Chad Carouthers - bass
chad@jeffdeyo.com

It all started in a small town outside of Houston Texas on May 9^th 1986. The family I was born into was very musical. My father played piano all of his life in different southern gospel trios and groups, while my mother sang in different gospel groups. One of the trios she was in was nominated for a Grammy back in the 80’s. So music was always present in our home. As a young kid my first memories are of traveling around the country watching my parents sing and perform. That put the love of traveling in my blood.

But for the majority of my childhood I had no desire to play an instrument or sing. Then one glorious day when I was 10 years old everything changed. I was watching a movie and eating mac and cheese, then when the movie was over the credits started to roll. The music that was being played while the credits rolled was so captivating. The bass line was so up front in the mix my ear went straight to it! I danced around the house holding a baseball bat pretending it was my bass. I knew then and there that this was my calling. Little did I know it would take me on one of the most incredible journeys of my life, playing music for God and being used by him.

I got my start playing in church with my dad who was pastoring in Corpus Christi Texas. I would practice all week just to play one or two songs on Sunday. Little by little he would let me play the whole service with him. After a few years I started getting the attention of upper classmen who were all in rock bands and in need of a bass player. That’s when I started falling into peer pressure. I wanted to fit into the older crowd so bad, I started talking and acting the way all the older kids did. I lived a double life. I went to school and acted one way, and then would come home and act another.

Over the years I kept joining other bands and repeating the same thing of living a double life. But with every year it got worse. This progressed through out my teens. I became so good at my double life I thought no one could catch me. But of course God had his eye on me and a hand of protection over my life. I was saved as a kid but never really walked in that personal relationship with God. It was just something that took a backseat to my music (which was given to me BY God in the first place). One day after waking up and seeing how far down my life had really gone, I laid in bed and finally said “God, I give up. I’m done with all this junk”. That was the day I fully decided to let God control my life.

I was playing in a Christian rock band at the time called Inhabited. We where all living in Houston and I traveled and toured with them for about two years. During that time God started placing relationships in my life that would eventually lead to my playing with Jeff Deyo. I met Lou Santiago at G.M.A. (Gospel Music Association week). I had heard his name before and knew he was a pretty slammin drummer. So we exchanged numbers and kept in touch over the next 6 months. Then one day in early August I got a phone call from him. (At this time I was really feeling God wanted me to move in a different direction from the band I was in). When Lou said the bass chair was open in Jeff’s band and he wanted me to try out, I was a little scared. This would be the start of a major step of faith for me. But anytime God wants to use you he has to stretch and prepare you for the next season in your life. I contacted Jeff and within a month I was living in his basement in Nashville and traveling full time on the road.

Since joining up with Team Deyo I have been stretched musically, spiritually, and physically. Traveling and playing really can take a toll on you. But through this I have learned what it means to be a spiritual MAN. Now for the first time music takes a backseat to my relationship with God. And that’s the way it will always be.