Three Days Wait

Three Days Wait was formed with a specific purposes; to share the story of Christmas and the magic of the holiday season in a modern musical way and at the same time provide needed resources for several different charities. The band, based in Ohio was originally formed to produce and market a Christmas CD to help support children's charities. A portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the bands CD's go toward assisting food pantries, mission work and the medical needs of children. The members of Three Days Wait were assembled in 2004 by band leader and guitarist Jim Ledford after some encouragement from a parent of one of his elementary school students. In December of 2003 as he traditionally does, Jim invited his students and their parents to the Christmas program that he organizes every year. The programs are a mix of skits with actors and puppet characters as well as musical performances of high energy versions of traditional Christmas songs. Several months after attending the program, the parent, Chris Marth who was impressed by the refreshing “kicked up” traditional Christmas songs approached Jim with an idea; would he be interested in pulling together a band to produce a Christmas CD with that same high energy style, possibly include an original song and earmark some of the proceeds to assist children’s charities and missions? Before Chris could complete his question, Jim responded with an absolute “yes”. Armed with a label agreement with Instauration Records, an abundant supply of pent-up creative talent and musical ability the project quickly turned to an all original song CD. Jim and Nate Wagner the bands lead vocalist collaborated on all but one the songs. The song writing collaboration became a struggle to meet the labels timetable when Nate’s job took him to northeast Ohio, about 120 miles away. By some extraordinary commitment and divine intervention the group pulled together and made their November 2005 release. The lone song for the project that was not written by Jim and Nate was penned by Mark Ledford, the bands keyboardist and Jim’s brother. Mark and Jim Ledford have been playing music together since the early 70’s when their parents bought them their first instruments. From a garage band to full time summer ministry music groups they continued to enjoy forming bands and playing together. During the 80s they both graduated from College, Jim with a teaching degree and Mark a music degree. Jim went on to become an elementary teacher and Mark became a pastor. At that time, they played and recorded in a band called “No Compromise” that played Friday and Saturday night gigs in the Ohio area. Though they had a loyal regional following, jobs and expanding family responsibilities forced them to call it quits. With the departure of No Compromise the brothers needed a creative outlet and both became active in a worship band at the church that Mark is the Pastor. In 2002 Jim was part of a church plant that sent he and his family from Mark’s church. The newly formed “Three Days Wait” has reunited the brothers back into music and ministry together again.