Artists who started Christian Rock (or CCM)

[Surfer]

I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to the format but I'd like to know who the most influential artists in the CCM medium would be? Mostly I'm looking for the folks that got the industry started or who attempted to gain a wider acceptance.

Example...Phil Keaggy, Randy Stonehill, etc.

 

[GaryTheThompson]

Quite possibly the Grandfather of what became CCM is Larry Norman.

The Imperials had a huge influence as well. But they came at the industry from a different diretion than Norman.

In fact, Norman never really wanted to be known as a Contemporary Christian Artist. But because he sang Jesus Music and was one of the first to gain wide-spread attention with it, we've put him in that paradigm.

 

[neutralobserver]

This is likely to start a debate which will be defined by the age and/or music entry point of the poster.

In light of the given standards of "most influential" and "wider acceptance" and adding my own of "raising the bar at different points along the timeline," I'll offer Amy Grant, Russ Taff, Michael W Smith, White Heart, Bebe & Cece Winans, Jars Of Clay, Kirk Franklin, MercyMe, POD, and Switchfoot.

 

[GaryTheThompson]

Agreed.

 

[spirit1023dj]

There was no such thing as christian rock until the movement spawned by cheaply run labels. Prior to that it was an umbrella of "christian" music or gospel. (along the lines of what Gary said)

It wasn't until the invent of the fledgling labels that tried to find acts that didn't have the "Jesus" equation, (i.e. Jesus x 1 + # of verses = "Christian" song) but were still christians living in a modern society, writing songs about life, issues etcetera. Labels like Rustproof, GrayDot, Gotee, Grrr, Tooth & Nail, Rugged, Absolute, Rex (and only 2 listed have been able to walk away without filing bankruptcy)

But now with christian acts being borrowed to market in the mainstream, thanks to the many acts like; The Fray, Mercy Me, Underoath, Relient K, Switchfoot and even U2, I feel the lines are going to be blurred beyond recognition. Hence the implementation of "Positive Music Stations."

 

[anotherguyTN]

Here's a good link for information on the early years of CCM: http://www.one-way.org/

 

[smashedcd]

also kerry livgren of kansas fame. he had an album called seeds of change from 1979 featuring this guy on 2 songs ;D


http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/

 

[MightyFrenchman]

Early CCM artists include Ron Salsbury & the J.C. Power Outlet, who in 1973 had a big effect on my becoming a Christian. Also there's Dallas Holm, Gary S. Paxton, Randy Matthews, Malcolm & Alwyn, Wall Brothers Band, Pat Terry Group, Alpenglow, John & Terry Talbot, Honeytree, Evie, Love Song, Paul Clark, Andrae Crouch, Terry Clark, Second Chapter of Acts, David Meece, Sweet Comfort Band, Gentle Faith, Denny Correll, Darrell Mansfield, Becky Ugartechea, Karen Lafferty, Maranatha! Music's Praise albums, Resurrection Band, Tom Autry,
Jessy Dixon (who sang Gospel songs while on tour with Paul Simon back in the 70s), Kelly Willard, Chuck Girard,
Reba Rambo, Tom Howard, Brown Bannister....and I'm sure I'll think of more later!

 

[Surfer]

Thanks to all! You have helped out quite a bit!

 

[MightyFrenchman]

I thought of some more artists from the early days of contemporary Christian music; Tom Autry, Mark Heard, Scott Wesley Brown, Steve Camp, Sharrett Brothers, Andrus, Blackwood & Company, Glad, Danniebelle Hall, Dogwood, Charlie Peacock, Dan Peek (formerly of the group America).

Remember also how there were a number of artists who did one or two CCM albums but who pretty much were known for their secular music? Artists like Philip Bailey from Earth, Wind & Fire; Joe English, former drummer with Paul McCartney & Wings; Johnny Rivers, Maria Muldaur, Billy Preston, James Vincent (formerly with Chicago).

 

[anotherguyTN]

Remember also how there were a number of artists who did one or two CCM albums but who pretty much were known for their secular music? Artists like Philip Bailey from Earth, Wind & Fire; Joe English, former drummer with Paul McCartney & Wings; Johnny Rivers, Maria Muldaur, Billy Preston, James Vincent (formerly with Chicago).

How many of those artists were (and hopefully still are) truly committed Christians, and how many had a short term religious experience that didn't last? Hopefully most of them were the former and not the latter. There's nothing wrong with them still being involved in secular music, but I hope their faith was real and they still have a Christian commitment.

 

[smashedcd]

Remember also how there were a number of artists who did one or two CCM albums but who pretty much were known for their secular music? Artists like Philip Bailey from Earth, Wind & Fire; Joe English, former drummer with Paul McCartney & Wings; Johnny Rivers, Maria Muldaur, Billy Preston, James Vincent (formerly with Chicago).

How many of those artists were (and hopefully still are) truly committed Christians, and how many had a short term religious experience that didn't last? Hopefully most of them were the former and not the latter. There's nothing wrong with them still being involved in secular music, but I hope their faith was real and they still have a Christian commitment.

well without naming anyone..not all the ccm artists that were just ccm artists kept the faith either...only one artists stands out as an artist that has denounced christianity publicly since the late 70s..bob dylan. i saw him on 20/20 one night where he said it publicly.

 

[david5258]

frenchman--as a youth i enjoyed listening to and being ministererd to by many of the groups you just mentioned. i now work in retail as a wholesale distributor, and enjoy hearing jars of clay and third day in kmarts and mercy me and natalie grant while in goody's. goody's is playing a heavy rotation of "so long self" and "held". the whole point of christian music is to minister to the audience in culturally relevant ways, in the idiom of today, the life changing power of Jesus. songs like "so long self" and "held" reach out to people where they are.--david5258

 

[MightyFrenchman]

You're absolutely right. As the culture changes, so the music changes and believers need to use tools to share the Gospel that are relevant for the time period in which they live. Ten to fifteen years from now there'll be people wishing they still heard the great songs that they used to hear on the radio back in 2006. ipod and mp3 sales are bound to boom in the years ahead! So radio people, stay relevant!

frenchman--as a youth i enjoyed listening to and being ministererd to by many of the groups you just mentioned. i now work in retail as a wholesale distributor, and enjoy hearing jars of clay and third day in kmarts and mercy me and natalie grant while in goody's. goody's is playing a heavy rotation of "so long self" and "held". the whole point of christian music is to minister to the audience in culturally relevant ways, in the idiom of today, the life changing power of Jesus. songs like "so long self" and "held" reach out to people where they are.--david5258

 

[neutralobserver]

Ten to fifteen years from now there'll be people wishing they still heard the great songs that they used to hear on the radio back in 2006.

Ah, but, at that time, there will have been that "critical mass" that Clemwriter speaks of in another thread. This music will have been plenty familiar to a much larger audience. From here on, I think you can expect Christian radio to "behave" more "logically" in the way that it ages with its audience, possibly even while staying fairly current where warranted.


(I'm not sure I said that just right. If someone is thinking I'm way off, it's possible you and I are thinking the same thing but that you're thinking of a better way to say it....jump right in!)

 

[MightyFrenchman]

Yes and no. (How's that for a response?) 10 to 15 years from now contemporary Christian music will still be new to new believers. There'll always be a larger number of people who've never heard of it until they become a Christian.

Ten to fifteen years from now there'll be people wishing they still heard the great songs that they used to hear on the radio back in 2006.

Ah, but, at that time, there will have been that "critical mass" that Clemwriter speaks of in another thread. This music will have been plenty familiar to a much larger audience.

 

[majicjim]

It's hands down Larry Norman,Randy Stonehill,Amy Grant,Honeytree,2nd Chapter of Acts and former Mason Proffit bandmates Terry (and John Michael) Talbot...they're the ones who got the ball rolling.

I'll have to give some credit also to some of the soul gospel talent who also did some Christian contemporary including Andrae Crouch,Jesse Dixon and The Mighty Clouds of Joy. (I've been a fan of soul gospel anyway since I used to listen to The Hossman on WLAC in the 1970s.)
Tradiotinal artists who crossed over to CCM including The Imperials,The New Gaither Vocal Band and Evie are also worth mentioning.

 

[smashedcd]

cliff richards was out before larry norman. actually i think elvis started this thing we call ccm. in the 50s.

 

[amygrantfan]

Amy Grant is clearly the most significant figure in the history of CCM. Not only did she prove it could be a viable business and make money (first gold album, platinum, double, tripple, qunituple), but she paved the way for many others to follow.

 

[actioncentral]

Chuck Girard, who was originally with Love Song. He was also active as a secular artist in the early and mid 60s as a singer with The Castells and as one of the session singers for record producer Gary Usher's many projects: Hondells, Super Stocks, etc. He was the lead singer on "Little Honda," but group mate Richard Burns
lip synched his lead on TV shows and movies because, as I recall, Girard was still contracted as a member of the Castells while singing uncredited on Usher's records.
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