Christian Music Directory of Christian Artist/s, Band/s and Group/s

Featured Christian Music Artists

Anberlin

Members:

Stephen Christian – lead vocals
Joseph Milligan – lead guitar, backing vocals
Deon Rexroat – bass
Nathan Young – drums
Christian McAlhaney – rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Origin: Winter Haven, Florida

Career began: 2002–present

The Name 'Anberlin'
According to Wikipedia, there are several explanations to how the band got their name, but apparently the 'real' version is that it came from the Radiohead song "Everything in Its Right Place":
"There are several stories that have circulated on the internet, but the actual story is when I was in college my favorite band was Radiohead; on one of their songs off the record Kid A there is a background noise on the song "Everything in Its Right Place" (about 2 minutes 31 seconds into the song). While Thom (Yorke) is singing try to say I always thought the background noise sounded like Anberlin, I always thought that Anberlin would have been a great band name and well ... it was/is."

Anberlin are an American rock band from Winter Haven, Florida. The band has released four full-length records, 2008's New Surrender saw the band reach new levels with the Neal Avron produced album reaching No.13 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums charts, and the single "Feel Good Drag" reaching No.1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Charts.
Lead singer Stephen Christian met bassist Deon Rexroat while they were both in high school, and they formed a punk band called SaGoh 24/7 (see video below) along with drummer Sean Hutson and guitarist Joseph Milligan in the late 1990s. The band released two albums under Rescue Records, Servants After God's Own Heart (1999), and Then I Corrupt Youth (2001), before splitting.

Joined by Nathan Young on druns, Anberlin was formed in 2002. They then teamed up with producer Matt Goldman to record five demos, which were posted on PureVolume (mp3.com at the time). It sparked interest from various record labels, but following advice from friends including Chad Johnson, and Timmy McTague from Underoath, the band signed with Tooth & Nail Records, and within the year, had signed with to the Tooth & Nail Record company. They released their debut album, 'Blueprints for the Black Market' in 2003.

Oof the five demos Anberlin recorded, three were eventually chosen to be reworked for the band's debut album, the lead single "Readyfuels", "Driving" (later rbecame "Autobahn") and "Foreign Language". Barely a year after their formation, their first album as a new band was entitled Blueprints for the Black Market (2003). It failed to chart, but their debut single, "Readyfuels", album sold over 60,000 units. Rhythm guitarist Joey Bruce was eventually ejected from the band and finally replaced by Nathan Strayer from 'The Mosaic'.

In 2005, the band released their second album, 'Never Take Friendship Personal' in early 2005, which sold in excess of 150,000 copies, reaching No. 144 on the Billboard 200 Chart. Two singles were released from the album: "A Day Late" and "Paperthin Hymn", the latter peaking at the No.38 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. Three to four weeks prior to the release of Cities, it was announced that guitarist Nathan Strayer had left the band amicably to go back to his former band 'The Mosaic' and that Christian McAlhaney, formerly of the band 'Acceptance', would take over as the new guitarist.

Anberlin's third album 'Cities' was released in early 2007 under the title Cities. It sold 34,000 copies in its first week, reaching No.19 on the Billboard 200 and Digital Charts, No.6 on their Rock Chart, and No.2 on their Top Christian Albums Chart.
A compilation album of unreleased material, called Lost Songs, was released on 20 November 2007 featuring B-sides, demos, covers, and acoustic versions of their previous songs, as well as other tracks recorded at AOL Sessions.

In 2007, Anberlin signed with major label Universal Republic Records. Their first outing with the label entitled 'New Surrender' was released on 30 September 2008. It reached No.13 on the Billboard 200, selling 36,000 units in it's first week, and No.13 on the Billboard Digital Chart. It also reached No.5 in their Rock, and Alternative Album Charts, and No.1 on their Top Christian Albums Chart. The first official single from the album was the re-recorded "Feel Good Drag" which was released on 26 August. It claimed the No.1 position on the Billboard Alternative Songs Chart. The album was gained No.33 position on Billboard's Top Christian Albums Chart of 2008, and No.18 on the same Chart in 2009.

Their new album, 'Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place' was released in September 2010 and reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums Chart. The album took its title from a line in Dylan Thomas’ "Poem on His Birthday".
(verse 6)
And freely he goes lost
In the unknown, famous light of great
And fabulous, dear God.
Dark is a way and light is a place,
Heaven that never was
Nor will be ever is always true,
And, in that brambled void,
Plenty as blackberries in the woods
The dead grow for His joy.

Discography:
2003 Blueprints for the Black Market
2005 Never Take Friendship Personal
2007 Cities
2007 Lost Songs
2008 New Surrender
2009 Blueprints For City Friendships: The Anberlin Anthology
2010 Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place

Official Websites:

http://www.anberlin.com

http://www.myspace.com/anberlin

BarlowGirl

BarlowGirl are a Christian pop/rock band from Elgin, Illinois, USA. Members compose of sisters Alyssa Barlow (lead vocals, bass, keyboard), Becca Barlow (backing vocals, guitar), and Lauren Barlow (lead vocals, drums).

BarlowGirl released their first studio album 'BarlowGirl' on February 24, 2004. The CD had sold over 250,000 units by April 2005, and featured the singles "Never Alone" and "Mirror". The song 'Never Alone' was the longest running no.1 song in 2004 on Radio and Records Christian Hit Radio (CHR) and Christian Rock charts, and was the 'Song of the Year' on both charts. In 2004, the trio received the GMA Dove Award for best-selling new Christian artist of 2004 and iIn 2005, received 4 Dove Awards nominations, including the Best New Artist award, Best Rock Song, and Rock Album.

Their second album, 'Another Journal Entry' was released on September 27, 2005. The album debuted at no.3 on Soundscan's Christian album chart, and had reached no.85 on Billboard's Top 200 Current Albums chart. The trio was nominated for 3 2006 GMA awards - "Group of the Year", "Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year", and "Rock Recorded Song of the Year" for 'Let Go'.

The song "I Need You To Love Me', released at the end of 2005 broke the record on Christian Radio and Retail Weekly's (CRW) Christian CHR chart by holding the no.1 spot for 13 consecutive weeks. BarlowGirl was the second most played artist CHR artist of 2005 behind Sanctus Real, and it was the most played song on Christian Hit Radio in 2006. BarlowGirl was voted the January 2006 winner in Yahoo's Who's Next after viewers were shown the video for the song.

BarlowGirl again recorded with producer Otto Price for their third studio album 'How Can We Be Silent'. The album was released on July 24,2007 and debuted at no.1 on Billboard's Christian Chart, and no.40 on Billboard's Top 200 album. It was the first album by an all-female rock band to reach the top 40 on the Billboard 200 since 'Everything' by the Bangles in 1989.

The fourth album 'Home For Christmas' was released on September 26, 2008.

Discography

BarlowGirl (2004)
Another Journal Entry (2005)
How Can We Be Silent (2007)
Home for Christmas (2008)
Love & War (2009)
Our Journey So Far (2010)

Official Websites

http://www.barlowgirl.com

Casting Crowns

Christian pop/rock band Casting Crowns

Members:

Mark Hall (lead vocals)
Juan DeVevo (lead guitar)
Hector Cervantes (rhythm guitar)
Melodee DeVevo (violin, backing vocals)
Megan Garrett (piano)
Chris Huffman (bass guitar)
Brian Scoggin (drums)

Origin: Daytona Beach, Florida, USA

Career Began: 1999

The band was created in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida as part of a youth group including lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall who still holds his post as youth pastor at his home church. He also serves as a lead vocalist. Later they moved to McDonough, Georgia and more members joined creating the band now known as Casting Crowns. Some members of the band currently work as ministers for Eagles Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia. Discovered by, among others, contemporary Christian music legend Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns received a recording contract and vaulted to popularity in 2003 with their self-titled debut album Casting Crowns. The album quickly made them one of the fastest selling debut artists in Christian music history. Lifesong followed in 2005, debuting at #9 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart. Both albums have been certified Platinum. The band's third studio album The Altar and the Door debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart and #1 on the Hot Christian Albums chart upon its release in August 2007. Ten weeks after it came out it was certified Gold. The band's live albums Live from Atlanta (2004) and Lifesong Live (2006) have also earned Platinum certifications. Casting Crowns has enjoyed tremendous success in the United States. They have released nine singles to date with seven of them becoming consecutive number one hits on various Christian music charts. "Voice of Truth" spent a record-breaking fourteen consecutive weeks at #1 beginning in 2003. "Lifesong" spent nine weeks in the top spot, with "Praise You in This Storm" remaining at #1 for seven weeks. Casting Crowns broke their own record in 2007 when the single "East to West" from The Altar and the Door hit sixteen consecutive weeks at #1. The song ended up enjoying the top spot for a total of nineteen weeks, now their most successful single to date. In 2008, Casting Crowns scored their eighth number one hit with "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", a track from their newly-released Christmas album entitled Peace on Earth.

Until the World Hears was released in November 2009 and reached No.4 in the Billboard 200 Chart selling over 167,000 records in its first week - setting a record for the highest debut for a Christian band in its Chart history, reaching No.1 position on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart and receiving Gold certification within 4 weeks of its release.

Achievements

Four Platinum Selling Albums
19 Dove Awards including Best Song - East to West and Best Group(2008)
American Music Awards for Contemporary Inspirational Artist of the Year (2007)
Grammy Awards for Group of the Year (2007)
Grammy Awards for best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album - Lifesong (2007)
GMA Music Awards Song of the Year - "Who Am I" (2005)
GMA Music Awards Group of the Year (2005)
GMA Music Awards Songwriter of the Year (Mark Hall) (2005)
GMA Music Awards Pop/ Cont. Recorded Song - "Who Am I" (2005)
GMA Music Awards Inspirational Recorded Song - "Voice of Truth" (2005)
GMA Music Awards Songwriter of the Year - Mark Hall (2004)
GMA Music Awards Artist Of The Year (2010)

Discography

Casting Crowns (2003)

Live from Atlanta (2004)

Lifesong (2005)

Lifesong Live (2006)

The Altar and the Door (2007)

The Altar and the Door Live (2008)

Peace on Earth (2008)

Until The World Hears (2009)

Official Website:

Chris Tomlin

With career sales exceeding more than two million units, six No. 1 radio singles, 4 Top 25 CCLI songs, two GRAMMY nominations, 12 Dove Awards, and now two Gold albums to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known artist/worship leaders in the world.

Christopher Dwayne Tomlin was born in May 4, 1972 and hails from Grand Saline, Texas, USA. He is a former staff member at Austin Stone Community Church and is signed to EMI's Six Steps Records.

The album garnered Tomlin his first and second GRAMMY nominations for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance for “Made to Worship.” The record also debuted at No. 1 on the SoundScan® compiled Christian retail charts, landed Tomlin his highest Billboard Top 200 position ever at No. 15 with 47,420 units sold in its first week, and was named iTunes’ 2006 “Best Christian Album” of the year. The album experienced a 113% sales leap over Arriving's first-week numbers (that album went on to be Gold-certified), sellinmg 116,000 copies as of June 2007, and became certified Gold by the RIAA in January 2008. “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone),” also became the album’s third consecutive No. 1 hit.

See the Morning additionally boasts accolades including a 2007 Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year, Praise and Worship Album of the Year and Tomlin’s first two GRAMMY nominations for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance. The record has also yielded the No. 1 Radio & Records Christian Adult Contemporary and Inspirational single “Made To Worship” as well as “How Can I Keep From Singing,” No. 1 on Radio & Records Adult Contemporary Indicator chart.

Hello Love is his fifth studio album, released on 2 September, 2008. It debuted at number 9 on the Billboard 200 Chart and number 2 on the Christian album charts. It was also nominated for a Grammy in 2008.

Discography:

Arriving (2004)

See The Morning (2006)

Hello Love (2008)

Glory In The Highest (2009)

And If Our God Is for Us (2010)

Official Website:

http://www.christomlin.com

Flyleaf

Christian rock band Flyleaf

Origin:

Belton and Temple, Texas

Members:

Lacey Mosley – lead vocals

Sameer Bhattacharya – lead guitar, backing vocals

Jared Hartmann – rhythm guitar

Pat Seals – bass, backing vocals

James Culpepper – drums, percussion

Flyleaf (originally called Passerby), are a Christian alternative rock band from Texas. In early 2005, the band’s self-titled debut EP, produced by Rick Parasher (Pearl Jam, Blind Melon) and Brad Cook (Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age), was released with tracks such as Breathe Today, Cassie and I’m Sorry which were later to appear on Flyleaf’s full length album was released on October 4, 2005.

Five years ago, Mosley started playing music with drummer James Culpepper. The two joined up with Bhattacharya and Hartmann, who were in a local band that had just split up. “Our first practice together was awesome,” Mosley says. “Sameer and Jared are really experimental with melodies and pedals, and we all had different influences that were all blending together with the same passionate and hopeful heart, and that brought out this beautiful feeling. It was magical.” Bassist Pat Seals joined in 2002. “The doors were open and I just happened to walk through at the right time,” Seals says.

Flyleaf played anywhere they could slowly but consistently increasing their fanbase with local bands and national acts like Riddlin Kids, Bowling for Soup, Fishbone, and Evanescence.

Flyleaf’s self-titled debut album echoes with songs about abuse, neglect, addiction and dysfunction, and messages about overcoming adversity. And the band’s wide array of brooding beats, atmospheric textures and lunging riffs compliment Mosley’s emotionally revealing lyrics, which range from breathy and beautiful to scathing and aggressive.

“I used to be in a really negative band, and that seemed to almost fuel my emptiness because that’s what the songs were about,” says charismatic singer Lacey Mosley. “That’s why I think what we’re doing is important because there needs to be something heavy out there that has a positive message so people see that it’s possible to get through the worst situations.”

Flyleaf’s infectiously heavy positivism is all the more surprising considering Mosley’s struggles while growing up. “My mom was a young single mother of six,” she explains. “We didn’t have money and things were hard for all of us. We moved whenever we couldn’t make ends meet in one place, and that happened pretty often so there was a lot of struggling, suffering and character building.

“It’s easy to get depressed when you’re dealing with that kind of stress,” she continues, “especially when it looks like things will never get better. There was nothing constant in my life, and nothing to believe in. I got into some really bad stuff that I thought would make me feel more loved, or maybe just numb, but it cost me everything that was important to me, and literally almost took my life.”

The album reached No.88 on the Billboard 200. Single releases include "I'm So Sick", "Fully Alive", and "All Around Me". In October 30, 2007, the band re-released and reached No.62 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart.

The title is a Latin phrase meaning "be mindful of death" or "remember you will die." Memento Mori reached at No.8 on the Billboard 200 Chart, selling 56,000 units in its opening week, No.2 on their Rock Chart and No.1 on their Christian, Alternative, and Hard Rock Charts.

Discography

Flyeaf (Oct 2005)

Memento Mori (Nov 2009)

Official Websites:

http://www.flyleafmusic.com

http://www.myspace.com/flyleaf

Jars Of Clay

Christian pop band Jars Of Clay

Members:
Dan Haseltine (vocals)
Stephen Mason (guitar, backing vocals)
Matthew Odmark (guitar, backing vocals)
Charlie Lowell (piano, backing vocals)
Origin: Greenville, Illinois, U.S

Career Began: 1993-present

Jars of Clay has sold more than six million albums, won three Grammys, headlined thousands of sold-out shows and festivals, and successfully launched the Blood:Water Mission, a non-profit organization promoting clean blood and water in Africa. Since the band's debut single, "Flood," which topped both the mainstream and Christian Music charts, Jars of Clay have had an extraordinary career based on the quality,integrity of their music, worldview, and humanitarianism.

Members first met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois in the early 1990s. Their name is derived from the New International Version's translation of 2 Corinthians 4:7:“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us".

They released their first studio self-titled album in 1995, and the single 'Flood' from the album reached No.37 on the Billboard 100 Chart and No.2 on the Billboard Modern Rock Chart. Their second release 'Much Afraid' saw them win a Grammy Award for 'Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album'. The album also went platinum.

In 1999, their third release 'If I Left The Zoo', saw them gain another Grammy Award for 'Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album' in 2000, and again in 2002 for the album 'The Eleventh Hour'.
'The Long Fall Back To Earth' is the band's 10th studio album. It reached No.29 on the Billboard 200 Chart and the single 'Two Hands' from the album reached No.6 in their Hot Christian Songs Chart and No.2 in the UK Cross Rhymns Chart of 2009.

Discography:

Jars of Clay (1995)

Much Afraid (1997)

If I Left the Zoo (1999)

The Eleventh Hour (2002)

Furthermore: From the Studio, From the Stage (2003)

Who We Are Instead (2003)

Roots And Wings EP (2005)

Redemption Songs (2005)

Good Monsters (2006)

The Essential Jars Of Clay (2007)

Live Monsters (2007)

Christmas Songs (2007)

Jars Of Clay Greatest Hits (2008)

The Long Fall Back to Earth (2009)

Live From Grey Matters (2010)

Live From Grey Matters Vol II(2010)

Jars Of Clay Presents The Shelter (2010)

Official Website:
http://www.jarsofclay.com

http://www.myspace.com/jarsofclay

Lecrae

Christian rapper Lecrae

Origin: Houston, Texas, USA

Career Began: 2004-present

Lecrae Moore is a Christian rapper from Houston, Texas, USA. Christian rap artist born in 1980 and raised in Houston, Texas by a single mother, Lecrae became a Christian at age 19. Lecrae began rapping about his faith and co-founded Reach Records at age 25 in 2005. He is also a member of the band 116 Clique with fellow Reach Records artists, such as Tedashii, Trip Lee and Sho Baraka.

He had had 4 studio albums, 'Real Talk' (2005), 'After The Music Stops' (2006), and 'Rebel' (2008) and Rehab (2010). Real Talk gained critical acclaim and charted at No.29 on the Billboard Gospel albums chart.

'After The Music Stops' was released in August 2006 and reached No.5 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, No.7 on their Christian Albums Chart and No.16 on their Heatseeker Album Chart.

Released in September, 2008, 'Rebel' entered the Billboard Top 200 Chart at no.60 with 9,800 units sold, topped the Christian Billboard Top Gospel album chart (the first rapper to do so), and obtained no.2 position in the Billboard Top Christian Album and Top Christian and Gospel Albums Charts.

Rehab, released in September 2010, reached No.16 on Billboard 200 list, making it one of the highest selling Christian Rap/Hip Hop albums of all time. It went to No.1 in Billboard's Top Christian Albums, Top Gospel Albums, and Top Independent Albums Charts; as well as reaching No. 6 in their top Digital Albums Charts and No.5 in their Top Rap Albums Chart. The album is also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album at the 53rd Grammy Awards in April 2011.

Lecrae has received 2 nominations at the 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards for his song, 'Jesus Muzik', which also featured Trip Lee, for his second album,'After the Music Stops' and the 40th GMA Dove Awards for Hip Hop/Rap Recorded Album of the Year.

Achievements

Stellar Awards

Nomination for "Rap/Hip-Hop/Gospel CD of the Year" for 'After The Music Stops' (2006).

Dove Awards

Nominated for BEST RAP/HIP HOP ALBUM 2009 (rebel)

Nominated for BEST RAP/HIP HOP ALBUM 2007 (after the music stops)

Nominated for BEST RAP/HIP HOP RECORDED SONG 2007 (jesus muzik)

Discography:

Real Talk (2004)

After The Music Stops (2006)

Rebel (2008)

Rehab (2010)

Official Website:

www.lecraerebel.com

www.myspace.com/lecrae

Needtobreathe

Christian pop band Needtobreathe

Members:

Bear Rinehart (lead vocails, guitar, piano)

Nathaniel Bryant (Bo) Rinehart (backing vocals, guitar)

Seth Bolt (backing vocals, bass)

Joe Stillwell (drunms, percussion).

Origin:

Seneca, South Carolina, USA

Career Began:

2002–present

Discography:

Daylight (2006)

The Heat (2007)

The Outsiders (2009)

The brothers Bear and Bo were born and raised in rural Possum Kingdom, SC, where their father, a pastor, ran a church camp. They formed the band with Bear's longtime friend and drummer Joe Stillwell, along with Bo and fellow student Seth Bolt. After strenous touring, they came to the attention of Atlantic Records, who signed them in 2005.They have released 3 studio albums: 'Daylight' , was released in Aoril 2006, (the single 'You Are Here' went to number 2 in the Radio and Records CHR chart in 2006, and the single 'Shine On' went to No.6 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs Chart in January 2007) . Of the album 'The Heat' , released in 2007, Bear Rinehart explains, “There are moments in music - maybe it’s a whole song, sometimes it’s just a portion - that when you hear it, it just breaks you down. We really wanted to get those kinds of moments on this record. We wanted this record to hit people in a really strong way.” and they did - the album went to No.164 on Billboard'sTop 200 Chart, No.6 on Billboard's Rock Albums Chart, and No.2 on their Top Christian Albums Chart. The album was the 7th best selling Christian Album in the UK in 2008, according to Shine FM.In 2008, Needtobreathe was nominated for 2 GMA Dove Awards. Their song "Signature of Divine (Yahweh)" reached No.1 on Radio and Record's (R&R) Christian Comtemporary Hit Radio Chart and was and was their 14th most played song in 2007. The single received a nomination for "Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year", and the albumThe Heat was nominated for "Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year". The single 'Washed By The Water' was the 6th most played on on R&R's Christian CHR Chart for 2008, went to No.1 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs Chart, and won a Dove Award for 'Rock/Contemporary Song Of The Year' . The song was also 7th best selling song in Billboard's Hot Christian Songs Chart for 2008. 'The Outsiders', released in August 2009, reached No.20 on the Billboard 200 Chart, and No.2 on their Christian Albums Chart. The single 'Lay 'Em down' reached No.11 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs Chart.

Official Websites:

http://www.needtobreathe.net

http://www.myspace.com/needtobreathe