals, nursing homes, retirement centers, street was when Al fully dedicated his life to the Lord. evangelism, and churches. Al attends Bellevue Christian Center and plays the bass on the worship team. “I could feel [God take] hold of me. He wrapped his arms around me, and I had never felt a feeling like that in my life! “When the Lord called me into the ministry as an evangelist, I thought angels were going to pick me up and fly me I thought, “Well, this is it! I’m going to be preaching, I’m around the lake. What I didn’t realize was [that] it was the going to be a Billy Graham… and I [will] be this until the Holy Spirit coming upon me, within me. At that instant that Lord calls me home,’ and that is not necessarily always true… I gave my life to Jesus… “What I didn’t “It was like a truck was At that instant that I gave my life to Jesus... know then and lifted off of me: totally I was like a brand new person… I know now is forgiven, cleansed. I was like a brand new person… that God can “The Lord took away my drinking, He took my smoking, move you, and He can change your focus, your vision, your He took everything away from me, right there—delivered ministry—everything—and take you out of one ministry and from every vice, every addiction, every bondage, everything.” put you in another one and head you in a totally different God had called Al to preach the gospel, but he wondered direction… “How am I going to do that? I’m a police officer… “One day, God just shifted gears and headed me into the They won’t let me preach the gospel in a uniform!” music and took away the preaching… I had no idea He was Within three years, what God had promised came to pass. going to do that. If I would’ve known that, I would have Al was injured in the line of duty and received a disability started out with the music and just stayed with that. pension for life. But, when God calls you into something, it could be forever,
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AL Strives to be, "Caught busy for the kingdom"
Rhythm
or it could be for a season.” Al strives “to be caught being busy for the Kingdom… I’m most at peace when I’m doing God’s work. When I’m not doing His work, and I’m idle, I’m a miserable wretch.” His favorite bible verse is Joshua 1:8-9, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (NIV) Twenty albums later, Al is still going strong. To purchase CDs, email him at algreco1@hotmail.com. Al’s prayer requests include finances, continuation of his music ministry, and the ability travel to the mission field with his music. I used to think, ‘Wouldn’t it be awesome to go and tour around the country and just sing about Jesus,’ and, I got to thinking… I don’t need to travel all over the country, all over the world, unless the Lord wants me to do that… And I’ve prayed about that with the Lord, and the Lord knows my heart… So that’s where I’m at, and I’m just having the time of my life—singing every week, just ministering through music, and if God opens the door for me to travel, we’re out of here.”
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