(NASHVILLE, TENN.) -- SONSOFDAY is not your typical Christian band. The four-piece alternative rock group based out of Portland, Oregon, is unique, and their story reads more like a screenplay than a typical band bio. They immigrated from Ukraine to the United States in 1992 in pursuit of a better life and religious freedom, which Ukraine was only just beginning to experience after the fall of Communism.
The four Belonozhko brothers make up SONSOFDAY, the Red Hammer Records band now traveling the country to promote their debut album Fragile People, which is now in stores. The quartet is comprised of Vlad, age 21, on vocals and guitar; Roman, age 24, on lead guitar; Bogdan, age 19, on drums; and Scott, age 17, on bass.
It's not just the group's family ties or foreign homeland that makes them unique, but rather the powerful story behind their faith. The brothers are the third generation of Christians in the Belonozhko family, a faith that began with their grandfather, who served as a prison guard in a Ukrainian concentration camp for Christians.
“Our grandfather, Joseph, was an unbeliever when he was younger and actually worked for the KGB in a concentration camp for Christians.” explains Vlad. “Inside this camp was a store that supplied the needs of the camp, and some of the prisoners worked in the store. At one point the store had an employee quit, and they needed someone to fill in for that person and work in the store. My grandfather began searching through inmate records to find a prisoner who had experience working in a store. Eventually he discovered an elderly woman in the camp with such experience and she was made to go to work.”
According to Vlad, his grandfather had searched the woman upon her arrival to the camp and had taken her belongings and placed them in storage. One of the items confiscated was an old Bible. In the days and months that followed, the elderly lady repeatedly asked him if she could have her Bible back. But prisoners were not allowed to have religious materials, as that was their crime in the first place.
As time wore on, the lady became friends with the wife of Joseph, and from time to time the lady would encourage her to persuade her husband to let her have the Bible back. She assured them that the Bible did not have anything in it against the Soviet Union. Joseph read the bible to ensure that there was nothing against the Soviet government or Stalin, and eventually, conceded.
Joseph lived close to the camp and it was arranged for the elderly lady to be allowed to come to their house from time to time to help his wife with housework. Little by little, the lady began to share the Bible with his wife and tell her about Jesus. His wife became a believer in Christ because of what the lady shared with her as they worked around the house. She began encouraging Joseph to listen to what the lady had to say.
“When my grandfather listened to the story of Jesus, God touched him and softened his heart and he began to cry," explains Vlad. "He just felt so sorry for Jesus and all that he had to go through. My grandfather accepted Jesus into his heart on that day, and that’s where it all began for us as well.”
The Belonozhko brothers were born in Cherkasy, Ukraine, where their family worshiped Christ in the underground church. This was at a time before the collapse of the Soviet Union when Christianity was illegal. After the fall of Communism, it became easier for families to immigrate to the United States, and the Belonozhko family left for America, in pursuit of religious freedom and a better life.
Settling in Portland, the family became involved in starting a charismatic church for Russian-speaking people called the Christian Center in Spirit and in Truth. The Bible-based church was founded to serve as an alternative to the more legalistic Russian churches in that area.
The band was formed in 2005 by Roman, who only needed to look within his own home for the other elements of the band, as he had three brothers with the same talent and desire to reach young people for Christ through music. SONSOFDAY cites such musical influences as U2, Lifehouse and even Johnny Cash, of which Vlad explains, “I watched the movie 'Walk The Line' and I was so impressed with Johnny and all he had overcome. I enjoy his music, but his personal story and his testimony for Christ really inspired me.”
After a few years of writing songs, practicing and playing live, SONSOFDAY caught the attention of Darren Bowls at Red Hammer Records. In 2007, and with Bowls in the producer's chair, SONSOFDAY recorded their first full-length CD for Red Hammer Records titled Fragile People, which includes the singles "Reconcile" and "This Place," for which the music video has received extensive airplay on numerous Christian television networks.
When asked the question of what impressed him about SONSOFDAY, Bowls stated, "Obviously, I liked their sound. Their sound is very unique and identifiable. The other aspect of the band that impressed me was their resourcefulness and work ethic. This stems from their Russian heritage where nothing comes easy and everything is hard to find or acquire, but can be if you are clever enough!"
"SONSOFDAY has a great story to tell of a 'Cold War' finding of their Christian faith that an American cannot begin to relate to," adds Bowls. "In this country Americans are unresponsive to the gospel if it is told from the same perspective all the time. SONSOFDAY has a very different and real-world perspective of Christianity that is very intriguing. In America there is no sacrifice or cost for our Christian faith. My hope is that because of SONSOFDAY's family heritage and unique perspective of the Christian faith, the Gospel can be told through their story in a way that can not be ignored."
SONSOFDAY is just beginning a long journey down a road that will have its ups and downs. But they are commited to the long drives, lonely times away from friends and family, and financial shortfalls. "I guess that is what they call paying your dues," says Roman. " Ministry is what it is all about, and all that really matters!"
Fragile People was released on October 16, 2007, by Red Hammer Records and Infinity Music Distribution. The group has been on a non-stop promotional tour this month, including appearances on Good Morning Arkansas (ABC affiliate, Little Rock), The Morning Show (NBC affiliate, Tupelo), Live at 9 (CBS affiliate, Memphis), Bridges (Christian Television Network), deeperLiving (iLife-TV, Faith TV, NRB), plus stops at American Family Radio and even Elvis Presley's Graceland. Fragile People is available now at all Lifeway and Parable stores, and as part of an endcap promotion in December in all Family Christian Stores nationwide.
--October 29, 2007 by Nashville Publicity
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