Selah (band)

Last updated

Selah
Origin Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres Contemporary Christian, gospel
Years active1997–present [1]
Labels Curb
Members
Past members
Website selahonline.com

Selah is a contemporary Christian vocal trio consisting of Todd Smith, Allan Hall, and Amy Perry. The group has been featured on The 700 Club , Hour of Power , and TBN.[ not verified in body ]

Contents

Group history

1997–2004: Original lineup

Selah was originally formed by brother and sister, Todd and Nicol Smith (now Nicol Sponberg), along with friend Allan Hall. [2] The group quickly gained success with the release of their first album, Be Still My Soul , in 1999. They became known for transforming old Christian hymns into a more modern style and with their powerful voices and beautiful harmonies. [3] Todd and Nicol, who spent their childhood in Subsaharan Africa, brought many African elements to their songs as well. They are as comfortable singing in Kituba, as they are in English. [2] Todd gives credit for his music career to his missionary upbringing. "I've been singing in front of people since I was three," he said. "My parents are missionaries. When we came back to the United States, we had to visit each church that sponsored us. That was a good training ground." [4] They also did well-known covers of already-famous songs such as "You Raise Me Up" by Secret Garden and "Bless the Broken Road" by Marcus Hummon. Selah went on to win a Dove Award for their debut album.

Their second album Press On was released in 2001, and also won a Dove Award, along with many nominations for individual songs in the album.

In April 2000, Nicol Smith released her self-titled solo debut on Curb Records. [5] She met and married Greg Sponberg in 2003. Nicol Sponberg released her second solo album, Resurrection (Curb Records), in 2004. The single "Crazy In Love" crossed over to the secular Adult Contemporary charts while songs like "Safe" continued to earn her airplay on Christian radio. Todd also produced a solo album, Alive, in 2004.

2005–present

Nicol left the group in 2004 to pursue a solo career, and for most of 2005 Melodie Crittenden sang with the group. [6]

The 2006 Bless the Broken Road album was a project that teamed original Selah members Allan Hall and Todd Smith with a wide variety of guest singers.

After auditioning 15 female vocalists, Amy Perry became a full-time member based on her vocal abilities and spirituality. [6] Allan Hall also began to get a more active singing role, from originally being the band's accompanist.

In 2014, Selah released You Amaze Us . The title track debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Christian Soft AC chart, becoming the first song in the history of the chart to do so. [7] "You Amaze Us” spent a concurrent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Christian Soft AC chart.

In 2014, Amy Perry and Allan Hall also released solo albums: Glory All Around (Perry) and Work of Love (Hall).[ citation needed ]

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positions Certifications
US
[8] 		US
Christ
[9]
1999 Be Still My Soul —24
2001 Press On
  • Released: June 12, 2001
  • Label: Curb Records
  • Format: CD, DI
—23
2002 Rose of Bethlehem
  • Released: October 15, 2002
  • Label: Curb Records
  • Format: CD, DI
—16
2004 Hiding Place
  • Released: May 25, 2004
  • Label: Curb Records
  • Format: CD, DI
612
2005 Greatest Hymns
  • Released: August 23, 2005
  • Label: Curb Records
  • Format: CD, DI
1173
2006 Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album
  • Released: August 8, 2006
  • Label: Curb Records
  • Format: CD, DI
431
2009 You Deliver Me
  • Released: August 25, 2009
  • Label: Curb Records
  • Format: CD, DI
664
2011 Hope of the Broken World
  • Released: August 23, 2011
  • Label: Curb Records
  • Format: CD, DI
874
2014 You Amaze Us
  • Released: August 19, 2014
  • Label: Curb Records
  • Format: CD, DI
593
2017Unbreakable [11]
  • Released: March 24, 2017
  • Label: Curb Records
  • Format: CD, DI
1325
2019Firm Foundation [12] —49 [13]
2020Step Into My Story
  • Released: June 11, 2020
  • Label: 3Cre8tive
  • Format: CD, DI
2023At This Table: A Christmas Album
  • Released: December 8, 2023 [14]
  • 3Cre8tive [15]
  • Format: CD, DI
——

Compilations

YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US
Christ
[9]
2007Timeless: The Selah Collection
  • Released: October 9, 2007
  • Label: Curb Records
  • Format: CD, DI
—
2016 Greatest Hymns, Vol. 2
  • Released: August 26, 2016
  • Label: Curb Records
  • Format: CD, DI
8
2018You Raise Me Up: Greatest Hits [16]
  • Released: November 2, 2018
  • Label: Curb Records
  • Formats: CD, DI
—

Singles

YearTitlePeak positionsAlbum
US Christ.
[17] 		Christ
Airplay
[18] 		US Christ
AC
[19]
2004"You Raise Me Up"21Hiding Place
2005"All My Praise"2219
2006"Bless the Broken Road"55Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album
"Mary Sweet Mary"269
2009"Hosanna"3027You Deliver Me
2010"Unredeemed"38—
"You Deliver Me"46—
2011"Were You There"45—Press On
2012"I Turn To You"1612Hope of the Broken World
2013"It Must Be You (Moses)"36—non-album single
2014"You Amaze Us"282221You Amaze Us
2017"I Got Saved"34——Unbreakable

Other appearances

Dove Awards and nominations

YearCategoryNominated workResult
2000 Inspirational Album of the YearBe Still My SoulWon
2002 Press OnWon
Traditional Recorded Gospel Song"Hold On"Won
Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year"Wonderful, Merciful Savior"Nominated
Group of the YearNominated
2003 Nominated
2005 Artist of the YearNominated
Group of the YearNominated
Song of the Year"You Raise Me Up"Nominated
Inspirational Recorded Song of the YearNominated
Inspirational Album of the Year Hiding Place Won
Worship Song of the Year"I Bless Your Name"Nominated
2006 Inspirational Album of the Year Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album Won
Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year"All My Praise"Nominated
Inspirational Album of the YearGreatest HymnsNominated
Special Event Album of the YearWOW Christmas (Green)Nominated
Worship Song of the Year"Be Thou My Vision"Nominated
2007 Song of the Year"Bless the Broken Road"Nominated
Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the YearNominated
Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year"Glory"Nominated
Group of the YearNominated
Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year"Be Thou Near To Me"Nominated
2012 Hope of the Broken WorldWon
2012 Inspirational Recorded Album of the YearWon
2013 Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year"It Must be You"Nominated
2014 "You Amaze Us"Nominated

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References

  1. ↑ "Biography". Christianmusiclighthouse.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Nicol Smith". Thefish.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Selah". Christianmusic.about.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  4. ↑ Krieg, Sheryl (February 17, 2010). "Christian group Selah is more than music". The News-Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Selah's Nicol Smith Ready to Solo". Billboard. March 25, 2000.
  6. 1 2 "Selah: Blessing the Broken Road". Cbn.com. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Selah's YOU AMAZE US Debuts at #1 as History-Making Title-Cut Tops Chart For 11 Consecutive Weeks - News - Hear It First on HearItFirst.com" . Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Selah Chart history: Top 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Selah Chart history: Top Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Unbreakable - Selah | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Firm Foundation by Selah". NewReleaseToday. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Selah". Billboard.
  14. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/album/at-this-table-a-christmas-album-mw0004303451
  15. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/selah-mn0000004685#discography
  16. ↑ "You Raise Me Up: Greatest Hits by Selah". NewReleaseToday. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Selah - Chart history (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Selah - Chart history (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Selah - Chart history (Christian AC)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
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