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Holy Spirit

Francesca Battistelli

Francesca Battistelli (born May 18, 1985) is an Italian-American Christian musician from New York City, New York. She was originally an independent artist and had released an independent album, Just a Breath, in 2004. Her first studio album on Fervent Records, My Paper Heart, was released on July 22, 2008. According to the Free To Be Me Songfacts, "Free To Be Me" was released as the second single from the album and it shattered records in becoming the most added song by a female artist in Christian radio history and holding the #1 slot for ten consecutive weeks. Battistelli received her first Grammy Award 2009 nomination for "Best Gospel Performance" for the single. Between the release of her debut album My Paper Heart and its follow-up Hundred More Years, Battistelli married Christian band percussionist Matthew Goodwin and gave birth to her first child, Matthew Elijah. According to the Hundred More Years songfacts Battistelli chose to title her sophomore record after the track "Hundred More Years" because the tune's subject matter of a couple falling in love and having their first child mimiced her own life. Hundred More Years was released on March 1, 2011. Francesca Battistelli is no stranger to the stage. Raised by parents immersed in the arts and Broadway, she developed a love of music, theatre, and performance at a young age. But instead of using these talents for applause and accolades, Francesca prefers to point people to something beyond herself --towards hope in Christ. Her soulful piano-pop sound resembles a blend of her music interests -- jazz, rock, gospel and R&B -- woven beautifully together with themes of trust and risk-taking. In a noisy world filled with sounds and images, we cry out for an authentic voice--one who is not afraid to speak truth and purpose to a generation. In singer/songwriter Francesca Battistelli, we have found that voice. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Undo

Rush Of Fools

Great stories tend to contain three acts that carry the narrative from start to finish. Ingredients such as a captivating plot, creative characters, a tension-filled conflict, and finally a proper resolution are all integral to the storyline as well. Our story, Act 1, begins after forming in 2005 when we began traveling as a simple worship band and writing songs together. Something that had started out as a hobby quickly expanded into a long-term mission and calling, which led us to record an album of songs in 2007. Shortly thereafter, we started hearing our song Undo on radio stations everywhere. Quickly, our very part-time career evolved into a full national touring schedule right before our eyes. Act 2: After Undo, we found ourselves with opportunities we never could have imagined. What would follow over the next several years not only makes for a great plot twist to a seemingly valiant story, but also would truly be some of the most difficult years of our lives, both personally and professionally. From losing label deals to loved ones, what had started as a storybook beginning soon began to feel like what could be the harrowing final chapter. There were days where we honestly didn’t know how God would carry us forward and in those times it’s easy to just want to lay the dream down and move on. But over time we experienced years of great favor from God and saw His Kingdom continue to build even when we ourselves felt as if we were in complete chaos and calamity. Through it all, we learned to trust more in His sovereignty, believing that this was the plan, unfolding as He saw fit. Act 3: For most artists and especially songwriters, it’s during the hard seasons when some of the most hopeful and encouraging songs are born. As a band, we began writing new songs, reflecting the journeys we had recently experienced, and it felt as if we were starting all over again, in an amazing way. We partnered with a new record label (Essential Records) to help us carry these new songs to the world. Now, we feel we are at the beginning of not just a new season, but also a new outlook. We now know, more than ever, that God carried us then, and God will carry us now, which is the title of the new album. The songs on Carry Us Now illustrate our journey through the seasons of mourning and celebration. Our first single, Held In Your Hands, reveals our hearts when we sing, “I know, Jesus, I can trust You, I know in all things You are good”. It reminds us of the providence of God and how in every walk of life, and through every passing hour, the hand of God is at work. The song Your Will Be Done, which simply cries out, “Lord, don’t delay, come have Your way, my hope is You,” has been a serious prayer for us over the last year, even though we can all admit it’s hard to actually pray those words when you’re in the middle of stress and turmoil. Another song that has been a source of hope for us is Take Me Over which contains lines like, “…come flood the fallow ground, come now and make it beautiful…let it rain down on me…there’s love like an ocean…take me over”. As we travel and hear others’ stories, we find that some people are in a desert place and their prayer is simply for God to flood their life with hope so they can grow and feel alive again. It’s through that hope that we are reminded that we’re victorious and redeemed. Our song, Power In The Blood, celebrates that victory and reminds us that, “There’s power to save, there’s power to heal, power that gives us strength to stand, power to cleanse and redeem, in the precious blood of the Lamb.” It’s this redemption that empowers and encourages us to continue as a band. Our story isn’t over; it will continue to be molded and shaped. As we look forward, we remember this lyric: “…all our yesterdays and all of our tomorrows are held in Your hands”. We’ve experienced it firsthand. It's Jesus that carries us, and becomes the Hero of our story. The hands of Jesus that carried the cross to His death are the very hands that carry us now. And that’s the story we live to tell. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Risen Today

Aaron Shust

Aaron Shust grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied music theory at Toccoa Falls College in Georgia. While there he studied Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Sebastian Bach. He also became influenced by U2 and Bob Marley. He began performing at churches and coffeehouses while at college. Shust began leading worship at Perimeter Church, Duluth, Georgia in 2000 and recorded his album, Anything Worth Saying in 2004 with producer Dan Hannon who delivered the album along with a stack of others along to Brash Music for consideration. Brash Music signed Shust shortly thereafter. His second single "My Savior My God" was released January 20, 2006. The song was played on Christian radio stations around Christmas 2005. The song was listed at #19 on Radio and Records chart three weeks before the single was officially released to radio. The song was awarded Song of the Year at the 2007 Annual GMA Dove Awards in Nashville. Anything Worth Saying was the 5th best-selling "Praise and Worship" album of 2006, according to the Nielsen Soundscan report for 2006. Shust's second studio album, Whispered and Shouted, was released on June 5, 2007, and sold 5,000 copies its first week of release. In 2009, Shust's third album, Take Over, was released, including the Christian radio hit "To God Alone".On October 21, he released a Christmas EP. In 2011, Shust's fourth album, This Is What We Believe, will be released. The album is produced by Ed Cash. His official website is http://www.aaronshust.com/. Band Members: Aaron Shust - Acoustic Guitar Ryan Van Kirk - Acoustic Guitar/ Keyboard/ Percussion Brian Duffy - Bass Guitar Elliott Moon - Drums Jeff Scordino - Drums Matt Adkins - Electric Guitar James Hudson - Electric Guitar Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Fear Is a Liar

Zach Williams

Zach Williams comes from Georgia and his music comes from childhood bike rides down steep hills, the valleys of real tragedy, the rivers of hope pushing you on, sincere prayers, wind chimes on a back porch where grandfathers rock in silence, the back of cereal boxes on Saturday mornings, rust and shadows in an old barn, wet pavement after rain in the city, a string full of caught fish, the advice of generations before, the way love will surprise you in someone you’ve known for years, a bullheaded grip on lifelong friendship, and the offering of an open hand. Zach was a late bloomer as songwriters go and didn’t perform his first song publicly till near the end of college. That was in West Palm Beach in 2004 and the reception to this new artist was as warm as a south Florida summer night. The music and Zach have been growing ever since. His first band developed quite a loyal following in West Palm, recorded their first self-titled album, and hit the road for a short tour of the southeast. The pull of being at different stages in life led the original band to part ways in Florida, but Zach carried the music and the spirit with him. It was the beginning of something. Zach began to pull from the corners of his life, to weave fact and fiction, to pound out melodies from the backs of memories, and as life took him north he chose to root the expression of his music in the south that had formed him, the faith that sustains him, and his friends. He stumbled upon a sound that is both soulful and penetrating. Zach currently resides with his wife Stacy in Brooklyn and would tell you that his music represents the communities he has had the privilege to pass through, experience, and the ones he is still holding on to. His voice carries layers of Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, and Adam Duritz. The blend is refreshing and above all honest. Zach has formed a new band since arriving in New York. The band’s Americana folk sound drifts towards all out rock n roll at moments and Zach performs as if he is strapped to the front of a freight train. Zach and the band’s crowning achievement thus far is crafting a live show that is both approachable and yet coursing with adrenaline. You can dance to it too. It leaves you feeling like you have spent the evening hearing the stories of your close friends. Zach brings and open and collaborative spirit to the music he makes. He invites listeners to come in and live for a while in his songs, to take what you can and leave what you will. His music is not complete without the people who shape it, the people who are shaped by it, and God who holds it all together. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

You Are My King

Newsboys

The Newsboys are a Christian pop/rock band formed in 1987 in Mooloolaba, Australia (although they soon relocated to Nashville, Tennessee). Its core members, John James and Peter Furler, originally hailed from Australia where they played in a band together called The News. Newsboys are considered one of the most popular bands in the Christian music industry. They have had numerous hit singles on the Christian pop charts, including Shine (1994), Take Me To Your Leader (1996) and He Reigns (2003). In 2000, they helped start and headlined the annual, travelling CCM festival Festival Con Dios with Audio Adrenaline and The O.C. Supertones. It was known for featuring popular Christian bands and its motorcross stunts. Steve Taylor has produced many of their hit albums, and several of the songs he has worked on with the band (such as Breakfast, Take Me To Your Leader) feature Taylor's humor and quaint lyrics. During the Step Up To The Microphone tour, the band featured the drums on a rotating platform that could tilt downward up to 90 degrees. In fact, there were two sets of drums and Peter Furler (the original drummer) and Duncan Phillips would wear seat belts, so they wouldn't fall out, and have a rotating drum-off. This feature is still used on their tours and has grown to be quite popular. In 2003, Jody Davis left the band to care for his sick daughter, Bethany. His replacement, Bryan Olesen, left in 2006 to work on his own band, Casting Pearls. The band announced in January 2007 that Paul Colman would be replacing Bryan. The Newsboys released their new album, Go, on October 31st, featuring songs such as their hit single I Am Free, along with new singles Wherever We Go, and Something Beautiful. In March 2007, a collection of remixes from the Go was released as Go Remixed. On December 31st 2006, bass player Phil Joel departed from the band to devote more time to family and personal goals. In January 2009, the band announced that guitarist Jody Davis would return, replacing Paul Colman. Colman continues to pursue his solo career. In March, 2009, it was announced that Peter Furler will be leaving the band to pursue other interests and will be replaced by Michael Tait, former member of dc talk and founding member of Tait. However, it was also announced that Furler will remain with the Newsboys in a production/advisory role, and may occasionally return to the stage with them for special events and will still be on the albums. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Your Love

Brandon Heath

Brandon Heath's music possesses a pop/rock sound with inspiring Christian based messages. His music is influenced by his hometown of Nashville, TN. Most of the music that inspires him today is made by Nashville musicians like Ryan Adams, Josh Rouse and Matt Wertz. Brandon Heath currently perfoms around America ministering through his music. He began playing guitar and writing songs at the young age of 13. At that age it was thoughtful songwriters like Sting, Shawn Colvin and David Wilcox who inspired him the most. Later on in his life he started hanging around/perfoming at the Bluebird Cafe (The legendary Nashville hotspot), where he eventually was signed. Give Me Your Eyes was one of the most successful Christian songs of 2008 and its success continued into 2009. The tune won the Song of the Year and Best Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song at the 2009 Dove Awards. It spent 14 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot Christian AC radio chart, and 27 weeks at the summit of the iTunes Christian Song Chart. Speaking with Songfacts about the song in a 2011 interview Heath said he never foresaw the song's success: "I remember the day that we wrote it, and I had a good feeling about it," he said, "Sometimes when you write, you think, yeah, I can see this working at radio, or I can see this really sticking in people's heads. But the fact that there were sermons written after it, people went on missions trips. And as far as I know, I think it's the first song in the history of my record label to go gold, as far as a single. That's way, way beyond my expectations for that song. But it's been great." After the release of his most commercially successful song, Heath went on to produce three additional full length studio albums through Provident Label Group. Leaving Eden, released in 2011, hosted "Your Love", and the album and single received three Grammy awards. In October of 2012, Blue Mountain was released and most recently No Turning Back was circulated in 2015. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Resurrection Power

Chris Tomlin

Christopher Dwayne Tomlin (born May 4, 1972) is a Christian worship leader/CCM artist originally from Grand Saline, Texas. In 1999, Tomlin rose to recognition joined on board as a worship leader for Atlanta pastor Louie Giglio’s annual Passion Conferences, along with other worship leaders such as Matt Redman, Charlie Hall, and eventually with Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, and the David Crowder Band (now Crowder). Tomlin was soon signed to Sparrow Records and EMI's sixstepsrecords[/labe] where he began releasing his worship albums. In 2008, after five solo album releases, and nine with Passion, Tomlin made the move from Texas to Atlanta to be a worship leader for Giglio’s new church, Passion City Church, with its first service being held in February of 2009. Tomlin has since released four solo worship albums, two Christmas albums, and one live album. In 2013, Tomlin’s seventh album Burning Light debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart, becoming only the fourth album by a Christian artist to top that chart, along with Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace) by Bob Carlisle, You Light Up My Life by LeeAnn Rimes, both in 1997, and TobyMac's Eye On It in 2012. Tomlin has recorded some of the most famous songs ever in Christian music, such as How Great Is Our God, Holy Is The Lord, Our God, and Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) Throughout his successful career, Tomlin has won 22 GMA Dove Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, and a Grammy. Chris Tomlin’s discography: The Noise We Make (2001)Not To Us (2002)Arriving (2004)Live From Austin Music Hall (2005)See The Morning (2006)Hello Love (2008)Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship (2009) And If Our God Is For Us… (2010)How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection (2011)Burning Lights (2013) Love Ran Red (2014)Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship (2015) Never Lose Sight (2016) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

We Are

Kari Jobe

Kari is a young talented praise and worship leader from the Dallas, Texas area. Her music style would be described best as "post-contemporary praise and worship". She has what's been described as the "voice the lost generation can hear" - for example, in the Revelation Song. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Walk On The Water

Britt Nicole

Brittany Nicole Waddell, better known by her stage name as Britt Nicole is a Christian pop artist. Waddell began singing at the age of three in her home church, Truth Temple of (Kannapolis, North Carolina). She, along with her brother and cousin, eventually became involved with the church's daily program on Charlotte TV station WAXN. Waddell turned down a scholarship from Belmont University in Nashville Tennessee to pursue a full-time music career, she felt that God called her to not go to college but to concentrate on music instead In 2004 she signed a management deal with Vertical Entertainment and then signed a development - dealing with Word Records Sparrow Records signed her in 2006 and her first album Say It was released May 22, 2007 Britt Nicole was committed to the Winter Jam Tour with Sanctus Real, Hawk Nelson Jeremy Camp and Steven Curtis Chapman Newsong [1] A native of Salisbury, NC, Britt has always had a heart for reaching people and has long used music as the vehicle to change lives. She began singing in church at age three and by the time she was in high school, was appearing on her church’s daily television program and logged a performance at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall with her school’s advanced chorus. Those early pursuits paved the way for her to sign with Sparrow Records in 2006. She burst on the charts a year later with her label debut, “Say It,” a finely crafted pop collection that introduced us to her engaging voice and thought-provoking lyrics. It earned her a slot on the Winter Jam tour that year with Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp, NewSong and Hawk Nelson where she developed a reputation as a compelling live performer. It was a whirlwind existence that found her looking to meet the needs of those around her—whether it was a girl in a youth group who needed someone to pray with or a parent seeking advice on their troubled teen. Her servant’s heart and earnest desire to fill others up soon left Britt herself feeling empty. It all caught up with her at an Alabama youth conference called The Ramp. “I went with my youth group as a youth leader to support and pray for them, but near the end of the event, I was kind of worn out and I began saying ‘Okay God, I just really need You to come and do something in my life,’” Britt recalls. She got her answer as she was driving back to Nashville. “I just felt different. I felt like the old me was gone and God had started to show me who I really was and what I was called to do,” Britt says. “As I was driving home from the conference, everywhere I would stop, whether at a gas station or a restaurant, God was challenging me to step out and tell people about Him and His love for them. There are so many hurting and broken people around us each day and God was showing me the importance of reaching out to them just as He would. In the past, I have often let the fear of people and their opinions stop me from being who I am. At the core though, I know who I am and who God has called me to be. In letting go of my past, I was able to move forward, and instead of focusing on all my mistakes and failures, I started focusing on those around me. That’s ultimately why I’m here, to worship God and to reach those who need to know Him.” After that experience, she wrote songs for the new album that included “The Lost Get Found,” “Walk on the Water,” and “Safe.” Britt continues to explain that, “They all have a similar message of having the courage to step out in faith and walk in what God has called you to do even when it’s scary. I don’t want to be selfish anymore. I don’t want to be safe anymore. When God tells me to step out and talk to somebody or believe for what seems impossible, I want to do it.” The new album combines compelling lyrics with catchy pop songs that linger in your head such as the funky “How We Roll” and the infectious groove of “Headphones.” “When I write songs, I often write to specific people,” she reveals. “The first verse of ‘Headphones’ was written to a girl that I know. She’s in middle school dealing with the pressure of fitting in. I wanted to remind her that she does not have to look or be like anyone else because God loves her and made her just the way she is. Sometimes it is hard to stand out and sometimes you feel alone when you do, but I know she is being a light to so many and that’s what matters.” “Feel the Light” is another song that was written for a specific friend of hers who had faced several difficult things as a child. “She was hiding all of her pain and had never told anyone what she was going through,” shares Britt. “Sometimes it’s easier to hide our fears, our struggles, and things that have happened to us in our past rather than talk about them. A lot of kids I meet feel they have no one to talk to who will understand, but God promises us that when we bring everything into His light, He will heal us and we will be free.” One of her favorite lines in the song is “you’re a queen, but you’ve never known it.” She explains that, “The important thing to remember is that your past does not define who you are. We all go through hard things, but it is our choice to decide how we deal with them. The song simply says, ‘Let go and feel the light.’” One of the most personal songs on the new record is “Have Your Way”. “I was thinking about my brother when I wrote the song, but when I sang it in the studio, it somehow hit even closer to home,” says Britt. “I was also reminded of Job in the Bible when I wrote the lyrics. He went through so many things and everything was taken from him, but at the end of it all, he still fell to his knees and worshiped God and never turned his back on Him. He just said, ‘God have Your way, whatever You want.’ I want to be like that.” Through Britt’s achingly vulnerable vocals, you can sense the more personal nature of the song as she sings, “you never said the road would be easy, but you said you would never leave.” “The night I sang it in the studio, I sang it laying down,” says Britt. “I’ve never sung a vocal like that. I always sing standing up in a vocal booth, which makes it feel more like a performance. When I’m praying or just spending time with God, I’m usually on the floor so it just naturally felt more like I was singing to God.” In listening to Britt Nicole’s music, it’s obvious she possesses wisdom beyond her years and a spiritual maturity not often seen in one so young. Yet she’s very much the playful girl next door and those equally intriguing sides of her personality merge seamlessly on “The Lost Get Found.” “My fans want a pop record,” she says wistfully. “I’m a pop artist and they love fun music. When they come to my concerts, they want to have fun and I love that. That’s in my personality to have fun, but the heart of who I am is to worship and to see people’s lives changed and to reach those who are hurting. It’s what I believe God has called me to do.” Salisbury, North Carolina, United States2007 Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

O Come to the Altar

Elevation Worship

Elevation exists "so that people far from God will be filled with life in Christ." That's the vision that was planted in the heart of Pastor Steven Furtick at the age of 16. In 2005, God assembled a group of families around Pastor Furtick to begin seeing this vision come to life. In February of 2006, Elevation Church launched its first worship experience. Two and a half short years later Elevation Church is meeting in multiple locations with a weekly attendance that has topped 4,000. Through God's favor and a relentless pursuit of His vision we have watched over 2,000 people profess faith in Jesus Christ during our second year of ministry. Commitment to the vision of life transformation is what drives every corner of this ministry. These songs were birthed from the heart of this movement. Our hope is that through these songs, you'll experience a glimpse of this revolutionary move of God. The band released three independent studio albums before they signed with Essential Records in 2011. For the Honor, their debut album on a major label, was released on November 21, 2011 which saw chart success on Billboard charts, including No. 1 on Heatseekers, No. 19 on the Christian Albums, and the Billboard 200 at No. 193. "Nothing Is Wasted" was released on February 19, 2013 on Essential, also seeing chart success – No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart and at No. 41 on the Billboard 200.[1][5] Only King Forever, their third album on Essential, was released January 14, 2014, debuting at their highest charting position, No. 23 on the Billboard 200. This album was recorded live in Charlotte in 2013. Elevation Worship's fourth album, Wake Up the Wonder, was recorded live on August 1, 2014 at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was released on November 25, 2014. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

I Surrender All

Jadon Lavik

Too much of the same thing gets old, and yet too much originality begins to feel indulgent. Balance is refreshing. In Art and Soul, Jadon Lavik delivers just that. With masterful equilibrium, this Washington State native settles in to his fifth studio release with maturity and poise. An accomplished singer songwriter, with two Top 10 AC Hits (“What If” and “Come Thou Fount”), three 1’s at Inspirational Radio (“Father”, “What If”, and “Come Thou Fount”) 3 “Dove Award” nominations, an ASCAP songwriter award, among other accolades, Lavik set out to create a different kind of record in Art and Soul. “I think the album title speaks well as to where I find myself as an artist: Balancing my music between the Christian music world and the Church. The truth is, I have a heart for both, appreciate both, and recognize that I value and enjoy both”, Lavik explains Resounding worship anthems like Mighty God and Done Great Things remind listeners of the grandeur and faithfulness of our limitless and loving God. While other tunes seem to almost be drenched in the frailty of what it means to be human. In the optimistically melancholy Surrender, for example, Lavik sings, “Helpless is right where you want me, and helpless is where I am free.” It’s in this middle ground of our humanness and the God’s matchless glory that Art and Soul finds its home. Consistent with Lavik’s seminary background, a refreshing theological proficiency is woven throughout the album making each listen thoroughly edifying. Camping consistently on God’s limitless power and His ability to mend our brokenness, Art and Soul is sure to lift any listener to a place of joy and right perspective on life. Each song in the 1 Corinthians 13 trilogy: Faith, Hope, and Love present timeless truth on the three attributes indispensable for living effectively in God’s Kingdom. The album’s first radio single Shine offers an infectious melody, top notch production, and beautiful guitar tones which contribute to the compelling message of our ever constant need to be a light for Jesus in this world. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Trust In Jesus

Third Day

Well-crafted southern rock with substance. Third Day's music mixes faith with the pure energy of rock n' roll to give fans a non-watered down way to express their belief. Members: Mac Powell (vocals/guitar) , Mark Lee (guitar), Tai Anderson (bass) and David Carr (drums). Early years Third Day began in 1991, when singer Mac Powell and guitarist Mark Lee finished studying at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia. They had already played together in a garage band called Nuclear Hoedown, but now wanted to form a band where they could express their faith in God. Powell and Lee added a keyboard player named Billy Wilkins, and dedicated their time to write songs and perform around the state of Georgia.[1] In 1992, they were playing at Lee's church the same night that drummer David Carr and bassist Tai Anderson were playing with a band called Bullard Family Singers. Their youth director asked the band to perform at their church. The group took along quickly and were invited to join the band.[2] The album that Carr produced would be released the next year under the title Long Time Forgotten. In 1993, while dealing with their studies, the band started playing more aggressively around Atlanta and saved $3,000 to record a full-length album. Also, during this time, original member, Billy Wilkins, who was working as a school teacher, ended up leaving the band.[3] Still, Third Day continued to work on their first full-length album, recording at Furies Studios in Atlanta. The album was finally released in 1994 with 2,000 copies available.[4] In 1995, the band started looking for a second guitarist. They had heard Brad Avery play with singer Chris Carder and asked him to play with the band. After playing "Consuming Fire" during their first rehearsal, Avery officially joined the band. As the band completed its line-up, they also started playing steadily around the South-east area. They also started playing at an Atlanta venue called the Strand Theatre. The management of the local decided to sign the band to a new independent record label called Gray Dot Records. That same year, the band released the album Third Day, which ended up selling 20,000 copies. Shortly after, Reunion Records signed the band to a multi-album deal.[5] International Success In 1998, the band started working on their next project titled Time under the production of Monroe James. They had compiled around 30 songs to choose from during the last year, and ended up choosing only ten. The album was also nominated for a Grammy and won another Dove Award for the band. Some of the other songs the band recorded, but were left out can be found in the EP Southern Tracks.[8] Also, during the band's live shows, the worship part was becoming more "powerful", which prompted them to release an album exclusively of worship songs, titled Offerings: A Worship Album. The album was recorded in about a week, and they followed it with a tour alongside Jennifer Knapp. They also collaborated in the project called City on a Hill: Songs of Worship and Praise.[9] In 2001, the band played in Australia and New Zealand on the heels of the success of the Offerings album. They continued to tour in the States, and recorded one of their concerts in Atlanta to be released as their first DVD, The Offerings Experience. The concert was held at the Hi-Fi Buys Ampitheatre with an attendance of close to 15,000 people. That same year, the band won a total of five Dove Awards as well as their first Grammy. They followed that year with the release of Come Together which ended up winning two Dove Awards and one more Grammy. The album was certified gold the next year, along with Time.[10][11] In 2003, they also released a follow-up to their hit Offerings titled Offerings II: All I Have to Give. The band appeared in the 2002 film "Joshua", the movie version of the Joseph Girzone novel of the same name. The Third Day song "My Hope is You" was included in the Joshua soundtrack album. Recent Years In 2004, the band released their next album, Wire, and toured the States with tobyMac and Warren Barfield. In June of the same year, the band traveled to Europe for a two-week tour. Upon returning, the band recorded a concert at Louisville which ended up as their next project, Live Wire, released later that year. During that year, they also collaborated on the soundtrack for Mel Gibson's film, The Passion of the Christ, they played at the Republican National Convention, and were featured in the show 60 Minutes.[12] In January 2007, the band played one night each in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney, Australia.[13] Their next album, Wherever You Are, debuted on the Billboard 200 at #8.[14] It also won the band their third Grammy. They have followed it with the holiday album, Christmas Offerings in 2006, and with a compilation of their hits titled Chronology in 2007. On February 28th, 2008, Third Day released a statement announcing Brad Avery's departure from the band after 13 years and over 1000 concerts. Their best album to date entitled Revelation was released July 29, 2008. Third Day released Miracle on November 6, 2012. The band toured Miracle on the Miracle Tour with artists Colton Dixon and Josh Wilson as their opening acts, commencing on February 21, 2013 in Fairfax, Virginia and concluding on May 19, 2014 in Orlando, Florida. Third Day released the worship album Lead Us Back: Songs of Worship on March 3, 2015. The album, produced by the duo The Sound Kids, composed of Jonny Macintosh and JT Daly, peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard 200, No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart, No. 5 on the Top Rock Albums chart[27] and No. 13 on the Digital Albums chart. The album has had one single, "Soul on Fire", that spent 19 weeks on the Billboard charts, peaking at No. 2 on Hot Christian Songs and No. 3 on Christian Digital Songs. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Control (Somehow You Want Me)

Tenth Avenue North

With its first two albums Tenth Avenue North managed to fuse truth and music in a potent blend that left listeners engaged, entertained and inspired. The band does so yet again on its third Reunion Records album The Struggle, a 12-song collection that explores the themes of grace, forgiveness and redemption through thought-provoking lyrics anchored in an adventurous sonic landscape. The band’s recent history is pretty impressive. Since its 2008 debut album, Over and Underneath, Tenth Avenue North has become one of Christian music industry’s most successful acts, saturating Christian radio with such memorable songs as “Love is Here,” “Hold My Heart,” and “By Your Side,” a number one single that was Billboard magazine’s No. 3 overall Christian song for the decade. They won New Artist of the Year in 2009 at the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards and in 2010 “By Your Side” was named Song of the Year. The band’s 2010 sophomore album, The Light Meets the Dark, debuted at No. 1 on the Nielsen Christian SoundScan chart and No. 15 on the Billboard 200. The album hit the No.1 Christian Album chart position at both iTunes and AmazonMP3, reaching Top 5 on iTunes’ Overall chart, propelled by the lead single, “Healing Begins.” The compelling ballad “You Are More” was 2011’s No. 1 Song of the Year on Billboard’s Christian Audience Chart. As the band approached its third album, it would have been easy to take an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude, but the word complacency is not in its vocabulary. Band members Mike Donehey (lead vocals), Jeff Owen (guitars), Jason Jamison (drums), Ruben Juarez (bass) and Brendon Shirley (keyboard) took a totally different approach in how they wrote and recorded The Struggle. Instead of waiting until they got home to Nashville to begin recording demos, the songs were written and demoed on the road while the band was on tour. “We wrote ‘Don’t Stop The Madness’ in January of 2011,” Owen says of the confessional anthem. “That’s when we first started writing as a band and we were recording demos as we were writing. On the last two records, Mike would write most of the songs with Jason, or on his own. He would show up and the song would have lyrics and melody and acoustic guitar, and then we’d take that and make it our own. We’d put a beat to it and shake it, but this time we started basically from scratch.” Recording on the road led to some interesting sessions. “When we recorded, ‘Where Life Will Never Die,’ there was an amp in our bathroom,” Jamison says with a smile. “Sometimes there were things on the demo that we couldn’t replicate in the studio,” Donehey adds, “so we ended up finding the files from the demo and putting them on it. We recorded drums in the front of the bus at one time. They sounded amazing.” The Struggle is also the first album to include the two newest members of Tenth Avenue North-- Ruben Juarez and Brendon Shirley. “Ruben and Brendon are more technically knowledgeable than Jason, Jeff and I are,” says Donehey. “They really added to the musical structure of these songs. Plus, we all get along so well creatively, I couldn’t see doing this record without them.” In an innovative twist, Tenth Avenue North invited fans to be part of the creative process and invited them to sing on the record. “It started on the Third Day tour,” Owen says of the trek last fall. “We sent out Twitter and Facebook [messages] to our fans and said, ‘Hey, come sing on our record.’ We have people from Nebraska singing with people from Fargo and Albuquerque.” In various cities on the tour, the band would invite fans to show up and then they’d record their voices to add to different songs on the album. “It’s cool,” Donehey says. “These are the people that support us and listen to this music. It is music that affects their lives and now they are actually a part of it.” Working again with producer Jason Ingram (six-time winner of SESAC’s Christian Songwriter of the Year award), the members of Tenth Avenue North have crafted a sonically diverse record that mirrors the passion and intensity of its live show. “We got a lot of comments over the past several years about how our live show is much different than our recorded music,” says Donehey. “It has more energy and more of a rock edge to it. We try to be more musical and create different moments, so I think going into this we wanted to make sure we were aware of our live show and how these songs were going to play out live.” As always, the band was ever mindful of the power of its songs and the messages in its lyrics. Though the word “struggle” tends to evoke thoughts of challenge and strife, leave it to Tenth Avenue North to illuminate the possibilities and show that struggle is ultimately a privilege. “Hallelujah! We are free to struggle. We’re not struggling to be free,” Donehey sings in the title track. “We want to give people permission to struggle, to realize that there’s grace and you don’t have to be good enough,” says Donehey. “It’s the theme of a lot of our music, but we also want to challenge people to not stay there, to not stay in that place of struggling. There is power and there is grace, not only to forgive your struggle, but to redeem you from the struggle. . . We’re going to struggle until the day that we die, but we don’t have to struggle to earn what God has provided for us.” The lead single, “Losing,” is a song that challenges believers to forgive because we’ve been forgiven. Offering forgiveness may sometimes make you feel like you're "losing" but only in showing others the grace God has shown us are we truly free. Such powerful yet poetic messages continue to populate every song on The Struggle. “Strangers Here,” inspired by Hebrews 11 reminds us of better things to come. As Donehey sings the emotional lyric he urges us to remember that this life is only temporary and one day we will touch the face of our God. “Worn” is a tender ballad that acknowledges our human frailty and the rest that awaits in our heavenly Father’s arms. As a young father, balancing the responsibilities of music ministry and raising two young daughters, Donehey is well acquainted with physical and emotional exhaustion; and in the song, he shares one of the most vulnerable vocal performances on the record. Yet even in the midst of struggle, fatigue and alienation---all emotions every human battles---the songs celebrate the sovereignty of God in every aspect of our lives. Song after song, the band offers up the kind of lyrically substantive lyrics people have come to expect from Tenth Avenue North wrapped in the most adventurous music they’ve ever crafted. “Grace” boasts a vibrant melody and some of the record's most compelling lyrics as Donehey sings: “Grace, only grace can roll your dead heart's stone away. Grace only grace can move us to a rhythm that can changes our ways.” “We’re going to struggle until the day that we die," says Owen of the song's message, "but we don’t have to struggle to earn what God has provided for us.” “All the Same” acknowledges the fact that though we might appear very different on the surface, at the core we are all the same, desperate for the love of God. “You Do All Things Well” is yet a soothing prayer that celebrates the power of God to meet our every need. The worshipful chorus is a soaring celebration of God's majesty. Tenth Avenue North has come a long way from sharing the Gospel with students at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida to playing for more than a half a million people in concert last year. It’s a platform and privilege they take seriously. “When I’m playing, I look out and I can see people’s eyes,” says Donehey. “I’ve always carried an ache for people. I want people to experience the freedom I’ve experienced. I want people to experience the forgiveness I’ve experienced.” Music can provide a healing balm to those breaking hearts and through its music, Tenth Avenue North continues to shine a light not only on the struggle, but the hope that changes lives forever. Members: Mike Donehey - Lead Vocals/Guitar Jeff Owen - Guitar/BGVs Jason Jamison - Drums Ruben Juarez-Bass Guitar Brendon Shirley-Keys Former Members Bryan Homan Daniel (Danny) Zayas Scott Sanders - bass guitar, keyboard Andrew Middleton Genre: Rock/Christian/Religious Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida Record label: Reunion Records Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

O Praise Him

David Crowder Band

David Crowder Band (stylized as David Crowder*Band and The David Crowder*Band) was a six-piece Christian rock and modern worship band from Waco, Texas. Their final album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts. They disbanded in 2012, with David Crowder pursuing a solo career under the name Crowder and the rest of the band, except for Mike Hogan, forming The Digital Age. The band began when Crowder realized that almost half of the students at Baylor University, a Christian university, were not attending church. Finding this very surprising he and Chris Seay started University Baptist Church (Waco, Texas) in 1995, while he was still a student. Crowder became Pastor of worship at the church and led worship and continued to do so throughout the year. The church's congregation grew, as did the band's lineup. Crowder began writing songs to incorporate into the worship times at the church and eventually the church released an independent CD, Pour Over Me, followed by All I Can Say in 1999.These CDs brought the band to a wider audience and invitations to festivals and events followed. The band was signed to sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records when Louie Giglio talked to Crowder about the music and how it could be used more than just at UBC and more world-wide. Although the band toured extensively, they made it a point to be back at their home church UBC in Waco Texas for most Sundays. Kyle Lake, University Baptist Church's former pastor and also longtime friend of the band, had a strong influence on the band's music in terms of content and inspiration both during his life and after Lake's death. With their September 2005 release, A Collision or (3+4=7), David Crowder Band explored a new realm of musical diversity. The album houses a mix of bluegrass, folk, alternative, and worship, woven together with a touch of electronic ambience. This release landed them the No. 2 spot on the iTunes Music Store and the No. 39 spot on Billboard 200 the second day after its release. The same day as the release of A Collision, their song "Turkish Delight" was released on the Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia compilation CD. This song, which is a reference to the magical Turkish Delight in C. S. Lewis's book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, has an old-school disco feel. March 19, 2007, the band officially started recording Remedy; the band also revealed the album's website, http://www.remedyiscoming.com/ , which allows fans to follow the band via live webcams, and discover more about the album. Famously controversial rock musician Ted Nugent made a special guest appearance on the album, on the song "We Won't Be Quiet". Remedy was released on September 25, 2007. The day after its release, it reached No. 4 on the iTunes Music Store. When Mark Waldrop joined the band as the album Remedy was released, his sidekick Rupert came with him. Rupert is a gnome. During the Remedy Tour the band had up a live web feed on Crowder's Xanga account. The feed had a chat room where fans chatted live with the band and their tourmates. It showed more than half of the tour stops live which included their tour bus, live stage feeds of shows, places the band went, etc. Much of the time the video feed would be on Rupert at different stops. On the final night of the tour Phil Wickham and The Myriad came on stage for a hoe down for the song "I Saw the light". The camera for the feed was on the lid of a ball-cap and was wired into a laptop the band had in a backpack; this equipment was provided by Xanga. The band also used the feed for some time after their Remedy Tour. July 16, 2008, the band announced it would be releasing a live album and DVD titled Remedy Club Tour - Live,The DVD was filmed In NYC and GA. Crowder's Xanga entry from January 31, 2009, mentioned the preproduction of the band's next studio album. Also on Mike Hogan's MySpace entry from March 4, 2009, he confirmed that actual recording and production had commenced and provided directions for getting to the live webcam feed, which is in a page simply titled "Church Music". The album was titled "Church Music" and was released on September 22, 2009. The first single off the album was a cover of John Mark McMillan's song "How He Loves". Crowder received permission from McMillan to change the words "So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss" to "So heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss". The band hosted Crowder's Fantastical Church Music Conference September 30 through October 2, 2010 at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Other presenters at the conference included Louie Giglio, Rob Bell, Israel Houghton, Hillsong London, Matt Redman, Jars of Clay, Matt Maher, Leeland, David Dark, Gungor, Derek Webb, and Isaac Wardell. Mark recorded a Rap song for the band titled "Bwack Be Creepin'" for the band's YouTube channel. February 5, 2011 the band announced the official start to recording of Give Us Rest or (A Requiem Mass in C [The Happiest of All Keys]). On May 21, 2011, the band announced through their website that the band will end after the completion of the Fall 2011 "The 7 Tour" and the release of their sixth album. Later, on July 21, 2011, the band announced that a Christmas album, Oh for Joy, would be released on October 4, 2011. The band stated that they began to record Give Us Rest and subsequently Oh for Joy came out. Some of the songs in the albums Give Us Rest and Oh for Joy were recorded in green rooms and restrooms during the band's last tour. The band played their final show at the Passion 2012 Conference on January 3, 2012 at the Georgia Dome. David Crowder is still signed with Sparrow Records and sixstepsrecords under Capitol CMG. He is now making music under the name "Crowder." Parker, Dodson, Bush, and Waldrop have formed a new band, called "The Digital Age",and run a recording studio in Waco, Texas. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Give Me Words to Speak

Aaron Shust

Aaron Shust grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied music theory at Toccoa Falls College in Georgia. While there he studied Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Sebastian Bach. He also became influenced by U2 and Bob Marley. He began performing at churches and coffeehouses while at college. Shust began leading worship at Perimeter Church, Duluth, Georgia in 2000 and recorded his album, Anything Worth Saying in 2004 with producer Dan Hannon who delivered the album along with a stack of others along to Brash Music for consideration. Brash Music signed Shust shortly thereafter. His second single "My Savior My God" was released January 20, 2006. The song was played on Christian radio stations around Christmas 2005. The song was listed at #19 on Radio and Records chart three weeks before the single was officially released to radio. The song was awarded Song of the Year at the 2007 Annual GMA Dove Awards in Nashville. Anything Worth Saying was the 5th best-selling "Praise and Worship" album of 2006, according to the Nielsen Soundscan report for 2006. Shust's second studio album, Whispered and Shouted, was released on June 5, 2007, and sold 5,000 copies its first week of release. In 2009, Shust's third album, Take Over, was released, including the Christian radio hit "To God Alone".On October 21, he released a Christmas EP. In 2011, Shust's fourth album, This Is What We Believe, will be released. The album is produced by Ed Cash. His official website is http://www.aaronshust.com/. Band Members: Aaron Shust - Acoustic Guitar Ryan Van Kirk - Acoustic Guitar/ Keyboard/ Percussion Brian Duffy - Bass Guitar Elliott Moon - Drums Jeff Scordino - Drums Matt Adkins - Electric Guitar James Hudson - Electric Guitar Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Mighty to Save

Laura Story

Like the twists and turns of a mountain road, Laura Story’s life has held its share of unexpected moments - some exhilarating, some terrifying, and some simply beautiful to behold. Leaning solely on her faith in the sovereignty of God, Story has learned that no matter what comes around the next bend, it’s going to be an incredible view. Once an aspiring symphony conductor, Story didn’t even know she could sing - much less write songs - until she was in her early twenties. Today, Story is not only a gifted vocalist and worship leader but also the composer of one of the most beloved worship songs of our generation - “Indescribable.” The song has topped charts and been recorded by multiple artists, but most importantly, it has helped people all over the world experience our magnificent God. Story had no idea her life would be used for such a purpose. Set to release her label debut on INO Records (Sara Groves, MercyMe, Derek Webb) in January 2008, Story is still learning that God’s plan is far deeper and wider than she ever thought possible. So how did a string bassist from South Carolina end up penning a worship anthem known and loved by millions? It all began with a providential moment in the class registration line her sophomore year at Columbia International University. “I was a YoungLife leader, and I saw another guy in line wearing a YoungLife t-shirt,” Story recalls. “He said he was in a band and asked me if I wanted to come play with them. I had never played in a band – it had never even crossed my mind.” The band was Silers Bald, who would later become a popular indie pop-rock band in the Southeast. The young man she met was vocalist Shane Williams, and by the time they’d made it through the registration line, Story was their newest female member. Story started out playing string bass, graduated to electric bass, and then took a stab at vocals when the original female vocalist left. Completely out of her comfort zone but willing to trust God with her newfound vocal ability, she even tried her hand at songwriting, and their fans desired more. “The Lord taught me that it’s not necessarily what I think my strengths are. That’s not how He determines what He’s going to use,” says Story. Five years and many road miles later, Story found herself being led a different direction musically, just as Silers Bald was on the brink of signing a deal with Essential Records. “I knew the Lord was telling me it was time for something new, and I needed to be in or out,” says Story. They amicably parted ways and Story ended up touring with folk-rock artist Andrew Peterson that spring. When her manager suggested she record an independent album with the songs she had written while in Silers, Story was still unconvinced her vocals could stand on their own: “Why would I do that?” she answered. “That would mean I’d have to sing on it!” Besides, she was out of money and didn’t have enough songs for a full record. But those challenges were overcome when God provided more money and more songs. In 2002, Story began recording her first independent album with producer Stephen Gause and trusted that the last song she needed to round out the album would be provided. Soon after, she was driving down a mountain road, eyes fixed on the majesty of her Creator, when she started worshiping and singing, “Indescribable…uncontainable…You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name…”. Story added verses on the piano and finished the song while reading God’s own description of His power and might in Job Chapter 38. Her first record was now complete. And considering the road Story had traveled to get to this place, “Indescribable” was the perfect title track. What brought “Indescribable” into churches all across the U.S. and the world was when Chris Tomlin recorded it for his 2004 release, Arriving, produced by Ed Cash (Caedmon’s Call, Bebo Norman, Bethany Dillon). When Cash, a longtime friend of Story’s from YoungLife circles, suggested that Tomlin use “Indescribable” as his first single, Story was shocked. “I remember saying, ‘That song will never work for corporate worship. There’s no way congregations are going to sing that!’ But it’s humbling and amazing to see what the Lord has done. When I was looking for it, I couldn’t find it. When I just started worshiping, He blew me out of the water.” “Indescribable” flew up the AC charts where it stayed 1 for 7 weeks and in the top 15 for 50 weeks. The song was also included on the Passion CD/DVD in 2005, Tomlin’s 2006 release, Live From Austin Music Hall, and performed by Avalon for WoW Worship 2006. The list of accolades goes on, but even with millions of people now familiar with her words, Story takes no more credit for writing them than she would for creating the Appalachian Mountains. “I always think the last song I wrote was my last song. Just when my mind is completely blank and I don’t know if I’ll write a song again, God surprises me. The songs are His - I’m just the first person who gets to hear them.” In 2005, Story released her second independent album, There Is Nothing, produced by Ed Cash and Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay). That same year she married her high school sweetheart, Martin Elvington, and moved to Atlanta to become the worship leader and women’s pastor for the arts and music community at Perimeter Church. Shortly after inking the deal with INO Records in 2006, a trial entered Story’s life that would not only provide her with a deeper understanding of God’s sovereignty, but also serve as fodder for the songs on her new record. After one year of marriage, Story’s husband was hospitalized with a brain tumor. “There was a time he was on a breathing machine and we weren’t sure he was going to make it. I spent my whole life singing, ‘’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,’ but until Jesus took me through something where my only option was to trust Him, I didn’t really know that sweetness,” reflects Story. While supporting her husband through surgery, radiation, complications, and intense physical therapy, Story has composed new songs with meaty, real substance that have ministered to her as much as they will minister to her listeners. “It’s hard to understand why God would allow us to go through this, but I know He works all things together for good, and I feel my new album is reflecting that. Though He leads us through valleys, that’s when we get to trust Him and draw closer to Him all the more. Though I’ve doubted, His grasp has never released, never slipped. He’s remained completely faithful to me. He has proven that He really is my foundation and my hope.” On a regular basis, Story gets to share this hope with the 100+ women she ministers to through her job at Perimeter Church; and it’s not a job she’s giving up anytime soon. After all, the opportunity to pour into others’ lives and treasure each moment reminds Story that she is just a passenger on this remarkable journey. “Mine is not the perfect voice or the perfect life. My life is as messy as the next person’s, and God is using me to speak to the church. For this season of my life, God has really blessed me with some insight into who He is and what that has to do with me. For some reason He just gives it to me in song form.” With the way inspiration comes to Laura Story, it’s exciting to wonder what will be around the next mountain bend… Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Masterpiece

Danny Gokey

From his days of long hours as a truck driver to his third place finish on Season Eight of American Idol, Danny Gokey has always been a student of life. With an artist’s eye for detail and an inquisitive spirit eager to learn from every situation, Gokey has soaked up more life experience than most people twice his age. From the joyful to the heartbreaking, those experiences infuse Gokey’s 19 Recordings/RCA Nashville debut, My Best Days, a collection of songs that resonate with honest emotion and tap into the collective hopes and dreams that define life. In listening to the album, it is obvious Gokey has a strong sense of who he is as an artist and what he wants to say to his audience. There’s a focus and a sense of purpose rarely found on a debut disc. “It’s country, but it has a little different edge,” says the Milwaukee native. “I want to create my own fingerprint, and I want my music to say something. I want to have an emotional connection, but at the same time, I want to make people just have a good time, make them want to dance, have fun and party. I wanted to throw all those emotions in that CD, and I feel like I accomplished that.” During his tenure on American Idol, Gokey impressed the judges with his versatility as he performed hits by The Temptations, Carrie Underwood, Michael Jackson and Rascal Flatts, among others. As he continued to rise through the ranks of Idol hopefuls, it became increasingly clear that Gokey was blessed with a voice that could sing any style of music and turn any song into a compelling moment. So why did he choose a career as a country artist? “I felt like I could be myself,” he says matter-of-factly, and admits he got some career advice from someone he respected. “Randy Travis was a mentor for American Idol, and he asked me, ‘Have you thought about country? You really need to, because people would love you and the amount of soul that you could bring to country. You bring a uniqueness to it.’” Gokey is still somewhat surprised and humbled by the encouragement he got from one of his musical idols, and says the overall American Idol experience helped him define who is as an artist. “As the show progressed, I started to find myself and started to hone in on who I want to be, what I want to be, and what I want to represent,” Gokey relates. “The thing that I identified with the most was the message. When I sing, I want to sing something passionately, and I want to sing something that has a lot of meaning to me. I always found that in country. I want to be known as a country singer the rest of my life.” Gokey’s life before American Idol embodies the themes that populate the country music lexicon, from his humble roots in a poor but loving family to his hard-working days as a truck driver to the loss of the person most dear to him: his wife, Sophia. Life has prepared Danny Gokey to sing country music. Born the fifth of six children, Danny grew up in a family that was often short on cash, but long on love and encouragement. His parents were music fans and introduced their children to a variety of sounds including Motown, jazz, and country. “My first CD was Wynonna Judd, and I loved it. I love her,” Gokey gushes. “She had this soul that went into it, and you just felt the music when it played, and the first single that I bought in my life was Tim McGraw’s ‘Don’t Take the Girl.’ I listened to that song, and it made me want to cry. Vince Gill is another one of my favorites.” Like many artists before him, from the legendary Aretha Franklin to Platinum-selling rock band Switchfoot, Gokey can trace his musical roots to the church. While working in the music departments at two different churches, Gokey also logged hard days as a trucker. “I drove an eighteen wheeler semi-truck, a big rig,” he says. “I liked it actually. Was it what I wanted to settle with for the rest of my life? No, because music was where my passion was.” His wife encouraged Danny to give American Idol a shot, but just a month before the audition, Sophia died unexpectedly after what should have been a routine heart surgery. The couple had been high school sweethearts, and Danny was devastated. He found solace and healing in music. “Music was the key place where I would go, and I would let the sorrow come out, let the tears just roll. Some music I would listen to had a determination in it, and I resolved that this is not going to be the thing that destroys me for the rest of my life. It can be turned into a building block, and I can become a better person for it. Music brought healing. That’s how I got through and still get through it today.” Knowing firsthand the power of music, Gokey entered the studio determined to craft a debut album filled with songs that matter. “I definitely have something to say with this album, and I think people will recognize that,” he says. “Music was the catalyst that helped bring healing, a determination and a resolve. That’s why I want to do music. I want to bring that same hope. When my wife passed, I tried out for American Idol, and music brought me hope. It brought me a reason to live again. Now I want to bring that into my music.” Working with producer Mark Bright, well known for his work with Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts, Gokey has crafted an album filled with memorable, meaningful songs, penned by some of the industry’s top songwriters. Veteran tunesmiths Marv Green and Kent Blazy penned the title track and first single, “My Best Days Are Ahead of Me.” It’s a buoyant look toward a brighter future, an optimistic anthem sure to be adopted by all who believe in better days ahead. “I Still Believe” is a groove-oriented number co-written by American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi. “It’s Only” is a powerful call to action that illustrates some of life’s challenges and encourages us to make a difference where we can. Penned by Tom Douglas and Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, the song is a compelling ballad that demonstrates the range and emotional depth in Gokey’s soul-drenched voice. “I Will Not Say Goodbye,” written by Lari White, Chuck Cannon and Vicky McGehee, is a poignant ballad that Gokey says he just had to record. “That song just totally represents what I felt when my wife passed away,” says Gokey, who has launched a charitable foundation, Sophia’s Heart, in his wife’s memory. “Sophia’s Heart got started because I wanted to keep her legacy alive.” Though there are songs sure to make listeners stop in their tracks and examine their priorities, there are also several that will inspire fans to roll down the windows and sing along. “Life on Ya” and “Get Away” are infectious slices of fun, and “Crazy Not To” captures the exhilaration of falling in love. “You don’t want people to feel overwhelmed with one certain thing,” Gokey says of balancing the meatier songs with more fun fare. “You want them to experience different things, and I think we accomplished that. At one point, I said, ‘I want fun, fun songs!’ You want to be very balanced, and I feel like we did a good job at that. Sometimes I want to have fun just for no reason.” Poignant, rowdy, thought-provoking and smile-inducing -- Danny Gokey’s debut album is all those things and so much more. It’s a reflection of life’s peaks and valleys from a young man well acquainted with both. “I’m very proud of this CD. Every song has something to say,” he relates. “We’re all human, and human beings are made up of so many different aspects. We want to be entertained, but we also want to be inspired, and music is a universal language.” Hes Great singer too if your a fan plz listen to his music Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

You Make Me Brave

Bethel Music

BETHEL MUSIC is a ministry of Bethel Church, located in Redding, California. The mission of Bethel Church is "REVIVAL… the personal, regional, and global expansion of God's kingdom through His manifest presence." BETHEL MUSIC was formed for the express purpose of creating corridors in the heavenly realms through the mystery of music, that facilitate deeper dimensions of God's manifest presence. His manifold reality inspires worship, ignites revelation and captivates the world. Therefore the triune mission of BETHEL MUSIC is to: Adore God through thanksgiving, praise and worship. Instruct the Church with songs, hymns and spiritual songs. And enlighten the lost with melodies of mercy. These foundation stones have been passed down to us for more than five decades and are gaining momentum with each passing generation. Our goal is to honor the core values of our past, build a creative, catalytic culture in the present and leave a legacy for future generations. The main pillars of BETHEL MUSIC'S core distinctives are: God is good all the time; in fact He is even better than you can imagine. The redemptive power of Jesus Christ transformed us from sinners to saints (at conversion), eradicated our sin nature and imparted to us His divine character. We have been commissioned to carry His glory, make disciples OF ALL nations and bring heaven to earth, until the kingdom's of this world become the Kingdom of our God. We've been commanded to do greater miracles then Jesus, demonstrate God's superior Kingdom, empower His supernatural people and annihilate the works of the devil. We embrace a fantastic future, refuse to re-empower a disempowered devil and are determined to leave our children's, children's, children a world in revival. The practical mandates of BETHEL MUSIC are facilitated through several different avenues: Our own songwriters group, who are commissioned to create songs and sounds that carry our mission and core values, compose most of our music. We have several schools through out the year that train, equip and deploy musicians, songwriters and producers to help accomplish our God-given mandate. BETHEL MUSIC produces, mixes and masters songs and music videos in cooperation with other professionals in different phases of production. We distribute songs and music videos globally through several venues including partnerships with like-minded distribution companies. BETHEL MUSIC publishes and manages songs, distributing them through CCLI. Closing Thoughts: Our earnest prayer is that BETHEL MUSIC would inspire a revolution that impacts the planet by reforming the Church and transforming the world. May everything we produce be rooted in His Excellency, be inspired by His creativity and be entrenched in His Divine Nature. And finally, may the Lord use our music to take you on a Holy Spirit journey into the very heart of God Himself! Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Already There

Casting Crowns

Casting Crowns is a Christian band that employs a soft rock music style. The band was created by youth pastor Mark Hall who also serves as a lead vocalist. The band previously served and performed in a youth group in Atlanta. Discovered by, among others, contemporary Christian music legend Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns got a recording contract and vaulted to popularity in 2003 with songs such as If We Are the Body and Who Am I. The Until The Whole World Hears Songfacts reports that Casting Crown's 2009 Until The Whole World Hears album recorded 167,000 sales in its first week, the largest selling debut week sales figures by a Christian artist in Nielsen Soundscan history. Over the past eight years, Atlanta based Casting Crowns has consistently delivered music that points believers back to what truly matters. Since its launch in 2003 the band has garnered 14 GMA Dove Awards, three GRAMMY Awards and an American Music Award. In addition, the band has seen three RIAA Platinum Albums (Casting Crowns, Lifesong, Altar and The Door), two RIAA Platinum DVDs (Live From Atlanta and Lifesong Live), two RIAA Gold Albums (Until the Whole World Hears, Peace on Earth) and two Gold DVDs (Altar and The Door Live and Until The Whole World Hears Live). Casting Crowns has sold more than 8.2 million albums to date (according to Nielsen SoundScan) and has been named Billboard magazine’s top-selling Christian act for the past four years. The band recently celebrated its first RIAA certified Gold single, “Who Am I,” from its 2003 self-titled debut. The song, selling more than 500,000 copies, is one of only 12 Christian tracks ever to secure Gold status. Casting Crowns has always worked its tour schedule around church responsibilities and has still managed to touch audiences around the world with its live performances. It’s 2009-2011 “Until The Whole World Hears” world tour placed the band in front nearly 1 million fans in more than 175 cities around the world including performances for U. S. troops in Kuwait and Qatar. The band also performed twice in North Korea in partnership with Global Resource Services. Alongside the 2011 feature film, Courageous, Casting Crowns wrote a song by the same name which was also featured on their album Come to the Well released the same year. The album's second single, "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" was not released until February of 2012. In September 2013, the band released "All You've Ever Wanted", the first single from Thrive which was released on January 28, 2014 and charted No. 6 in Billboard‍ '​s Top 200 in its first week. An accompanying book, written by Mark Hall, was released and explains the walk of a child of God and how we should "dig deep and reach out". In early 2015 Casting Crowns released the hymn-album Glorious Day - Hymns of Faith, including Casting Crowns' Until the Whole World Hears singles "Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)" and "Blessed Redeemer", an acoustic versions of "If We Are the Body" and "Praise You In This Storm" as well as eight hymns. In addition to a busy touring, recording and writing life, four of the members of Casting Crowns serve as ministers to their home church, Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

When We Pray

Tauren Wells

Tauren Gabriel Wells is an American Christian rock and pop artist and the former frontman for the American Christian pop rock band, Royal Tailor which produced two albums over a five-year career, which garnered two GRAMMY nominations and a New Artist of the Year award from the Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards. In 2014, Wells, along with his wife, launched the Prisma Worship Arts School, a private music academy with multiple locations in the Houston area. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Lead Me

Sanctus Real

Sanctus Real is a popular Christian rock band known for their straight-ahead rock and unique vocals. Five- piece from Toledo, Ohio Matt Hammitt (lead vocals), Mark Graalman (drums), Chris Rohman and Pete Prevost (guitars), and Dan Gartley replacing Steve Goodrum(bass). Often quoted as "Electrifying Christian Rock" with the rock edge of bands like Foo Fighters and songwriting of Matchbox 20. They are mostly known for a trio of chart-topping hits—“Everything About You,” “The Fight Song” and a cover of U2’s “Beautiful Day”. Their albums include: All This Talk of Aliens - 1998 Message for the Masses - 1999 Nothing to Lose - 2001 Say it Loud - 2002 The Face of Love - 2006 We Need Each Other - 2007 and... Pieces of a Real Heart, which Sanctus Real held a vote on Twitter and Facebook to decide the title. - 2010 Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

The Words I Would Say

Sidewalk Prophets

Here is some background information on Sidewalk Prophets from the You Love Me Anyway Songfacts: Sidewalk Prophets is a Contemporary Christian music band from Nashville, Tennessee. The band consists of lead vocalist David Frey, rhythm guitarist Ben McDonald, lead guitarist Shaun Tomczak, bass guitarist Cal Joslin and drummer Justin Nace. They initially made a name for themselves at Indiana’s Anderson University where Frey and McDonald met. After signing with Word Records, Sidewalk Prophets released their debut studio album These Simple Truths on August 25, 2009, which earned the group the 2010 GMA Dove Award for New Artist of the Year. In July 2011 the third single released from the set, You Love Me Anyway, became their first #1 on the Billboard Christian singles chart. They released their second major album, Live Like That on March 2012. Biography The Sidewalk Prophets are an unlikely group of poets, musicians, and fun-lovers who have been brought together by the blood of Jesus Christ to share the hope, faith, tragedy, and love that is the reality of Christianity. For over 5 years the Sidewalk Prophets have been traveling across the United States and overseas sharing the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. They are armed with a dynamic songwriting duo comprised of college dorm mates turned best friends David Frey and Ben McDonald. Frey is equipped with an unrivaled vocal range and a distinct soulful voice that is full of engaging passion. McDonald brings an undeniable drive and passion for writing songs that will engage both churched and unchurched listeners. The band has been hitting the road hard for the past 3 years playing 125+ shows a year worldwide. They’ve been making thousands of friends and fans in the process. Along the way the band has achieved some longtime goals of playing with bands they looked up to as teenagers. The band has had the honor of sharing the stage with acts like Jeremy Camp, Audio Adrenaline, Stellar Kart, Building 429, and Ginny Owens as well as many others. The Sidewalk Prophets main focus is to make young people feel comfortable being who God has created them to be. Young people today more than ever have the task of living in a world that places so much value on fitting in and achieving the perfect image. The band travels with the slogan “Image is nothing…love is everything.” Dave from the Sidewalk Prophets explains the bands vision like this, “We have traveled all over the United States working with young people and there is one resounding problem that we run into. The problem is that our young people are being pressured to live up to the world’s standard of success. The world is selling the idea that image is everything but we know that the only way this can be true is by helping God’s children young and old realize that an image molded after Christ is the only image worth striving for.” The Sidewalk Prophets have had appeal not only to young people but to their parents and grandparents as well. Their musical pallet includes an eclectic group of influences from past to present which allows the band to connect with almost anyone who listens. Their sound is a melting pot which culminates into an original blend of acoustic rock music. Their shows bring the depth of a singer/songwriter and the energy of a rock & roll band. In June of 2007 the band packed up their bags and headed south to Nashville, TN in hopes of expanding their platform to do ministry. After releasing a full-length album and EP independently, they made their major-label debut with "These Simple Truths" in August 2009. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

God is on the Move (album)

7Eventh Time Down

We Fall Down

Chris Tomlin

Christopher Dwayne Tomlin (born May 4, 1972) is a Christian worship leader/CCM artist originally from Grand Saline, Texas. In 1999, Tomlin rose to recognition joined on board as a worship leader for Atlanta pastor Louie Giglio’s annual Passion Conferences, along with other worship leaders such as Matt Redman, Charlie Hall, and eventually with Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, and the David Crowder Band (now Crowder). Tomlin was soon signed to Sparrow Records and EMI's sixstepsrecords[/labe] where he began releasing his worship albums. In 2008, after five solo album releases, and nine with Passion, Tomlin made the move from Texas to Atlanta to be a worship leader for Giglio’s new church, Passion City Church, with its first service being held in February of 2009. Tomlin has since released four solo worship albums, two Christmas albums, and one live album. In 2013, Tomlin’s seventh album Burning Light debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart, becoming only the fourth album by a Christian artist to top that chart, along with Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace) by Bob Carlisle, You Light Up My Life by LeeAnn Rimes, both in 1997, and TobyMac's Eye On It in 2012. Tomlin has recorded some of the most famous songs ever in Christian music, such as How Great Is Our God, Holy Is The Lord, Our God, and Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) Throughout his successful career, Tomlin has won 22 GMA Dove Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, and a Grammy. Chris Tomlin’s discography: The Noise We Make (2001)Not To Us (2002)Arriving (2004)Live From Austin Music Hall (2005)See The Morning (2006)Hello Love (2008)Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship (2009) And If Our God Is For Us… (2010)How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection (2011)Burning Lights (2013) Love Ran Red (2014)Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship (2015) Never Lose Sight (2016) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Everything I Need

Kutless

Kutless is a Christian alternative band, originally from Portland, Oregon, specializing in melodic hard rock. The band gets their name from the promise made in Romans 6:23. The band says, "He took the cuts for us...making us Kutless." Kutless consist of Jon Micah Sumrall (vocals), James Mead (guitar), Dave Luetkenhoelter (bass), and Jeff Gilbert (drums) and Nick Departee (guitar). Kutless's albums are released by BEC Recordings, a company owned by Tooth & Nail Records. Kutless has toured with The O.C. Supertones and also with other prominent artists, such as tobyMac of DC Talk and Audio Adrenaline. The group is currently touring with the Newsboys on the Go Tour. The group also headlined The Hearts Of The Innocent Tour Powered by Suzuki in America last year with Disciple, Red, and Run Kid Run. Kutless was the first band to be sponsored by Suzuki Motor Sports. A video of the band's song 'Tonight' has been featured on MTV2, and many of their songs have been played on TVU and hundreds of Christian radio stations. Their first single 'Run' holds the record for the longest charting song in the history of the R&R Top 40 charts. Kutless's song "All The Words" was featured in an episode of the hit TV show Scrubs. Their music video "Shut Me Out" was featured on the Target TV (Red Channel) in May 2006 and was part of a XBOX giveaway. On December 5, 2006, Kutless released their first live CD/DVD combo titled 'Live In Portland' which highlights the electrifying performance of this great rock band. Their sixth album, To Know That You're Alive, was released June 24, 2008. It continues the band's diverse style, whilst also tapping into the harder tones of the band's first two albums. Kutless has had 4 former members who have left the band for various reasons. They are Nathan Stuart (bass) 2002, Kyle Zeigler (bass) 2005 , Kyle Mitchell (drums) 2005 , and Ryan Shrout (guitar) 2007. Albums: 2008To Know That You're Alive 2007Strong Tower [Deluxe] 2006Live from Portland 2006Hearts of the Innocent 2006Hearts of the Innocent [Bonus Tracks/Bonus DVD] 2005Strong Tower 2004Sea of Faces 2002Kutless Official Homepage: www.kutless.com Official Fanpage: www.kutlessrocks.com Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.