Photo courtesy of Deacon Chris Bassett

Class of 1984 UA alumnus Tom Booth smiles about his third number-one single on the Contemporary Christian Music chart.

Tuesday September 25, 2001

UA alum earns respect, nominations for Christian rock

Some people go to church to pray. Some go to church to sit and reflect on the past week. Tom Booth, a 1984 University of Arizona graduate, goes to church to rock 'n' roll.

"Most people forget sermons but remember the songs," Booth said.

Booth has been writing songs since he was in eighth grade but never actually thought it would turn into a full-time career.

"I wanted to be a football player when I was little because my dad was a big UA fan. I picked up a guitar, learned a few chords and it just seemed to make sense," Booth said. "I fell in deep."

Booth says it is through music that he found his calling, but his future hasn't always been so clear.

In high school Booth played rock 'n' roll, listened to Aerosmith, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder and Christian rocker John Michael Talbot.

To pinpoint the biggest musical inspiration in Booth's career it is necessary to look to Liverpool, England, Booth said.

"The Beatles is still some of the best music I have ever heard to this day," says Booth.

During his high school years, Booth said he slowly began to notice an increasingly empty feeling inside. It was at this time that Booth started to re-examine his Catholic faith. He came to the conclusion that he needed to use his music to communicate with younger generations.

"My lyrics and purpose then changed," Booth said.

After high school, Booth entered the UA, where he majored in classical guitar performance before switching to music history. He said once he found out that the music building had a 24-track recording studio in its basement, he knew he had to try to record some of his own work.

Since then, Booth has had three No. 1 singles on the Contemporary Christian Music chart.

"I Will Choose Christ" reached No. 1 in 1996 and was Booth's first taste of mass affirmation of his music.

"I was in my car waiting for my family to get in, and the song was playing," Booth said. "I thought it was a CD. Then the DJ came on the radio and said, 'That was 'I Will Choose Christ' by Tom Booth.'"

Booth said the experience was both humbling and affirming.

"I didn't feel like I earned it as much as it was given to me, like a gift from the big guy."

Two No. 1 singles have since followed, with Booth remaining firm in his belief of staying true to himself as an artist.

"You have to do your best to stay authentic," Booth said. "I write songs that people can sing. Churches can sing my songs."

For Booth, inspiration comes from other people, scriptures and his own feelings.

"I try not to manufacture songs," said Booth.

Although he says he is not opposed to writing a purely entertaining piece of music, Booth strongly believes that the words in his songs truly reflect who he is. "Angry people who have it out for the world will write angry music. I am a Catholic Christian, so hopefully (that) will come through in every song I write," he said.

After college, Booth returned home to Mesa and got involved in his local parish. He and two other individuals started a youth group in their parish called LifeTeen.

Today, LifeTeen is the biggest Catholic youth organization in the United States and has spread all over the world. These activities lead Booth to Rome last year for "World Youth Day," where he played his music on the Papal stage for 1.2 million people.

To Booth, however, the European experience measured up with only one other event - returning to the UA to play at the McKale Center during the summer.

"It was a trip," said Booth. "This is the place where I got my diploma and watched basketball games. When I got a tour, I was just like a little kid. It was just a good coming home story. This is where it all got started."

Booth said his UA ties run deep, and around his home in Tempe, he is known as the "Wildcat guy."

For Booth, music is more than rhythms and beats. He likens playing live music to giving a sermon.

"Music is the greatest tool to help people," said Booth. "It's a liturgy, an active, participatory, inner-changing response between people. When I was younger, I tried to connect with people. Now I have a greater reason to do it."

Booth just turned 40 and says he still remains firm in his conviction of staying rooted in his parish. He said it gives him a "sense of home and community" and increases positive relations with his wife and three kids. He said he would continue to write music for the rest of his life.

"I want to be a writer and producer for up and coming artists," Booth said. "That and to continue to go to the UA football games."