Music Director Is Eulogized in Crystal Cathedral Tribute

The life of the Crystal Cathedral’s longtime music director -- who committed suicide at the church a month ago -- was celebrated Sunday in a lavish musical tribute that attracted 2,000 people.

Before performing at the memorial at the Garden Grove church, pianist and composer Roger Williams said: “Johnnie Carl was my pal; I loved him.”

The acclaimed composer, who had struggled with mental illness, barricaded himself in his basement office and shot himself Dec. 17 after a seven-hour standoff with police.

The tribute featured a variety of soloists, the Hour of Power Orchestra and Cathedral Choir. They performed a dozen pieces that were arranged, composed or orchestrated by Carl.

His widow, Linda, and two sons shared remembrances during the two-hour memorial.

Carl’s 23-year-old son, Brandon, fighting back tears, said that as a boy he thought of Carl only as a father. It wasn’t until Brandon became a teenager that he accompanied his dad to his job. There, he said, his respect grew.

“Only later was I able to understand how incredibly talented he was,” he said. “After his death, there’s been so many letters and people coming up and saying they knew him.... I’m still getting to know him.”

Linda Carl said her husband of 28 years wrote songs “that tamed the tiger and made angels soar.” She called him a “caring, concerned and loving father.”

Williams shared a few remembrances that described Carl’s lighter side.

“I had invited Carl and his wife up to Las Vegas,” Williams said. “Well, during audience request, Carl raised his hand and shouted, ‘Play three songs at once!’

“I’m going to miss my lovable bum,” Williams said.

The Rev. Robert H. Schuller, whose wife hired Carl 30 years ago, said he needed Carl’s powerful arrangements to “uplift and motivate him.”

“His music put a tear in my eye,” he said.

Carl, 57, was a prominent arranger and composer of sacred music. His most recent CD with Williams went platinum, and he received a gold record as an arranger-composer on John Tesh’s “Live at Red Rocks.” His music has been performed by Celine Dion, the London Symphony and Michael Crawford.

Pianist and singer Ken Medema said Carl often took a song and gave it the “Johnnie Carl treatment.”

“Johnnie can write it. Johnnie can sing it. Johnnie can make it sing,” he said.