We Are Here to Share

"It’s so gratifying to be able to honor a parent in unique ways. As a recording artist, our dad allowed us to do just that. Dad’s music was, and still is, one of the common threads between our entire family - especially us five kids, Mark, Paula, Lori, Scott and myself. At least for me, just by listening to one of his songs, I can pinpoint where he was in his life. Mark put it best when he said just being able to load up one of dad’s songs on his phone 'is like being able to have a conversation with him all over again'. Dad had been a published Nashville songwriter since the mid-70’s and later owned and operated a Wyoming-based recording studio. After committing his life to God in 1990, he recorded three Christian albums between 1991-1993 and traveled the country with eight great people as Don Jackson Ministries including Joe and Dana Fanning, Terry and Heidi Dill, Dina Hayek Johnson, Bert Bresach, my brother Mark, and myself. It has been a desire of mine in the past years to reissue his very first Christian album 'We Are Here To Share', originally released in 1991. For me, this album represents one of the most open and inquisitive times in Dad’s journey with God. And I believe this vulnerability helped make this one of the most powerful and musically diverse albums he ever released. This second release became more of a reality when we were able to transfer all of his master 16-track reel-to-reel tapes over to a digital format – allowing us to remix any of his albums as if they were newly recorded. Not only was I able to remix each of the songs, but also edit, add instruments & vocals, and for some of them even rerecord the entire soundtrack! Lewy Body, a violent form of dementia, took dad’s life in 2009. But with this new release, I pray his ministry will continue to touch a new generation of people by delivering the Gospel of Jesus Christ through music. On behalf of the entire family, may you be blessed and experience God in new and fresh ways." - Steve Jackson, Don's youngest son. ORIGINAL 1991 LINER NOTES "Thank you Lord for directing my life – for the gift of Your wonderful music – my family – my children Mark, Paula, Lori, Scott, and Steve – and especially Lord for my mother Dorothy and my brother Todd who have shaped my life. Thanks to: Clark and Ellen who are so special in my life, Jim, John Leslie, The Holy Trinity Choir, Howard, Belinda, Vick, Toni, George, Mary, Sherri, Mike, Connie, all of my many friends, past and present, who have helped me grow musically, and especially Ken Garrett who is one of the finest musicians in this country and one of my best friends. Thanks to all the folks in Manitoba, Canada at Flin Flon and the Bus Stop Restaurant in Cranberry Portage, who kept bringing the coffee while I wrote; to Wayne, Mike and Mark who first sang the songs God gave me in beautiful northern Canada; to Alma at Nashville Record Production; to Darv and all the gang, and the wonderful people in Thermopolis, Wyoming where life is so pleasant." - Don Jackson MUSICIANS CREDITS: JESUS SWEET JESUS - Instrumentation: Steve Jackson; Background Vocals: Toni Westerlin SHINE A LIGHT - Instrumentation: Ken Garrett (Pianos, Bass, Strings, Strat Guitar) & Steve Jackson (Organ, Drums); Background Vocals: Steve Jackson GOD'S SON - Instrumentation: Ken Garrett (Pianos, Bass, Strings, Strat Guitar) & Steve Jackson (Choir Synth, Drums); Background Vocals: Heidi Dill, Dana Fanning, Dina H Johnson THANK YOU LORD - Instrumentation: Ken Garrett (Pianos, Bass, Strings, Oboe) & Steve Jackson (Drums); Background Vocals: Toni Westerlin; Children: Samantha Blakely, Miranda Bowen, Heather Jackson, Danny Jackson GOD IS ENOUGH - Instrumentation: Ken Garrett (Bass, Strings, Strat Guitar) & Steve Jackson (Piano, Lead Guitar, Drums); Background Vocals: Toni Westerlin WE ARE HERE TO SHARE - Instrumentation: Steve Jackson; Background Vocals: Toni Westerlin & Steve Jackson LEAD THE WAY - Instrumentation: Ken Garrett (Pianos, Bass, Organ, Brass, Alto Sax) & Mark Jackson (Drums); Background Vocals: Sherri Garrett STEP OUT ON THE WATER - Instrumentation: Ken Garrett (Pianos, Bass, Brass) & Steve Jackson (Drums); Background Vocals: Toni Westerlin GIVE US THIS DAY - Instrumentation: Ken Garrett; Background Vocals: Toni Westerlin & Jocelyn Jurovich THREAD - Instrumentation: Ken Garrett