Billing himself as "a one-man show," Theron Sandy has been singing and playing guitar for 33 years. Although he has performed country, bluegrass, and old-time rock, there is a special place in his heart for gospel music.

Theron Sandy began to lose his eyesight when he was 19 years old. Up to that time he had never considering following in his father's footsteps as a musician, even though he had had some basic guitar lessons from his father a few years previously.

"My daddy always wanted me to play music," he says, "and he had his own Sandy Brothers band, but I had never been interested in music as a way to earn a living until then."

Throughout his 33-year-long career, Sandy has chased success in the music business. He spent time in Nashville on several occasions and even played the famous entertainment spot, The Wild Horse Saloon.

In a camper, with a driver, he toured all over the Southeast, appearing in clubs in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida. Recently he has performed at Mint Juleps in Southern Pines.

Determined, he has kept pursuing his dream. His "big break" hasn't materialized, however, despite his receiving several unfulfilled promises of good recording contracts. In the face of all the disappointments, Sandy says, "I have continued to believe in the Lord."

Now he has the opportunity to record a gospel song -- the style of music he likes the best -- for David Bibey Ministries in Carthage. David Bibey, an evangelist and the pastor at the Crossroads Community Church in Carthage, has built a nationwide outreach through weekly programming on several television stations and networks.

Theron Sandy is scheduled to appear on Bibey's Sunday morning program at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, on Channel 22, accessible by Direct TV, Dish Network, cable and antenna systems, and on Channel 62 -- cable and antenna systems -- at 5 p.m. on the same day. In addition, Bibey has indicated that he has an interest in producing a full CD featuring eight of Sandy's gospel songs.

Bibey says what struck him most about Sandy was his sincerity as he sang the song he recently composed.

"The words, 'I Want Jesus In My Life' speak to our troubled world, and you know that his faith is genuine," says Bibey.

Sandy explains his gospel songs are all heaven-sent.

"I don't feel like I am writing them," he says. "The words and music come through me. I'm just the channel."

For example, Sandy tells the story of one such gospel song that he wrote while he was taking care of an old house for a friend one night. He started getting bits and pieces of the song going round and round in his head. He was restless and wandered from room to room and finally wound up in the front part of the house on a sofa. At that point, the song came together. Later he learned that previously the spot the sofa occupied had held the bed of the former owner, who lay dying of cancer. Just before he died, the man had said the exact same words which had come to Sandy for the opening line of his song.

Legally blind, Theron Sandy says he can barely make out shapes and forms.

"It's like walking around in a dense cloud all the time," he says. "But I can still sing and play the guitar, and I believe in miracles. Someday through faith and prayer, I will get my own miracle of sight."

Contact freelance writer Mary Elle Hunter at mhunter104@yahoo.com.