Not By Chance
Encyclopedia
Not By Chance were an American Acoustic
band, formed in Stafford, Virginia
in 1996, after David M. Bailey
was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma brain tumor and given six months to live. For the next two years they would play primarily Christian
music, with Bailey's experience as a cancer survivor strongly influencing their lyrics and message.
where he learned to play the guitar
, and attended Grove City College
in the United States. Bailey married and began work in data entry
. Upon being diagnosed with a Glioblastoma brain tumor in 1996, which was to have killed him in six months, Bailey quit his job to concentrate on songwriting and touring.
Recording over 20 cds with performances in 21 countries and 45 U.S. states, bailey led a vigorous schedule for the 14 years after diagnosis. He performed in a wide variety of venues including churches, cancer celebration days, support groups, patient/ caregiver groups, conferences, retreats, & corporate events. In May 2003, he won the prestigious Kerrville NewFolk songwriting competition and shared the stage with many others.
From Beirut to Budapest, from Pittsburgh to Portland, and on hundreds of stages in between, he inspired and entertained thousands of listeners and maintained a relentless tour schedule year round.
In Nov 2008, david's tumor returned. He underwent surgeries and chemotherapy while still maintaining his tour schedule. He had more surgery in the late spring of 2010 and still made a final tour in July 2010. david died on October 2, 2010, fighting to the very end with his tenacious hope, 14 years and 3 months post diagnosis.
, Douglas Ebert (b.1963) is a self-taught guitar player. He attended West Virginia University
for two years, but dropped out to move to Fairfax, Virginia
with his young wife and child. Like his partner, Ebert left the corporate sector in exchange for a guitar and a touring schedule.
When it became clear that Bailey's treatments were working, news of his inspirational story spread across the nation. The band's touring schedule exploded; "48 Hours" producers did a short segment on David, and in 1997 the band sang the national anthem at a Pittsburgh Pirates
game, splitting the bill with fellow cancer survivor Sue Sarver. While touring in California the duo assembled material for a second album, Vista Point.
On November 20, 2008, Bailey had surgery to remove a cyst and new tumor. As he did twelve years ago, he tours between treatments. He currently lives in Earlysville
, Virginia
.
Ebert resides in Fredericksburg, Virginia
. 2009 marked his emergence back into music, collaborating with high-school friend Kathy Fisher
.
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
band, formed in Stafford, Virginia
Stafford, Virginia
Stafford is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Stafford County in the northern part of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 4,320. It lies north of Fredericksburg, approximately south of metropolitan Washington, D.C., and about north of...
in 1996, after David M. Bailey
David M. Bailey
David M. Bailey was an American singer/songwriter. He released 20 total albums between 1997 and 2010, primarily playing Contemporary Christian Music.-Biography:...
was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma brain tumor and given six months to live. For the next two years they would play primarily Christian
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
music, with Bailey's experience as a cancer survivor strongly influencing their lyrics and message.
David Bailey
Bailey (1966–2010) was raised in Beirut, Lebanon, the son of Presbyterian missionaries. He spent some of his youth in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
where he learned to play the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and attended Grove City College
Grove City College
Grove City College is a Christian liberal arts college in Grove City, Pennsylvania, about north of Pittsburgh. According to the College Bulletin, its stated three-fold mission is to provide an excellent education at an affordable price in a thoroughly Christian environment...
in the United States. Bailey married and began work in data entry
Corporate America
Corporate America is an informal phrase describing the world of corporations within the United States not under government ownership....
. Upon being diagnosed with a Glioblastoma brain tumor in 1996, which was to have killed him in six months, Bailey quit his job to concentrate on songwriting and touring.
Recording over 20 cds with performances in 21 countries and 45 U.S. states, bailey led a vigorous schedule for the 14 years after diagnosis. He performed in a wide variety of venues including churches, cancer celebration days, support groups, patient/ caregiver groups, conferences, retreats, & corporate events. In May 2003, he won the prestigious Kerrville NewFolk songwriting competition and shared the stage with many others.
From Beirut to Budapest, from Pittsburgh to Portland, and on hundreds of stages in between, he inspired and entertained thousands of listeners and maintained a relentless tour schedule year round.
In Nov 2008, david's tumor returned. He underwent surgeries and chemotherapy while still maintaining his tour schedule. He had more surgery in the late spring of 2010 and still made a final tour in July 2010. david died on October 2, 2010, fighting to the very end with his tenacious hope, 14 years and 3 months post diagnosis.
Douglas Ebert
Born and raised in West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, Douglas Ebert (b.1963) is a self-taught guitar player. He attended West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
for two years, but dropped out to move to Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
with his young wife and child. Like his partner, Ebert left the corporate sector in exchange for a guitar and a touring schedule.
Not By Chance
In 1996, as Bailey struggled to come to terms with his terminal diagnosis, he teamed up with friend and fellow church-goer Ebert. The two performed at local churches, among other venues including a prison. In a short amount of time, their combined talents provided enough material for a first album, Second Chance.When it became clear that Bailey's treatments were working, news of his inspirational story spread across the nation. The band's touring schedule exploded; "48 Hours" producers did a short segment on David, and in 1997 the band sang the national anthem at a Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
game, splitting the bill with fellow cancer survivor Sue Sarver. While touring in California the duo assembled material for a second album, Vista Point.
Breakup: 1998
In 1997, Bailey released Peace, his first solo album. The decision came after creative differences began to drive Ebert and Bailey apart, with Ebert quitting in the following year to support his three growing children. Since then, Bailey, who never left the business, has recorded eighteen albums, occasionally drawing on material written during Not By Chance.On November 20, 2008, Bailey had surgery to remove a cyst and new tumor. As he did twelve years ago, he tours between treatments. He currently lives in Earlysville
Earlysville, Virginia
Earlysville is an unincorporated community in Albemarle County, Virginia, United States, roughly north of Charlottesville. It is named for John Early, who in 1822 bought just under of land that now comprise a portion of the town. Earlysville has a small central business district , with a grocery...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Ebert resides in Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
. 2009 marked his emergence back into music, collaborating with high-school friend Kathy Fisher
Fisher (band)
Fisher is a band consisting of songwriter Ron Wasserman and vocalist Kathy Fisher. Fisher has enjoyed some mainstream success. "I Will Love You" was featured in a 2001 episode of Roswell and in the 2007 film Death Sentence...
.