Miles Pike: Ten Years of Life and Grace
Miles Pike
By Vivian Belknap
The piney woods of East Texas have given us some great music talent over the years: Van Cliburn, Johnny Horton, Jim Reeves, Ray Price, and Tex Ritter to name a few. I would like to introduce you to another talented son of the piney woods, Miles Pike. Miles is a talented singer with a vocal range of five octaves and because of this range, has a voice that some have compared to John Denver, Josh Groban and Josh Turner.
Miles was born into a Christian family; church and singing hymns was an important component of forming his desire to sing. By the time he was nine years old, he had begun to do specials with his mom in church services. When he turned 12, his high soprano voice of a child morphed into a man’s low bass voice. He would spend hours each day experimenting with his new voice. By the time he was 14 he had not only reclaimed his tenor voice but had developed his five-octave singing range.
Miles was born into this world with a rare eye condition that necessitated surgery and many visits with specialists. His eyes were operated on when he was 15 months old. Having only known the world through his faulty vision, he did not associate this condition with his frequent migraine headaches. He did not realize the full extent of his impaired vision and because he was able to adapt, neither did those around him.
At the age of 16 it was time for him to apply for his driver’s license. It was at this time he and his parents realized the extent of his blindness and that he would be dependent on someone else to drive him for the rest of his life. Miles is legally blind; he has no sight in his right eye and it can only detect some light. His left eye has no peripheral vision leaving him with tunnel vision.
Miles’ parents, knowing his love and passion to sing Gospel music, paid for his first summer at the Stamps-Baxter School of Music in Nashville following his graduation at age 18. During that first two weeks of school he realized he had a huge task ahead of him. He brought the lessons home and spent many hours applying those lessons of music theory, vocal training, performance and the aspects of managing the business side of ministry.
He attended the school consecutively for eight years, continuing to build each year on the previous lessons learned. In October 2006, after four years of attending the school, he had his first opportunity to minister in song at a small church a day’s drive from home. His expectation was that he would not have his expenses met but he went and sang to a small group of people. This was the first time he realized that God does provide for the needs of His children and for those who labor in the field.
Miles states, “Martha and I do this now as our full time living; but it’s a ministry first and foremost for both of us, so we make it a practice not to demand or ask for ‘x’ amount up front. The Lord has always taken care of us through His people.”
Speaking of Martha; how did the paths of this East Texas boy cross with a Georgia girl? The answer is the Ben Speer’s Stamps-Baxter School of Music in Nashville. Martha attended the School to learn more about music theory and to associate with other musicians. It was during Miles’ third year that Martha walked in and, as he likes to say, “Although I am legally blind, it was love at first sight.”
They continued to stay in contact through Facebook as good friends. After four years they began dating in July of 2010 and were married December of 2010 in Miles’ home town of Jacksonville, Texas. Many of their friends, not knowing about their long distance friendship for several years, thought this was a fast romance.
Martha says, “He was the first man that I could talk theology with and that’s how I knew he was the one.” They both agreed that if they dated that they would marry. Neither planned on dating until they knew who they were marrying and both agreed that they would not kiss until their wedding day. Their first kiss was at their wedding with friends and family gathered to celebrate the occasion. They make their home on a hill that has been in Miles’ family for generations.
In 2015, their ministry took them to 30 states, and this year, seven states, as they were able to book appearances that were close to their home base. In 2017, they are adding Michigan, Colorado, New Mexico and Kansas to their concert schedule.
Miles tries to do concept albums with songs that follow a theme. With his last album, Candid, he picked songs that were very open and honest with a touch of humor, as he says, “Sometimes humor softens the blow a little bit and sometimes helps to make the point better.”
On this album he writes a small commentary along with scripture passages for each song. The comment from the song “Recovering Pharisee” reads: “My Christian life is very similar to what I imagine rehab is like. I’m in recovery—the cure has been given and it is working. My mind is being changed to reflect the mind of Christ. But my flesh has ruts a mile deep where the wheels of old habits go round and round. I know Christ is working in me, but sometimes I wish He’d speed up the process.”
Martha does not sing with Miles in concert because: “One, I sing like normal people and two he is The Voice.” Miles says, “One of my favorite things is when we stand together in church and sing parts together.” Martha’s talents of singing, hearing parts and arranging music and letting Miles know when he is off helps their ministry to reach higher levels.
The Pikes are currently working on a new album and hoping for a release in 2018. The theme of the album is worship, meditating on the Word of God. The tentative title, The Grace of Life, comes from the Apostle Peter referring to marriage as the “grace of life” in I Peter 3:7. Miles says “I’ve never been more excited about an album. It’s going to be a part of our soul. I love working and sitting around the piano.”
“I have three goals for each concert. I want to do what Paul told Titus, ‘Rebuke, reprove, exhort,’”says Miles. This holds true if the venue is in a church or in a secular setting. In the secular venue he lets them know that he is a Gospel entertainer. He uses his gift of the large vocal range to entertain while he shares God’s truths in a thought provoking manner.
Each year they have a Homecoming Event where they invite some of their Gospel artist friends into the piney woods of East Texas to share this great music genre with their fans in their home area. Mark March 4th, 2017 on your calendar and make plans to attend their 10th annual Homecoming in Flint, TX. The concert will be recorded both to a DVD as well as CD for future purchase. Visit their website at http://www.milespikemusic.com/ to learn more about the ministry of Martha and Miles Pike.
