Star Song Communications is a Christian
record label
A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the pr ...
that was started in
1976
Events January
* January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 11 – The 1976 ...
by Wayne Donowho, who recruited his friend Darrell Harris. It gained notoriety when it issued
Resurrection Band
Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, was a Christian rock band formed in 1972. They were part of the Jesus People USA Christian community in Chicago and most of its members have continued in that community to this day. Known for ...
's ground-breaking debut album,
Awaiting Your Reply
''Awaiting Your Reply'' is the debut album by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1978.
Recording history
The album was recorded for only $8000 US over a period of two weeks in marathon all-night sessions ending on Ea ...
in 1978. Originally a distribution deal was made with
Benson Records
Benson Records was founded by Bob Benson and John T. Benson, who formed the John T. Benson Music Publishing Company in 1902. The record label started out as Heart Warming Records, creating house labels such as Impact Records, Greentree Records, R ...
. From 1983 until 1986, distribution was done by
Word Records. After that, a deal was made with
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 ...
. Independent distribution was started in 1989, and picked up distribution for ForeFront records and
DC Talk
DC Talk (stylized as dc Talk) is a Christian rap and rock trio. The group was formed at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith. They released five major studio albums together: ...
in 1991. This distribution was maintained until the sale of the company to EMI, and the launch of Chordant Distribution in 1994.
Pure Metal Records was acquired from
Refuge Records in 1990.
In 1998, it was announced that Star Song would only be used to issue reprints, and their artists would be transferred to Sparrow.
Artists
* Tom Autry
*
Brian Barrett
Brian Joseph Barrett (born 16 November 1966) is a former New Zealand first-class cricketer who played for Auckland, Northern Districts and Worcestershire, also playing List A games for Northern Districts and Worcestershire and appearing at Yout ...
*
Barren Cross
Barren Cross is an American Christian metal band that was formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by high school friends Ray Parris (guitar) and Steve Whitaker (drums). The band released six albums from 1986 to 1994. They have reunited for a few shows in r ...
*
Bash 'n the Code
* Chris Beatty
* Benjamin
*
Bob Bennett
*
Aaron Benward
Aaron Jeoffrey Benward (born September 13, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter, actor, film/TV producer and music supervisor.
Life and career
Benward is the son of Candice and Jeoffrey Benward and has two siblings, Sareece and Colin. In h ...
*
Jeoffrey Benward
*
Bride
A bride is a woman who is about to be married or who is newlywed.
When marrying, the bride's future spouse, (if male) is usually referred to as the '' bridegroom'' or just ''groom''. In Western culture, a bride may be attended by a maid, bri ...
* Keith Brown
*
Chalice
A chalice (from Latin 'mug', borrowed from Ancient Greek () 'cup') or goblet is a footed cup intended to hold a drink. In religious practice, a chalice is often used for drinking during a ceremony or may carry a certain symbolic meaning.
R ...
* Steve & Annie Chapman
*
Kemper Crabb
Kemper Crabb is an American musician. His style is reminiscent of 'Olde English,' and his music has been described as 'Celtic, Medieval, intelligent and sacred'. He has produced over 8 albums, with ''The Vigil'' (1982) selling over one hundred t ...
*
Morgan Cryar
Morgan Cryar is a contemporary Christian music vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Louisiana. He is especially noted for his creative lyric-writing.
*
Family Force 5
FF5 (formerly known as Family Force 5, The Phamily, Ground Noise and The Brothers) is an American Christian rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. The band formed in 2005 by brothers Solomon "Soul Glow Activatur" Olds, Joshua "Fatty" Olds, and Jaco ...
* Farrell & Farrell
*
Don Francisco
*
Disciples of Christ (later known as D.O.C. )
*
Gaither Vocal Band
* Steve Geyer
* Giantkiller
* Jim Gill
*
Pam Mark Hall
*
Glass Harp
A glass harp (also called musical glasses, singing glasses, angelic organ, verrillon or ghost fiddle) is a musical instrument made of upright wine glasses.
It is played by running moistened or chalked fingers around the rim of the glasses. Eac ...
*
Bryn Haworth
Bryn Haworth (born 29 July 1948) is a British Christian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pioneer of Jesus music in mainstream rock. Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, UK, he has released some twenty-two albums and several singles since the 1970s ...
* Jeffrey Herrmann
* Maureen Herrmann
*
Kim Hill
*
Jimmy Hotz
*
The Imperials
The Imperials are an American Christian music group that has been active for over 55 years. Originating as a southern gospel quartet, the innovative group would become pioneers of contemporary Christian music in the 1960s. There have been many ...
* In Reach
*
Aaron Jeoffrey
* Justus
*
King James
*
Mylon LeFevre
Mylon R. LeFevre (born October 6, 1944) is an American Christian rock singer best known for his work with his band Mylon and Broken Heart. He is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. He travels around the United States, ministering, teach ...
*
Mylon & Broken Heart
*
Liberation Suite
Liberation Suite (sometimes LibSuite) was a Jesus Music era Christian rock band. They originated in San Marcos, Texas but soon moved to Great Britain, where they found their greatest success. ''Cross Rhythms'' characterizes the band as having a "sp ...
*
Debbie McClendon
Debbie McClendon (born June 15, 1960) is an American gospel musician and Christian R&B singer, who is a traditional black gospel, urban contemporary gospel, and contemporary Christian music recording artist. She started her music career, in 19 ...
*
David Meece
David Meece (born May 26, 1952) is an American contemporary Christian musician who enjoyed success in the mid-1980s, and into the early 2010s, with more than thirty Top 10 hits including several No. 1 songs.
In November 2012, Meece was given a ...
*
Kevin Max
Kevin Max Smith (born August 17, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, and poet. He is best known for being a member of the Christian pop group dc Talk. As a solo artist following the band going on hiatus, he has recorded 12 full-length stud ...
*
Tony Melendez
*
Newsboys
Newsboys (sometimes stylised as newsboys) are a Christian rock band founded in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, by Peter Furler and George Perdikis. Now based in Nashville, Tennessee, the band has released 17 studio albums, 6 of which ...
*
Nichole Nordeman
Nichole Ellyse Nordeman (born January 3, 1972) is an American contemporary Christian singer and songwriter.
Biography
Nordeman was raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she played the piano in church. She got her start when she entered ...
* Novella
*
Jerome Olds
Jerome Olds is an American singer-songwriter who found success in Christian music throughout the 1980s and the 1990s.
Music career
Olds' introduction to the music industry was in the Atlanta club scene during the mid-1970s, where he became a loc ...
*
John Pantry
John Pantry (born 10 October 1946) is a musician, singer, songwriter, audio engineer (at IBC Studios, for the Small Faces and on the first three Bee Gees L.P.s) and record producer from Harrow, Middlesex, England. He's been active since the la ...
* Painted Orange
*
Twila Paris Twyla (also Twila) is a given name. Notable people with the name include:
Twyla
* Twyla Hansen (born 1949), American poet, a Nebraska State Poet
* Twyla Herbert (1921–2009), American songwriter
* Twyla King (1937-2022), American newspaper editor ...
*
Michael Peace
Michael Peace (born November 30, 1958) is an American rapper and one of Christian rap's first solo artists. Peace was raised in New York City as the second oldest of four children.
Considered the Grandfather of Christian hip hop, he received t ...
*
Matt Redman
Matthew James Redman (born 14 February 1974) is an English Christian worship leader, singer-songwriter and author. Redman has released 16 albums, written 8 books, and helped start three church-plants. He is best known for his two-time Grammy Aw ...
*
Michael Peace
Michael Peace (born November 30, 1958) is an American rapper and one of Christian rap's first solo artists. Peace was raised in New York City as the second oldest of four children.
Considered the Grandfather of Christian hip hop, he received t ...
*
Petra
*
Phillips, Craig and Dean
Phillips, Craig and Dean (rendered as Phillips, Craig & Dean on albums) is a contemporary Christian music trio composed of pastors Randy Phillips, Shawn Craig, and Dan Dean. Since forming in 1991, the group has sold over two million units. They ...
*
Quickflight
Quickflight was a new wave band formed in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. The band released two albums in the early 1980s ''Breakaway'' on Tunesmith and their second ''Decent Beat'' on Star Song Records.
History
Quickflight's musical styl ...
* Dave Reader
* The RapSures
*
Reality Check
* Linnae Reeves
*
Resurrection Band
Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, was a Christian rock band formed in 1972. They were part of the Jesus People USA Christian community in Chicago and most of its members have continued in that community to this day. Known for ...
* David Robertson
* Say What?
* Scepter
* Jeff Scheetz
* Seraiah
* Seth
*
Paul Smith
*
Sierra
*
The Swirling Eddies
The Swirling Eddies are an American rock band that began as an anonymous spinoff from the band Daniel Amos, along with new drummer David Raven.
Career
For each Swirling Eddies release, band members adopted pseudonyms for the liner notes; "Cama ...
* Two Hearts
*
Tony Vincent
Tony may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Tony (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
* Gregory Tony (born 1978), American law enforcement officer
* Motu Tony (born 1981), New Zealand international rugby leagu ...
* The Walter Eugenes
*
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 Bil ...
*
Whitecross
* Fletch Wiley
*
Stephen Wiley
* Xalt
Compilations
*''
Never Say Dinosaur
''Never Say Dinosaur'' is a tribute album dedicated to Christian rock band Petra. The album includes 11 revisions and re-imaginings of classic Petra songs and one original composition by Kevin Smith of DC Talk. ''Dinosaur'' contained an eclectic ...
'' (1996)
See also
*
List of Christian record labels
This is a list of notable Christian music record labels. Also see :Christian record labels
List
0-9
* 5 Minute Walk
* 7Spin Music
A
* Ardent Records
B
* BEC Recordings
* Bethel Music
* Broken Records
* Beach Street Records
* Blood an ...
References
External links
EMI CMG Official Website
{{Authority control
American record labels
Record labels established in 1976
Christian record labels
EMI
1976 establishments in the United States
Online mass media companies