BYU professor Quint Randle doesn't just teach students how to write stories in his Print Journalism classes; he puts them to music in his new 2006 album, "Joshua Creek."

Randle sings backup on the album, but he said he enjoys writing songs most of all.

"I'm more of a storyteller," he said.

Randle wrote the album with Jeff Hinton, lead singer of the group.

"I'm excited because it's so different from what people usually hear in the LDS market," Hinton said of their self-titled CD.

"Joshua Creek" includes 12 tracks of inspirational music with a country style.

"It's about faith, family and country," Hinton said.

Hinton and Randle said some of their favorite songs on the album include "I Love You Son," a song about a father helping a son through his mistakes, and "Marry You Again," a song they wrote for their wives.

Though the style is kind of country, even people who usually do not like country tell Hinton that they enjoy Joshua Creek's music, he said.

"I don't really like country and it's one of my favorite albums," said Melissa Dalton, Public Relations Director for Covenant Communications, Inc. "The music is so good, that even if you don't like country, you'll like this CD."

Hinton also said the new album is appropriate for Sunday as well as fun to listen to during the week.

"It's not just a Sunday CD, it's an all-week-long CD," Dalton said.

Randle and Hinton have been writing music together for about five years, but this is their first album. The group received a nomination for the Pearl Award and their song "I Love You Son," performed by Christian country artist Jackie Cox, reached No. 1 as an inspirational-country song. After this success, Randle and Hinton signed a recording contract with Covenant Communications, Inc.

The group chose the name Joshua Creek because it reflected the nature of their music. Randle said the name needed to sound somewhat country, but it also needed to show the religious aspect of their music. The name Joshua means "Jehovah saves." The creek symbolizes living water. These illustrate the religious elements of their music.

Singing in public since the age of 4, Hinton said he has always enjoyed music and performing.

"I kind of naturally fell into it," he said. He also learned how to play the guitar when he was in high school, and later learned how to play the piano. Hinton now lives in Lehi with his wife, Deana, and his five children, and teaches business classes at Mountain Ridge Junior High. Even with this busy schedule, he has performed across the country and has won the National Starmania competition in Branson.

Randle lives in Orem with his wife, Leslie, and four children, and is an assistant professor in the Communications Department at BYU. He said his inspiration for getting involved in music and performing came from his musical family and his love of storytelling.

Copyright Brigham Young University 5 May 2006