Back in February 2023, the movie “Jesus Revolution” documented through dramatic representation the birth of the Southern California Jesus movement, led by the late Chuck Smith, pastor of Calvary Chapel Santa Ana. The era’s soundtrack was provided by a bunch of saved hippies playing music previously thought utterly incompatible with church, namely various flavors of rock’n’roll. Spearheading this new creation in Southern California was the band Love Song, led by Chuck Girard. Girard had music industry credibility, having first reached the Top 20 in the early ‘60s with The Castells and, in 1964, achieving a hit in the surf music genre as a member of The Hondells and providing the lead vocal for their biggest hit, “Little Honda.”
After the salvation, due in no small part to Smith’s…
