Doug's Bio
Doug Peak Primary Songwriter Electric and Acoustic Guitars I was born in Springfield, MO. I have been told that as soon as I came out of the hospital we moved to California. The next 11 years were spent trying to keep up with my older brother David. You could say he taught me to be tough and very competitive. He was always bigger and taller than me, thus making me do things I didn’t know I shouldn’t do. For example, having other kids punch me in the stomach for money. He would say, “I bet you can’t make my brother cry” . I think the big payoff was about 5 cents. I was always happy to participate because of the attention I would get after the “One more try!” attempt. As far as sports went, David let me play with his older friends and this helped me to learn fast. It was great being close to the same age ... only one year difference. We have always been close. I should thank him more often for having put up with me ... I couldn’t have a better older brother. I also have a younger brother named Scott. His walk speaks for itself. He is a hard worker, he loves the Lord, and he is a man of integrity. I hope to be more like him. Thank you Scott Peak, for the way you live a life of faith. I didn't think about music much growing up. I do remember Mom singing and recording. She is so gifted. She is also a great mom ... I am blessed to be her son. I do remember taking accordion lessons. I think it lasted about 2 weeks. Dad was the basketball coach at Southern California College and was always encouraging us to be the best we could be and Christ should be first in our lives. I remember spending hours running around in the gym ... I really was a gym rat. I was 11 when we moved to Georgetown, Texas. I’ll never forget being held back in the seventh grade for sporting reasons. I was actually student of the year that year. The whole situation didn’t go over well with the principle. I think my dad was called in on this one. I can remember seeing a guy in our high school play the guitar and keyboards and I thought he was cool. Being the ultra competitive person that I am, I decided I had to play the guitar too. It didn't last long. I played a lot of basketball and was offered scholarships to play in college. I'd always wanted to play for Dad and this dream came true in 1987. It just so happened that my closest friend on the team also played the electric guitar. I was asked to join his band. I played whatever no one else wanted to play. Eventually we realized that I could sing ( or yell ... it just depends on how you look at it ). I began to sing lead vocals and soon we were able to get some small gigs at fraternity parties. We also played on Sixth Street in Austin. Often our band members would finish a basketball game and then drive to Austin for a gig. We joked that we had the tallest band in the world. I was surrounded by a 6’11 bass player and a 6’5 lead guitarist. My sister Stephanie, who's also tall, began singing some backup vocals at the age of 16. Everyone knew she had a special gift for vocals. After graduating, I spent 2 years of my life working bad jobs to support my musical aspirations. Then something happened. Band members started getting married and things became more serious quickly. I remember when we were about to headline at a very popular place in Austin and I had a moment. I think everyone has these special times in their lives, when they are spoken to by God and He is just waiting for your answer. I prayed, “Lord if this takes me away from you, then I don’t want it.” I found out later that my brother David had been praying the same prayer. Years went by before he told me about it. Sure enough, it wasn't long before our band split up. I look back and I can see that my maturity level could have been better. The songs were heavy, as if weighted down by the search for the truth. Later I would find it. I decided to go back to college and get my Masters degree. This allowed me to coach basketball in college. In 1996 I was offered a job at Navarro College. The head coach there is a great man and a legend in the basketball coaching community. We went through some good years together. I learned so much about responsibility and leadership. He had a way of making you grow up fast. It’s good to see people live out their passion and love the Lord. They are always thankful and they carry a light in a dark world. I remember seeing him read his Bible and I was encouraged to do the same. It planted a seed I would later see grow. I would occasionally write some music and play reunion gigs with the old band, but everything really was turned off musically at this point. I was in a different season of growth. After two years at Navarro College, I moved again to take a job at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas. It was another great coaching experience. Coach Daugherty, as a first year head coach, worked hard to get us to the playoffs both of the years I was coaching there. I still think about the amazing way God blessed the team. We were not expected to do well at all. We were picked next-to-last in the conference, but in our first year we made it to the playoffs and tied for 2nd. Classic overachievers! The following year we went to playoffs again, though most teams outsized us greatly. It was during this time in Magnolia that I experienced something that changed my life. Loneliness! It’s amazing how isolation can change someone or make them look for help. My help came first from my sister, Steph. She called and told me she thought it would be a good time for me to start a relationship with the Lord. So we began at 5:00 a.m. each morning reading the Bible and talking to God. A light came on in my life. There was no turning back ... this was the beginning of the road ... of my walk with Christ. Almost instantly I picked up the guitar and started writing as part of my journaling time. I was writing my songs to God, to my Lord and Savior. At this time there were no thoughts of singing them for anyone. They were sung for God early each morning! A big fire was lit in my heart and it’s still with me now. It sings Glory to God! I have a Savior. I’m not alone. Jesus is always here. He’s Here, Making Room, Today, Forever I Will, and The Road were some of the first songs I wrote. I guess it all makes sense now. I’m on "the Road to Heaven" and have an invitation for anyone that will listen. Find a quiet place and listen! The Lord then told me to surround myself with good friends. So I went to the person I most admired. You know how this works. He was the guy everyone talked about being the best influence on the students at our college. I knew he built the Chi Alpha Christian fraternity house, and that he went to a church near the college. I decided to visit his church and the next thing I knew I was playing guitar and singing with the praise team. I really am thankful for Todd. He has been a blessing to me and my family. I could write so much about what the Lord has done for me. To save you reading time and my fingers pain, I will shorten this. I moved back to Commerce, Texas and met my wife. She is amazing. A Gift for Life ! I coached basketball at Texas A&M Commerce for three years. During this time I was still writing music and reading the Bible. In 2003 the strangest thing happened. I stopped coaching. I didn’t have a clue what to do with myself, but God did. We moved to Mansfield where we joined FUMC. It was there that I met the talented musicians you now know as Magnolia Rose Band. I do my best to keep up with them, and I am honored to be their friend. My hope is that we continue to spread the good news that Jesus came to give us life, and that God’s grace is for everyone who says “ I Believe ”. I hope you enjoy the CD. I never thought these songs would be recorded, but this is just the beginning. Right?
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