“From Amarillo by Morning to Amazing Grace” is not just one of Clifton Jansky’s single releases in Christian Country music, but it is his life story. One of the lines in the song says, “Little did I know, God had a plan that was bigger than Tennessee.”
As a young boy growing up in South Texas, Clifton’s dream was to stand on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry with the big boys and sing. He had his first band at the age of 11, and recorded his first record at the age of 17. Clifton was so successful in South Texas that country music was his sole source of income for 22 years. As a mainstream country artist, he had 12 records on country radio including a regional hit on “Amarillo by Morning” three years before George Strait.
Clifton opened shows for Gary Morris, Lee Greenwood, Tanya Tucker, Eddie Rabbitt and Holly Dunn. It seemed as if he was one song away from really hitting the big times, but in reality Clifton was one prayer away from changing his life and his dreams forever.
After his band trailer was stolen and a marriage ended in divorce, Clifton began to go to a Bible study in January 1984 at the age of 27. For the first time Clifton heard the Word of God and that God had a plan for His life. It took a little while for all the information to drop that 18 inches from his head to his heart, but it finally did. On May 3, 1984, he took his eyes off his yesterdays and his future dreams and put his faith in Jesus Christ.
In November 2001, Clifton stood and sang on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium at the Christian Country Music Association Awards Show in Nashville. God fulfilled the dream of a six-year-old boy to sing on that stage and a few minutes later, Clifton was awarded with the 2001 CCMA New Artist of the Year. Clifton has since been awarded 2002 CCMA Male Vocalist of the Year, 2004 CCMA Entertainer of the Year as well as 2005 CCMA Songwriter of the Year.
He ministers in the prisons and jails, as well as doing revivals, concerts, banquets and rodeos for everyone who rings his phone. Clifton said, “I am now doing what God created me to do. My heart is to go where the people are and share God’s love through my music and my life so that they can take the ride From Amarillo by Morning to Amazing Grace just like me.”
Bible Baptist Church in Beeville is located at 2601 N. St. Mary’s St. For more information, you may contact the church office at 358-1611. Everyone is invited to attend both concert times, Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Sunday service will be followed by a chili cook-off and cake contest. There will be fun for all ages.
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