This article needs additional citations for verification .(February 2013) |
Avalon Worship | |
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Origin | Nashville, Tennessee |
Genres | CCM |
Instrument(s) | Voice |
Years active | 1996–present |
Labels | Sparrow, E1, Red Street |
Members |
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Past members |
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Website | avalonthegroup |
Avalon Worship, originally known as Avalon, is an American contemporary Christian vocal quartet from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 1995. The group has earned multiple RIAA-certified gold records. The group currently consists of Janna Long, Greg Long, Jody McBrayer, and Dani Rocca.
Avalon was formed in 1995 in Nashville after Norman Miller of Proper Management took the idea of a vocal group to Grant Cunningham, A&R Director at Sparrow Records. [1] [2] Miller's vision was to have two male and two female vocalists who could sing tight harmonies and carry the Gospel to the world.[ citation needed ] Cunningham publicized his intentions and received many demo tapes, but nothing fit his desires.[ citation needed ] After letting the idea of Avalon rest a while, Cunningham attended an artist showcase in Nashville to listen to a singer. However, another artist, Michael Passons, caught his attention, and Passons was the first of the group's founding members.[ citation needed ] Soon after, former Truth vocalist and South Carolina native Janna Potter (later Janna Long) heard about Avalon's formation.
Rikk Kittlemann and Tabitha Fair became part of the group, but each left after a short time.[ citation needed ] Fair was offered a solo record deal, and Kittlemann left for other opportunities.[ citation needed ] With two member openings, Long contacted her former Truth bandmate Jody McBrayer, who became a member of Avalon a few days later. [3] Nikki Hassman-Anders was the fourth founding vocalist of Avalon. Hassman recorded two albums with Avalon, Avalon (1996) and A Maze of Grace (1997), before leaving in May 1998 to pursue a solo career with Sony Records.
Cherie Paliotta (later Cherie Adams) replaced Hassman after one of Avalon's co-managers listened to a country music demo tape recorded by Adams. Though country is not a genre Avalon performs in, executives chose Adams as they believed she would be a perfect fit. [4] Adams recorded four albums with Avalon: In a Different Light (1999), Joy: A Christmas Collection (2000), Oxygen (2001), and a remix album, O2: Avalon Remixed (March 2002). In 1999, it won the Concert Artists Guild Competition. [5]
Adams departed the group to pursue a solo ministry geared toward single women, and in September 2002, she was replaced by Melissa Greene, another of Long's former bandmates in Truth. In between projects Jody McBrayer released a solo album, This Is Who I Am, in September 2002. The album included the Top Ten hit "Never Alone (Nunca Solo)" a duet with Jadyn Maria, as well as a number-one single, "To Ever Live Without Me." [6] Janna also released a self-titled solo album in October which contained the number-two song "Greater Is He". [7]
On March 25, 2003, Avalon released a greatest hits record, Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon, which featured two new singles that became No. 1 hits; "Everything to Me" and "New Day". It was the last album to include founding member Michael Passons; only months after the album's release the member known as 'Father Avalon' was dismissed by the group in summer 2003.
After eight years with Avalon, Passons revealed in an interview in 2020 that he was forced out of the group due to his sexual orientation as a gay man and his refusal to continue attending reparative therapy. [8] "Avalon showed up at my house and told me I was no longer in the group ... And it was all because of who I am. ... I'm a gay man and I'm glad to be." In the same podcast he mentioned that former bandmate Melissa Greene has supported him and Jody Mcbrayer apologized for his role in removing Passons from Avalon. Janna Long has never publicly commented on the situation or apologized for her role in ousting Passons from the group. [9] [10] Passons was replaced by Janna Long's husband, Greg. [11]
On February 24, 2004, Avalon released the studio album The Creed . Three singles were released: lead single "All", which made it to No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary Christian Songs chart; "You Were There"," a No. 2 Inspirational Charts hit, and "I Wanna Be With You", featuring Greg Long as the lead singer. [11] Avalon's sixth studio album, Stand , was released on January 24, 2006. Lead single "Love Won't Leave You" peaked in the Top 20 of both Billboard Hot Christian Songs and Hot Christian Adult Contemporary charts. The next single, "Orphans of God", was serviced to radio on April 7, 2006, and peaked in the Top 5 of Radio & Records' Inspo chart the week of August 11, 2006. Additionally, "Somehow You Are" was released to radio in August 2006. On October 17, 2006, Avalon released a fan-requested hymns album, titled Faith: A Hymns Collection .
In mid-2007, Jody McBrayer decided to depart the group due to a heart condition. But, before he left, he found time to record one last album with Avalon. On February 26, 2008, Avalon released their ninth album, Another Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics . A headlining tour, titled "The We Will Stand Tour," followed in spring 2008 to promote the album; the band was accompanied by Michael English, the Daniel Doss Band, and Cadia. The first single released from Another Time, Another Place was their cover of the Twila Paris song "God Is in Control." The second single, released on November 5, 2007, was a remake of the Sandi Patty/Wayne Watson song "Another Time, Another Place," featuring a Jody/Janna duet. On November 13, 2007, Avalon released Another Time, Another Place EP , a digital EP featuring three songs from the album: singles "God is in Control" and "Another Time, Another Place," and a cover of the Amy Grant song "Thy Word."
Jeremi Richardson joined the group in late 2007 to replace Jody McBrayer. Richardson, Greene, and Janna Long had attended the same college, Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. Richardson had sung with the group Voices of Liberty at Walt Disney World, and was recommended to Janna Long and Greene through mutual acquaintances. [12] On November 11, 2007, Melissa Greene announced at a show in Spring Arbor, Michigan, that it was the first concert with Richardson officially being a member of the group.
It was confirmed in late 2008 that EMI CMG would release Avalon: The Greatest Hits , a compilation of successful hits from previous Avalon recordings. It is notable that the track list, as published by the record label, bears many of the same hits featured on the 2003 release Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon (11 of the 16 songs featured on the older hits record also made the cut for the new one). The album does, however, contain four radio successes from three of Avalon's projects that have been released since the last hits record: "All" and "You Were There" from The Creed (2004), "Orphans of God" from Stand (2006), and "In Christ Alone" from Faith: A Hymns Collection (2006). In addition, the album features a new song from Avalon titled "Still My God." On March 31, 2009, "Still My God" became Avalon's first No. 1 single since "New Day" released in 2003, from Avalon's previous greatest hits album.
On May 15, 2009, Melissa Greene announced her resignation from Avalon on her personal website upon accepting a position as Pastor of Music and Arts at GracePointe Church in Nashville. Greene said she planned to continue her solo career as well. [13] On May 21, 2009, Avalon announced that Richardson's wife, Amy, would fill Greene's spot as the newest member of Avalon. [14] Janna went on maternity leave from Avalon beginning February 9, 2010, after giving birth to her daughter Eleanor Hovland. Shortly after the release of the recent hits record, Avalon announced they would be returning to the studio to record a new studio album (their first since Stand in 2006) on E1 Music, thus ending their long-time stint on Sparrow Records. Avalon began recording vocals for the new album on May 19, 2009. It was announced in June 2009 that the album would be titled Reborn . The first single, "Arise," was released to Christian radio in August 2009; on December 9, it officially became Avalon's 22nd career No. 1 radio hit, topping Billboard's Soft AC/Inspirational chart. [15] This came just weeks after the group wrapped up their co-headlining tour with fellow Christian group Selah in late 2009.[ citation needed ]
On August 7, 2018, after a decade as members of Avalon, Jeremi and Amy Richardson stopped touring.[ citation needed ] Avalon announced in their Facebook page the return of Jody McBrayer and the addition of new member, Dani Rocca. [16] On October 24, 2018, Avalon announced that they had signed as the flagship artist with Red Street Records, a new label launched by Rascal Flatts bassist Jay DeMarcus. [17] On November 1, 2018, they sang their debut concert as Avalon in Jacksonville, Florida on the opening night of the Greatest Hits Tour, organized by Newsong.[ citation needed ]
Avalon released "Keeper of My Heart" on December 7, 2019, 10 years after Avalon's previous radio single. [18] It was followed by a new album, Called, on February 14, 2020 [19] and tour. [20]
In 2022, the group rebranded under the name Avalon Worship and have released their self-titled album under this moniker. [21] [22]
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications [24] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [25] | US Christ. [25] | US Heat. [25] | |||
Avalon | — | 10 | 30 | ||
A Maze of Grace |
| 153 | 6 | 8 |
|
In a Different Light |
| 81 | 2 | — |
|
Oxygen |
| 37 | 1 | — | |
The Creed |
| 104 | 4 | — | |
Stand |
| 160 | 7 | — | |
Faith: A Hymns Collection |
| — | 25 | — | |
Another Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics |
| — | 21 | — | |
Reborn |
| — | 28 | — | |
Called [26] |
| — | — | — | |
Avalon Worship (Deluxe) |
| - | - | - |
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [25] | US Christ. [25] | US Holiday [25] | US Catalog [25] | ||
Joy: A Christmas Collection |
| 115 | 3 | 13 | 9 |
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US [25] | US Christ. [25] | US Dance [25] | ||
O2: Avalon Remixed |
| — | 19 | 2 |
Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon |
| 112 | 9 | — |
Avalon: The Greatest Hits |
| — | — | — |
Number Ones |
| — | — | — |
20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Avalon |
| — | — | — |
Year | Title | Peak positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Christ. [25] | US Christ. AC [27] [28] | US Insp. [27] | |||
1996 | "Give It Up" | — | 1 | — | Avalon |
1997 | "The Greatest Story" | — | 4 | — | |
"Picture Perfect World" | — | 1 | 1 | ||
"This Love" | — | 1 | — | ||
"Angels We Have Heard on High" | — | 34 | — | God with Us | |
1998 | "Testify to Love" | — | 1 | — | A Maze of Grace |
"Adonai" | — | 1 | 1 | ||
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" | — | 1 | — | ||
"Reason Enough" | — | 1 | — | ||
1999 | "In Not Of" | — | 1 | — | In a Different Light |
"Take You at Your Word" | — | 1 | — | ||
"Can't Live a Day" | — | 1 | 1 | ||
2000 | "Always Have, Always Will" | — | 1 | — | |
"Fly to You" | — | 1 | — | Jesus: The Epic Mini Series | |
2001 | "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" | — | 2 | — | Joy: A Christmas Collection |
"Light a Candle" | — | — | — | ||
"We Are the Reason" | — | — | — | ||
"Jesus, Born on This Day" | — | — | — | ||
"The Glory" | — | 1 | — | Oxygen | |
"Come and Fill My Heart" | — | — | 1 | ||
"Wonder Why" | — | 1 | — | ||
2002 | "I Don't Want to Go" | — | 1 | — | |
"Undeniably You" | — | 1 | — | ||
"Undeniably You (Jeff Savage Mix)" | — | — | — | O2: Avalon Remixed | |
2003 | "Everything to Me" | 3 | 1 | — | Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon |
"New Day" | 5 | 1 | — | ||
2004 | "All" | 8 | 2 | — | The Creed |
"You Were There" | 29 | — | 2 | ||
2005 | "I Wanna Be with You" | 26 | — | — | |
2006 | "Love Won't Leave You" | 22 | — | — | Stand |
"Orphans of God" | — | — | 5 | ||
"Somehow You Are" | — | — | — | ||
2007 | "In Christ Alone" | — | — | — | Faith: A Hymns Collection |
"God Is in Control" | — | — | — | Another Time, Another Place | |
"Another Time, Another Place" | — | — | — | ||
2008 | "We Will Stand" | — | — | — | |
2009 | "Still My God" | — | 1 | — | Avalon: The Greatest Hits |
"Arise" | — | 1 | — | Reborn | |
"Alive" | — | — | — | ||
2019 | "Majesty" | — | — | — | non-album single |
"Keeper of My Heart" | 29 | — | — | Called | |
2020 | "Closer" | — | 1 | — | |
"If Not for Jesus" | — | — | — | ||
"Called" | — | — | — | ||
"Only One" | — | — | — |
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US [25] | US Christ. [29] | US Heat. [30] | ||
Testify to Love: Live in Concert | — | — | — | |
Avalon Live! A Hits Collection |
| — | — | — |
Year | Awards | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | American Songwriter Professional Songwriter Awards | Artist of the Year | Avalon | Won |
Song of the Year | "Testify to Love" | Won | ||
CRR (Christian Research Report) | No. 1 AC Song of the Year | Won | ||
Group of the Year | Avalon | Won | ||
GMA Dove Awards | Best New Artist | Won | ||
Special Event Album of the Year | God with Us | Won | ||
1999 | CRR (Christian Research Report) | No. 1 AC Song of the Year | "Reason Enough" | Won |
GMA Dove Awards | Artist of the Year | Avalon | Nominated | |
Group of the Year | Nominated | |||
Long Form Music Video | My Utmost for His Highest | Won | ||
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year | A Maze of Grace | Nominated | ||
Inspirational Song of the Year | "Adonai" | Won | ||
Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year | "Testify to Love" | Won | ||
2000 | Christian Booksellers Association | Top-Selling Christmas Recording | Joy: A Christmas Collection | Won |
GMA Dove Awards | Artist of the Year | Avalon | Nominated | |
Group of the Year | Nominated | |||
Song of the Year | "Can't Live a Day" | Nominated | ||
Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year | In a Different Light | Nominated | ||
2001 | GMA Dove Awards | Group of the Year | Avalon | Nominated |
Special Event Album of the Year | Child of the Promise | Nominated | ||
Music from and Inspired by Jesus: The Epic Mini-Series | Nominated | |||
43rd Annual Grammy Awards | Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album | Joy: A Christmas Collection | Nominated | |
2002 | CCM Reader's Choice Awards | Group of the Year | Avalon | Won |
GMA Dove Awards | Nominated | |||
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year | Oxygen | Nominated | ||
Song of the Year | "The Glory" | Nominated | ||
Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
44th Annual Grammy Awards | Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album | Oxygen | Nominated | |
2003 | American Music Awards (January) | Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist | Avalon | Won |
CCM Reader's Choice Awards | Group of the Year | Won | ||
2004 | CCM Reader's Choice Awards | Group of the Year | Avalon | Won |
GMA Dove Awards | Song of the Year | "Everything to Me" | Nominated | |
Inspirational Song of the Year | Won | |||
2005 | 47th Annual Grammy Awards | Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album | The Creed | Nominated |
2007 | GMA Dove Awards | Children's Album of the Year | Sing Over Me | Nominated |
Inspirational Song of the Year | "Orphans of God" | Nominated | ||
2008 | GMA Dove Awards | Special Event Album | Amazing Grace: Music Inspired by the Motion Picture | Nominated |
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Greg Long is an American contemporary Christian music solo artist and also a member of the contemporary Christian pop group Avalon.
Avalon is Avalon's first studio album, released in December 1996 on Sparrow Records. It includes a cover of the hymn "My Jesus, I Love Thee" and the Andrae Crouch song "Jesus Is Lord". Produced by Charlie Peacock, Avalon catapulted the smooth quartet into the Christian music scene, with four No. 1 radio hits and a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association in 1998 for "New Artist of the Year".
Oxygen is Avalon's fifth studio album, released on May 22, 2001, and produced by Brown Bannister. The album included six singles that reached #1 on Christian adult contemporary or Christian contemporary hit radio, the most of any Avalon album to date.
In a Different Light is Avalon's third studio album, released on March 23, 1999. It is the first album with group member Cherie Adams, who replaced Nikki Hassman-Anders. This is Avalon's second album to be certified Gold by the RIAA. The project was an instant hit at Christian radio, containing four No. 1 singles: "Can't Live A Day", "Take You At Your Word", "In Not Of", and "Always Have, Always Will". It debuted and peaked on the Billboard 200 chart at #81 for the week of April 10, 1999, spending a total of 13 weeks on that specific chart.
A Maze of Grace is Avalon's second album, released in December 1997. It contains the hit single "Testify to Love", which has become the group's trademark song, the longest-running Adult Contemporary song in the history of the CCM Update AC chart. The album was Avalon's first to be certified Gold by the RIAA. Shortly after the release of the album, Nikki Hassman left the quartet to pursue a solo career with Sony Records.
Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon is Avalon's seventh release—the group's first greatest hits collection—and is titled appropriately after the quartet's hit, "Testify to Love". It is the first album showcasing Melissa Greene, who replaced Cherie Adams, and the last album featuring founding member Michael Passons. Although mostly consisting of previous radio hits, three new songs were added—"New Day", "Everything to Me", and "Pray", with a bonus Christmas song. "Wonder Why" has an alternate opening from the original album version.
The Creed is the eighth album released by Christian vocal group Avalon, their fifth studio project. It is the first Avalon album to include Greg Long, who replaced Michael Passons after his unexpected departure in mid-2003. The Creed debuted and peaked at #104 on the Billboard 200 chart for the week of March 13, 2004, and to date has spent a total of eight weeks there. It also made an appearance on Billboard's Christian Albums chart, its highest ranking #4, also for the week of March 13, 2004. On the Christian Albums chart, it spent a total of nineteen weeks. The project was unable to produce a No. 1 radio single, a rare occurrence in the group's successful career. However, lead single "All" did manage to peak at #2 on Radio & Records' Christian AC chart and spent a total of eight weeks in the chart's top five. It also made chart positions in all three major Christian formats—AC, CHR, and Inspirational. The Creed contains the track "Overjoyed", lifted from Janna Long's self-titled solo album.
Stand is Avalon's ninth release and their sixth studio album. Originally titled The Other Side and slated to release in September 2005, Stand was actually released on January 24, 2006. The album includes a remake of a Russ Taff song, "We Will Stand", that features an additional bridge written by Taff, his wife Tori, and James Hollihan, Jr. Stand marked the 10-year anniversary for the group.
Joy: A Christmas Collection (2000) is Avalon's fourth release, and their first Christmas album. In addition to standard Christmas songs, the album also includes covers of Celine Dion's "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day", Mariah Carey's "Jesus, Born on This Day", and David Meece's "We Are The Reason".
Faith: A Hymns Collection is Avalon's tenth release and their seventh studio album. Their first worship album, it contains remakes of old and modern hymns. It was released on October 17, 2006.
Jody McBrayer is an American singer/songwriter and a member of Christian pop groups Cana's Voice and Avalon.
Michael Passons is an American singer-songwriter and the founding member of the Christian band Avalon.
Another Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics is Avalon's eleventh release and their eighth studio album. it contains remakes of classic songs that have defined and shaped the sound of Contemporary Christian Music. It was released on February 26, 2008 and was thought to be the final album featuring Jody McBrayer as a member of Avalon until he rejoined the group in 2018.
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Avalon: The Greatest Hits (2009) is a greatest hits album by Contemporary Christian music vocal group Avalon. Titles appearing on the album include fan-favorites "Give It Up", "Adonai", "Can't Live A Day", "All", and "You Were There", as well as "Testify To Love", the latter of which became the longest-running No. 1 Adult Contemporary song in the history of the CCM Update AC chart. Also included is then-new recording and radio single, "Still My God". The song garnered immediate attention and success, eventually becoming Avalon's 21st career #1 radio hit. In addition, the song peaked at #2 on Radio & Records' Soft AC/Inspo chart.
Reborn is Avalon's thirteenth release and their ninth studio album. It is the first album featuring Amy Richardson as a member of Avalon and the first full album to feature Jeremi Richardson. It also marks the first album with E1 Music as Avalon's new record label. Released on September 15, 2009, Reborn contains the radio singles "Arise" and "Alive"; "Arise" peaked at the No. 1 position on Billboard's Soft AC/Inspirational National Airplay radio chart in late 2009, garnering Avalon their 22nd career No. 1 hit.
Another Time, Another Place EP is Avalon's third EP release. It contains three songs that would be included in Another Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics.
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