Citizen Way

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Citizen Way
Citizen Way St. James MO 2014-02-09 (cropped).jpg
Background information
Also known asThe Least of These
Origin Elgin, Illinois, U.S.
Genres2004-2012: Indie rock, Christian rock, Christian alternative rock, Christian pop rock

2012-2019: Contemporary Christian music, Christian pop rock, worship

2019-Present:

Contents

Christian pop, Contemporary Christian music, worship
Years active2004 (2004)–present
Labels
  • Generosity Rocks
Members
  • Ben Calhoun
Past membersDavid Blascoe
  • Ben Blascoe
  • Josh Calhoun
  • Daniel Olsson
Website citizen-way.com

Citizen Way is an American contemporary Christian music and Christian worship band from Elgin, Illinois. [1] In 2015, Bass guitarist Ben Blascoe announced his departure from the band as Ben Calhoun and his family moved from their home base at Judson University in Illinois to Nashville, Tennessee so that Ben Calhoun could focus and invest in the group’s new record. In 2016, Josh Calhoun left the band and eventually started working on a solo music career. In December 2019, David Blascoe announced on his social media that he was departing from the band. Daniel Olsson also left the band around the time of David Blascoe's departure.

Background

The band originally formed in 2004 when Ben Calhoun and Ben Blascoe met one another at Judson University. "As a freshman, Ben Blascoe was playing his bass in the dorm one day when the Ben Calhoun poked his head in. There was a connection and so when Ben Calhoun was ready to record some songs he had composed, he asked the other Ben to join him in the studio. He also recruited his brother Josh, on drums then, who had been playing with Augustana (band) while in college. After the project was completed, the trio continued to play together." [2]

The band originally went by "The Least of These". In 2004, they released their self titled debut album. On August 11th, 2009, They released their second album, also self titled. The album was produced by Joel Hanson, member of Christian rock band PFR (band). The tenth track on the album titled "No Matter What" was inspired by PFR's song "Fight" on the album "Them" released in 1996. [3] Sometime in 2010 David Blascoe joined the band as the new Drummer. This resulted Josh Calhoun switching to the keys.

In 2012, the band decided to change their name to "Citizen Way". At that point, other bands going by the name "The Least of These" were increasing, so the group decided to change their name to avoid confusion. The group was signed by the label Fair Trade Services. The band released their debut single under their newly formed band name titled, "Should've Been Me", on the Fair Trade Services label on June 26, 2012. [4] [5] Their second single, "Nothing Ever (Could Separate Us)", was released in June 2013. [6] Their third single, "How Sweet the Sound", was released on September 27, 2013, [7] and has gone on to become their first No. 1 single. It has charted on Christian AC Indicator and Soft AC/Inspirational, reaching No. 1 on the Christian Soft AC/Inspirational chart on April 3, 2014. [8] The single spent four weeks atop the Christian Soft AC/Inspirational chart. [9]

Discography

Albums

YearAlbumPeak chart positions
US
[10] 		US
Christ.
[11] 		US
Heat.
[12]
2013 Love Is the Evidence —224
2016 2.0
  • Release date: March 11, 2016
  • Label: Fair Trade
  • Formats: CD, Digital download
— [A] 9—
2019Love Is a Lion [13]
  • Release date: October 18, 2019 [14]
  • Label: Fair Trade
  • Formats: CD, digital download
—— [B] —

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
US Christ
[15] 		US Christian Airplay
[16] 		US
Christ Digital
[17] 		US
Christ AC
[18] 		Christian AC Ind.
[19]
2012"Should've Been Me"14—104Love Is the Evidence
2013"Nothing Ever (Could Separate Us)"13—167
2014"How Sweet the Sound"1151023
"Evidence"2320—1617
2016"When I'm with You"22121710162.0
2017"I Will"4639——23
"Bulletproof"97441
2018"WaveWalker"
(featuring Bart Millard of MercyMe)		3538—2517Love Is a Lion [13]
2019"The Lord's Prayer" [20] —41——22
2021"Love Has Won"—46———

Promotional singles

YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
US Christ
[21]
2019"Love Has Won" [14] —Love Is a Lion

Notes

  1. ↑ 2.0 did not chart on the Billboard 200, but peaked at No. 94 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart. [10]
  2. ↑ Love Is a Lion did not chart on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart, but peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Christian Album Sales chart.

References

  1. ↑ "Citizen Way: Info". Facebook. February 1, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  2. ↑ {{Cite web |url=https://www.louderthanthemusic.com/artist.php?id=769 | Data retrieved=August 18, 2025}
  3. ↑ {{Cite web | url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/CitizenWay2014.asp | Info | Data retrieved=August 18, 2025}
  4. ↑ "Should've Been Me". Amazon. June 26, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Should've Been Me". iTunes Store. June 26, 2012. Archived from the original on June 16, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  6. ↑ Dinger, Anna (June 26, 2013). "Nothing Ever". mstarz.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  7. ↑ "How Sweet the Sound". daily.plaympe.com. August 28, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Soft AC/Inspirational 2014-04-03". Billboard. April 3, 2014. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Soft AC/Inspirational". Billboard. April 26, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Citizen Way Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Citizen Way Chart History (Top Christian Albums)". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Citizen Way Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  13. 1 2 "Love Is A Lion by Citizen Way". NewReleaseToday. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Citizen Way to Drop New Album 'Love Is A Lion' October 18th". NewReleaseToday. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Citizen Way Album & Song Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Citizen Way Album & Song Chart History: Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Citizen Way Album & Song Chart History (Christian Digital Songs)". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Citizen Way Album & Song Chart History: Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard . Retrieved June 5, 2018.[ dead link ]
  19. ↑ "Citizen Way Album & Song Chart History: Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard . Retrieved June 5, 2018.[ dead link ]
  20. ↑ "Citizen Way Follows Up Breakout Hit With New Single 'The Lord's Prayer'" . Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Citizen Way Album & Song Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
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