He’s toured with the Grateful Dead and been called one of the greatest banjo players ever, by none other than Earl Scruggs. He and his brother were even considered for possible membership in The Eagles, but eventually lost out to Joe Walsh. He’s been an integral part of the creation of not one, but two musical genres, country rock as well as contemporary Christian music.

He’s John Michael Talbot, a Grammy and Dove winning multi-instrumentalist and singer who will perform a “Lifetime of Music & Ministry” concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, in St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church, 215 Foothill Blvd., La Canada, Flintridge.

Tickets are $30 for general admission and $50 for a special VIP ticket which includes early admission during Talbot’s sound check, preferred seating and an autographed CD.

To purchase tickets, you can buy them in St. Bede’s Parish Center and courtyard after weekend Masses, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, or 7:30, 9 and 11 a.m. as well as 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are also available at JohnMichaelTalbot.com. For more information, call the parish office at 818-949-4300.

55 over four decades

Talbot will perform music from his 55 records, at St. Bede, and adds his show is “more of a prayer experience than a concert. Along with covering music from the beginning up to the most current recording 'The Inner Room', there will be stories and meditations throughout the evening.

"I recently looked back with joy through all the years I have shared with my faithful fans -- especially the music that first brought us together,” he says. “Many say my music has been the 'soundtrack of their journey of faith'.”

Catholic music’s most popular artist, Talbot has also written 29 books, including “Monk Dynasty,” published last year. He’s also the creator and host of the popular TV series “All Things Are Possible,” which ended a three-year run in 2016.

Talbot leads his ministry from the Little Portion Hermitage in Arkansas as well as St. Clare Monastery in Texas where he is the founder and minister general of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity. In addition to his musical awards, Talbot has been recognized with an award from Mercy Corps and is a recipient of the Mother Teresa Award.

Prior to becoming a Christian artist in the late 1970s, Talbot and his brother, Terry, were in Mason Proffit from 1969-74.  Along with The Byrds, Gram Parsons, The Flying Burrito Brothers and others, Mason Proffit were credited for kick-starting the country rock music scene that exploded in the 1970s, and which still influences the indie roots and Americana scenes today. Talbot has shared the stage with Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd, The Doobie Brothers, Mac Davis, Steely Dan and many others.

For more information on Talbot, visit http://www.youtube.com/johnmichaeltalbot.