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A Maze Of Grace
''A Maze of Grace'' is Avalon's second album, released in December 1997. It contains the hit single "Testify to Love", which has become the group's trademark song, the longest-running Adult Contemporary song in the history of the CCM Update AC chart. The album was Avalon's first to be certified Gold by the RIAA. Shortly after the release of the album, Nikki Hassman (now Anders) left the quartet to pursue a solo career with . Track listing Personnel Avalon * Janna Long – vocals * |
Avalon (American Group)
Avalon Worship, originally known as Avalon, is an American contemporary Christian vocal quartet from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 1995. The group has earned multiple RIAA-certified gold records. The group currently consists of Janna Long, Greg Long, Jody McBrayer, and Dani Rocca. Group history 1995–97: Formation, debut, and ''A Maze of Grace'' Avalon was formed in 1995 in Nashville after Norman Miller of Proper Management took the idea of a vocal group to Grant Cunningham, A&R Director at Sparrow Records. Miller's vision was to have two male and two female vocalists who could sing tight harmonies and carry the Gospel to the world. Cunningham publicized his intentions and received many demo tapes, but nothing fit his desires. After letting the idea of Avalon rest a while, Cunningham attended an artist showcase in Nashville to listen to a singer. However, another artist, Michael Passons, caught his attention, and Passons was the first of the group's founding members. So ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jody McBrayer
Jody McBrayer (born June 25, 1970) is an American singer/songwriter and a member of Christian pop groups Cana's Voice and Avalon. Career McBrayer attended college at Liberty University. He got his start in contemporary Christian music right out of college in 1992 as a member of the vocal group Truth. In 1994, McBrayer was a vocalist in Ray Conniff's Latin America tour. In 1995, McBrayer joined the Christian contemporary group Avalon. He would go on to travel with the group for 12 years, during which the group released nine albums, garnered 21 No. 1 songs, three Grammy nominations and three Dove Awards. In 2002, McBrayer released his first solo album, ''This Is Who I Am'', with Sparrow Records. In interviews regarding that album, he said the death of his father, Clyde "Sonny" McBrayer, on September 13, 2000, inspired the album. "My father's passing brought a moment of revelation. I returned home with so much on my heart and a vision for how to express it. Though Avalon has a c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
David Leonard (record Producer)
David Leonard is an American record producer and audio engineer. Production discography * 1981: Chaka Khan – '' What Cha' Gonna Do for Me'' – co-engineer * 1981: The Go-Go's – '' Beauty and the Beat'' – mixing assistant * 1982: Toto – ''Toto IV'' – co-engineer * 1983: The Go-Go's – ''Vacation'' – studio assistant * 1985: Fishbone – ''Fishbone'' – co-engineer, mixer * 1986: Fishbone – '' In Your Face'' – co-mixer * 1986: Eddie Money – '' Can't Hold Back'' – co-engineer * 1986: Various Artists – '' Quicksilver'' – engineer * 1987: Sheena Easton – '' No Sound But a Heart'' – co-producer * 1988: Michelle Shocked – ''Short Sharp Shocked'' – mixer * 1988: Parthenon Huxley - '' Sunny Nights'' - mixer * 1989: Belinda Carlisle – ''Runaway Horses'' – co-engineer * 1989: The Outfield – ''Voices of Babylon'' – co-producer * 1991: Susanna Hoffs – '' When You're a Boy'' – co-engineer, co-mixer * 1992: The Men – ''The Men'' – producer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Nashville String Machine
Nashville String Machine is a musical collective comprising session musicians, based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Members of the group have been credited on records dating from 1972 to the present, although the group was formally formed as "The Nashville String Machine" in 1981. The group was formed by violinist and concertmaster Carl J. Gorodetzky (born 1936/7 in Pennsylvania) and his wife (also violinist) Carol W. Gorodetzky (b. 1937 in Pennsylvania). They oversee the contracting of arrangers, players and studio support as needed; their available supply of potential orchestra members maximizes at 80. Since the required number of orchestra members changes from project to project, individual members vary. However, there are four members of the ensemble who date from its 1981 founding: * Carol W. Gorodetzky – violin * Pam Sixfin – violin * Gary Vanosdale – viola * Craig Nelson – arco bass. The music aggregating website AllMusic lists 1,171 albums on which "The N ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tom Howard (musician)
Tom Howard (February 23, 1950 – January 29, 2010) was an American pianist, musical arranger and orchestral conductor. In 1983, Howard helped the rock band Daniel Amos form the Alarma! Records label. On January 29, 2010, Howard suffered a fatal heart attack while hiking at Edwin Warner Park in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Dori.Wonderland, Interrupted, http://eviecoates.blogspot.com/2010/01/wonderland-interrupted.html Howard family friend Evie Coates received the news directly and announced it on her blog Discography Solo * ''View from the Bridge'', 1977, Solid Rock Records * ''Danger in Loving You'', 1981, NewPax Records * ''One by One'', Tom Howard & Billy Batstone, 1985, A&S Records/Maranatha! Music * ''The Harvest'', (Colours Series), 1985 Maranatha! Music (reissued in 2001 on Maranatha!'s ''Sanctuary'' series under the title ''Reflection'') * ''The Hidden Passage'', Tom Howard Ensemble, 1986, Maranatha! Music (reissued on Maranatha!'s ''Sanctuary'' series unde ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aaron Smith (musician)
Aaron "The A-Train" Smith (born September 3, 1950) is a Nashville-based drummer and percussionist who has played as a member of multiple bands, and as a studio musician, starting in 1970. Smith played drums on several hit Motown recordings in the 1970s, including The Temptations' "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". In the 1980s, he was a member of the new wave band Romeo Void and the Christian alternative rock band the 77s. Background With a singular focus, Aaron Smith began his career playing drums in marching band during the sixth grade practicing on the cafeteria tables since there were so many kids wanting to play that instrument. Smith has stated that his influences include James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Stax, RCA, Motown, Ringo Starr and the Beatles' appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. On his first recording session for the song "Push, Push", Smith was paid with "all the hamburgers he could eat". At the age of 20, Smith played drums on The Temptations' recording of "Papa Wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chris McHugh
Chris McHugh (born 1964) is an American musician. He began his career as the drummer of Christian rock band White Heart from 1986 to 1989. He also worked in the recording of several of their later albums. Chris McHugh is on the Nashville "A" list of session drummers. His recording credits span over 20 years with the top gold and platinum artists of the music industry. He has toured with Amy Grant and Garth Brooks. McHugh has toured as Music Director/drummer for Keith Urban and has been the session drummer for all six of Urban's studio albums. Discography Albums * White Heart - ''Don't Wait For the Movie'' (1986) * White Heart - ''Emergency Broadcast'' (1987) * White Heart - ''Freedom'' (1989) * Gaither Vocal Band - ''Wings'' (1988) * David Mullen - ''Revival'' (1989) * Amy Grant - ''Heart in Motion'' (1991) * White Heart - ''Tales of Wonder'' (1992) * Rich Mullins - ''A Liturgy, A Legacy & A Ragamuffin Band'' (1993) * Bob Carlisle - ''Bob Carlisle'' (1993) * Amy Grant - ''Hou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jimmie Lee Sloas
Jimmie Lee Sloas is an American session musician, producer, and songwriter, who plays bass guitar. History Jimmie Lee Sloas, born in Ashland, Kentucky, grew up in Fairborn, Ohio and Isonville, Kentucky. His father, Dave, was a member of the popular bluegrass group, The Sloas Brothers. His older brother, David, served as Tammy Wynette's lead guitarist from the early 1980s until her death. In 1982, Sloas co-founded, with singer-songwriter Robert White Johnson, the album-oriented rock band RPM. The band released two albums between 1982 and 1984, with the albums produced by Brent Maher and Gary Langan, respectively. From 1986 to 1990, Sloas was a member of the contemporary Christian vocal band The Imperials (as lead singer and sometimes bass player). He holds several session musician and production credits, primarily in country & contemporary Christian music with artists such as Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Carman, LeAnn Rimes, Kellie Pickler, Reba McEntire ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dan Muckala
Daniel John Muckala Work ID No. 881409494 ISWC No. T9052468594 is an American songwriter and producer. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, Muckala was a musical composition student at Belmont University in Tennessee. Awards (selected) * ASCAP Songwriter of the year 2011 * Belmont's Curtain Call Award Discography (selected) Below is a selected discography for Dan Muckala. * Britt Nicole - ''Gold'' * Charice - '' One Day'' * The Afters - '' Light Up the Sky'' * Tiësto - '' Sweet Misery'' * Backstreet Boys - '' Never Gone'' * Backstreet Boys - ''Unbreakable'' * Backstreet Boys - ''In a World Like This'' * Nick Carter - ''I'm Taking Off'' * Brandon Heath - '' Leaving Eden'' * Brandon Heath - ''What If We'' * Nick Lachey - '' What's Left of Me'' * Leona Lewis - ''Echo'' * MercyMe - ''The Generous Mr. Lovewell'' * Mandy Moore - '' I Wanna Be with You'' * LeAnn Rimes - '' I Need You'' * Chris Tomlin - '' And If Our God Is for Us...'' * Matt Maher - '' The Love in Betwe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Passons
Michael Passons is an American singer-songwriter and the founding member of the Christian band Avalon. Biography Michael Passons was born and raised in Yazoo City, Mississippi, and as a toddler, began to sing and play piano. As a young musician, Passons was influenced by music from the small country church where his family attended, and also popular mainstream singer/piano player artists like Elton John and Lionel Richie. Michael went on to attend Mississippi College where he graduated with a degree in classical piano. He joined a college band his senior year, and after graduating, toured nationally several summers with a New Jersey-based band. Passons moved to Nashville in 1990 and began working with fellow musicians. It was there that Grant Cunningham, a Sparrow Records (EMI) A&R director, caught his performance at a February 1995 Nashville showcase. This pivotal meeting led to Passons becoming the founding member of the Christian pop group, Avalon. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Margaret Becker
Margaret Becker (born July 17, 1959) is an American Christian rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She has had twenty-one No. 1 Christian radio hits, won four Dove Awards, and been nominated for four Grammy Awards. Biography Becker was born in Bay Shore, New York, United States, raised in East Islip, New York, and began playing in coffeehouses while teaching music and taking opera lessons. Having graduated from James Madison University with a degree in communication, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1985, and signed to Sparrow Records as a songwriter; soon after she toured with Rick Cua as a backup singer and sang on Steve Camp's 1986 album '' One on One''. The next year she landed a contract as a solo artist, and released her debut album, ''Never for Nothing''. The single "Fight for God" was her first hit, and her second LP, ''The Reckoning'', followed with two more hits, "Light in the Darkness" and "Find Me". Becker began working with producer Charlie Peacock starting ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sparrow Records
Sparrow Records is a Christian music record label and a division of Universal Music Group. History Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then artists and repertoire (A&R) director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by Thorn EMI in 1992, Sparrow's parent underwent a demerger four years later to become the EMI Group, and the label is now part of the Capitol Christian Music Group. Sparrow Records rose to prominence with the signing of singer, songwriter, Contemporary Christian musician and minister Keith Green. Within a year of his 1976 signing by Sparrow, Green was the top selling Christian artist in America. As of 2009, Sparrow's artists include Britt Nicole, Chris Tomlin, Mandisa, Matt Redman, Matthew West, Steven Curtis Chapman and Switchfoot. Since 1996, a popular production of Sparrow Records has been the annual '' WOW Hits'' contemporary Christian music series. In 1998, the WOW franchise then added the annual ''WOW Gospel'' series of albums. The ''WOW Worship'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |