Jeff Fenholt
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Craig Fenholt (born 1951) is a singer noted for his performance as the title character in the original Broadway theatre
adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar
and for his appearance on the cover of "Time Magazine". In later years, he would gain notoriety as a Christian
evangelist
and singer, as well as controversy over his involvement with the heavy metal
band Black Sabbath
.
and went to school in Columbus
. He was involved with a number of rock bands and performed at various school functions. Fenholt got his first Top 40 hit recording with "The Fifth Order", "Gone Too Far" at 14 yrs old. He toured extensively through HS. By his own admission, he was a troubled youth with a juvenile delinquency record. Later, he worked while attending University, at Jeffrey Mining Machinery Co. as a material mover in the motor winding and assembly department, and loading and unloading beef sides for a non union roughneck truck dock, EC Clair. Fenholt attended Ohio St University for two years on a Music Scholarship, and later earned his B.A (Music) at The School of Bible Theology University in Ca.
In 1971, Fenholt was cast as the title role
in the Broadway
run of Jesus Christ Superstar
at the Mark Hellinger Theatre
. Incidentally, Ted Neeley
, who would go on to become famous for playing Jesus for many performances and in the 1974 movie
, was Fenholt's understudy
. Also, future JCS legends Carl Anderson
and Yvonne Elliman
toured alongside Fenholt on the Premier JCS World Tour (as a Judas and Mary Magdalene
, respectively).
In 1978, Fenholt recorded a Disco LP called "Smile" for CBS and was paid $300,000 dollars. Fenholt also recorded for Capitol Records, Universal, Paramount, Polygram, Polydor, Decca, RCA, and as a youth, Laurie, Diamond and Cameo Parkway. He is currently recording for Sony.
Fenholt's 1994 autobiography
From Darkness To Light makes substantial allegations of abuse and mistreatment as a youth, including claims that he was subjected to frequent beatings. Fenholt's siblings claim that he invented the allegations to further his career as an evangelist. In 1996, Fenholt's parents sued him, Trinity Broadcasting Network
(TBN), and the publisher of his autobiography for $12 million each for defamation of character. The lawsuit was subsequently dropped after Fenholt produced court documents from the Superior Court Of Franklin County, Ohio, confirming his claims, and Fenholt later claimed that he has a "warm relationship" with his mother.
Fenholt's Broadway and rock music backgrounds were used to sell him as an evangelist. Fenholt also sported long hair, an unusual style in conservative evangelical circles. Fenholt would often appear with his wife Maureen (nicknamed "Reeni").
. In the publication 'Never Say Die', Jeff Fenholt states that Black Sabbath manager Don Arden
informed him he was singing for Black Sabbath.
The 'Never Say Die' book, authored by Garry Sharpe-Young and updated as 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - The battle for Black Sabbath', states that a substantial number of recordings were made during Fenholt's time with the group. It is acknowledged that this was a confusing time in the band history as singer David Donato
had left the band after six months only having recorded demos. Geezer Butler
and Bill Ward had also left, leaving Tony Iommi
as the sole original member.
Manager Don Arden suggested Iommi use Jeff Fenholt and tracks were written, in the main by Iommi and Nicholls, for a proposed new album. The book Never Say Die voices opinion from other band members that Fenholt might have been kept in the dark about plans to make an Iommi solo album. Geoff Nicholls says Iommi wanted to use different singers, including David Coverdale
, Steve Marriott
, Glenn Hughes and Rob Halford
. Fenholt then left to join Driver, with Rudy Sarzo, Tommy Aldridge and Craig Goldy.
Fenholt says several of his melodies were used in songs that appeared on Seventh Star (and subsequently did not receive credit for them). None of his lyrics were used, as confirmed by comparing the Fenholt demos with the album. Rumors suggesting he only left the project because of supposed personal conflicts with the lyrical material being written and his religious faith are denied by Fenholt and Geoff Nicholls, who wrote the lyrics. Fenholt claims it was in fact a physical argument with Don Arden that caused his departure. But recently, Tony Iommi stated that Fenholt was never in the band, but that he merely tried out for Iommi's album. Iommi went on to say that he had a good voice, but it didn't work, due to Fenholt not being able to come up with lyrics as he was singing.
that he planned to do a Halloween concert in an arena in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
. Having advance notification from the Attorney General of Massachusetts of his arrival in Wisconsin, Wiccan Priest Selena Fox (Circle Santuary) got a restraining order
from the local county court prohibiting not only his trespass
onto private property but actually specifying that he stay a particular distance from the property line. Fenholt won in court.
In the December 1997 issue, Vanity Fair detailed his past as a "boy toy" for Gala Dali
, wife of Salvador Dalí
and that Fenholt had worked on the side as a representative for Salvador Dalí. Gala was known for her numerous affairs and affections for young artists during the later years of her life.
Fenholt was divorced in 1998 and left TBN, except for a few brief appearances, including one after the events of September 11, 2001, that featured a marked change in his demeanor and appearance, including short hair and a quick exit from the stage following his performance. He was also briefly seen doing a late-night timeslot for a half-hour program. Fenholt stated that after his divorce he had "lost his fire".
Fenholt returned to TBN on March 3, 2004, as a guest on the Behind the Scenes program, hosted by Paul Crouch
. Fenholt mentioned Black Sabbath, citing the book 'Never Say Die', a "Black Sabbath" biography.
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
and for his appearance on the cover of "Time Magazine". In later years, he would gain notoriety as a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
and singer, as well as controversy over his involvement with the heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
.
Background
Fenholt grew up in OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and went to school in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. He was involved with a number of rock bands and performed at various school functions. Fenholt got his first Top 40 hit recording with "The Fifth Order", "Gone Too Far" at 14 yrs old. He toured extensively through HS. By his own admission, he was a troubled youth with a juvenile delinquency record. Later, he worked while attending University, at Jeffrey Mining Machinery Co. as a material mover in the motor winding and assembly department, and loading and unloading beef sides for a non union roughneck truck dock, EC Clair. Fenholt attended Ohio St University for two years on a Music Scholarship, and later earned his B.A (Music) at The School of Bible Theology University in Ca.
In 1971, Fenholt was cast as the title role
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
run of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
at the Mark Hellinger Theatre
Mark Hellinger Theatre
The Mark Hellinger Theatre is a generally used name of a former legitimate Broadway theater, located at 237 West 51st Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City. Since 1991, it has been known as the Times Square Church...
. Incidentally, Ted Neeley
Ted Neeley
Ted Neeley is a rock and roll drummer, singer, actor, composer, and record producer. He is probably best known for performing the title role in the film Jesus Christ Superstar in 1973....
, who would go on to become famous for playing Jesus for many performances and in the 1974 movie
Jesus Christ Superstar (film)
Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1973 American film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera of the same name. Directed by Norman Jewison, the film centers on the conflict between Judas and Jesus during the last weeks before the crucifixion of Jesus...
, was Fenholt's understudy
Understudy
In theater, an understudy is a performer who learns the lines and blocking/choreography of a regular actor or actress in a play. Should the regular actor or actress be unable to appear on stage because of illness or emergencies, the understudy takes over the part...
. Also, future JCS legends Carl Anderson
Carl Anderson (singer)
Carl Anderson was an American singer, film and theatre actor best known for his portrayal of Judas Iscariot in the Broadway and film versions of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.-Early life:Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Anderson was one of 12 children of...
and Yvonne Elliman
Yvonne Elliman
Yvonne Marianne Elliman is an American singer who performed for four years in the first cast of Jesus Christ Superstar...
toured alongside Fenholt on the Premier JCS World Tour (as a Judas and Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
, respectively).
In 1978, Fenholt recorded a Disco LP called "Smile" for CBS and was paid $300,000 dollars. Fenholt also recorded for Capitol Records, Universal, Paramount, Polygram, Polydor, Decca, RCA, and as a youth, Laurie, Diamond and Cameo Parkway. He is currently recording for Sony.
Fenholt's 1994 autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
From Darkness To Light makes substantial allegations of abuse and mistreatment as a youth, including claims that he was subjected to frequent beatings. Fenholt's siblings claim that he invented the allegations to further his career as an evangelist. In 1996, Fenholt's parents sued him, Trinity Broadcasting Network
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
(TBN), and the publisher of his autobiography for $12 million each for defamation of character. The lawsuit was subsequently dropped after Fenholt produced court documents from the Superior Court Of Franklin County, Ohio, confirming his claims, and Fenholt later claimed that he has a "warm relationship" with his mother.
Conversion To Christianity
According to Fenholt's autobiography, he was heavily addicted to alcohol and drugs following the 1973 end of Jesus Christ Superstars run on Broadway. Fenholt's often-repeated testimony (later published in his autobiography) details a visit from Christian construction workers (Nick Disipio, owner, hired by his Christian wife to rebuild a wing of his house) who confronted him regarding his portrayal of Christ on stage. Fenholt was converted to Christ, beat his addictions, then spent the next several years struggling to balance his faith and his career, before becoming a high-profile personality on programming aired by TBN.Fenholt's Broadway and rock music backgrounds were used to sell him as an evangelist. Fenholt also sported long hair, an unusual style in conservative evangelical circles. Fenholt would often appear with his wife Maureen (nicknamed "Reeni").
Black Sabbath
Fenholt built his career as a TBN personality based mostly upon his involvement with Jesus Christ Superstar, and Black SabbathBlack Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. In the publication 'Never Say Die', Jeff Fenholt states that Black Sabbath manager Don Arden
Don Arden
Don Arden , born Harry Levy, was an English music manager, agent and businessman, best known for overseeing the careers of rock groups Small Faces, Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath....
informed him he was singing for Black Sabbath.
The 'Never Say Die' book, authored by Garry Sharpe-Young and updated as 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - The battle for Black Sabbath', states that a substantial number of recordings were made during Fenholt's time with the group. It is acknowledged that this was a confusing time in the band history as singer David Donato
David Donato
David Tom Donato is an American singer known for his involvement in Black Sabbath. He recorded several demos with the band and rehearsed throughout 1984 and 1985....
had left the band after six months only having recorded demos. Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler is an English musician and songwriter. Butler is best known as the bassist and lyricist of heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He was also involved in Heaven & Hell from 2006 to 2010.-Career:Butler formed his first band, Rare Breed, with old friend John "Ozzy" Osbourne in the autumn of...
and Bill Ward had also left, leaving Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
as the sole original member.
Manager Don Arden suggested Iommi use Jeff Fenholt and tracks were written, in the main by Iommi and Nicholls, for a proposed new album. The book Never Say Die voices opinion from other band members that Fenholt might have been kept in the dark about plans to make an Iommi solo album. Geoff Nicholls says Iommi wanted to use different singers, including David Coverdale
David Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
, Steve Marriott
Steve Marriott
Stephen Peter Marriott , popularly known as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, songwriter, and frontman of several notable rock and roll bands, spanning over two decades...
, Glenn Hughes and Rob Halford
Rob Halford
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. He is nicknamed the "Metal God" as a tribute to his influence on metal, and after the Judas Priest song of the same name from 1980's...
. Fenholt then left to join Driver, with Rudy Sarzo, Tommy Aldridge and Craig Goldy.
Fenholt says several of his melodies were used in songs that appeared on Seventh Star (and subsequently did not receive credit for them). None of his lyrics were used, as confirmed by comparing the Fenholt demos with the album. Rumors suggesting he only left the project because of supposed personal conflicts with the lyrical material being written and his religious faith are denied by Fenholt and Geoff Nicholls, who wrote the lyrics. Fenholt claims it was in fact a physical argument with Don Arden that caused his departure. But recently, Tony Iommi stated that Fenholt was never in the band, but that he merely tried out for Iommi's album. Iommi went on to say that he had a good voice, but it didn't work, due to Fenholt not being able to come up with lyrics as he was singing.
Decline
In 1993 Fenholt announced on the TV program The 700 ClubThe 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
that he planned to do a Halloween concert in an arena in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
Mount Horeb is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,009 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. Having advance notification from the Attorney General of Massachusetts of his arrival in Wisconsin, Wiccan Priest Selena Fox (Circle Santuary) got a restraining order
Restraining order
A restraining order or order of protection is a form of legal injunction that requires a party to do, or to refrain from doing, certain acts. A party that refuses to comply with an order faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
from the local county court prohibiting not only his trespass
Trespass
Trespass is an area of tort law broadly divided into three groups: trespass to the person, trespass to chattels and trespass to land.Trespass to the person, historically involved six separate trespasses: threats, assault, battery, wounding, mayhem, and maiming...
onto private property but actually specifying that he stay a particular distance from the property line. Fenholt won in court.
In the December 1997 issue, Vanity Fair detailed his past as a "boy toy" for Gala Dali
Gala Dalí
Gala Dalí , usually known simply as Gala, was the wife of first Paul Éluard, then Salvador Dalí, and an inspiration for them and many other writers and artists.- Early years :...
, wife of Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí
Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
and that Fenholt had worked on the side as a representative for Salvador Dalí. Gala was known for her numerous affairs and affections for young artists during the later years of her life.
Fenholt was divorced in 1998 and left TBN, except for a few brief appearances, including one after the events of September 11, 2001, that featured a marked change in his demeanor and appearance, including short hair and a quick exit from the stage following his performance. He was also briefly seen doing a late-night timeslot for a half-hour program. Fenholt stated that after his divorce he had "lost his fire".
Fenholt returned to TBN on March 3, 2004, as a guest on the Behind the Scenes program, hosted by Paul Crouch
Paul Crouch
Paul Franklin Crouch is a religious broadcaster and, along with his wife Jan, co-founder of the Trinity Broadcasting Network .-Biography:...
. Fenholt mentioned Black Sabbath, citing the book 'Never Say Die', a "Black Sabbath" biography.
Quotes
"Jeff Fenholt sang on some recordings for Tony Iommi in (19)85 in (Los Angeles). Tony was looking for a singer for what was supposed to be his "solo" album. Jeff came down and worked in the studio from Jan-May. That project became the "Seventh Star", "Black Sabbath" album with Glenn Hughes on vocals, and my first album. That's pretty much all there is to the story. Jeff had a great voice but it just didn't work out." - Eric SingerEric Singer
Eric Doyle Mensinger , better known as Eric Singer, is a hard rock and heavy metal drummer for the rock band Kiss and formerly for singer Alice Cooper...
External links
- http://www.fenholt.com/
- http://www.elijah.org/fenholt/