Casting Crowns is a Grammy award and Dove Award winning Christian band that employs a soft rock music style. The band was created in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida as part of a Youth Group. He also serves as a lead vocalist. Later they moved to McDonough, Georgia and more members joined creating the band now known as Casting Crowns. Some members of the band currently work as ministers for Eagles Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia.
Discovered by, among others, contemporary Christian music legend Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns received a recording contract and vaulted to popularity in 2003 with their self-titled debut album Casting Crowns. The album quickly made them one of the fastest selling debut artists in Christian music history. Lifesong followed in 2005, debuting at #9 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart. Both albums have been certified Platinum. The band's third album The Altar and the Door debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart and #1 on the Hot Christian Albums chart upon its release in August 2007. Ten weeks after it came out it was certified Gold.
Casting Crowns has enjoyed tremendous success in the United States. They have released nine singles to date, seven of which have become consecutive number one hits on various Christian music charts. "Voice of Truth" spent a record-breaking fourteen consecutive weeks at #1 beginning in 2003. "Lifesong" spent nine weeks in the top spot, with "Praise You in This Storm" remaining at #1 for seven weeks. Casting Crowns broke their own record in 2007 when the single "East to West" from The Altar and the Door hit sixteen consecutive weeks at #1. The song ended up enjoying the top spot for a total of nineteen weeks, now their most successful single to date.
Ministry
Casting Crowns frontman Mark Hall calls the band's work a ministry akin to what the world would call "preaching to the choir." In keeping with The Great Commission, Hall describes their music as a "ministry of discipleship."1
Several members of Casting Crowns currently minister at Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, GA where they play during the Contemporary Worship service on Sunday mornings.
Discography
- Casting Crowns (independent release) (2001)
- What If The Whole World Prayed (independent release) (2002)
- Casting Crowns (2003)
- Live from Atlanta (double disc with live CD and live DVD) (2004)
- Lifesong (2005)
- Lifesong Live (double disc with CD and DVD) (2006)
- Casting Crowns Gift Edition (re-release of 2003's Casting Crowns with bonus music videos, live footage, etc. on a bonus DVD) (2007)
- The Altar and the Door (August 28, 2007)
- The Altar and the Door Live (double disc with live CD and live DVD) (August 19, 2008)
- Peace on Earth (Christmas album) (October 7, 2008)
Books
Music Videos
Charts
Albums - Billboard (North America)
Songs - Billboard (North America)
1 Reached #1 on other legitimate radio charts.
2 Currently active on the charts.
Additional Chart Achievements
Albums
Songs
Also Heard On
Members
Mark Hall
Mark Hall is the vocalist for Casting Crowns.
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Juan DeVevo
Juan DeVevo is the acoustic guitarist for Casting Crowns.
Melodee DeVevo
Melodee DeVevo is the violinist for Casting Crowns.
Hector Cervantes
Hector Cervantes is the electric guitar player for Casting Crowns.
Chris Huffman
Chris Huffman is the bassist for Casting Crowns.
Megan Garrett
Megan Garrett is the keyboardist and backup vocalist for Casting Crowns.
Andy Williams
Andy Williams is the drummer for Casting Crowns.
Williams is also involved with other bands and speaks at events for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Producers/Executive Producers
- Steven Curtis Chapman - Producer for album Casting Crowns
- Mark A. Miller - Producer for album Casting Crowns, Lifesong, The Altar and the Door
- Terry Hemmings - Executive Producer for album Lifesong, The Altar and the Door
Achievements
- Career sales have exceeded 3.5 million records.
- Debut album Casting Crowns (released September 30th, 2003) certified RIAA Gold in July, 2004, Platinum in February, 2005.
- Live from Atlanta (released September 14th, 2004) certified RIAA Gold (50,000 units sold) and Platinum (100,000 units sold) in October, 2004.
- Lifesong (released August 30th, 2005) certified RIAA Gold in December, 2005, RIAA Platinum in February, 2007.
- Lifesong Live (released October 3rd, 2006) certified RIAA Gold (50,000 units sold) in January, 2007, RIAA Platinum (100,000 units sold) in May, 2007.
- Voted CCM Readers' Choice Awards "Favorite Band", "Favorite New Artist" and "Favorite Album" in 2005.
- "Lifesong" voted "Inspirational Single of the Year" by online music fans in the 2005 CCMSingles.Net Awards.
- "Praise You in this Storm" was the fifth most played song of 2006 according to R&R magazine2
- "East To West" voted "AC Single of the Year" and "Inspirational Single of the Year" by online music fans in the 2007 CCMSingles.Net Awards.
- Casting Crowns was the most played artist on Christian Radio in 2007, according Radio & Records Weekly charts (12/10).
- Casting Crowns is the second fastest Christian band in history to have their first two albums certified platinum, the other is Jars of Clay.
2007 American Music Awards
- Contemporary Inspirational Artist of the Year
2007 GMA Dove Awards (2 total wins)
- Group of the Year
- Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for "East to West"
2006 Grammy Awards (2 total wins)
- Group of the Year
- Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album - Lifesong
2005 GMA Music Awards (7 total wins)
- Song of the Year - "Who Am I"
- Group of the Year
- Songwriter of the Year (Mark Hall)
- Pop/ Cont. Recorded Song - "Who Am I"
- Inspirational Recorded Song - "Voice of Truth"
2005 GMA Music Awards Nominations (13 total)
- Song of the Year - "Who Am I"
- Group of the Year
- Male Vocalist of the Year - Mark Hall
- Worship Song of the Year - "Who Am I"
- Artist of the Year
- Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song - "American Dream"
- Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song - "Who Am I"
- Inspirational Recorded Song - "Voice of Truth"
- Short Form Music Video - "American Dream"
- Long Form Music Video - Casting Crowns: Live From Atlanta
- Producer of the Year - Mark A. Miller
2004 GMA Music Awards
- Songwriter of the Year - Mark Hall
2004 GMA Music Award Nominations
- Songwriter of the Year - Mark Hall
- New Artist of the Year
- Pop Contemporary Song of the Year - "If We Are The Body"
- Pop Contemporary Album of the Year
Partnerships and Endorsements
Partnerships
Endorsements
Paul Reed Smith Guitars
References
- ^ MySpace.com - Casting Crowns - - Christian / Rock / Pop - www.myspace.com/castingcrowns
- ^ As played on the January 7, 2007 Weekend 22
External links
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 at
http://rapidshare.com/files/62741775/Who_Am_I_-_UPCI.avi.html ...&link=http://www.youtube.com/v/CT7x3VnrqbA&fs=1&hl=en&source=uds&autoplay=1&thumb=http://0.gvt0.com/vi/CT7x3VnrqbA/0.jpg&celebrity=Casting Crowns)
