Striking hope's chord

Hope.

That's what Robyn Hosp had in mind when she began compiling songs for her latest CD.

The idea came to the Jackson woman in early September, after a friend's granddaughter suffered 100 brain injuries in an ATV accident.

Doctors said the 17-year-old would never be the same, if she lived at all.

On the way home from visiting the girl in the hospital, Hosp began writing her first song.

"I never felt the need to write music before. I think it takes something traumatic or a tremendous blessing to do that," she said.

The accident turned out to be both. A few weeks later, the teenager walked out of the hospital.

"The Lord really did give this to me. Kids are in accidents every day, and if we don't have hope, what is there?" Hosp said.

She named the CD "Believe" and chose songs intended to inspire hope in listeners.

She also named the song she wrote "Believe," but dubbed it "Rachel's Song" in parentheses as tribute to the teenager who prompted her to write it.

Hosp has been singing since she was a child, but it was in high school that she realized music was her calling, specifically Christian music.

She's made several CDs during her career and won a national singing contest. But through it all, Hosp said, her focus has been her family.

"Music is part of our life, but it's family that makes the music special," she said.

She started singing Christian music two decades ago, before the genre gained the popularity it sees today. "Believe" features not only Hosp's new song, but familiar tunes such as Barbra Streisand's arrangement of "Holy Ground."

Outside of family, Hosp says her work is mainly credited to her faith.

"This is nothing I've done. It's been the Lord all the way," Hosp said. "It's about getting the message out."

Her new CD is available in several local stores or by contacting Hosp.

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128