![]() "There is scientific evidence that drug addiction and alcoholism are diseases," Bates says. "I was willing to do whatever it took," he says. Over time, Bates was able to win back that friendship. The police came to my apartment, and there was all the equipment I'd stolen." "Two weeks later, he got home and he knew whoever did it had a key. "One weekend while he was gone, I stole $25,000 in musical equipment. "He had only one extra key to his house and I had it," Bates says. Not only did Bates steal, he stole from one of his best friends. I deserve to be here.' I was facing a sentence of 15 years." I said, 'Lord, I'm not asking you to get me out of jail. "It was a good opportunity to bargain with God, but I didn't do that. "When I woke up in jail, I felt the full weight of what I'd done," he says. "I had to lie about my age to get in."įrom that point on, his career began to rise, until the addiction nearly took it all away. "My first gig at 17 was in a nightclub," Bates says. This is what I wanted to do my entire life. "I can remember all the way back to 2 years old. "I gave my life to Christ at 15."įor as long as he can remember, Bates wanted to be a performer. "I got my first job playing in church at age 11," Bates recalls. Growing up, he and his family sang old gospel songs together. "I've got three more album projects in the works, an inspirational CD called 'Once Upon a Cross' and a Christmas CD 'Once Upon a Star,'" Bates says.Īlthough he lost his way for a time, Bates never lost his faith. Since then, Bates has recorded hits such as "Long Slow Kisses," "The Love Song" and "I Wanna Make You Cry." "When a 37-year-old guy comes in and tells you that kind of a story and they still decide to give you a record deal, it's got to be divine intervention," he says. There can be only one explanation, Bates says. "I told them the truth about everything, and told them I'd been clean for one year," he says. "They wanted to meet the guy singing on the demos. "I got a call from RCA Records," Bates says. Sitting in a cell gave Bates time to reflect on his life and his decisions up to that point.Īfter he was released, he recorded some demos. "When you've gone as far at that point in you life, you either get better or die," he says.
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