Christian Pop Bands and Artists

Avalon was formed in 1996 in Nashville, TN because Sparrow Records wanted to put together a vocal group that could sing as well as deliver strong messages of faith. In the 20+ years since, there have been some member changes, but the excellence that has gained them 21 chart topping singles, 6 Dove Awards, 3 Grammy nominations and an American Music Award, has never wavered.

Avalon Discography:

• Reborn, 2009
• Avalon: The Greatest Hits, 2009
• Another Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics, 2008
• Faith: A Hymns Collection, 2006
• Stand, 2006
• The Creed, 2004
• Testify To Love: The Very Best of Avalon, 2003
• O2: Oxygen Remixed, 2002
• Oxygen, 2001
• Joy, 2000
• In A Different Light, 1999
• A Maze Of Grace, 1998
• Avalon, 1997

Avalon Members:

• Janna Long
• Greg Long
• Jeremi Richardson
• Amy Richardson

Big Daddy Weave was formed when the band members met at the University of Mobile in Alabama. The band holds the distinction of having their debut album on Fervent Records, One And Only, makes its debut in SoundScan's Christian Top 5, which was the highest debut for a new artist in 2002.

Big Daddy Weave Discography:

• Christ Is Come, 2009
• What Life Would Be Like, 2008
• Every Time I Breathe, 2006
• What I Was Made For, 2005
• Fields of Grace, 2003
• One and Only, 2002
• Neighborhoods, 2001 (released independently)

Big Daddy Weave Members:

• Mike Weaver - songwriter/lead Vocals/guitar
• Jeff Jones - drums
• Jay Weaver - bass/vocals
• Joe Shirk - saxophone/keyboards
• Jeremy Redmon - guitars/vocals

The members of Casting Crowns started out in youth ministry in Daytona Beach, FL, later moving to Atlanta, GA. The band recorded two independent records that were distributed mainly in the Atlanta area, and both were extremely popular. In a Cinderella story, one of those CDs got into the hands of Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown, who shared it with two of his longtime friends, Provident Label Group President Terry Hemmings and Steven Curtis Chapman. Beach Street Records was formed and Casting Crowns was signed as the flagship band.

Casting Crowns Members:

• Brian Scoggin - drums
• Chris Huffman - bass
• Hector Cervantes - guitars/vocals
• Juan Devevo - guitars/vocals
• Mark Hall - lead vocals
• Megan Garrett - keys/vocals
• Melodee Devevo - Violin/Vocals

• Casting Crowns Discography

Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Saskatchewan was the birthplace of Downhere. They released their debut CD on Slyngshot Records in Canada in 1999. In 2001, the band signed to Word Records and two of the founding members moved to Nashville, TN. With a partial new line-up, their debut CD was re-released. The band stayed with Word until 2006, when they moved to Centricity Records. The band has won 20+ GMA Canada Covenant Awards, three Dove Awards, four Juno Awards and two Shai Awards.

Downhere Discography:

• Two At A Time: Sneak Peeks & B sides, 2010
• Thank You For Coming: The Live Bootlegs EP, 2010
• How Many Kings: Songs For Christmas, 2009
• Ending Is Beginning, 2008
• Thunder After Lightning: The Uncut Demos, 2007
• Wide-Eyed and Simplified, 2007
• So Much For Substitutes, 2003
• downhere, 2001

Downhere Members:

• Marc Martel – vocals, guitar
• Jason Germain – vocals, guitar, piano
• Glenn Lavender – bass
• Jeremy Thiessen – drums

Francesca Battistelli was only 15 when she started performing with a pop group.The next leg of her journey began at a youth camp, where God planted the seed of Christian music. Battistelli started writing songs and released an independent album at age 19. Fervent Records signed her and released her full-length debut album in 2008. By 2011, she was the two time Dove Female Vocalist of the Year and she's just getting started!

Francesca Battistelli Discography:

• Hundred More Years, 2011
• My Paper Heart: Deluxe Edition, 2010
• My Paper Heart, 2008
• I'm Letting Go EP, 2008
• Just A Breath, 2004 (independent)

As a band, Jars of Clay has released 25+ albums, sold over six million copies, won three GRAMMYS, headlined thousands of sold-out shows and festivals, and launched a non-profit organization promoting clean blood and water in Africa as well as a record label.

Jars of Clay Partial Discography:

• Live At Gray Matters, Vol. 4 EP, 2011
• Live At Gray Matters, Vol. 3: The Christmas Edition EP, 2010
• Jars Of Clay Presents: The Shelter, 2010
• Live At Gray Matters, Vol. 2: The Rewind Edition EP, 2010
• Flood(ed): A Benefit EP, 2010
• Live At Gray Matters, Vol. 1: Songs From The Long Fall Back To Earth EP, 2010
• The Long Fall Back To Earth, 2009
• Christmas Reflections, 2008

Jars of Clay Members:

• Dan Haseltine – vocals
• Charlie Lowell – keys
• Steve Mason – guitar
• Matt Odmark – guitar

A pastor's son and high school athlete, Matthew West didn't even pick up a guitar until after his high school graduation. During college, he discovered that music was his calling and after graduating, he hit the road as an indie artist, performing at schools and coffeehouses across the country. His talent first earned him recognition from the National Association of Campus Activities followed by a songwriting contract by Word Publishing.

An accident a few years later that severed an artery in his arm had doctors doubting that he would ever play guitar again, but God had other plans and it wasn't long before Matthew was signed as the first Christian artist to the Universal South record label.

Matthew West Discography:

• The Heart of Christmas, 2011
• The Stories Premium Collection, 2011
• The Story Of Your Life, 2010
• Hold You Up EP, 2010
• Something To Say: Christmas Edition, 2009
• The Writer's Room: An Acoustic EP, 2009
• Nothing To Say CD/DVD, 2008
• Something To Say, 2008
• History, 2005
• Happy, 2003
• Sellout, 2002 (independent) - re-released in 2006

MercyMe started out in 1994 as just a bunch of guys who loved music, loved the Lord and wanted be able to support their families playing music for and about Jesus. Several Dove Awards, a few albums and over five million + CD and DVD sales later, a lot has changed. But they're still the same people - guys who love what they do and who they do it for.

MercyMe Members:

• Bart Millard – vocals
• Barry Graul - guitar
• Jim Bryson - keyboards
• Nathan Cochran – bass
• Mike Scheuchzer – guitar
• Robby Shaffer – drums

• MercyMe Discography

Natalie Grant has a lot going for her. She's a small woman, but she's got a big voice and a huge heart for God. She's as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside and she has probably never taken a bad picture in her life. She has what Simon from American Idol used to call the "it factor," but she's no diva. You can count on her music always being about the things of the Spirit and not the things of the world.

Natalie Grant Discography:

• Love Revolution, 2010
• Relentless, 2008
• Believe, 2005
• Awaken, 2005
• Worship With Natalie Grant and Friends, 2004
• Deeper Life, 2003
• Stronger, 2002
• Natalie Grant, 1999

Newsong started out in 1981 as a nine member church band for Morningside Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA. Throughout the years, and changes in the group, they have had 20 #1 singles, six Dove Award nominations, numerous songwriting awards, and five of the Top 100 Christian radio singles of the past decade.

Newsong Partial Discography:

• Give Yourself Away, 2009
• The Christmas Hope, 2006
• Rescue: Live Worship, 2005
• More Life, 2003
• The Christmas Shoes, 2001
• Sheltering Tree, 2000
• Arise, My Love...The Very Best of NewSong, 1999

Newsong Members:

• Jack Pumphrey - drums
• Billy Goodwin - lead vocals, guitar
• Matt Goodwin - percussion
• Russ Lee - lead vocals, guitar
• Mark Clay - bass
• Eddie Carswell - vocals
• Rico Thomas - guitar
• Matt Butler - cello, keyboard, vocals

The members of Tenth Avenue North met at at Palm Beach Atlantic College in the 90's and spent years playing churches and youth camps from Florida all the way to Colorado. In 2008, all of their hard work paid off the band and they were signed by Reunion Records. Before long, the band had garnered enough attention to be nominated as the Dove New Artist of the Year.

Tenth Avenue North Discography:

• Inside and In Between (live CD/DVD), 2011
• The Light Meets The Dark, 2010
• Over and Underneath, 2008

Tenth Avenue North Indie Releases:

• God With Us EP, 2006
• Speaking of Silence, 2005
• Don't Look Back, 2003

Tenth Avenue North Members:

• Mike Donehey - guitar, vocals
• Jeff Owen - guitars, vocals
• Ruben Juarez III - bass
• Jason Jamison - drums