TIM MOON

beginnings
I've loved sounds for as long as I can remember. I come from a long line of musicians, preachers and even wanderers. My grandmother was a well-known preacher in California back when being a woman in leadership, especially within the Church, was far from popular. She started and pastored a church for years. My great grandfather traveled between Dallas and New York as a a train conductor. I inherited his free spirit. We also had uncles and cousins who were traveling evangelists and salesmen. As children we were exposed to a lot of music. My parents would drive us to Christian quartet concerts. We especially enjoyed the Oak Ridge Boys as well as many other Southern Gospel groups.

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hitting the streets

I started in 1974 while still in high school.
 

inspiration

As a kid I would listen to my transistor radio. We had KLIV in San Jose. I would listen to all of the hits and began to collect LP’s. My collection is close to five thousand. During this time in the 60’s I sang at the San Jose Rescue Mission (now CityTeam) with my dad. After services I would follow the men and women to St. James Park where many of them lived. I began to bring my guitar to play and sing for them. I was new and was far from perfect but they didn’t care. They were glad that I came. In 1976 I heard that people were going up to San Fransisco to witness on the streets. I join them.

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instruments

 

I play acoustic guitar mostly, harmonica, saxophone, flute, clarinet, piano, mandolin, banjo, dobro, dulcimer and ukulele. I was eight when I started with a recorder. This lead to flute, clarinet and sax in Jr. High. At 16 I picked up a guitar and never put it down. Piano and harmonica came at age of 18.

 

homeless

There is a fear of danger with the unknown. This keeps people away from the Homeless. I felt that someone needed to take a risk and meet them where they hang out. Someone needed to care and look past the outside to see what Jesus sees - broken souls. In many ways I’m like them.

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hangouts

San Francisco: Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, UN Plaza Square, Union Station and Haight Ashbury. Menlo Park Caltrain Station is a regular - feeding and providing music for the Homeless with other musicians and singers.

 

love

I love most when I see a smile on someone’s face. Music lifts people up and can help them in their daily existence to forget for a moment…and maybe be reminded that God loves them.
 

danger

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Yes, a few times. The one I recall the most was near a Homeless camp in downtown San Jose. It was 1-2AM. To take a shortcut back to my car, I started down a dark alley next to St. James Park. I looked up to see six darkened figures walking toward me. I could hear the sound of switchblades coming out of their pockets. I was afraid and didn’t know what to do. When they came closer to me the most amazing thing happened. Their faces turned ghostly white with fear. They turned and ran! What I didn’t know was that 20-25 Homeless people followed behind me into the alley. It had a reputation for drug dealing and gangs and they were concerned that I would run into trouble.

 

tie dye

It started in the mid-90’s. With the desire to culturally relate to the Homeless I made a decision to change my attire to wearing tie-dye only. Street People know me by this. It’s a point of relating. The bell bottom Jeans keep my feet warm.

 

musical influences

Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Jesus Movement artists of the 60’s and 70’s including Larry Norman, Barry McGuire, Terry Scott-Taylor with Daniel Amos Band, Chuck Girard with Love Song, Phil Keaggy, Randy Stonehill, Bob Bennett, Danny Daniels, David Crowder and Mark Heard.

 

Jesus movement

The Jesus Movement changed my life. It was the freedom to be yourself with like-minded people who were sharing Jesus by way of music. It was like no other time. There was unity of Spirit and radical change going on within the Church during this time. People in the thousands were coming to Jesus. Those who were a part of this movement will never forget it’s impact on lives.

 

Jesus movement friends

As a kid I loved music and I would do anything to get close to the action. There were many late night concerts in the Bay Area. I would often sneak in and offer to help with set up. It included running cables, hooking up sound equipment, picking up artists from the airport or making runs for them. The promoters would offer me back stage passes. This gave me an opportunity to get close to artists and eventually become their friend. Many were/are very good friends. Some include(d): Larry Norman, Roby Duke, Mark Heard & Rich Mullins (who are no longer with us), Phil Keaggy, Chuck Girard, Barry McGuire, Randy Stonehill, Karen Lafferty, Terry Scott Taylor, Ashley Cleveland, Tommy Coomes, Randy Matthews, Bob Bennett, Lauren Daigle, Kathryn Scott and Kari Jobe.

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2018 CD

Phil Keaggy produced my first CD in Nashville this last year. Chuck Girard and Tommy Coomes were a part of the project as well. I'm so grateful to these guys. It was the fulfillment of a dream.

 

Phil Keaggy

Speaking of Phil Keaggy, he sent a video to The Christian Music Summit in Seattle this year. I was awarded the Creative award for 2018. It was quite a surprise and such an honor. Phil sent a video presentation to congratulate me as this year's winner.

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calling

To love the Homeless, the lost, the marginalized, those who are lonely, broken, abused. To lighten loads, to remember the forgotten, the misunderstood, the shunned, the peculiar, the shamed, those who are depressed and orphaned. These are the people God has called me to…to share in their pain…but mostly to unconditionally love them