Joel Smallbone

Last updated

Joel Smallbone
Joel Smallbone 2016.jpg
Smallbone in 2016
Background information
Born (1984-06-05) 5 June 1984 (age 39)
Sydney, Australia
Occupation(s)Singer, actor
Member of For King & Country
Spouse(s) Moriah Peters (m. 2013)

Joel David Smallbone (born 5 June 1984) is an Australian-American singer and actor. He is a member of the Christian pop duo For King & Country along with his brother Luke Smallbone. He played the role of James Stevens in the 2016 film Priceless .

Contents

Early life

Smallbone was born in Sydney, but moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1991. [1] He is the brother of Luke Smallbone and younger brother of Christian recording artist and speaker Rebecca St. James. Smallbone is also the brother-in-law of Jacob Fink, former bassist for the band Foster the People. [2]

Smallbone's father was a music promoter, and Joel recalls, "going to these rock concerts, sitting on my father's shoulders, plugging my ears...Honestly, in a lot of ways I feel like music chose me and as I grew older, I made a clear decision to fully lean into it." [3]

Career

Smallbone with For King & Country performing at Kingdom Bound 2015 Joel Smallbone.jpg
Smallbone with For King & Country performing at Kingdom Bound 2015

Smallbone did background vocals for his sister Rebecca as well as operating lights and managing the stage. [4] He collaborated with his brother Luke and in 2008 they released their first EP, A Tale of Two Towns, performing under the name Austoville. [1] The group was signed to Warner Bros. Records and later changed its name to For King & Country. [1]

Smallbone began his acting career in 2013 by playing King Xerxes in The Book of Esther and as Jake Reeson in Like a Country Song . [5] In 2016, Smallbone was cast in the leading role of James Stevens in the film Priceless. [6]

Smallbone won two Grammy awards i 2014 and was nominated for another Grammy in 2016 [7] [8]

Smallbone performing at Rock the Universe in Orlando, Florida in 2022 Joel Smallbone 2022.jpg
Smallbone performing at Rock the Universe in Orlando, Florida in 2022

Discography

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013 The Book of Esther King Xerxes
2014 Like a Country Song Jake Reeson
2016 Priceless James Stevens
2023 Journey To Bethlehem Antipater
2024 Unsung Hero David Smallbone

Related Research Articles

Rebecca Jean Fink, known professionally as Rebecca Jean or Rebecca St. James, is an Australian American contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and actress. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first full-length studio album in 1991. She was signed to ForeFront Records in 1993, releasing her major label debut the following year.

<i>Pray</i> (Rebecca St. James album) 1998 studio album by Rebecca St. James

Pray is the fifth studio album from Christian pop and rock artist Rebecca St. James. It was released on October 20, 1998, by ForeFront Records and was certified Gold by the RIAA in September 2006. The album won a Grammy Award for Rock Gospel Album of the Year, St. James's only Grammy so far. The album was produced by Tedd T.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">For King & Country (band)</span> Australian-American pop duo

For King & Country, stylised as for KING & COUNTRY and formerly known as Joel & Luke as well as Austoville, is a Christian pop duo composed of Australian brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone. The brothers were born in Australia and emigrated to the United States as children, settling in the Nashville area.

Moriah Smallbone is an American Actress, and Latin-Country artist from Nashville, TN. She is a singer and songwriter born in Pomona, California and raised in Chino, California and Ontario, California. She previously worked under the name "Moriah Peters".

The 46th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at the Allen Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other figures within the Christian music industry for the year 2014. The ceremony was produced by the Trinity Broadcasting Network and was hosted by musician Erica Campbell and television star Sadie Robertson. The awards show was broadcast on the Trinity Broadcasting Network on October 18, 2015.

<i>Priceless</i> (2016 film) 2016 film

Priceless is a 2016 American Christian romantic drama film about human trafficking, inspired by true events. It was directed by Ben Smallbone and produced by Steve Barnett with a screenplay by Chris Dowling and Tyler Poelle. Starring singer Joel Smallbone of For King and Country, Bianca Santos, Amber Midthunder, Jim Parrack, and David Koechner, it tells the story of a man who has his life changed when he inadvertently delivers two women into the hands of sex traffickers and resolves to save them.

<i>Burn the Ships</i> 2018 studio album by For King & Country

Burn the Ships is the third studio album by For King & Country, an Australian Christian pop duo comprising brothers Luke Smallbone and Joel Smallbone, released via Word Entertainment on 5 October 2018. It features appearances from Moriah Peters and Courtney, the respective wives of Joel and Luke Smallbone. For King & Country collaborated with Matt Hales, Blake Kanicka, Seth Mosley and Tedd Tjornhom in the production of the album.

<i>Christmas: Live from Phoenix</i> 2017 live album by For King & Country

Christmas: Live From Phoenix is the first live album and third album overall by For King & Country, an Australian-American Christian pop duo consisting of brothers Luke and Joel Smallbone, released via Word Entertainment on 27 October 2017. The album features the band playing cover versions of popular Christmas tunes and original material. It features an appearance from Rebecca St. James, who joined the band for live rendition of "The Proof of Your Love". For King & Country collaborated with Blake Kanicka, Seth Mosley and Tedd Tjornhom in the arrangement of the album.

"Unsung Hero" is a song by an Australian Christian pop duo For King & Country. The song was released as the first promotional single from their fifth studio album, What Are We Waiting For? (2022), on 7 January 2022. The song was written by Federico Vindver, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, and Seth Mosley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">50th GMA Dove Awards</span>

The 50th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, at the Allen Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other figures within the Christian music industry for the year 2019. The awards show aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network on Sunday, October 20, 2019, at 8 p.m. ET.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burn the Ships (song)</span> 2018 single by For King & Country

"Burn the Ships" is a song performed by an Australian Christian pop duo For King & Country. The song impacted Christian radio in the United States on 30 August 2018, becoming the third single from Burn the Ships (2018). The song was written by Matt Hales, Seth Mosley, Joel Smallbone and Luke Smallbone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Together (For King & Country, Tori Kelly and Kirk Franklin song)</span> 2020 single by For King & Country, Tori Kelly and Kirk Franklin

"Together" is a song performed by an Australian Christian pop duo For King & Country with American singer Tori Kelly and American gospel musician Kirk Franklin. It was released as a standalone single on 1 May 2020. It was later included on the deluxe edition of the duo's third studio album Burn the Ships (2018), as well as their fifth studio album, What Are We Waiting For? (2022). The song was written by duo members Joel and Luke Smallbone, alongside Ran Jackson, Ricky Jackson. and Franklin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amen (For King & Country song)</span> 2018 song by For King & Country

"Amen" is a song performed by an Australian Christian pop duo For King & Country. The song impacted Christian radio in the United States on 5 February 2021, becoming the fourth single from Burn the Ships (2018). The song was written by Matt Hales, Seth Mosley, Joel Smallbone and Luke Smallbone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">For God Is with Us</span> 2021 song by For King & Country

"For God Is with Us" is a song performed by an Australian Christian pop duo For King & Country. The song was released as the second single from their fifth studio album, What Are We Waiting For? (2022), on 24 September 2021. The song was written by Joel Smallbone, Jordan Reynolds, Josh Kerr, and Luke Smallbone.

<i>What Are We Waiting For?</i> 2022 studio album by For King & Country

What Are We Waiting For? is the fifth studio album by For King & Country, an Australian Christian pop duo comprising brothers Luke Smallbone and Joel Smallbone, released via Word Entertainment on 11 March 2022. The album contains guest appearances by Dante Bowe, Sleeping at Last, Tori Kelly, and Kirk Franklin. The duo collaborated with Tedd T., Josh Kerr, Jeff Sojka, Federico Vindver, Benjamin Backus, and Seth Mosley in the production of the album.

<i>Dawn</i> (Rebecca St. James EP) 2020 EP by Rebecca St. James

Dawn is the fifth extended play (EP) by Rebecca St. James. Released on July 24, 2020, Dawn is St. James' first studio recording in nine years and her first with Heritage Music Group. The EP was preceded by the single "Battle Is the Lord's", which was released on June 12, 2020 and features recording artist Brandon Lake.

<i>Kingdom Come</i> (Rebecca St. James album) 2022 studio album by Rebecca St. James

Kingdom Come is the tenth studio album by Rebecca St. James, released on March 25, 2022. Kingdom Come was St. James' first full-length studio album in eleven years and her first with Heritage Music Group. The album was preceded by two singles: "Kingdom Come", which was released on October 22, 2021 and features her brothers' Christian pop duo, for KING & COUNTRY, and "Praise", which was released on February 18, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom Come (Rebecca St. James song)</span> 2021 song by Rebecca St. James featuring For King & Country

"Kingdom Come" is a song performed by Australian Christian pop singer Rebecca St. James featuring Australian Christian pop duo For King & Country. The song was released on 22 October 2021, as the lead single to her tenth studio album, also titled Kingdom Come (2022). St. James co-wrote the song with Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, and Seth Mosley. Tedd Tjornhom and Seth Mosley handled the production of the single.

<i>Unsung Hero</i> (film) 2024 American film

Unsung Hero is an upcoming American Christian drama film directed by Richard Ramsey and Joel Smallbone. The film follows the Smallbone family, of which Rebecca and Joel and Luke Smallbone of For King & Country become Christian recording artists.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "For King & Country: From Rebecca St James sidemen to CCM success". Cross Ryhthms. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  2. McPhail, Carol (23 January 2015). "For King & Country, touring with Winter Jam, draws on life-or-death scare in 'Run Wild'". AL.com. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  3. "Biography | for KING & COUNTRY". Forkingandcountry.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  4. Schmitt, Brad (2 June 2016). "For King & Country's Luke Smallbone nearly died from illness". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  5. "For King & Country: Impacting the US with their anti-trafficking film Priceless". Cross Rhythms. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  6. Leydon, Joe. "Film Review: Priceless". Variety. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  7. "Joel Smallbone". GRAMMY.com. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  8. "Joel Smallbone of Christian music group For King & Country on being in film 'Priceless'". The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 September 2017.