Bryan Duncan's Campaign At Critical Stage As Deadline Approaches

Will Record New Album and Re-Issue Eight Past Albums If Goal Is Reached

Bryan Duncan's Kickstarter campaign to fund the release of his 23rd album and the re-issue of eight out-of-print CDs is at a crticial stage. The campaign runs through December 16, 2011, and, according to Kickstarter’s policy, must reach its goal to receive any funding. The final days will be make or break for Duncan's campaign.

"I would rather risk and lose than play it safe and regret," says Duncan about not knowing yet if the campaign will succeed. "I'm going to make every effort to sustain my calling."

Kickstarter.com is a web site that describes itself as a new way to fund and follow creativity. “The cool thing about Kickstarter” says Duncan, “is fans get to be a part of my music project. That’s a lot better than re-tweeting something I said or tagging me in a photo.”

Duncan’s supporters can participate in the song selection and recording process for a new album and receive special incentives for supporting the Kickstarter campaign -- autographed albums, house concerts, duets in concert or on their own albums -- and the chance to talk with Duncan by phone or videoconference.

"Kickstarter is a forum to acknowledge that I am not above need," says Duncan. "I would have been too proud to admit that I needed anything except in the broadest of terms a decade ago, even though acknowledging need is the beginning of the gospel."

"I've heard the question 'why aren't you a bigger artist than you are?' hundreds of times. It's a painful, sideways compliment suggesting I'm not enough. But there is truth in that for me and everyone! I am insufficient by myself. But that doesn't mean I should carry the weight of not being good enough.

"So I'll be all I can, doing what I can and find companions who are looking to do that too. When we find a greater sense of purpose in our combined effort, what we have is true Church -- something that pleases God."

Duncan is trying to make it easy for fans to engage in the campaign. He's summarized ways people can help publicize the campaign in a note and he has an open-invitation Facebook event that tracks the final 48 hours of the campaign.

Duncan started performing professionally in 1973 with the Sweet Comfort Band and recorded six albums before launching a solo career in 1985. He has released 13 solo albums and three more with the NehoSoul Band, selling in excess of 1 million records.

Duncan was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2007, along with Amy Grant and Al Green. He has received three Dove Awards and one Grammy Award.