Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Austin.
Christopher, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I never met my father face to face. Today, I’m raising four sons of my own. I often say God must have a sense of humor—but being their father has become one of the greatest privileges of my life.
My story began in Los Angeles, California, where my mother raised three boys on her own. I’m the oldest. She carried a tremendous responsibility, and she did a phenomenal job. She taught me how to pray, how to work, and how to give—even when we didn’t have much.
My mother couldn’t show me manhood through a father’s example, but she raised me in the ways of the Lord. That foundation gave me something I still lean on today.
One of my younger brothers died at a young age. Losing him changed me in ways that are difficult to put into words. Grief became part of my story early, and his absence remains part of it. My faith hasn’t erased that loss, but it has helped me keep moving forward.
Music has been woven into my life since childhood. I sang in the children’s choir and started playing drums at three years old. Over time, that love grew into singing, songwriting, and playing piano. Today, I produce music for independent artists and have created a platform called The Living Room, where we support independent music and give artists space to share their songs and stories.
I know what it means to need someone to believe in you. Through music and The Living Room, I want to help create that opportunity for someone else.
In 2006, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where I met my wife. We’re approaching fourteen years of marriage and share four sons. The boy who grew up without his father is now learning, every day, how to be present for his own children.
I don’t have every answer. Marriage, fatherhood, loss, and pursuing a creative calling have all challenged me. But by God’s grace, I’m still here, still in my right mind, still growing with my family, and accomplishing things I once thought were beyond my reach.
That’s why I want to share my story. Someone who grew up without a father, or who has suffered a loss that changed everything, may need to hear that their future still holds possibility. You can grieve, grow, build a family, and become who God created you to be.
When I look at my four boys, I think about the prayers my mother taught me to pray. Those prayers have followed me from Los Angeles to Nashville—and into a life I couldn’t have imagined as a child.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Growing up without ever meeting my father face to face left me with questions about identity and what it meant to be a man. My mother did a phenomenal job raising three boys and gave us a strong foundation in faith, but there were still things I had to work through as I grew older.
Losing one of my younger brothers at a young age was one of the hardest things I’ve experienced. That loss changed me in many ways. Grief is something you carry, even as you continue growing and building your life.
Becoming a husband and a father to four sons has brought its own challenges. I’ve had to learn how to be present, lead my family, and give my boys a father’s example while working through the absence of my own. I’m still learning.
Pursuing music while raising a family has also stretched me. Being a singer, songwriter, producer, and building The Living Room takes time, energy, and perseverance. Balancing those dreams with my responsibilities hasn’t always been easy.
Through it all, God’s grace has sustained me. My mother taught me to pray, work, and give, and those lessons still guide me. I want my story to show people that growing up without a father or experiencing great loss doesn’t mean you can’t become who God created you to be. I’ve faced challenges, but I’m still growing with my family and doing things I once thought I never could.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I wear a few hats, but they all connect through my faith, my love for people, and my desire to help others grow.
I’m a singer, songwriter, and producer who works with independent artists to bring their music and vision to life. Music has been part of my story since I started playing drums at three years old. Today, I also serve as the music director at the church I attend, helping lead our musicians as we serve through worship.
I created The Living Room as a space for independent artists to share their music and their stories. I want artists to feel supported and give people an opportunity to connect with the person behind the songs.
Beyond music, I work at a nonprofit where we mentor youth. That work is personal to me. Growing up without my father and experiencing the loss of my younger brother shaped how I connect with young people. I want them to know they matter, that their circumstances don’t determine their future, and that God has a purpose for their lives.
With everything I do, I hope I’m known first as a follower of Christ, a faithful husband, and a present father. I’m most proud of the family my wife and I are building together. Raising four sons when I grew up without a father’s example is both a tremendous responsibility and one of my greatest blessings.
What sets me apart is the life experience I bring to my work. Whether I’m producing a song, leading musicians, or mentoring a young person, I bring the lessons my mother taught me: pray, work, and give. I want whatever gifts God has given me to help someone else find their voice, recognize their value, and take a step toward who they were created to be.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love Southern hospitality, but dislike folks driving ability.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eranashville.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisaustin_mylife?rpxt=NHAxb2Q2NTRlbW9s&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CT1J9G1y8/?mibextid=wwXIfr
