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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]].
HistoryFormation and Self Titled DebutChristian pop group Casting Crowns began as a student worship band in Daytona Beach, FL, in 1999. Led by singer, songwriter, and youth pastor Mark Hall, the group initially included guitarists Juan DeVevo and Hector Cervantes and violinist Melodee DeVevo. The group relocated to McDonough, GA, in 2001, adding Chris Huffman on bass, Megan Garrett on keyboards and accordion, and drummer Andy Williams. This augmented version of Casting Crowns released two independent albums on CD, both of which were well received in the Atlanta area. Both independent albums were efforts on the part of Mark Hall and the rest of the group as outreach projects for youth in the area. Although the group was not searching for a record label, one of the group's albums found its way into the hands of [[Mark Miller]], lead singer for country group [[Sawyer Brown]], who was struck by Casting Crowns' driving pop/rock style and Hall's vocal delivery of his hard-hitting but devout songs
. Miller signed Casting Crowns to his fledgling [[Beach Street Records]], a division of [[Reunion Records]] with distribution by the Provident Label Group, making Casting Crowns the first artist signed to [[Beach Street Records]].
Mark Miller took the group into the studio along with co-producer Steven Curtis Chapman, himself a popular artist on the CCM musical scene. The resulting eponymous album, Casting Crowns, was released in 2003 on the Beach Street imprint. The album quickly made them one of the fastest selling debut artists in Christian music history. The album's third single, "Voice of Truth", spent a record-breaking fourteen consecutive weeks at #1 beginning in 2003. The album was certified platinum in 2005.[url=www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH]
Lifesong and Lifesong Live (2005-2006)Lifesong followed in 2005, debuting at #9 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart. The album had three singles: “Lifesong”, “Praise You in this Storm”, and “ Does Anybody Hear Her?”. "Lifesong" spent nine weeks in the top spot, with "Praise You in This Storm" remaining at #1 for seven weeks. Apart from being succesful in the charts, Lifesong earned Casting Crowns their first Grammy Award for their work on the album in 2006.
In 2006, the group released Lifesong Live, which included live performances of songs from their studio album Lifesong.
The Altar and the Door and The Altar and the Door Live (2007-2008)The band's third studio album The Altar and the Door debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart[ first= ] and #1 on the Hot Christian Albums chart upon its release in August 2007. Ten weeks after the album’s release date, it was certified gold by the RIAA.[ first= ] On September 27, 2007 the band embarked on the ‘Altar and the Door’ tour with Leeland and John Waller . The tour was highly successful, grossing $4.4 million ticket sales.[ first= ]
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. "Slow Fade" was also released as a single, and was included in the soundtrack of the Kirk Cameron film Fireproof.
In 2008, Casting Crowns scored their eighth number one hit with "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", a track from their newly-released Christmas album entitled Peace on Earth.
Until the Whole World Hears (2009)In early 2009, drummer Andy Williams left to pursue a further calling with blessings from the band. The very bald drummer was replaced with Brian Scoggin and his red locks of hair, an irony Mark mentions on tour.
Casting Crowns was one of the only American bands to ever have been invited to North Korea. They attended the 2009 April Spring Arts Festival in Pyongyang where they performed with The Annie Moses Band. This was Casting Crowns second time invited to the Festival sponsored by Global Resource Services. On August 30, 2009 Casting Crowns performed on Huckabee, Mike Huckabee's political show.
Casting Crown's fourth major studio album, Until the Whole World Hears, was released on November 17, 2009, debuting at #4 on the Billboard 200. It was certified gold within 4 weeks. The title track and first single from the album became the groups ninth #1 single in January 2010.
MinistryCasting 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."
Four 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. They do the band part-time around their full-time work of mentoring teenagers at the church.
Members Current- Mark Hall – lead vocals and songwriter (1999-Present)
- Hector Cervantes – lead guitar and background vocals (1999-Present)
- Juan Devevo – guitar and background vocals (1999-Present)
- Chris Huffman – background vocals (2001-Present)
- Megan Garrett – piano, keyboards, backing vocals (2001-Present)
- Melodee Devevo – violin, backing vocals, cello (1999-Present)
- Brian Scoggin – drums (2009-Present)
Former- Andy Williams - drums (2001-2009)
Singles Other Charting Songs
2 Billboard's "Hot Christian Songs" chart became the "Christian Songs" chart in June 2009.
3 Billboard's "Hot Christian AC" chart was discontinued in June 2009.
4 Reached #1 on other radio charts.
5 Currently active on the charts.
Music Videos - American Dream from the album Casting Crowns
- Does Anybody Hear Her from the album Lifesong
- Slow Fade from the album The Altar and the Door
Books - Lifestories by Mark Hall
- Your Own Jesus by Mark Hall
Producers/Executive Producers - Steven Curtis Chapman - Producer for album Casting Crowns
- Mark A. Miller - Producer for albums Casting Crowns, Lifesong, The Altar and the Door, and Until The Whole World Hears
- Terry Hemmings - Executive Producer for album Lifesong, The Altar and the Door, and Until The Whole World Hears
DiscographyIndependent albums- 2001: Casting Crowns
- 2002: What If The Whole World Prayed
Studio albumsLive albums- 2004: Live from Atlanta
- 2006: Lifesong Live
- 2008: The Altar and the Door Live
Achievements - Career sales have exceeded 4 million records.
- 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 magazine
- "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 fastest being Jars of Clay.
- GMA Dove Awards
- Grammy Awards
Partnerships and Endorsements Partnerships - Jumpstart Resources
- World Vision
- Covenant Eyes
Endorsements - Gibson Guitars
- Avalon Guitars
- Vesper Guitars
- Audix Microphones
- Westone In Ear Monitors
- Pro Mark Drum Sticks
- Ultimate Microphone Stands
- Paul Reed Smith Guitars
- Istanbul Agop Cymbals
- C&C Drums
Copyright Citations
This article is licensed under the GNU License
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