Rex Carroll | |
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![]() Carroll in 2017 | |
Background information | |
Genres | Heavy metal |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Guitar |
Rex Carroll is an American guitarist known for his work in the Christian metal band Whitecross. [1] He is also the leader and guitarist of other bands including Fierce Heart, King James and the Rex Carroll Band. He also filled in and did all the guitar work on Eden's 1994 album Fan The Flame.
In Whitecross, Carroll is not only the lead guitarist, but is also the primary songwriter. With Whitecross, he has completed six world tours and in 1989 they were the first American rock band to perform in Guatemala City. Whitecross won two Dove Awards for "Metal Album of the Year" in 1990 and 1992. [2]
Carroll has recorded numerous sound libraries, many of which have been picked up for use by ESPN for their NFL highlights, as well as Season One of the Anna Nicole Show. His playing has been heard on commercials for the Milwaukee Bucks, and he also performed the National Anthem at the Harley-Davidson 100th anniversary celebration. In June 2004, he placed third in the North American Rock Guitar Competition sponsored by Guitar Player magazine and WNED/New York. Carroll holds a bachelor's degree in classical guitar performance from Northern Illinois University. [3]
In 2010, Rex participated in a tribute album titled Mister Bolin's Late Night Revival, a compilation of 17 previously unreleased tracks written by guitar legend Tommy Bolin prior to his death in 1976. The CD includes other artists such as HiFi Superstar, Doogie White, Eric Martin, Troy Luccketta, Jeff Pilson, Randy Jackson, Rachel Barton, Derek St. Holmes, Kimberley Dahme, and The 77's. A percentage of the proceeds from this project will benefit the Jackson Recovery Centers. [4]
In 2017, Rex and Whitecross and King James bandmate Mike Feighan joined with David Bach and Jamie Rowe of Guardian to record Revival, a new compilation of Whitecross and Guardian tracks and went on a short tour to promote the project. [5]
The 77s is an American rock band consisting of Michael Roe on vocals/guitar, Mark Harmon on bass guitar, and Bruce Spencer on drums.
Thomas Richard Bolin was an American guitarist who played with Zephyr, The James Gang, and Deep Purple, in addition to maintaining a notable career as a solo artist and session musician.
Whitecross is an American Christian metal band from Illinois, formed in 1985 by singer Scott Wenzel and guitarist Rex Carroll, and re-formed in 2000. The band won three Dove Awards in the 1990s.
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Guardian is an American Christian hard rock and metal band. The band has released seven studio albums, three additional albums in Spanish, and toured extensively worldwide. There are also numerous compilations, independent releases, live records and bootlegs available.
King James is a heavy metal supergroup formed in 1993 with guitarist Rex Carroll (Whitecross) and frontman Jimi Bennett. Some time later, they recruited Tim Gaines and Robert Sweet of Stryper, and released their first album in 1994. The band supported the album with a tour without Gaines, who declined to join after the recording. Sweet toured with the band into 1996, but did not participate in their second release. Carroll and Bennett remained together and released a second album, The Fall, in 1997.
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Benny Ramos is an American musician and producer from Chicago. He is currently the bassist for King James, the Rex Carroll Band, The Royal Guard, and for Whitecross, which he joined in 2000 for their reunion concert at the Cornerstone Festival and has since toured with internationally.