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[biopg_jules.jpg] Elkanah Music is the multi-faceted vision of Founder/Director Jules Riding who has travelled and ministered extensively throughout New Zealand and many countries with music ministry for more than twenty years.

Jules has been a fulltime Christian musician since 1988. During this time he has travelled throughout New Zealand as well as Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, Mexico and Indonesia.

He began his involvement with Christian music in 1976 with the St. Pauls Singers in Auckland, a creative itinerant church choir that wrote songs and released albums. Since that time he has written many songs used in the Songs of the Nations, Songs of the Kingdom and the New Harvest song books. His songs have been recorded by Scripture in Song and Maranatha Music amongst others. He has had three songs from 'Kids Time 2' selected for the SONG DISCOVERY program (USA), released Oct 2007.

He was a Primary School Teacher for five years, and a folk guitar teacher and photographer for two. He won a secular songwriting competition in 1983 which resulted in a Top 40 single ‘Round The Bays’ being released on the CBS Label (see Memorabilia cd, due for release in 2008 along with the 'Recollection' Best Of double album..)

In 1984 he released his first solo album ON THIS NIGHT, followed in 1987 by HEARTSTRINGS. Both albums won Gospel Album of the Year at the New Zealand Music Awards, equivalent to a Dove Award in the USA. Both albums were eventually released as one cd: PILGRIM IN PARADISE (the early music of Jules Riding, not a new cd).

After a year and a half at the Orama Bible College on Great Barrier Island '86/’87, Jules went fulltime in music ministry in 1988 with a busy schedule of concerts, services and seminars. During this time he recorded three more albums: REVELATION (1991, recently granted Gold Album status), HOMECOMING (1992, recorded in South Africa), and THE FISHERMAN (1994), as well as completing a World Tour, visiting 8 countries with his wife and 3 kids in 1992.

He is the author of two volumes of poetry and the Worship Manual written for the , (formerly Elkanah School of Music Ministry, Jules both founder and director). This school has been held at Orama on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand 1995-98 and 2001. And in 2000, 2002 and 2003 at En Hakkore Christian Community near Ranfurly.

Part of the vision for the school has been to provide an opportunity for the Students and other Christian musicians and songwriters to contribute to or have an involvement with recording projects. Since the school began, Jules has released two kid's albums, & and a worship album AMAZING SACRIFICE now out of print. Students on the Worship School contributed to all 3 projects.

Jules completed his 8th album JERUSALEM. in 2001 after spending 3 weeks in Israel on sabbatical in 1999.

Jules became a Christian in 1975 after an 'extensive search for truth' through alternative religions: Hare Krishna, Scientology, Transcendental Meditation, Eastern Religions and smoking dope.

Jules is one of 22 songwriters from 18 nations who will have a song featured at the CONCERT FOR WORLD PEACE in Rome, date to be announced.. Details on: www.songcollections.com/peace

Of the future Jules says: 'No one knows the future except God, but it is my heart's desire to be involved in ministry until Jesus comes back.'

Pure Jules music is distributed in New Zealand and Australia by PURE PO Box 56-707, Mt Eden, Auckland NZ. Ph (64) 09-631-7372 david@pureentertainment.co.nz


Riding Whanau, Sept 2009.  Eleanor, Caleb, Georgia, Chris, Lynn, Jules