Amy Lee Grant is an American Christian and pop singer-songwriter, and musician. She began in contemporary Christian music (CCM) before crossing over to pop music in the 1980s and 1990s. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop".
Contemporary Christian music, also known as CCM, Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith and stylistically rooted in Christian music. It was formed by those affected by the 1960s Jesus movement revival who began to express themselves in other styles of popular music, beyond the church music of hymns, gospel and Southern gospel music that was prevalent in the church at the time. Initially referred to as Jesus music, today, the term is typically used to refer to pop, but also includes rock, alternative rock, hip hop, metal, contemporary worship, punk, hardcore punk, latin, EDM, R&B-influenced gospel and country styles.
Michael Whitaker Smith is an American musician who has charted in both contemporary Christian and mainstream charts. His biggest success in mainstream music was in 1991 when "Place in This World" hit No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the course of his career, he has sold more than 18 million albums.
Evelyn Tornquist Karlsson, mononymously known as Evie, is an American contemporary Christian music singer who was known in the late 1970s and early 1980s for songs such as "Mirror", "Step into the Sunshine" and "Four Foot Eleven".
Geoff Moore is an American contemporary Christian music singer. He began recording as a solo artist in 1984. In 1987, he formed Geoff Moore and The Distance, his touring band, which released eight albums generating a string of No. 1 radio hits throughout their 10+-year tenure. In 1998, Geoff retired the band from full-time touring. After a "farewell tour", Moore has continued as a solo artist, releasing eight more records between 1999 and 2015. The Next Thing was released in April 2016, making it his 25th album to date.
Petra is an American music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres and was, for many years, regarded as the "world's most popular Christian rock band". Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock". Though it disbanded formally in 2006, incarnations have played reunion shows in the years since and released two albums in November 2010, and in November 2017. In 2013, it reformed with a new drummer, Cristian Borneo, and recorded a new song titled "Holy is Your Name", before going back on tour.
Judith Kay "Juice" Newton is an American pop and country singer, songwriter, and musician. Newton has received five Grammy Award nominations in the Pop and Country Best Female Vocalist categories – winning once in 1983 – as well as an ACM Award for Top New Female Artist and two consecutive Billboard Female Album Artist of the Year awards. Newton's other awards include a People's Choice Award for "Best Female Vocalist" and the Australian Music Media's "Number One International Country Artist".
"WOW" is a series of annual compilation albums featuring contemporary Christian music dating from 1995. Comprising songs submitted by each partner label, the annual WOW Hits releases are usually double CD sets. The series was officially cancelled in 2019. Throughout its run, the WOW franchise evolved into one of the most successful collections of Christian music.
The 34th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 10, 2003 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2002. The show was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by CeCe Winans and Steven Curtis Chapman.
MercyMe is an American contemporary Christian music band founded in Edmond, Oklahoma. The band consists of lead vocalist Bart Millard, percussionist Robby Shaffer, bassist Nathan Cochran and guitarists Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul.
Carolyn Arends is a Canadian contemporary Christian musician, songwriter, and author. She is based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
The Covenant Awards are awarded to the Canadian gospel music industry by GMA Canada, the Gospel Music Association of Canada. The association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the growth and ministry of Christian music in Canada. The ceremonies are held annually in cities across the nation.
Matthew Guion Maher is a Canadian contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist, songwriter, and worship leader from Newfoundland, Canada, who lives in the United States. Three of his nine albums have reached the Top 25 Christian Albums Billboard chart and four of his singles have reached the Top 25 Christian Songs chart. His notable writing credits include "Your Grace Is Enough", "I Will Rise", "Because He Lives (Amen)", "Christ Is Risen", and "Lord I Need You". Maher has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards in his career and was awarded the Songwriter of the Year at the 2015 GMA Dove Awards. He is a practicing Catholic.
Home for Christmas is the fourth studio album and first Christmas album from Christian rock band BarlowGirl. It was released on September 23, 2008 by Fervent Records and was produced by Otto Price and Susan Riley for Twelve-18 Entertainment. "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", "Carol of the Bells / Sing We Now of Christmas", "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "Hallelujah " were released as singles. It is BarlowGirl's sole album to deviate from a pop rock sound, as the band opts for a traditional Christmas genre instead.
The 18th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on 1987 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1986. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee.
Tony Wood is an American songwriter working primarily in the contemporary Christian music (CCM) genre. He has received five Gospel Music Association Dove Awards for songwriting.
Le Voyage is the fourteenth studio album by Christian singer Sandi Patti, released in 1993 on Word Records. It's a concept album and it tells the story, done in a musical setting, featuring Patti as a character named Traveler, and she comes from a long line of Sojouners. It has been described as a modern retelling of Pilgrim's Progress featuring songs about traveling on a journey of faith. Le Voyage continues her inspirational sound but also adds some upbeat pop and adult contemporary sounds as well. Patti re-records a new version of "Unexpected Friends," originally from her 1990 album Another Time...Another Place and also features a duet with fellow Christian singer/songwriter and former Kansas lead singer John Elefante called "Home Will Find You." This would be the last album using her last name "Patti." Patti also released a companion book to go with the album. The album would top the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. In 1994, her music video for the first single "Hand On My Shoulder" won Short Form Music Video of the Year at the 25th GMA Dove Awards.
The Very Best of the Imperials is a compilation album by Christian music group the Imperials, released in late 1981 on DaySpring Records. It is a collection of the Imperials' best songs from the Russ Taff years 1976–1980, covering their four albums Sail On, Heed the Call, One More Song for You and Priority. The album also contains a never-before-released track "Same Old Fashioned Way" written and performed by baritone singer David Will recorded in 1976. It would later be featured on The Lost Album in 2006. The track is produced by recording artist-producer Gary S. Paxton. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.
O Holy Night! is a 1996 Christmas album by Christian singer Sandi Patty released on Word Records. It is her sixteenth and second Christmas album with six tracks produced by Patty's long-time producer Greg Nelson and five songs selected from the 1992 Hallmark Christmas album Celebrate Christmas! produced by Fred Salem with arrangements conducted by David T. Clydesdale featuring the London Symphony Orchestra. The album peaked at number 7 on the Top Christian Albums chart, number 8 on the Top Holiday Albums chart and number 143 on the Top 200 Albums chart on Billboard magazine.
Farrell and Farrell was a Christian music husband and wife duo formed in 1977 by Bob and Jayne Farrell. They have released seven studio albums and one live album between 1977 and 1989 and have amassed many Christian radio hits during those times. Bob Farrell is the principal songwriter of the duo and outside of Farrell and Farrell has written songs for many CCM and mainstream artists like Sandi Patty, Amy Grant, Eric Clapton, Anne Murray, Laura Branigan and DeGarmo and Key.
