Musical Influences

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:51:29 +0100

CASTING CROWNS

What is the distance between Sunday and Monday mornings?

The answer, for Casting Crowns' Mark Hall, became painfully clear during an afternoon of reading through the MySpace pages of the kids in his youth group. Prompted to go there by a student, Mark's heart sank as he read their messages to the world, truths about themselves that didn't gel with the truth they embraced at church >>>

DOWNHERE

He speaks quietly, but when Jason Germain, co-lead singer and guitarist of Canadian band Downhere talks about their new album, Ending Is Beginning, he might as well be singing to the skies >>>

STEVE GREEN

The son of missionary parents, Steve was raised in South America. "My initial recognition of need for Christ was at age 8 while attending a boarding school in Argentina >>>

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN

After starting his career in the late 80s as a songwriter, Chapman has turned into one of the most prolific singers in the genre, releasing more than 20 albums to this date. Chapman has also won five Grammy awards and 56 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, more than any other artist in history >>>

YOLANDA ADAMS

The oldest of six siblings, Adams was raised in McKinney, Texas but later moved to Houston when she was about five. She graduated from Sterling High School in Houston in 1979.^[1] After graduating from University of California Berkeley, she began a career as a schoolteacher and part-time model in Houston, Texas >>>

MICHAEL W. SMITH

He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian Music, and he has achieved considerable success in the mainstream music industry as well.^[1] Smith is a three-time Grammy Award winner, and he has earned 34 Dove Awards >>>

MARTY GOETZ

His songs are scriptures beautifully set to music, leaving listeners spiritually moved, inspired and educated. With melodic and fresh acoustical/classic arrangements, Marty Goetz has the ability to lead you into a place of true intimacy with God >>>