Barry McGuire’s concert reflects his second career, as a Christian musician, after being lost in a world of drugs

and despair.

OXFORD – He once was a cynical child of the ’60s, selling millions of copies of perhaps the most popular protest song ever recorded during that period, “Eve of Destruction.”

But by the early ’70s, Barry McGuire’s life was sinking into drug addition and despair.

Then he found the Jesus Movement. The Christian message struck a chord and stuck with him, propelling him into a second, successful career in the Christian music industry.

In 1994, McGuire reunited with the New Christy Minstrels for 250 shows in California. Following that, he collaborated on several Christian albums with Terry Talbot.

Now he’s retired, sort of.

But when Eric Hansen asked him to come to Oxford to perform, McGuire agreed.

McGuire will perform a solo, acoustic concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at Hosanna Church, 109 Schoolhouse Road.

Hansen said McGuire will offer not only such songs he made famous, such as “Cosmic Cowboy” and “Greenback Dollar,” he will also offer stories and wisdom. The event is sponsored by His Music of South Paris.

Tickets are $18 in advance ($20 at the door) or $12 for ages 12 and under. All seating is general admission, and doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are available by calling 743-2965 or at Reed Christian Supply in Scarborough, the Bible Bookstore in Auburn, Lamb’s Book & Bible in Bangor and other Christian bookstores.

McGuire came to prominence as the lead singer of The New Christy Minstrels. He wrote and sang the group’s biggest hit, “Green, Green,” which was No. 14 on the singles charts in 1963. He also co-wrote “Greenback Dollar,” which was recorded by the Kingston Trio.

In 1965, McGuire released “Eve of Destruction,” a protest song by Phil Sloan that caused controversy in popular music and shot to No. 1 in the Billboard charts in September.

Following that success, McGuire brought in a fledgling group called The Mamas and the Papas to sing on his next album, “This Precious Time,” which was released later in 1965.

McGuire also played the male lead in the original Broadway production of “Hair” for a year.

He became a Christian in 1971. He began his run in the Christian music industry in 1973 with the release of the album “Seeds.” This was followed in 1974 by the critically acclaimed album “Lighten Up” and a tour with Christian trio “The 2nd Chapter of Acts.”

That tour was chronicled on the double live album “To the Bride” in 1975. The album featured the good-natured storytelling and musical performances that have characterized his career since his conversion to Christianity.

Several more solo albums followed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including the quirky but popular “Cosmic Cowboy,” a unique portrait of Christ, and the children’s favorite “Bullfrogs and Butterflies.”

In the 1980s, McGuire teamed up with World Vision in New Zealand to sing with more than 20,000 children from more than 400 primary schools in 57 different cities. The concerts generated nearly 2,000 sponsors for third-world children.

For more information or directions to the concert, people can call His Music at 743-2965.

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