Gene Meldrum, grew up on a small self-sufficient farm in Northern Michigan, nourished by his parents and surrounded by loving uncles, aunts and cousins. His three brothers and two sisters were his best friends, fellow performers and critique crew. His first audience, was the extended Meldrum clan, elder care homes, Church, talent shows and most often campfires.

Gene first began writing music in his teens. He developed his singing voice and harmonies performing the songs of the Mills Brothers, and ballads from the World War II generation. His musical education consisted of sitting with his ear to an old record player listening and then reproducing the sounds of traditional folk artists like Peter, Paul and Mary, Brothers Four, Kingston Trio and the classic harmony and sounds of America, Seals and Crofts, and the Eagles. He first learned to play his guitar to John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and he was motivated by the work of singer songwriters like Dan Fogelberg and James Taylor.

Gene spent twelve years in Nashville Tennessee. In the early 90’s he and his younger brother performed “Come into the Family” on the Grand Ole Opry Gospel Hour. During these years he worked in recording studios, record and publishing companies, while earning a bachelors degree in recording industry management. While performing at writers nights, pitching music to publishing companies Gene began to develop his own individual musical style. His songs are written about his life, growing up in rural America, a lifetime of love, raising children, cowboy tunes and train songs. In the end his real joy and blessing in songwriting is in those songs inspired by the great blessings God has continued to bestow upon his life.

To this day, Gene defines himself as a campfire singer. He met his wife, Alice, as a young teen while singing at 4-H camp. He was married at 19, and in his twenties he began his family of four children, Rebecca, Jared, Amanda, and Tyler. In the spring of 2007, as his youngest child graduated from high school, and at the urging of his children, Gene began recording his music for this album, So Much More

So Much More is a God inspired project. Gene’s prayerful hope is that this compellation of music will inspire his children and others to go to God first, and seek His direction for their lives. The music on this album was inspired over 20 years, by the work, study and teaching of God’s Word by many different men and women of God. It was written, performed, and produced with a thankful heart from a simple man who has found that his ministry for God’s people is in providing music to uplift and inspire them to stay rooted and grounded in all that God has provided in order to live more than abundant lives.