Sparrow Records is a Christian music record label and a division of

Universal Music Group Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...

History

Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by

Billy Ray Hearn Billy Ray Hearn (April 26, 1929April 15, 2015) was the founder and chairman of the Capitol Christian Music Group (formerly EMI Christian Music Group) the world's largest Christian music label.McNeil, W. K. Encyclopedia of American gospel music.' ...

, then

artists and repertoire Artists and repertoire (colloquially abbreviated to A&R) is the division of a record label or music publishing company that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists (singers, instrumentalist ...

(A&R) director at

Myrrh Records __NOTOC__ Myrrh Records (also known as Myrrh Worship) was an American Christian music record label. According to ''Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music'', the label was instrumental in developing a popular following for contemporary Christian ...

. Purchased by

Thorn EMI Thorn(s) or The Thorn(s) may refer to: Botany * Thorns, spines, and prickles, sharp structures on plants * ''Crataegus monogyna'', or common hawthorn, a plant species Comics and literature * Rose and Thorn, the two personalities of two DC Comic ...

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 Keith Gordon Green (October 21, 1953 – July 28, 1982) was an American pianist, singer, and songwriter in the contemporary Christian music genre, who was originally from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. His most notable songs are " There ...

. 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 Christopher Dwayne Tomlin (born May 4, 1972) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, and worship leader from Grand Saline, Texas, United States, who has sold over 7 million records. He is a member of Passion Conferences an ...

Mandisa Mandisa Lynn Hundley (born October 2, 1976), known professionally as Mandisa, is an American gospel and contemporary Christian recording artist. Her career began as a contestant in the fifth season of ''American Idol'', in which she finished in ...

, Matt Redman,

Matthew West Matthew Joseph West (born April 25, 1977) is an American contemporary Christian musician, singer-songwriter, and actor. He has released five studio albums and is known for his songs "More", "You Are Everything", and " The Motions". He was nomin ...

, Steven Curtis Chapman and

Switchfoot Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman (lead vocals, guitar), Tim Foreman (bass guitar, backing vocals), Chad Butler (drums, percussion), and Jerome Fontamillas (guitar, keyboards, back ...

. Since 1996, a popular production of Sparrow Records has been the annual '' WOW Hits''

contemporary Christian music Contemporary Christian music, also known as CCM, Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith and s ...

series. In 1998, the WOW franchise then added the annual ''

WOW Gospel "WOW" is a series of annual compilation albums featuring contemporary Christian music dating from 1995. Comprising songs submitted by each partner label, the annual ''WOW Hits'' releases are usually double CD sets. The series was officially cancel ...

'' series of albums. The ''

WOW Worship "WOW" is a series of annual compilation albums featuring contemporary Christian music dating from 1995. Comprising songs submitted by each partner label, the annual ''WOW Hits'' releases are usually double CD sets. The series was officially can ...

'' series was introduced in 1999, an annual compilation of the greatest hits in

contemporary worship music Contemporary worship music (CWM), also known as praise and worship music, is a defined genre of Christian music used in contemporary worship. It has developed over the past 60 years and is stylistically similar to pop music. The songs are fr ...

Roster

Riley Clemmons Riley Elizabeth Clemmons BETTER FOR IT Work ID No.894268039 IPI No.779748265 (CLEMMONS RILEY ELIZABETH) is an American Christian musician, who plays Christian pop style contemporary worship music. She is known for her Christian radio hits, " Brok ...

Jimi Cravity Maurice Eugene Willis (born December 4, 1984), who goes by the stage name Jimi Cravity, is an American Christian musician, who primarily plays a style contemporary christian music, Christian pop, Christian electronic dance music, EDM, Christian ...

Crowder Crowder may refer to: Places in the United States *Crowder, Oklahoma * Crowder, Mississippi * Crowder, Missouri *Crowder College Crowder College is a public community college in Neosho, Missouri. It serves the Community College District of Newt ...

* Kristene DiMarco * Colton Dixon (with

19 Recordings 19 Recordings Inc. (registered in the United Kingdom as 19 Recordings Ltd.) is a New York-based record label owned by 19 Entertainment. Founded in London by British entrepreneur Simon Fuller in 1999 as the music division of 19 Entertainment, the ...

) * Jon Foreman * Amy Grant * Hillsong United *

Hillsong Worship Hillsong Worship (formerly Hillsong Live) is a praise and worship collective from Sydney, Australia and Orange County, California. They started making music in 1983 at Hillsong Church. Fifteen of their songs have appeared on the ''Billboard'' ma ...

Hillsong Young & Free Hillsong Young & Free (also known as Hillsong Y&F or simply Young & Free or Y&F) is an Australian contemporary worship music group from Sydney, Australia, where they started making Christian music in 2012 at Hillsong Church. They have released f ...

Mosaic MSC Mosaic MSC is a contemporary worship music band from Mosaic Church in Los Angeles, California. The band is led by Worship Pastor Mariah McManus. The band have released three live albums and three extended plays. History Mosaic MSC recorded its ...

Shawn McDonald Shawn Michael McDonald (born September 4, 1977) is a Contemporary Christian music Contemporary Christian music, also known as CCM, Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Chri ...

* NF (with

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...

) * Britt Nicole (with

) * Christy Nockels * Nichole Nordeman * Passion * Rend Collective (with Rend Family Records) * Kristian Stanfill * The Young Escape *

We the Kingdom We the Kingdom is an American contemporary Christian music band signed to the Capitol Christian Music Group. The band consists of multiple generations of relatives: Andrew Bergthold, Ed Cash, Franni Rae Cash, Martin Cash, and Scott Cash. The b ...

Tauren Wells Tauren Gabriel Wells is an American singer, songwriter, and multi instrumentalist from Houston, Texas who is known for making contemporary Christian music. Biography Wells was a founding member of Royal Tailor along with DJ Cox and Blake Hubba ...

Former

2nd Chapter of Acts The 2nd Chapter of Acts was a Jesus music and early contemporary Christian music group composed of sisters Annie Herring and Nelly Greisen and brother Matthew Ward. They began performing in 1972 and enjoyed their period of greatest success du ...

(disbanded) *

Above the Golden State Above the Golden State was an American Christian rock band from Portland, Oregon. Their self-titled debut album, ''Above the Golden State'', was released on July 22, 2008 through Sparrow Records. The band's first single from the album was "Sound ...

Susan Ashton Susan Ashton (born Susan Rae Hill; July 17, 1967) is an American contemporary Christian music and country music artist who topped the Christian charts throughout the 1990s. In 1991 she began using her mother's maiden name, Ashton, when she rec ...

(active, unsigned) *

Audrey Assad Audrey Nicole Assad (born July 1, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter. She has released six studio albums and four EPs. Early life Audrey Assad's mother was from Virginia and her father is a Syrian-born refugee. She was raised Protestant, a ...

(active, independent) * Avalon (active, with Red Street Records) * Margaret Becker (active, with

Kingsway Music David C. Cook is an American nonprofit Christian publisher based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was founded as a provider of Sunday school curriculum and remains a major publisher of such materials. It also publishes fiction and nonfiction bo ...

) *

Bellarive Bellarive was a contemporary Christian music, Christian pop rock band that originated in Orlando, Florida, Orlando, Florida in 2009. The band is composed of Sean Curran (vocals, keys and guitar), Melissa Mage (vocals and percussion), Mike Mage (pr ...

Dan Bremnes Daniel Jobiah Bremnes (born May 11, 1983) is a Canadian Christian musician, guitarist, and drummer. He released four studio albums, ''Your Strength'' (2010), '' Where the Light Is'' (2015), '' Wherever I Go'' (2019), and ''Into the Wild'' (2022), ...

* Steve Camp (active, unsigned) *

Michael Card Michael Card (born April 11, 1957) is an American, Christian singer-songwriter, musician, author, and radio host from Franklin, Tennessee. He is best known for his contributions in contemporary Christian music, which combine folk-style melod ...

(active, unsigned) *

Marcos Vidal Marcos Vidal is a Christian music singer and songwriter. In 1997 he won the International Award GMA as the best ''non-English male vocalist''.EnlaceMusical (Spanish) , Wikimania, August 2006. Biography Although born in Germany, Vidal has live ...

(active, unsigned) *

Carman In Celtic mythology, Carman or Carmun was a warrior and sorceress from Athens who tried to invade Ireland in the days of the Tuatha Dé Danann, along with her three sons, Dub ("black"), Dother ("evil") and Dian ("violence"). She used her magical ...

(deceased) * Steven Curtis Chapman (active, with

Reunion Records Reunion Records is a contemporary Christian record label based in Brentwood, Tennessee, that operates under the Provident Label Group. The label was founded in 1982, by Dan Harrell and Mike Blanton. History The label was formed by Amy Grant's m ...

) *

City Harbor City Harbor was a contemporary Christian music duo from Nashville, Tennessee. They released their first album, '' City Harbor'', on February 4, 2014 through Sparrow Records. The album and its two lead singles have achieved positive critical rece ...

Daryl Coley Daryl Lynn Coley (October 30, 1955 – March 15, 2016) was an American Christian singer. At 14, Coley was a member of the ensemble "Helen Stephens and the Voices of Christ". He began performing with Edwin Hawkins in the Edwin Hawkins Singers and ...

(deceased) *

David Crowder*Band David Crowder Band (stylized as David Crowder*Band and The David Crowder*Band) was a six-piece Christian rock and modern worship band from Waco, Texas. Their final album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian and No. 2 on the ...

(disbanded, had moved to sixstepsrecords) *

Danyew Phillip Bruce Danyew (born October 31, 1986) is an American singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer. He released two extended plays in 2009, Danyew (EP), ''Danyew'' and ''Wake Up'' with EMI/Sparrow Records. He is a former touring m ...

Delirious? Delirious? (formerly known as The Cutting Edge Band) were an English contemporary Christian music, contemporary Christian band. For the majority of their career, the lineup featured Martin Smith (English musician), Martin Smith on vocals and gu ...

(disbanded) * Bethany Dillon (active) * Dogs of Peace (active) *

Earthsuit Earthsuit was a New Orleans-based Christian rock band formed in 1995. The band consisted of guitarist Dave Rumsey, keyboardist/vocalist Paul Meany, bassist Roy Mitchell, drummer David "Hutch" Hutchison, and vocalist Adam LaClave. Earthsuit's so ...

(disbanded) * The Elms (disbanded) * Kirk Franklin (active, with GospoCentric Records) *

Peter Furler Peter Andrew Furler (born 8 September 1966) is an Australian musician, songwriter, producer and record executive, best known as the co-founder and former lead vocalist of the Christian rock band Newsboys. Biography Furler was born in McLaren ...

(active, independent) *

(deceased) * Steve Green (active, unsigned) * Rickey Grundy, (active, independent) * Charlie Hall (active, with sixstepsrecords) *

Matt Hammitt Matt Hammitt (born October 19, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, speaker and author. He was the lead singer for Sanctus Real, which has released seven studio albums with Sparrow Records, toured internationally and released 14 top five ...

Tramaine Hawkins Tramaine Aunzola Richardson , (nee’ Davis) known professionally as Tramaine Hawkins (born October 11, 1951), is an American award–winning gospel music, Gospel singer whose career spans over five decades. Since beginning her career in 1966, Ha ...

Tim Hughes Timothy David Llewelyn Hughes (born 23 July 1977) is a British worship leader, singer, songwriter, and Anglican priest. Formerly the director of worship at Holy Trinity Brompton, a large Anglican church in central London, he has since been o ...

(active, with Survivor Records) * Kari Jobe (active, with Capitol Christian Music Group) *

Jump5 Jump5 was an American Christian teen pop group active from 1999 until 2007. The group was made up of five members from Nashville: Brandon and Brittany Hargest, Chris Fedun, Lesley Moore and Libby Hodges. After Libby Hodges left in 2004, Natash ...

(disbanded) *

Phil Keaggy Philip Tyler Keaggy (born March 23, 1951) is an American acoustic and electric guitarist and vocalist who has released more than 55 albums and contributed to many more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets. H ...

(active) *

Donald Lawrence Donald Lawrence (born May 4, 1961, Gastonia, North Carolina) is an American gospel music songwriter, record producer and artist. He is best known for his Grammy Award-nominated songs "The Blessing of Abraham" and "Encourage Yourself". He studied ...

Luminate Luminate may refer to: * Luminate (band), an American contemporary Christian music band * Luminate (company), a music sales data provider * Luminate Education Group Luminate Education Group (formerly Leeds City College Group) brings together a n ...

* Barry McGuire (active, unsigned) *

Geoff Moore and the Distance Geoff Moore (born February 22, 1961) is an American contemporary Christian music singer. He began recording as a solo artist in 1984. In 1987, he formed Geoff Moore and The Distance, his touring band, which released eight albums generating a s ...

(disbanded) * Michael W. Smith (active, with Rocketown Records) * Needtobreathe (active, with

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...

) * Newsboys (active, with

Fair Trade Services Fair Trade Services, formerly known as INO Records, is an American record label based in Brentwood, Tennessee, specializing in Contemporary Christian music (CCM). History The label was founded in 1999 as INO Records, a division of M2 Communica ...

) * Christy Nockels (active, with sixstepsrecords) *

Out of the Grey Out of the Grey is a husband-and-wife Contemporary Christian music project consisting of Scott and Christine Denté. Christine provides lead vocals, while Scott plays guitars and sings background, along with the occasional lead vocals. They have r ...

(on hiatus) * Twila Paris (active, with Koch Records) *

Charlie Peacock Charles William Ashworth (born August 10, 1956), known professionally as Charlie Peacock, is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, and author. His albums include ''Love Press Ex-Curio'', ''Arc of the Circle'' and ''No Man's L ...

(active, independent) *

Marty Raybon Marty Raybon (born December 8, 1959) is an American country music artist. He is known primarily for his role as the lead singer of the country band Shenandoah, a role which he held from 1985 to 1997, until he rejoined the band in 2014. He reco ...

* Matt Redman (active, with Integrity Music) * Resurrection Band * Sanctus Real (active, with

) * Sarah Reeves * Samestate *

Robbie Seay Band Robbie Seay Band (aka RSB) is a Christian contemporary band located in Houston, Texas. The band has led worship and performed all over the country for many years. Currently, Robbie, Ryan & Dave lead worship in the Northwest part of Houston. Many o ...

(active, unsigned) * Something Like Silas *

Soulfire Revolution G12 Worship, formerly known as Soulfire Revolution, is a contemporary Christian and contemporary worship band from both Bogotá, Colombia and Miami, Florida, United States. They are signed to the Sparrow Records label, an imprint of EMI Christia ...

Aaron Spiro According to Abrahamic religions, Aaron ''′aharon'', ar, هارون, Hārūn, Greek (Septuagint): Ἀαρών; often called Aaron the priest ()., group="note" ( or ; ''’Ahărōn'') was a prophet, a high priest, and the elder brother of ...

(active, unsigned) * Kristian Stanfill (active, with sixstepsrecords) * Starfield (active, independent) *

(active, with lowercase people records) (Switchfoot still has a distribution agreement with Sparrow Records) *

Russ Taff Russell Taff (born November 11, 1953) is an American gospel singer and songwriter who grew up in Farmersville, California. He has sung a variety of musical styles throughout his career including: pop rock, traditional Southern gospel, contempora ...

(active, with Springhouse Records) *

John Michael Talbot John Michael Talbot (born May 8, 1954) is an American Christian musician, author, television presenter and founder of a monastic community known as the Brothers and Sisters of Charity. Life and career Talbot was born into a Methodist family wi ...

(active, with Troubadour for the Lord) *

Steve Taylor Roland Stephen Taylor (born December 9, 1957) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, music executive, film maker, assistant professor, and actor. A figure in what has come to be known as Christian alternative rock, Taylor enjoyed ...

* Dave Thrush (active, independent) *

(active, with sixstepsrecords) *

Michelle Tumes Michelle Louise Tumes (born 1971) is an Australian contemporary Christian musician from Adelaide. In 1993, she moved to the United States and has released five studio albums, ''Listen'' (1998), ''Center of My Universe'' (2000), ''Dream'' (2001), ...

(active, with

EMI CMG Capitol Christian Music Group (Capitol CMG) (formerly known as EMI Christian Music Group) is an American music group that, since 2013, is under the ownership of Universal Music Group. It is based in Brentwood, Tennessee. Capitol CMG is in the C ...

) * James Vincent * The Waiting (active, independent) * Sheila Walsh * Matthew Ward (active, independent) *

* Lisa Whelchel *

White Heart White Heart, also listed as Whiteheart, was an American contemporary Christian music and pop-rock band which formed in 1982. White Heart's discography includes thirteen albums, the most recent of which was released in 1997. Original members Bill ...

* Josh Wilson (active on Black River Christian) *

Deniece Williams Deniece Williams (born June Deniece Chandler; June 3, 1951) is an American singer. She has been described as "one of the great soul voices" by the BBC. She is best known for the songs " Free", " Silly", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" and two ''Bill ...

(last worked, with

Shanachie Records Shanachie Records is an American, New Jersey-based record label, founded in 1975 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. The label is named for the Gaelic word ''seanchaí'' (anglicised as shanachie), an Irish storyteller. It was previously distribu ...

) * ZOEgirl (disbanded) *

Danniebelle Hall Danniebelle Hall (October 6, 1938 – December 28, 2000), was an American gospel musician, recording artist, songwriter. Biography Early life Danniebelle Hall was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the fourth of eight children. She was born t ...

(deceased) *

West Angeles Church of God in Christ West Angeles Church of God in Christ is a Pentecostal megachurch and a member of the Church of God in Christ denomination. Its main place of worship, the West Angeles Cathedral, is located in the West Adams Historic District of Los Angeles, Califo ...

Mass Choir and Congregation ("Saints in Praise" series) *

The Archers (musical group) The Archers were an American contemporary Christian music group. They were originally brothers Tim and Steve Archer, Fred Satterfield, Nancye Short and Billy Rush Masters. After Masters and Short departed in 1977, sister Janice Archer joined. T ...

Compilations

* ''Firewind: A Contemporary Dramatic Musical'' (1976) * ''Christmas'' (1988) * '' Passion: Awakening'' (2010)

References

Sparrow projects

* WOW Worship Series

External links

Official site

EMI Christian Music Group
{{Authority control American record labels Record labels established in 1976 Universal Music Group Gospel music record labels 1976 establishments in Tennessee

History

Roster

Former

Compilations

See also

References

Sparrow projects

External links