Nearly 40 years ago, Kim Boyce was my very first artist interview.
I was 19, she was touring Australia with David Meece, and after sitting down and completing the interview, I discovered I had made one fairly significant mistake: I hadn't pressed record.
Kim graciously sat down and did the entire interview with me again.
Now, almost four decades later, we've come full circle.
In Episode 4 of Beyond the Chorus: Classic CCM Rewind, I reconnect with Kim Boyce, one of the distinctive voices of 1980s and 1990s Contemporary Christian Music, to talk about the songs, albums, faith, family and unexpected turns that shaped her life both inside and outside the CCM industry.
Kim takes us back to her early years growing up around Southern Gospel music, discovering artists including The Archers, Sweet Comfort Band, Andraé Crouch and The Imperials, and the unusual path that took her from Miss Florida and the Miss America pageant to a recording career in Christian music.
We talk about her early work with Carman on The Champion, signing with Myrrh Records, touring Australia with David Meece, and what it was like discovering that people on the other side of the world already knew her songs.
Kim also goes behind the music of her 1986 self-titled debut album, including “Love Resurrection,” “Darkened Hearts” and “Here,” and reflects on working with musicians and songwriters including Brian Tankersley, Tom Hemby, Tim Miner and Cindy Cruse.
We revisit one of Kim's favourite albums, Time and Again, its classic Hollywood-inspired imagery, and her dance-pop reinvention of Rare Earth's “I Just Want to Celebrate.”
But this conversation goes well beyond the records.
Kim talks candidly about why she eventually stepped away from the relentless CCM cycle of albums, radio, touring and television after becoming a mother, and why choosing her family became more important than chasing the next hit.
We follow her story through a new chapter in Branson, Missouri, where she returned to the Southern Gospel music of her childhood, performed for a decade and later created an all-gospel show with her husband Gary.
Kim also shares some deeply personal reflections on faith, grief and family, before bringing us up to date with her life today.
And, of course, I had to ask the question longtime Kim Boyce fans will want answered:
Could there ever be another Kim Boyce album?
For me, this is one of the most personal episodes of Beyond the Chorus so far. Kim was there at the very beginning of my journey as an interviewer, and getting the chance to sit down with her again nearly 40 years later feels like closing a very special circle.
Thankfully, this time I remembered to press record.
In this episode:
- Kim Boyce remembers touring Australia with David Meece near the beginning of her recording career.
- How Southern Gospel, The Archers, Sweet Comfort Band, Andraé Crouch and The Imperials shaped her musical world.
- From Miss Florida and Miss America to a career in Contemporary Christian Music.
- Singing with Carman on The Champion and the road to signing with Myrrh Records.
- The stories behind “Love Resurrection,” “Darkened Hearts,” “Here” and “Not Too Far From Here.”
- Why Time and Again remains one of Kim's favourite albums.
- Turning Rare Earth's “I Just Want to Celebrate” into an 80s CCM dance-pop favourite.
- Why Kim Boyce walked away from the CCM touring and recording cycle to focus on family.
- Her years performing Southern Gospel music in Branson and the album that was never released.
- The renewed interest in classic 1980s Christian music and whether Kim could record again.
Timestamps
00:00 - Revisiting Kim Boyce and the music of classic CCM
01:22 - My first interview with Kim and the forgotten record button
02:59 - Touring Australia with David Meece
06:04 - Southern Gospel, Miss Florida and Miss America
11:18 - The 1986 debut album and “Love Resurrection”
13:45 - Writing “Darkened Hearts” with Tom Hemby
21:35 - Why Time and Again remains a favourite
23:47 - Reinventing “I Just Want to Celebrate”
24:36 - Why Kim stepped away from the CCM industry
35:11 - Could there be another Kim Boyce album?
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