His Christian sound is clean and his life is dedicated to protecting innocent children. What's not to like about Art Salvagno? Read on:
Please tell us about your musical journey in Christ.
Art Salvagno began his musical journey first singing in the church choir
while attending a South Philadelphia, PA Catholic elementary school. He started furthering his musical talent briefly, taking guitar lessons from a local guitar teacher. Art went on to self-educate himself on guitar while playing and fronting two Philadelphia, PA classic rock bands during his late elementary school years into his high school years. Art left both bands while attending Penn State University in State College, PA. While in college, Art hooked up with a former Sea Train musician and performed at a few local establishments as a duo. After college, Art began a lengthy law enforcement career working for the FBI, Defense Department, and closing out his 36 year law enforcement career with the Philadelphia Police Department, investigating child sexual abuse cases as an investigator with the Philadelphia Police Special Victims Unit.
Art was very active in his Catholic Church Contemporary Christian Worship Team during his law enforcement years. Art left the Catholic Church and found a deeper, closer connection in his walk with Jesus Christ, when recruited to play bass and sing with a non-denominational church worship team. Art believed he found his calling, and came full circle, seeing God use his years of law enforcement, education and musical talent to connect with those who needed to hear God’s Word through song.
Art continues leader worship in the tri-state area of PA-DE-NJ. Approximately 10 years from retiring as a Phila Police SVU Child Abuse Investigator, Art founded Battle4Children.org. We are in our 10th year, receiving our 501c3 status in 2015. Our small non profit provides awareness not only on the 3000 cases of child sexual abuse annually in Philadelphia, PA, but also provides information about neighboring states (NJ-DE). While Battle4Children also raises funds for organizations providing trauma specific therapy and related services for child victims and their families, we are in the planning stage to offer same services directly through Battle4Children.
How long have you been making music?
Art started creating his own music after his father passed in 1996. His first ever song was a country song called Jack Daniels Took My Body Out Last Night, with the B-Side titled I Wish I Was A Cowboy Now. Art sold his rights to a publisher having Nashville artists attempt their luck at making either song a hit.
In 2008, three years after joining the non-denominational worship team, Art returned to playing guitar and became the worship leader of his church. His love for Christian Music and Jesus, lead him to write his first ever Christian song titled My Sheep (Stand Where I Stand), which since then still remains a church favorite. Since writing My Sheep, Art has written many other Christian songs, including his non-profit theme song, Hope Is Alive, released in March of 2019.
Any formal training?
Art briefly took lessons from an elderly music teacher. Art later took the guitar into his own hands, teaching himself while playing with other guitarists.
Professional experience? Art has received payment for his musical talent which he donates to Battle4Children.
What genre would you consider your music to BEST fit into? Art’s musical creations have reached various genes, to include: blues, country and rock.
What music inspires you the most (Christian or secular)? Although I prefer and listen mostly to Christian music, my secular roots are still strong. I find that Christian music inspires me the most because it lifts me to places secular music could never do.
How has making music made a difference in your Christian walk? It has brought me closer to God. It has lead me not to only delve deeper into the Bible, but into other written Christian works as well.
What do you do to stay sharp with your God given skills? Pray multiple times a day, read the bible, and one of my favorite authors, Ray Comfort and his book, Jesus In Red.
Do you have a daily routine? I do, and it varies daily. I work from home with my non-profit, but my day begins with a little exercise, followed by a decent breakfast and some talk time with my wife, who is a retired educator. The majority of my day revolves around promoting Battle4Children and raising funds for organizations that provide trauma specific therapy and related services.
What projects are you working on now? Aside from a couple songs I am working on, my board and I are working on bringing Battle4Children into being one of those service providers. We hope to start offering trauma specific therapy and related services to children and their families in 2022.
What are your hopes for them? The hope I always have which I hope everything I do is pleasing to God.
What is your favorite Bible verse that inspires you to praise God through music?
Luke 12:22-23 because it talks of hope so not to worry about anything.
Let us know where we can follow you and your music and give us any last words of encouragement, advice or anything else you wish to add.
I am all over social media including:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/FX7nvmC/B4C
https://www.battle4children.org/art-salvagno-music-2more
https://artsalvagno.hearnow.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMEu7HOQzJM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzd03GldvW4
https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Alive-Art-Salvagno/dp/B07Q6VTSWS
Jack Daniels Took My Body Out Last Night
https://archive.org/details/iuma-art_salvagno
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