PICKIN’ AND PRAISIN’
THE FIRST GUITAR SOLO DOYLE DYKES PLAYED IN CHURCH WAS “I’VE BEEN WITH JESUS.” THIS IS STILL HIS TESTIMONY.
by Wanda GRIFFITH
Church of God in Atlanta, a Taylor Gui- tar workshop, or a small country church where Doyle Dykes wows audiences with his unique style of finger-picking guitar music. He is proof that all guitar players are not created equal.
Y Doyle’s Early Years
Raised in the Springfield Church of God in Jacksonville, Florida, Doyle was saved and filled with the Spirit at age 11 during a youth revival conducted by Irene “Minnie” Baxter. It was a milestone for the church where F. L. Braddock was pastor. Most of the 52 youth who were saved in that revival went into some kind of ministry, including Doyle and his brother, Aubrey Dykes.
When the Lord saved Doyle, he raised his hands and said, “Lord, if You will give me a job, I’ll always tell people about You.” Even though Doyle’s family was very musical on both sides, he never had the desire to play the guitar until then. In addition to Doyle’s guitarist dad and his grandfather, who was the choir direc- tor of the church, he had two uncles who were talented musicians. One was
18 EVANGEL • JULY 2010
OU MIGHT MEET HIM at the Grand Ole Opry, a music festival, Saddleback Church in California, Mount Paran
in country music and the other was Ron- nie Dykes, a Church of God minister and a great organist. Ronnie and his sister, Doyle’s Aunt Gaylia, had a strong influ- ence on Doyle’s future ministry. Being around great keyboard players like his brother Aubrey, Doyle picked up the technique on the guitar of playing the bass and then the chord and melody but with a flat-pick. Doyle’s dad was a big fan of Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, and Les Paul. Doyle knew there was a difference in their style, but he couldn’t figure out what it was until Barry Lackey, a sailor who attended his church, showed him a couple of patterns of finger-style guitar. “I was hooked!” he said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Barry’s influence in my life.” Doyle and Barry are close friends to this day.
Call to Ministry
After Doyle developed into a highly successful musician who was regularly featured at the Grand Ole Opry, he became a pastor. He and his copastor, Roy Nail, led an independent church in Florida for a while, and then donated the property to the Church of God under State Overseer Gene Rice. Doyle went back on the road, but he was frustrated. He felt like there was more he needed
to do. After searching for an answer, he prayed, “God, I’ll do anything if You’ll just tell me what to do.” Doyle sensed the Lord asking him, “What do you want to do? Just tell Me what you want to do.” Doyle remembered advice his dear friend, Paul Henson, had given him: “Oftentimes the Lord directs us through our own desires, because who do you think put the desires there in the first place?” Psalm 37:5-6—verses about com- mitting one’s way to the Lord—became real to Doyle, and he told the Lord he wanted to be a musician and influence other musicians to turn their gifts back to Him. He also told the Lord he wanted to play the Grand Ole Opry again and be used for His glory.
“My knees buckled and I lay on the floor while the Holy Spirit ministered to me in such a way that I couldn’t pray in English and I couldn’t pray in the Spirit; I lay there groaning. I believe that is when miracles come. The Spirit confirmed to me that this was what I was called to do to cause hundreds to come back to Him through my ministry.”
A year later, Doyle met Wayne Char- vel at Jubilee on the Ridge, a Church of God in Paradise, California. Wayne had built guitars for rock stars like ZZ Top and Eddie Van Halen. “We went to breakfast
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