OXFORD – For the second straight year, Barry McGuire, the gravelly-voiced singer of 1960s smash hit “Eve of Destruction,” will perform a solo, acoustic concert at Hosanna Church.

“An Evening with Barry McGuire: Songs, Stories & Wisdom” will begin at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 28, in the church at 109 Schoolhouse Road.

McGuire performed at this church last September. The former folk music icon and “Jesus Music” pioneer gave a spirited solo performance that evening, mixing humorous and insightful tales from his 40-plus years in music with such songs as “Eve of Destruction,” “Bullfrogs and Butterflies” and “Happy Road.”

Born in Oklahoma City in 1935, McGuire came to prominence as the lead singer of The New Christy Minstrels, a folk group that had a string of hits in the early 1960s.

McGuire wrote and sang the group’s biggest hit, “Green, Green,” which was No. 14 on the singles chart in 1963. He also co-wrote “Greenback Dollar,” which was recorded by the Kingston Trio.

McGuire released his first solo album, “The Barry McGuire Album,” in 1963, which featured his version of “Greenback Dollar.” McGuire left The New Christy Minstrels to pursue a solo career and his own spiritual journey.

In 1965, McGuire released “Eve of Destruction,” a protest song by Phil Sloan that caused controversy in popular music and shot to No. 1 on the Billboard charts. The album of the same name hit No. 37.

He then brought in a fledgling group called The Mamas and the Papas to sing on his next album, “This Precious Time,” also released in 1965. McGuire was set to release “California Dreamin’,” by the Mamas and the Papas’ John Phillips, as the second single from his album, but instead agreed to let the band record and release it themselves. The song was a huge hit and launched the Mamas and the Papas.

Success, but pain

In 1968, he played the male lead in the original Broadway production of “Hair” for a year.

Though his appearance on Broadway was a success, McGuire’s life was sinking into drug addiction and despair. When he stumbled across a copy of the Bible, he believed the words in the book to be the answer he was seeking. McGuire became a Christian in 1971.

McGuire began a long and successful run in the Christian music industry in 1973 with the release of the album “Seeds,” followed in 1974 by “Lighten Up” and a tour with the Christian trio “The 2nd Chapter of Acts.”

Several more solo albums followed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including the quirky but popular “Cosmic Cowboy” (a unique portrait of Jesus 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.

In 1994, McGuire reunited with the New Christy Minstrels for 250 shows in California. The following year, he began a collaboration with veteran Christian musician Terry Talbot. After seven years of touring with Talbot, McGuire retired in early 2003. However, he says that he still receives many invitations to share his music and tell his stories, and he’ll continue to do so as opportunities arise.

Tickets are $5 in advance or $6 at the door. All seating is general admission, and doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at The Bible Bookstore on Center Street in Auburn or Latter Rain Christian Bookstore, 160 Riverside Drive, Augusta. Tickets also can be purchased from His Music by phone, 743-2965.