A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.

History[link]

Beginnings[link]

A&M Records was formed in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss. Their first choice for a name was Carnival Records, under which they released two singles before discovering another label had taken the Carnival name first. The company was subsequently renamed A&M, after Alpert's and Moss's initials. From 1966 to 1999, the company's headquarters were on the grounds of the historic Charlie Chaplin Studios at 1416 North La Brea Avenue, near Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, A&M had such acts as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Baja Marimba Band, Burt Bacharach, Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’66, We Five, The Carpenters, Chris Montez, Elkie Brooks, Lee Michaels, The Captain and Tennille, Quincy Jones, Stealers Wheel, Marc Benno, Liza Minnelli, Rita Coolidge, Wes Montgomery, Paul Desmond, Cat Stevens, Bobby Tench, Hummingbird, Toni Basil, and Paul Williams. Folk artists Joan Baez, Phil Ochs and Gene Clark also recorded for the label during the 1970s. Billy Preston joined the label in 1971, followed by Andre Popp and Herb Ohta in 1973.

In the late 1960s, through direct signing and licensing agreements, A&M added several British artists to its roster, including Cat Stevens, Joe Cocker, Procol Harum, Humble Pie, Fairport Convention, Free, The Move, and Spooky Tooth. In the 1970s, under its manufacturing and distribution agreement with Ode Records, A&M released albums by Carole King and the comedy duo Cheech & Chong. Other notable acts of the time included Nazareth, Y&T, the Tubes, Styx, Supertramp, Rick Wakeman, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Chuck Mangione, Squeeze, and Peter Frampton. On March 10, 1977, A&M signed the Sex Pistols after the band had been dropped by EMI. However, A&M dropped the band within a week.^[1] A&M sustained its success during the 1980s with a roster of noted acts that included Henry Badowski, Janet Jackson, the Police, Sting, The Brothers Johnson, Falco, Atlantic Starr, the Go-Go's, Chris De Burgh, Bryan Adams, Suzanne Vega, Brenda Russell, Jeffrey Osborne, Oingo Boingo, Human League, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Sharon, Lois & Bram, Annabel Lamb, Jim Diamond, Vital Signs, Joe Jackson, and Scottish rock band Gun.

Within a decade of its inception, A&M became the world's largest independent record company^{[citation needed]}. A&M releases were initially issued in the United Kingdom by EMI's Stateside Records label, and then under its own name by Pye Records until 1967. A&M releases were also issued in Australia through Festival Records until 1989. A&M Records Ltd.^[2] was established in 1970, with distribution handled by other labels with a presence in Europe. A&M Records of Canada Ltd.^[3] was also formed in 1970, and A&M Records of Europe in 1977. In 1979, A&M entered a distribution agreement with RCA Records (which later became BMG) in the USA, and with CBS Records (whose successor Sony Music Entertainment later absorbed BMG) in many other countries.

Over the years, A&M added specialty imprints: Almo International^[4] for middle of the road; Omen Records (1964–1966)^[5] for soul; Horizon Records^[6] for jazz (1974–1978); AyM Discos^[7] for Latin-American; Vendetta Records^[8] for dance music (1988–1990); and Tuff Break Records for hip-hop music (1993–1995).^[9]

The PolyGram years[link]

A&M was bought by PolyGram in 1989. Alpert and Moss continued to manage the label until 1993. The sale to PolyGram stipulated that Alpert and Moss had an integrity clause allowing them to control the label's image through 2009. In 1998, Alpert and Moss sued PolyGram for breach of the integrity clause, eventually settling for an additional $200 million payment.^[10]

In 1991, A&M launched Perspective Records^[11] as a joint venture with producing team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Jam and Lewis stepped down as CEOs of the imprint in 1997, but they remained on as consultants. In 1999, the label was absorbed into A&M. In the mid-1990s, A&M began distributing its PolyGram sister label Polydor Records in the USA.

During the 1990s, the company continued to release albums by Soundgarden, Extreme, Amy Grant, John Hiatt, Sting, Blues Traveler, Barry White, and Aaron Neville, as well as material from new artists Sheryl Crow, Therapy?, CeCe Peniston, and the Gin Blossoms. The company released the soundtracks Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Three Musketeers, Sabrina, The Living Sea, Demolition Man, and Lethal Weapon 3.

Universal Music Group[link]

In 1998, PolyGram was bought by Seagram and merged with its MCA Records family to create Universal Music. A&M was subsequently merged into Universal Music Group's then newly formed Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group. Its Canadian division was absorbed into Universal Music Canada that time, which included Jann Arden alongside other artists from Canada. Bryan Adams continued to record on that label.

The A&M lot on La Brea Avenue was shut down in January 1999. During the farewell celebration, the company's staff placed a black band over the A&M sign above the main entrance, indicating the death of the company. Most of the company's workforce, some of whom had been with the company for a decade or more, were let go, while many of its artists were dropped. Al Cafaro stated,

"This isn't about Universal or Seagram. The record business is changing fundamentally. Don't think that there are calm seas on the other side of this threshold. If the quake that devoured A&M and Geffen is a 6.0 on the Richter scale, there is a 7.0 coming in this industry. It's a Wall Street world now. Get ready."^[12]

Alpert and Moss sued Universal Music Group in 2000, claiming that they had violated a contractual agreement stating that A&M Records would be allowed to retain its corporate culture^{[citation needed]}. The suit was later settled.

The first multi-platinum A&M Records release under Universal Music Group and Interscope was Sting's 1999 album Brand New Day.

The old A&M studios and executive offices are now the home of Jim Henson Productions, which operates Henson Recording Studios.

A&M catalog albums that did not fit the current pop music format (which also includes rock, rap, and R&B) of their new parent division were transferred to other Universal divisions for management - for example, Verve Records now manages A&M's jazz catalog, not including Herb Alpert's recorded output which Alpert acquired in the settlement with Universal Music and are licensed to Shout! Factory (however, Verve does manage the Horizon Records catalog).^[13]

In February 2007, Interscope-Geffen-A&M partnered with Octone Records to relaunch the A&M label, now headed by James Diener and called A&M/Octone Records with worldwide distribution handled by parent Universal Music Group. The existing Octone roster was transferred to the A&M/Octone label and all new artist signings are made under the A&M/Octone joint venture.^[14]

Subsidiary labels[link]

Former[link]

• 1500 Records (1998–2001)
• ANTRA Records (1998)
• AM:PM (1990–2002, UK imprint for R&B, hip-hop and dance music)
• Breakout Records (1987–1990, UK imprint for R&B and Hip-Hop music)
• CTI Records (1967–1970)
• Cypress Records (1988–1990)
• Dark Horse Records (1974–1976)
• Delos International (1988–1990)
• Denon (1988–1992)
• DV8 Records (1995–1998)
• Flip (1996–1998)
• Gold Mountain Ltd. (1983–1985)
• Heavyweight Records (1998)
• I.R.S. Records (1979–1985)
• Nimbus Records (1987–1990)
• Ode Records (1970–1975)
• Polydor Records (1995–2000)
• Shelter Records (In Great Britain, early 1970s)
• Shoreline Records
• Tabu Records (1991–1993)
• Tuff Break Records (1993–1995)
• TwinTone (1987–1989)
• T.W.Is.M (1996–1998)
• Vendetta Records (1988–1991)
• Windham Hill Records (and its subsidiary labels) (1982–1985)
• Word Records (and its subsidiary labels: Exit, Myrrh, Live Oak) (1985–1990)

Current[link]

• A&M/Octone Records
• A&M Records UK (reactivated as a front-line label by Polydor Records.)
• Tropical Records
• will.i.am music group

See also[link]

• A&M/Octone Records
• A&M Records, Inc. v. Napster, Inc.
• List of record labels
• Charlie Chaplin Studios
• List of current A&M Records artists
• List of former A&M Records artists

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Interscope Records official website - A&M Records is included within the Interscope site and is part of Interscope-Geffen-A&M
• A&M Records US/UK A&R contact list
• On A&M Records - Search every artist and recording by A&M Records and its affiliated labels
• A&M Corner - Since 1995 the internet's original A&M Records free collector/listener resource

Edie Brickell
Brickell performing at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, January 2011
Background information
Birth name	Edie Arlisa Brickell
Born	(1966-03-10) March 10, 1966 (age 46)
Origin	Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas, United States
Genres	Alternative rock Folk rock Jangle pop Jam rock New wave Neo-psychedelia Pop rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, guitarist
Years active	1985–present
Labels	Geffen
Associated acts	Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, The Heavy Circles, The Gaddabouts
Website	ediebrickell.com

Edie Arlisa Brickell (born March 10, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter widely known for 1988's Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, the debut album by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, which went #4 on the US Albums Chart.

Life and career[link]

Brickell was born in Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas. She attended high school at the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts^[1] in Dallas. She attended Southern Methodist University for a year and a half. In 1985, she made the decision one night in a bar to get up on stage with a local folk rock group, New Bohemians. She would join the band as lead singer. After the band was signed to a recording contract, the label changed the group's name to Edie Brickell & New Bohemians. Their 1988 debut album Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars became a critical and commercial success, with the big hit, "What I Am". The band's follow-up album, Ghost of a Dog (1990), did not fare as well.^[2] As a solo artist, Brickell released Picture Perfect Morning (1994) and Volcano (2003). In 2006 she reunited with some of the original members of New Bohemians and they released the album Stranger Things.^[3]

In late 2007, Brickell and her stepson Harper Simon formed the band The Heavy Circles. They released a single on iTunes entitled "Hands On." The Heavy Circles released a debut album on February 12, 2008, featuring Sean Lennon, Martha Wainwright, and members of Cibo Matto.^[4]

In 2010, Brickell became a founding member of new band The Gaddabouts, consisting of Steve Gadd - drums, Edie Brickell - lead vocal, guitar, Andy Fairweather Low - electric & acoustic guitars, background vocals, Pino Palladino - bass, guitar, also featuring Dan Block, Ronnie Cuber, Joey DeFrancesco, Gil Goldstein, Marcus Rojas.http://www.thegaddabouts.com/the-band/

Brickell had a role as a folk singer in the 1989 film, Born on the Fourth of July. Her version of Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" is featured on the film's soundtrack. She also sang a cover version of Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side in the 1990 film Flashback. Her "Good Times" video was included as part of the multimedia samples on the Windows 95 installation CD-ROM.^[5]

Her father, Eddie Brickell, "the Fort Worth Southpaw", was posthumously inducted into the Texas State Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1988.^[6]

Brickell married singer-songwriter Paul Simon on May 30, 1992.^[7] Brickell was performing on NBC's Saturday Night Live on Saturday November 5, 1988 when she noticed Simon standing in front of the cameraman. "He made me mess the song up when I looked at him," she said with a smile. "We can show the kids the tape and say, 'Look, that's when we first laid eyes on each other.'" Brickell and Simon have three children—Adrian, Lulu and Gabriel.^[8]

In 2011, Edie wrote the title track “The Meaning of Life” for writer/director Tamar Halpern’s film Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life.

Discography[link]

• It's Like This... (1986)
• Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars (1988) US #4, 2x platinum
• Ghost of a Dog (1990)
• Picture Perfect Morning (1994)
• The Live Montauk Sessions (2000)
• The Ultimate Collection (2002)
• Volcano (2003)
• Stranger Things (2006)
• The Heavy Circles (2008)
• Edie Brickell (2011)
• The Gaddabouts (2011)

Other contributions[link]

• Microsoft Windows 95 (1995) - "Good Times" Video
• WFUV: City Folk Live VII (2004) - "Take a Walk"

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Edie Brickell

• Edie Brickell official website
• New Bohemians official website
• Edie Brickell in Allmusic
• Edie Brickell at the Internet Movie Database
• Edie Brickell on Myspace

Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns performing in 2011 on the Come to the Well Tour.
Background information
Origin	Daytona Beach, Florida, USA
Genres	Contemporary Christian Christian rock Soft rock
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Sony BMG/Beach Street/Reunion (U.S.) Sony Music Philippines (Philippines)
Website	castingcrowns.com
Members
Mark Hall (lead vocals) Juan DeVevo (lead guitar) Hector Cervantes (rhythm guitar) Melodee DeVevo (violin, backing vocals) Megan Garrett (piano) Chris Huffman (bass guitar) Brian Scoggin (drums)
Past members
Andy Williams (drums)

Casting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band. Casting Crowns was started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida^[1] as part of a youth group. He now serves as a lead vocalist. Later they moved to Stockbridge, 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 Stockbridge, Georgia.^[2]

History[link]

Formation and self-titled debut[link]

Christian rock 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 Stockbridge, 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.^[3] The group won the GMA regional songwriters competition at Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, Florida in both the "Best Song" and the "Best Artist" categories in 2004. 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.^[4]

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. "Voice of Truth" is also by the trailer and the ending from the movie Facing the Giants. The album was certified platinum in 2005,^[5] and in 2011, the group received their first gold certification for a single for the song 'Who Am I' from their debut record.

[edit] 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 successful 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.

[edit] 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^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8] 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.

[edit] Until the Whole World Hears (2009-2011)

In early 2009, drummer Andy Williams left to pursue a further calling with blessings from the band. The 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, the first time being in 2007.^[9][10] 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 and selling over 167,000 copies in its first week alone, setting a new record for the highest Christian album debut in history.^[11] It was certified gold within 4 weeks.^[12] The title track and first single from the album became the groups ninth #1 single in January 2010. Before the album was released, the band went on tour with Matt Redman for the fall Until The Whole World Hears Tour. They went on the first spring leg of the tour with Kutless, and toured with Tenth Avenue North on the second spring leg.

In April 2010, Casting Crowns won the Dove Award for Artist of the Year, their first ever win in that category. A music video for the title track of Until the Whole World Hears was posted on the band's YouTube page on August 23, 2010.

The track Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me) was released as a single in 2011 and reached #1 on Billboard Christian Songs during the week of April 23, 2011.

[edit] Come to the Well (2011-present)

Casting Crowns' latest song, "Courageous", was released as a single on July 19, 2011. The music video for the song was released on June 13, 2011 and promotes the film Courageous. The song was featured on their latest album, Come to the Well, which was released on October 18, 2011.

Ministry[link]

Casting 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.^[2] They often tour from Thursday- Saturday so that they can be home for church on Sunday morning and Wednesday night.^[13]

Members[link]

Current[link]

• 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 – bass and background vocals ^[14] (2001–Present)
• Megan Garrett – piano, keyboards, backing vocals (2001–Present)
• Melodee DeVevo – violin, backing vocals, cello (1999–Present)
• Brian Scoggin – drums (2009–Present)

Former[link]

• Andy Williams - drums (2001–2009)

Books[link]

• Lifestories by Mark Hall
• Your Own Jesus by Mark Hall
• The Well by Mark Hall

Producers/Executive Producers[link]

• 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

Discography[link]

Independent albums[link]

• 2001: Casting Crowns
• 2002: What If The Whole World Prayed

Studio albums[link]

• 2003: Casting Crowns
• 2005: Lifesong
• 2007: The Altar and the Door
• 2008: Peace on Earth
• 2009: Until the Whole World Hears
• 2011: Come to the Well

Live albums[link]

• 2004: Live from Atlanta
• 2006: Lifesong Live
• 2008: The Altar and the Door Live
• 2010: Until the Whole World Hears... Live

Music videos[link]

• American Dream
• Does Anybody Hear Her
• Slow Fade
• Until the Whole World Hears
• Courageous
• Just Another Birthday
• Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Achievements[link]

• Career sales have exceeded 5 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^[15]
• "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.^[7]

GMA Dove Awards^[16]

Grammy Awards^[17]

References[link]

1. ^ Norris, Jane (18 May 2009). "There's No Slow Fade in the Forecast for Casting Crowns". The Daily Progress. http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/entertainment/music/article/theres_no_slow_fade_in_the_forecast_for_casting_crowns/40282/. Retrieved July 4, 2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "CASTING CROWNS SETS SALES RECORD AS HIGHEST DEBUTING CHRISTIAN MUSIC ARTIST IN SOUNDSCAN HISTORY; UNTIL THE WHOLE WORLD HEARS FIRST-WEEK SCANS EXCEED 167,000". Jesus Freak Hideout. 25 November 2009. http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2009/11/25.CASTING%20CROWNS%20SETS%20SALES%20RECORD%20AS%20HIGHEST%20DEBUTING%20CHRISTIAN%20MUSIC%20ARTIST.asp. Retrieved 1 December 2009. 
3. ^ Owen, Linda (2005 November). "Casting Crowns’ "Who Am I"". Christianity Today. http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2005/novdec/14.13.html. Retrieved 2009-10-15. 
4. ^ Herman, Michael (2004). "Overnight Sensation". Christianity Today. http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2004/castingcrowns-0204.html. Retrieved 2009-10-08. 
5. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database". RIAA. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH. 
6. ^ "Casting Crowns ‘The Altar and the Door’ Debuts at No. 2". CCM Magazine. 2007 September. http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/headlines/11553550/casting%20crowns/. Retrieved 16 September 2009. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "The Altar and the Door Certified Gold by RIAA in Ten Weeks". CCM Magazine. 2007 September. http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/headlines/11553550/casting%20crowns/. Retrieved 16 November 2009. 
8. ^ "Casting Crowns Dominates Christian Music in 2007". CCM Magazine. 2007 December. http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/headlines/11562037/casting%20crowns/. Retrieved 16 November 2009. 
9. ^ Young, Eric (2009-04-21). "Casting Crowns Heads Home After North Korea Trip". Christian Post. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090421/casting-crowns-heads-home-after-north-korea-trip/index.html. Retrieved 2009-10-23. 
10. ^ French, Rose (2009-04-11). "Musicians hope to ease tensions in North Korea". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/states/tennessee/2009-04-11-2447326404_x.htm?loc=interstitialskip. Retrieved 2009-11-16. 
11. ^ http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2009/11/25.CASTING%20CROWNS%20SETS%20SALES%20RECORD%20AS%20HIGHEST%20DEBUTING%20CHRISTIAN%20MUSIC%20ARTIST.asp
12. ^ http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2009/12/21.CASTING%20CROWNS%20CERTIFIES%20RIAA%20GOLD%20IN%20FOUR%20WEEKS.asp
13. ^ http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/mark-hall-of-casting-486668.html
14. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCH-qjbwcIw
15. ^ As played on the January 7, 2007 Weekend 22
16. ^ "Dove Awards History Artist: Casting Crowns". Gospel Music Association. http://www.doveawards.com/history.php?x=artist. Retrieved 2009-11-16. 
17. ^ "Grammy Award Winners". The Recording Academy. http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx. Retrieved 2009-11-16. 

External links[link]

• Casting Crowns official site
• Casting Crowns Artist Profile on Christian Music Review
• The Altar and the Door album review on Christian Music Review
• Casting Crowns on WorshipSong
• The Altar & The Door Tour 2009 concert review from NewReleaseTuesday.com

Jessica Andrews
Background information
Birth name	Jessica Danielle Andrews
Born	(1983-12-29) December 29, 1983 (age 28)[1]
Origin	Huntingdon, Tennessee, USA
Genres	Country
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1998–present
Labels	DreamWorks Nashville Carolwood
Associated acts	Marcel Bret Michaels

Jessica Danielle Andrews (born December 29, 1983) is an American country music singer. At age 15 in mid-1999, she made her debut on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts with the single "I Will Be There for You", from her debut album Heart Shaped World, released in 1999 on DreamWorks Records Nashville.

Andrews saw her biggest chart success in 2001 with the song "Who I Am", a #1 country hit and the title track to her second studio album, which was certified gold in the United States. A third album, Now was released in 2003 to lower sales, while a fourth album (tentatively titled Ain't That Life) was never released due to DreamWorks' closure. In late 2008, Andrews signed to Carolwood Records, an imprint of Lyric Street Records, however, she was dropped from the label in 2009 without issuing an album.

Early life[link]

Jessica Andrews was born in Huntingdon, Tennessee to parents Jessie and Vicki Andrews.^[2] When she was seven, a bone was growing through her spinal cord, a condition that required surgery. She had a 50/50 chance of coming out of it paralyzed.^[2] Andrews learned her passion for singing in the fourth grade. Andrews planned on dancing in her school's talent show, but her sister convinced her to sing Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" instead.^[1][3] At 11, she put her first band together.^[3] Meanwhile, after someone sent a song of her singing to producer Byron Gallimore,^[2] Andrews signed with DreamWorks Records Nashville and soon began working on her first album. Prior to its release, she began opening for Faith Hill on her Fall 1998 tour, as well as for Tim McGraw (also produced by Gallimore) for his New Year's Eve concert.^[2]

Career[link]

[edit] Heart Shaped World

At the age of 15, Andrews released her debut album, Heart Shaped World. Sensitive to her age, she and Gallimore recorded 50 songs before settling on the twelve that appear on the album.^[2] Serving as its debut single was "I Will Be There for You", which reached #28 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts in 1999. In March of that year, she also performed the song on an episode of the soap opera Another World;^[4] One month later, she made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry.^[5] Also in 2000, she toured with Trisha Yearwood.^[6] Heart Shaped World also produced two more Top 40 country singles in "You Go First (Do You Wanna Kiss)" and "Unbreakable Heart", although the fourth single ("I Do Now") failed to reach Top 40. The album itself peaked at #24 on the Top Country Albums charts. Andrews was also featured on the premiere episode of On the Verge, a television series on CMT which followed the careers of up-and-coming country artists.^[7] On May 3, 2000, Andrews was invited to sing "Unbreakable Heart" at the ACM Awards, where she was nominated for Top New Female Vocalist, along with Julie Reeves and Chalee Tennison.^[6]

[edit] Who I Am

Who I Am was the title of Andrews' second album, released in 2001. It was used as the theme song^[8] for the police drama Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye where the main character Sue Thomas (played by deaf actress Deanne Bray) was a deaf FBI officer, landing a position in an FBI Surveillance team thanks to her lip reading talents.^[9]

Andrews, who was 17 years old when Who I Am was recorded, described the album as a more mature effort than Heart Shaped World, because it focused more on the emotions that come with growing up.^[10] Serving as the album's lead-off single, "Who I Am" became, to date, Andrews' only Number One (and only Top Ten) hit on the country music charts, in addition to peaking at #28 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts. In a 2001 interview, Andrews explained that she recorded the song (which was written by Brett James and Troy Verges^[11]) because she felt that its lyrics were especially fitting to her own life: "Everything is so true in that song, except that my grandmother's name is not Rosemary. It's about believing in yourself and being supported by those around you. No matter how many mistakes you make, your friends and family will be there for you."^[10] Also included on the album was Andrews' first songwriting credit in the track "Good Friend to Me", which she co-wrote with Annie Roboff and Bekka Bramlett.^[10]

Andrews spent 2001 on tour with Billy Gilman to help promote her second album and its lead-off single;^[10] she would later tour with Tim McGraw as well.^[12] The success of "Who I Am" also earned Andrews a Top New Female Vocalist award from the Academy of Country Music, while the album itself received RIAA gold certification for sales of 500,000 copies only four weeks after its release.^[11] Its second and third singles, "Helplessly, Hopelessly" and "Karma", peaked at #31 and #47, respectively, on the country charts.

[edit] Now and Ain't That Life

Now was the title of Andrews' third studio album, also released on DreamWorks Nashville. Its lead-off single, "There's More to Me Than You", reached Top 20 on the country singles charts, while the second (and final) single, "Good Time", failed to make Top 40. The album featured more of an emphasis on ballads than her first two albums did.^[12] Also in 2003, she befriended and began dating songwriter Marcel, co-writer of "There's More to Me Than You".^[12]

In late 2004, Andrews charted a duet with Bret Michaels of the rock band Poison, entitled "All I Ever Needed" for his solo album Freedom of Sound. The song was Michaels' only country hit, peaking at #45. Shortly afterward, Andrews began work on her fourth studio album, tentatively titled Ain't That Life. Its lead-off single, "The Marrying Kind", failed to chart, while "Summer Girl", the second single, peaked at #46 in mid-2005. DreamWorks' recording division was dissolved shortly afterward and Ain't That Life was not released.

2008-present[link]

Andrews performed a duet with pop artist Richard Marx titled "Wild Horses", which was released on his 2008 album Sundown. In October 2008, Andrews signed with Lyric Street Records's subsidiary imprint, Carolwood Records. Her first single for the label, "Everything" (which Andrews co-wrote with Marcel), was released on November 23, 2008. The song failed to make the Top 40 of the country charts, reaching #45 in early 2009. Her album was then pushed back to a later 2009 release; but in October of that year, Carolwood Records closed and the album was shelved. Additionally, Andrews was the only artist on Carolwood not to be transferred to its parent label, Lyric Street.

On November 2, 2010, Geffen Records released Andrews' first greatest hits album, Icon, as part of their Icon budget release series. In 2012, Andrews announced that she is close to signing a new record deal with a big Indie label and plans on releasing her fourth album later this year.

Personal life[link]

In October 2010, Andrews became engaged to singer-songwriter Marcel. They were married on November 11, 2011.^[13][14]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Compilation albums[link]

Singles[link]

Featured singles[link]

Music videos[link]

References[link]

Vanessa Amorosi
Background information
Birth name	Vanessa Amorosi
Born	(1981-08-08) 8 August 1981 (age 30)
Origin	Melbourne, Victoria
Genres	Rock, pop, acoustic
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Universal Music (2006–present) Sony BMG
Website	www.vanessaamorosi.com

Vanessa Amorosi (born 8 August 1981^[1]) is an Australian singer-songwriter and recording artist. Her combined album and single sales have reached over 2 million worldwide.

Life and career[link]

Early life[link]

Amorosi was born in Melbourne, Victoria. When Amorosi was 4, along with her younger sisters, she would go to tap, jazz and classical ballet classes, which were being run by her uncle. She attended Emerald Primary and Emerald Secondary School.^[2] At the age of 12 Amorosi started to perform in shopping centers and local council concerts under the supervision of her family. Amorosi was discovered performing at Matrioshka,^[3] a Russian restaurant in Carnegie, by Jack Strom and signed a recording contract in 1997. After being signed to MarJac Productions (co-owned by managers Mark Holden and Jack Strom) and recording a promo CD titled "Get Here", she secured a deal with Transistor Music Australia.

[edit] The Power (1999–2003)

In 1999, Amorosi released her debut single "Have a Look" which became a Top 20 hit and went gold in Australia. This was followed by her successful second single "Absolutely Everybody", an anthemic dance song, reached the Top 10 and became the longest charting Australian single by an Australian female artist.^[4] It remained in the ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart for over six months after its release.^[5] "Absolutely Everybody" was released internationally and reached the Top 10 in many European countries including the UK and Germany where it received a gold certification. Amorosi performed at many large events such as the NRL Grand Final, the opening of the Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island and the new millennium on "New Year's Eve" at Darling Harbour.

Following the success of the first two singles Amorosi released two more singles in 2000 "Shine" and "The Power" became major Australian hits. Both were accredited gold by the ARIA Australian music industry. The rights to create a remixed version of "Shine" were purchased by the airline Ansett Australia, who used this version for a commercial. Vannessa Amorosi was one of many celebrities to appear in the commercial.

Amorosi performing in 2002

Her album The Power reached number one on the Australian album charts. Amorosi received six ARIA nominations^[6] in the year 2000 awards and The Power was nominated^[7] for "Best Female Artist" and "Best Pop Release" in the ARIA Music Awards of 2001. Her largest audience came in September 2000 with performances at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and at the Paralympic Games. At the opening ceremony of the aforementioned Olympics she sang the Olympic song titled "Heroes Live Forever". Amorosi won the APRA Award^[8] in 2001 for "Most Played Song" on Australian Radio with "Shine" and received international acclaim in Germany where she won "Best International Newcomer"^[9] at the 2001 VIVA Comet Awards. Later that year she also made a special appearance at the Goodwill Games Opening and Closing ceremonies in Brisbane. In 2001 she performed at the AFL Grand Final.

In August 2002 Amorosi traveled to Manchester where she was one of the stars of the Commonwealth Games Hand-Over Ceremony, performing her hit "Shine" and a new song written especially for the event, "I'll always be a Melbourne girl".

In February 2003, Amorosi performed her blues set^[10] for the first time at the Melbourne International Music and Blues Festival and traveled to Germany to perform her latest European single "True to Yourself" on Top of the Pops and the hugely successful long-running show Wetten, dass..? which screens throughout Europe.^[11]

[edit] Hiatus and Somewhere in the Real World (2003–2009)

On 25 January 2006, it was revealed that Amorosi signed with Manager Ralph Carr, having completed her seven year management with MarJac Productions. She is quoted on the website as saying, "I have been with my previous management for seven years and thought both parties had gone as far as we could together... Moving over to Ralph Carr Management seemed like a natural progression, given the acts he has successfully managed. I am excited and enthused."

On 22 November 2006 it was announced that Amorosi had signed to Universal Music Australia.

Amorosi's involvement with Kids Help Line and the Variety Club led to a number of honours, including a 2003 nomination for Australian of the Year. She still has the farm where endangered animals can find refuge, although she does not get to visit much; her friends run it for her. She supported Kiss on their 2008 tour of Australia.

In 2008 Amorosi released the album Somewhere in the Real World, through Universal Music Australia, on 24 May 2008.^[12][13] The album tracks "Perfect" and "Start It" have both been used in promotions for the Seven Network. "Start It" is Channel 7's AFL song for 2008 and was used again in 2009. Released digitally and in stores on 24 May 2008, Somewhere in the Real World reached gold sales in Australia.

The single "Kiss Your Mama!" was serviced to radio on 3 August and released 8 September 2007.^[14] On a special edition of Australian Idol she sang her hit song "Kiss Your Mama!".^[15] This marked Amorosi's returned to the ARIA charts the First Single in many years to be released, the song peaked at #15.

Amorosi performing in 2008

Amorosi released her second single "Perfect" digitally on 5 April and physically on 26 April 2008.^[16] The single made it to number 1 on the digital iTunes charts on 7 June 2008 and a then equal highest charting singles of her career at #4. "Perfect" reached Platinum sales in Australia and was the most played Australian song on Australian radio for 2008. "Perfect" was nominated for the 2009 APRA awards for 'Most Played Australian Work'.

Following the success of her first two singles a third single was released from the album, the song "The Simple Things (Something Emotional)" was released as the third single on 20 September 2008. The Song received a video and achieved a top 40 peak. In December 2008 a video for the song "My House" was released onto her website, but never released as a single.

On 20 April 2009, a Vanessa fan website revealed details of a collaboration with U.S. band Hoobastank on a single titled "The Letter". The website, VanessaAmorosi.net, also provided the duet to be streamed in full.^[17] Amorosi also appears in the video which was shot in Los Angeles at Lacy Street Studio with director Paul Brown (Alicia Keys, Jack White). The video and single was serviced to Australian media on 4 May. The single was released in Australia on 19 June 2009.^[18]

[edit] Hazardous and international releases (2009–2010)

Vanessa Amorosi's album Hazardous, became her third ARIA Top 10 album debuting at #7, It was also the week's highest album debut by an Australian artist and has been accredited Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The album has produced the singles "This Is Who I Am" (Amorosi's first #1), top 30 hit "Hazardous" and third single "Mr. Mysterious" featuring Seany B. Amorosi released the album to the German market in early June 2010.^[19]

On 28 August 2009 Amorosi's new song "This Is Who I Am" was serviced to Australian radio. On 31 August 2009 Universal Music Australia released a press release for Amorosi's new single with details of new single and album.

"This Is Who I Am" debuted at number 1 on the ARIA Charts for the week beginning 18 October 2009. This is Amorosi's first number 1 single. The single held the top spot for a second week in a row - becoming the first Australian artist to debut at #1 and hold #1 single since Silverchair's "Straight Lines" in 2007. "This Is Who I Am" has achieved 2× platinum sales in Australia making it her most successful single to date in her homeland.

With the success of her album and first single "This Is Who I Am", Amorosi released her second single and title track from the album Hazardous. Amorosi flew to Los Angeles to film the video for "Hazardous" with director Paul Brown (Prince, Alicia Keys), which was serviced Thursday, 17 December 2009. The single peaked at #29 on the ARIA Charts a solid follow-up single to her first number 1.

Amorosi performing at the 2010 Weekender Festival in Melbourne

It was announced that Amorosi would collaborate with Mary J. Blige, so Amorosi flew to Los Angeles on 1 February to film the music video for her duet with Mary J. Blige for the upcoming single "Each Tear". The new version of the track will feature on an international re-release of Blige's latest record Stronger with Each Tear.^[20]

On 4 March 2010 Amorosi announced "Mr. Mysterious" as the third single from the Hazardous album via newsletter.^[21] During March 2010 Vanessa Amorosi supported Rob Thomas on his Australian leg of the Cradlesong Tour, as well as performing headline shows for her fans separately.

"Holiday" was released as the fourth single off Hazardous and charted in the top 50 on the ARIA charts.

In September 2010 Vanessa revealed on her official Twitter account she was back in the studio again with MachoPsycho in London. In October 2010, Amorosi wrote to her mailing list announcing she was writing and recording in Los Angeles for her new studio album,^[22] which is described to "push boundaries" and "may even shock people".^[23]

[edit] V and its delays (2011–present)

Amorosi's first single "Gossip" from her forthcoming album V was released on 1 July 2011 and became the #1 added song on Australian radio in the first week,^[24] but has not to date charted in the ARIA Top 100 Singles. The second single "Amazing" was released 9 September 2011 and peaked at #83 on the ARIA Singles Chart.^[25] The song was featured on Channel 7's AFL Grand Final ad which also resulted in Vanessa Amorosi performing at the ^[26] AFL Grand Final in 2011. 2011 has also seen Vanessa work on such campaigns as Proactiv, Headspace and Kids Helpline. On 3 November 2011 Amorosi announced her album due for release on 11 November would be delayed until further notice. Having been delayed several times from a January to a March 2012 release date, the album's current release date is 27 August 2012.^[27]

Awards and nominations[link]

Discography[link]

Notes[link]

References[link]

• web.archive.org: Vanessa Amorosi - Milestones
• smh.com.au: It's my way - or no way
• smh.com.au: Live and kicking
• watoday.com.au: Something emotional about Amorosi
• TheHarbourAgency.com: vanessa amorosi biography
• The Sydney Morning Herald: Vanessa Amorosi - On song by Guy Blackman, 23 October 2011

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Vanessa Amorosi

• Official website
• Ralph Carr Management, her management agent