Album Notes

Rudy was born in Southeastern Oklahoma the youngest of three children. His loving
parents, Robin and Betty Lacy, moved the family to Stillwater, Oklahoma when Robin
began his career at Oklahoma State University. Rudy's energetic and adventurous spirit
led him in many different directions. He has always been fearless and liked living on the
edge. He received his black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do and began riding motocross and bulls
as a teen, then joined the Army and served in Desert Storm. He's held various jobs too
numerous to mention searching for the one thing that would make him happy. So many
interests but nothing seemed to fill the need he had deep in his heart until he discovered
singing and playing music.

Coming from a musical family his interest in music was peaked at an early age. His father
played country music professionally for 35 years and he instilled the values that Rudy
continues to utilize in his music today. Rudy began singing and playing the country
music circuit in Oklahoma and Texas in 1996 and in 2000 decided to take the leap and
move to Nashville to pursue his dream. Once there, he quickly landed gigs at the
legendary Tootsies, Legends and other lower Broadway hot spots. Despite his success he
continued to have a void in his life. After years of pleading from his wife Rudy began
attending church with his family and was touched by the awesome music at the "Church
in the Glade." It was then that Rudy found what he had been searching for all these years.
He found the Lord and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. Everything changed after that
and Rudy realized that he should not be pursuing music in the country genre. Saddened,
but trying to be obedient to the Lord's will, he gave up his dream of being a country recording artist.

Rudy and his family moved back to Oklahoma and became grounded in a new church
named Good News Community Church. Rudy felt that God was urging him to continue
with his music, but now singing for the Lord. He quickly became the Praise and Worship
leader at the fast growing church and gave a country flavor to the contemporary Christian
music he had grown to love.

Many people were shocked by the observable changes they had seen in Rudy since he
returned from Nashville as a born again Christian. The person who was most shocked,
even disappointed, was Rudy's sister, Shelbi. She had always been his biggest supporter,
played keyboard in his country band and was instrumental in the marketing of "Rudy
Lacy". She wanted him to succeed in the country music business maybe even more than
Rudy wanted it for himself. Since returning to Oklahoma the two barely spoke for over a
year as Shelbi could not fathom Rudy giving up his music dream. It was during that time
that Shelbi couldn't deny the way the Lord had moved in Rudy's life and wrote one of the
songs on the album, the title track "This Side of Heaven". She began soul searching and praying like she
had never done before and the powerful lyrics and beautiful melody lines began to pour
out of her. The Lord began to heal Rudy and Shelbi's relationship and today it is stronger
than ever. They helped produce this project along with Lee Velasquez of Edmond,
Oklahoma and pray that these powerful songs will touch your life as much as they have
touched theirs. It has been spoken by several different people in their lives that if only
one person is won to Christ as a result of this album then it will all have been worth it.
"Music should come from the heart and when it does, it will indeed move people," a
family friend wrote in a recent letter to Rudy. Rudy's soulful portrayal of Shelbi's songs
will definitely move you... move you closer to our Heavenly Father. "Come near to God
and He will come near to you." James 4:8