Mylon LeFevre

Updated: Feb 11

Mylon Rae LeFevre (October 6, 1944 — September 8, 2023) was an American Christian rock singer known for his work with his band Mylon and Broken Heart. He was a Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee, who traveled around the United States, ministering, teaching, and singing. He sometimes could be seen on television networks, such as TBN, Daystar and Victory Channel.

Born on October 6, 1944, in Gulfport, Mississippi into the pioneering Southern gospel family, The LeFevres, Mylon was the youngest son of Eva Mae and Urias LeFevre. When he was old enough, he began to sing and play guitar with the group. At 17 years old, while in the Army where he was paid $84 per month, he wrote his first song, "Without Him." While stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, the LeFevres were performing at a gospel convention in Memphis. That weekend, LeFevre hitchhiked over 600 miles to get there. Onstage, singing "Without Him", he did not know that Elvis Presley was there. After the concert, Elvis asked to meet LeFevre. Shortly thereafter, Elvis recorded the song for his album, How Great Thou Art, and within the next year, over a hundred artists would record his song.

After being discharged from the Army, LeFevre became a member of the Stamps Quartet (1966–1968). In 1964, LeFevre released his first solo album, New Found Joy, on Skylite Records. In 1968, LeFevre release Your Only Tomorrow. LeFevre wanted to write and sing contemporary music that gives glory to God, but there seemed to be no place for his music—or his longer hair and long sideburns—in his family or the Church. Throughout the 1970s to 1980, LeFevre recorded and performed with Eric Clapton, Elton John, Billy Joel and The Who, among others. LeFevre started getting high to deal with the stress and to fit in. His drug use escalated to a near-fatal overdose of heroin in 1973. So LeFevre committed himself to a drug treatment program that year. Seven months later, LeFevre came out clean.

In 1980, LeFevre attended a concert by the CCM group, 2nd Chapter of Acts. Their long hair and music showed that they were not concerned with outward appearances but with issues of the heart. Buck Herring, the group's leader, led the people in prayer and LeFevre prayed along and submitted to Jesus as the Lord of his life. LeFevre quit secular rock and returned to his home church at Mt. Paran Church of God, in Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked as a janitor while attending Bible-study classes. His first challenge was to get out of his music contract which, according to the terms, could only be broken "by an act of God." LeFevre's attorney argued that being born again is an act of God and won the case. In return for release from his contract, LeFevre agreed to give up all future royalties on his songs, publishing, and recordings.

In 1981, he started a Christian band called The Gathering Ground Band, later to be renamed Airborn with some musicians he met in the Bible study. A year later, the band changed their name to Broken Heart. A small offshoot gospel label from MCA Records known as Songbird released Broken Heart's first album Brand New Start (1982), with members: Dean Harrington (lead guitar/vocals), Kenny Bentley (bass/vocals), Stan Coates (keyboards/vocals), Ben Hewitt (drums/percussion), and Mike Adams(rhythm guitar). Other musicians who helped with the first album were: Joe Hardy (bass, guitars, percussion), John Hampton (drums), Ed DeGarmo (of DeGarmo and Key; organ/synthesizer), Jack Holder (guitar/background vocals) and Phil Driscoll (trumpet/flugelhorn). Later members of the band included: Tim Huffman (guitars/vocals) and Scott Allen (rhythm guitar/vocals). Other musicians who helped with other albums over the years were Kerry Livgren (of Kansas), Phil Keaggy, Ed Zimmerman, The 2nd Chapter of Acts, The group Sevenfold, and Jimi Jamison. Two more albums came out in 1983, More and the live album Live Forever.

Over the next 10 years, the group released 6 albums and traveled over a million miles. In 1987, the group attempted to cross over to mainstream rock by rechristening itself 'Look Up!' and releasing an album with Columbia Records. The album contains a retooled update of "Peace Begins Within" from the We Believe album and a cover of DeGarmo and Key's "Love is All You Need." Then in mid-1989 he suffered a heart attack on a tour bus while touring with White Heart. Doctors advised him to stop touring, but against the physician's advice, LeFevre completed his scheduled obligations and finished his concert tours. Mylon and Broken Heart would continue touring through 1990 to support Crank It Up. They disbanded after the tour was completed.

In 1992, LeFevre inked a solo recording deal with Star Song Records and began releasing material that was less musically "edgy" than past offerings. His first (and only) release for them, Faith Hope and Love, included guest appearances from Carman, 4Him, Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman among other popular Christian musicians of the day along with Broken Heart bandmates Bentley, Hardy and Hewitt. Following his heart attack, LeFevre increasingly turned to preaching and teaching as his vocation. He and his wife Christi ministered in about 75 churches a year. He had also spoken at motorcycle rallies, NASCAR owner/driver chapel services, NFL and NBA chapel services, and in Russia, Australia, Canada, the Philippines, the Cayman Islands, and Mexico. His most recent music release is 2003's Bow Down, produced by his son-in-law Peter Furler of the Australian Christian rock band Newsboys. The couple's home church is Eagle Mountain International Church in Newark, Texas.