With music by Lex de Azevedo and book and lyrics by Doug Stewart, it is based on the idea that we existed before we were born into this life, that we had relationships with, and maybe even made promises to, those we would be sharing our earthly journey with. Saturday’s Warrior is also the age old story of the prodigal son who struggles with his faith as he faces peer pressure and the social issues of the day.
When Lex de Azevedo wrote the iconic chords that have become immediately and emotionally recognizable to fans around the world, he had no idea the impact that they and Saturday’s Warrior would have. The story and the songs gave voice to, and filled a need for, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In the 60’s and 70’s rock music had become the pulpit of a generation and that pulpit was preaching values that were opposed to what the LDS church believed. Saturday’s Warrior was the first time that LDS people saw their culture represented through the medium of popular music and it was an immediate phenomenon. The original cast played to sold out houses night after night, year after year – in Phoenix, more tickets were sold to Saturday’s Warrior in two hours than were sold to Elton John in two weeks.
It is the audiences and fans that made Saturday’s Warrior the sensation it became and they
have kept it alive for decades. Now, over 40 years later, the story that started it all is a major motion picture filled with not only the music, magic and memories of original play but the message that there’s more to life that just this life and that the ultimate freedom is knowing exactly who you are.
