The Choir | |
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![]() The Choir in April 2017. L to R: Dan Michaels, Steve Hindalong, Derri Daugherty. | |
Background information | |
Origin | Orange County, California |
Genres | Christian alternative rock |
Years active | 1984–present |
Labels | |
Members |
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Past members |
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Website | thechoir |
The Choir is an atmospheric Christian alternative rock band currently comprising Derri Daugherty on guitar and vocals, Steve Hindalong on drums, and Dan Michaels on saxophone and lyricon. Long-time bassist Tim Chandler died in 2018, and guitarist Marc Byrd was the fifth member of the band between 2005–2014. As of 2023, the band has released 16 full-length studio albums, three EPs, five live albums, one single-disc compilation, one retrospective box set, and is still actively recording new material.
The Choir was originally formed as Youth Choir in the early 1980s by Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong. Daniel Amos bass guitarist Tim Chandler introduced Hindalong to Daugherty, who was the band's roadie and sound man. [1] Hindalong and Daugherty quickly became friends, and Youth Choir was part of the Calvary Chapel Christian punk and alternative music scene, [1] which also included the bands Undercover, Crumbächer, Altar Boys and 4-4-1.
The band's first official recording was the track "It's So Wonderful", released in 1983 on the compilation album What's Shakin', which also included early work from Undercover, Altar Boys and The Lifters. This song was one of the few times that lead singer Derri Daugherty wrote both lyrics and music; as the band developed, the majority of the Choir's lyrical output would come from drummer/percussionist Steve Hindalong. As Youth Choir, they released their debut album Voices in Shadows in 1985, with Mike Sauerbrey on bass; their first EP Shades of Gray followed a year later, when Dan Michaels joined the band.
The Choir made a high-profile move to Myrrh Records in 1986 with their next release, Diamonds and Rain . Dropping the "Youth" from their moniker, they would be known as the Choir from that point forward. [2] This was followed by three more albums for Myrrh, which featured musical contributions from an array of Christian performers, including Charlie Peacock, Mark Heard, Steve Griffith of Vector and Gene Eugene and Riki Michele from Adam Again. The Choir's lineup also changed. Tim Chandler was the primary bass player until 1989's Wide-Eyed Wonder , as Robin Spurs replaced him on that album and tour, but she left the band during the recording of 1990's Circle Slide . Mike Sauerbrey returned to the band for these recording sessions, and remained with the Choir for two more years until Chandler rejoined the lineup for the independently-released Kissers and Killers . [3] Sauerbrey would not play with the band again; Spurs would rejoin the Choir briefly in 2017, when she performed on the Wide-Eyed Wonder reunion tour. [4]
The Choir toured extensively during this time, notably as the first band on stage at the inaugural Cornerstone Festival in Chicago in 1984. [5] They also performed at the Greenbelt Festival in England in 1986, and opened for Russ Taff on his nationwide tour in 1989. References to the band's tour experiences would remain an ongoing source of lyrical inspiration. During their Southern California period, the Choir's music was described by the Los Angeles Times as "magical songs that combine strains of murky psychedelia with pure pop." Billboard praised the band for its "dark poetic leanings, effects-laden guitars and strong melodic hooks". Hindalong's lyrics became known for their vulnerability and honesty, particularly about the challenges inherent in romantic relationships and the simple joys of family life. [2]
With much of the contemporary Christian music industry centered in Nashville, the band opted to make a permanent move there. [2] Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong were both married with children, and the alternative Christian music scene in Southern California was no longer as active as it was in its mid-80s heyday. [6] By contrast, the CCM industry had begun flourishing in Nashville in the early 1990s. [7] The Choir's first release after arriving in Nashville was Speckled Bird , a reworked version of Kissers and Killers that added five additional songs recorded in Nashville. [8] Their next album, Free Flying Soul , released in 1996, would bring the band their most notable industry accolades to that point, as they were awarded a GMA Dove Award for Best Modern/Alternative Rock Album. [3] Five years later, they received a nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards for their album, Flap Your Wings , released in 2000. [9] Celebrating this, the Choir released a boxed set of their entire musical output called Never Say Never: The First 20 Years, which included a bonus CD of unreleased B-sides and remixes.
Upon their arrival in Nashville, Dan Michaels went into artist management, including managing the Choir, [10] while Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong continued to contribute to and produce numerous side projects, including the Lost Dogs, and most notably, the City on a Hill worship music series. [3] The lead song from the first album in that series, "God of Wonders," written by Hindalong and future Choir guitarist Marc Byrd, proved to be one of the most successful contemporary worship songs of the early 2000s, [7] and the Choir has often performed that song live since. (That album also received a Dove Award for Special Event Album of the Year in 2001.) [11] In 2005, the Choir officially added Byrd to their lineup and released O How the Mighty Have Fallen , produced by Byrd and released independently on the band's own Galaxy21 label. On August 19 of that same year, the Choir played the Broken Records Reunion, a 20th anniversary concert at Mariners Church in Irvine, California, along with 4-4-1, Altar Boys, Crumbächer, and Undercover. [12]
After a five-year recording hiatus, the Choir released two full-length studio albums in 2010. In June, the band released Burning Like the Midnight Sun , which received positive reviews. Jeff Elbel, in the Chicago Sun-Times , called the album "a late-career triumph," and remarked that it was the band's "second exceptional album in a row, and its best since 1990's landmark Circle Slide." [13] In November, the band released de-plumed which featured cellist Matt Slocum of Sixpence None the Richer. A collection of acoustic reinterpretations of one song from each of their 12 prior studio albums, it was released shortly after Daugherty and Hindalong embarked on a multi-city acoustic tour as a duo version of the band. [14]
The Choir's next studio album, The Loudest Sound Ever Heard , was released in May 2012. Later that year, the band toured in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Chase the Kangaroo, playing the album in its entirety, followed by a selection of tracks from Loudest Sound. [15] For this tour, the band performed as a trio with bassist Tim Chandler. Then in July, the full lineup of the Choir closed out the final gathering of the Cornerstone Festival, in commemoration of their inaugural 1984 performance. [5]
From this point forward, the Choir would shift to Kickstarter and PledgeMusic as their primary way of recording and releasing new studio albums, re-releases of older studio albums, and solo work by Steve Hindalong and Derri Daugherty. This funding process generated the studio releases Shadow Weaver (2014), Bloodshot (2018), and Deep Cuts (2021), while Kickstarter stretch goals added the Christmas-themed Peace, Love & Light EP (2013), the live albums Live and on the Wing in Music City (2014) and The Livestream Bootleg (2015), as well as the ambient release Words Spoken and Floating on Clouds (2023). [16] [17] During this time, the band remastered and re-released Circle Slide and Wide-Eyed Wonder, and followed each re-release with a short tour during which the entire album was played in its entirety. Mike Roe of The 77s filled in on bass for the Circle Slide 25th anniversary tour in 2015, [18] while bassist Robin Spurs returned to the band to perform on the Wide-Eyed Wonder anniversary tour in 2017. [4] Hindalong's second solo album, The Warbler, was released in 2016, [19] and this was followed by Daugherty's latest solo release The Color of Dreams in 2018. [20] Later that year, long-time bassist Tim Chandler died on October 8, 2018. [21]
Beginning in mid-2019, the band began releasing non-album singles at the pace of one every other month, starting with a cover of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" and followed by "Mystical World", their first original composition after Chandler's death. [22] In March of 2021, the Choir shifted to Patreon where they continue to release new tracks exclusively for subscribers, including a 2021 re-recording of "Render Love" for the Electric Jesus film soundtrack. [23] Deep Cuts , also released in 2021, was the band's first studio album without contributions from Chandler, as bass duties were split between session player Chris Donohue and bassist Steven Mason from Jars of Clay.
Each band member has worked on numerous projects outside the Choir.
Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong have produced and recorded several worship albums featuring other Contemporary Christian music artists, including their own At the Foot of the Cross series. [24] Volume One: Clouds, Rain, Fire was released in 1992, [24] and the song "Beautiful Scandalous Night" would later be re-recorded by the Choir eight years later for their Grammy-nominated Flap Your Wings album. The follow-up Volume Two: Seven Last Words of Christ was released in 1995. [24] Hindalong would later produce the successful City on a Hill series of worship albums in the early 2000s, [24] co-writing the well-known song "God of Wonders" with former bandmate Marc Byrd. [25]
Daugherty, Hindalong and Dan Michaels have all released solo works, with Daugherty also releasing an instrumental ambient project under the name Clouds Echo in Blue. Daugherty is one-half of Kerosene Halo, a duo project with 77's frontman Michael Roe; they have released three albums to date. [26] Daugherty has also been a member of the contemporary Christian supergroup Lost Dogs since 1991, [27] with Hindalong joining the group after the death of Gene Eugene. [28] In 2023, Hindalong would join with Jimmy Abegg, Phil Madeira, Matt Slocum and Ben Pearson to form The Ascendants and use Kickstarter to launch their debut album, The Fellowship of the Broken. [29] Before his death in 2018, Tim Chandler was the bass guitar player for Daniel Amos (and that band's side project, the Swirling Eddies) for many years, pre-dating his work with the Choir. [30] Bassist Robin Spurs later joined Rachel Rachel and toured with them in the early 1990s. [31] Byrd was a member of Common Children, then later he and bandmate Andrew Thompson formed the post-rock band Hammock in 2005. [32] Byrd has also recorded with his wife Christine Glass as Glassbyrd. [33] Michaels has recorded saxophone for, and performed on tour with, a variety of other artists including Adam Again, Crystal Lewis and Bryan Duncan. [34]
Current members
Former members
Touring musicians [34] [35] [36]
All songs initially released to Patreon supporters only. In 2023, the Choir began making some of these tracks more widely available under the banner The Patreon Sessions, either by individual download or on streaming platforms. [37] Tracks later made available outside of Patreon are indicated.
Derri Daugherty is an American record producer, songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known as the lead singer and guitarist for band the Choir.
Voices in Shadows is the first studio album by Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1985.
Shades of Gray is the second studio release, and first EP, by Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1986. All five songs were later included as bonus tracks on the CD release for Chase the Kangaroo.
Diamonds and Rain is the third studio release, and second full-length studio album, from Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1986. It is the first release under the band's new moniker after dropping "Youth" from their name.
Chase the Kangaroo is the fourth studio release, and third full-length studio album, from Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1988. Considered by critics to be one of their finest albums, Chase the Kangaroo is listed at No. 50 in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music, published in 2002, and No. 4 on the list of the "Top 100 Christian Rock Albums of All Time" by HM Magazine in 2010.
Circle Slide is the sixth studio release, and fifth full-length studio album, from Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1990. Considered by some critics to be the band's best album, and even called "one of the best Christian albums ever made," Circle Slide was listed at No. 53 in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. This would be the final album the Choir would record for Myrrh Records.
Kissers and Killers is the seventh studio release, and the sixth full-length studio album, from Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1993. It was their first release after leaving Myrrh Records, and according to drummer and lyricist Steve Hindalong, represented a major turning point for the band: "We went independent after this, and never were on a label where there were expectations of any kind of a 'ministry' or anything like that."
Speckled Bird is the eighth studio release, and seventh full-length studio album, from Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1994. The album is largely a remixed and reworked version of the independent Kissers and Killers project with an additional five tracks.
Free Flying Soul is the ninth studio release, and eighth full-length album, from Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1996. It earned the band its first industry recognition with a Dove Award win.
O How The Mighty Have Fallen is the 11th studio release, and tenth full-length studio album, by Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2005. Guitarist Marc Byrd officially became the fifth member of the band with this album.
Wide-Eyed Wonder is the fifth studio release, and fourth full-length studio album, from Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1989. This would be the first studio album with new bass guitarist Robin Spurs, and would mark the band's first attempt to cross over to the mainstream market.
Flap Your Wings is the tenth studio release, and ninth full-length studio album, by Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2000. It earned the band its first Grammy Award nomination.
Love Songs and Prayers: A Retrospective is the first compilation album from Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1995.
Burning Like the Midnight Sun is the 12th studio release, and 11th full-length studio album, by Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2010.
de-plumed is the 13th studio release, and 12th full-length studio album, by Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2010. It was the band's first "unplugged" recording, featuring reinterpretations of songs from prior albums.
The Loudest Sound Ever Heard is the 14th studio release, and 13th full-length studio album, by Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2012.
Peace, Love & Light is the 15th studio release, second EP, and first digital-only album by Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released on November 27, 2013. This is also the band's first Christmas-themed release. As a "stretch goal" in the Choir's Kickstarter campaign for their 2014 album Shadow Weaver, this EP was provided exclusively to funders who pledged $60 or more.
Shadow Weaver is the 16th studio release, and 14th full-length studio album, by Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released on April 9, 2014. This album was funded by the band's original Kickstarter campaign launched in late 2013, which also generated the band's first Christmas release Peace, Love & Light. This was also the last studio album from the Choir to feature Marc Byrd.
Bloodshot is the 17th studio release, and 15th full-length studio album, by Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released on June 1, 2018. This album was funded by the band's PledgeMusic campaign launched in January 2017, which also generated a remastered and reissued release of Wide-Eyed Wonder.
Deep Cuts is the 18th studio release, and 16th full-length studio album, by Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released on April 23, 2021. This album was funded by the band's Kickstarter campaign launched in February 2020, and was their first album of new material without contributions from long-time bassist Tim Chandler, who died in 2018; bass duties were split between session player Chris Donohue and bassist Steven Mason from Jars of Clay. The double-disc vinyl version includes five additional tracks that were previously released as digital singles in 2019 and 2020.
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