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 Billboard 200 charts.[1]
Prior to the album Church Music, the band preferred not to be referred to as "The David Crowder Band". They explained that they preferred to omit the article, and stated that they "may revisit this issue if other groups named 'David Crowder Band' begin performing," and may in fact, should that eventuality occur, insert "The Original" in front of the band's present appellation. As of the release of Church Music, however, the band has begun referring to themselves using the article, and explained "we’ve been at for a while now without incident, so we felt justified in its formal inclusion."[2]
The band's name is sometimes rendered with an asterisk, as "David Crowder*Band". In a faux-documentary, while recording Church Music, Crowder joked that the asterisk meant, "David Crowder [is about to go insane because Jack Parker continually tries to sabotage the work of the rest of the] band."[3]
The band began when Crowder realized that almost half of the students at Baylor University, a Christian university, were not attending church. Finding this very surprising he and Chris Seay started University Baptist Church (Waco, Texas) in 1995, while he was still a student. Crowder became Pastor of worship at the church and led worship and continued to do so throughout the year. The church's congregation grew, as did the band's lineup.
Crowder began writing songs to incorporate into the worship times at the church and eventually the church released an independent CD, Pour Over Me, followed by All I Can Say in 1999.[citation needed] These CDs brought the band to a wider audience and invitations to festivals and events followed. The band was signed to sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records when Louie Giglio talked to Crowder about the music and how it could be used more than just at UBC and more world-wide. Although the band toured extensively, they made it a point to be back at their home church UBC in Waco Texas for most Sundays.[citation needed]
Kyle Lake, University Baptist Church's former pastor and also longtime friend of the band, had a strong influence on the band's music in terms of content and inspiration both during his life and after Lake's death.[citation needed]
With their September 2005 release, A Collision, David Crowder Band explored a new realm of musical diversity. The album houses a mix of bluegrass, folk, alternative, and worship, woven together with a touch of electronic ambience. This release landed them the No. 2 spot on the iTunes Music Store and the No. 39 spot on Billboard 200 the second day after its release. The same day as the release of A Collision, their song "Turkish Delight" was released on the Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia compilation CD. This song, which is a reference to the magical Turkish Delight in C. S. Lewis's book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, has an old-school disco feel.
March 19, 2007, the band officially started recording Remedy; the band also revealed the album's website, http://www.remedyiscoming.com/, which allows fans to follow the band via live webcams, and discover more about the album. Famously controversial rock musician Ted Nugent made a special guest appearance on the album, on the song "We Won't Be Quiet". Remedy was released on September 25, 2007. The day after its release, it reached No. 4 on the iTunes Music Store. When Mark joined the band as the album Remedy was released, his sidekick Rupert came with him. Rupert is a gnome.[4][5] During the Remedy Tour the band had up a live web feed on Crowder's Xanga account. The feed had a chat room where fans chatted live with the band and their tourmates. It showed more than half of the tour stops live which included their tour bus, live stage feeds of shows, places the band went, etc. Much of the time the video feed would be on Rupert at different stops. On the final night of the tour Phil Wickham and The Myriad came on stage for a hoe down for the song "I Saw the light". The camera for the feed was on the lid of a ball-cap and was wired into a laptop the band had in a backpack; this equipment was provided by Xanga. The band also used the feed for some time after their Remedy Tour. July 16, 2008, the band announced it would releasing a live album and DVD titled Remedy Club Tour - Live,[6] The DVD was filmed In NYC and GA.
Crowder's Xanga entry from January 31, 2009, mentioned the preproduction of the band's next studio album. Also on Mike Hogan's MySpace entry from March 4, 2009, he confirmed that actual recording and production had commenced and provided directions for getting to the live webcam feed, which is in a page simply titled "Church Music".[7] The album was titled "Church Music" and was released on September 22, 2009.[8] The first single off the album was a cover of John Mark McMillan's song "How He Loves". Crowder received permission from McMillan to change the words "So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss" to "So heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss".
The band hosted Crowder's Fantastical Church Music Conference September 30 through October 2, 2010 at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.[9] Other presenters at the conference included Louie Giglio, Rob Bell, Israel Houghton, Hillsong London, Matt Redman, Jars of Clay, Matt Maher, Leeland, David Dark, Gungor, Derek Webb and others. Mark recorded a Rap song for the band titled "Bwack Be Creepin'" for the band's YouTube channel.[10]
February 5, 2011 the band announced the official start to recording of Give Us Rest (A Requiem Mass in C [The Happiest of All Keys]).[11] On May 21, 2011, the band announced through their website that the band will end after the completion of the Fall 2011 "The 7 Tour" and the release of their sixth album. At the same time the band also announced that they planned to disband after the release of their sixth album.[12]
Later, on July 21, 2011, the band announced that a Christmas album, Oh for Joy, would be released on October 4, 2011.[13] The band stated that they began to record Give Us Rest and subsequently Oh for Joy came out. Some of the songs in the albums Give Us Rest and Oh for Joy were recorded in greenrooms and restrooms during the band's last tour.[14]
The band played their final show at the Passion 2012 Conference on January 3, 2012 at the Georgia Dome.[15]
Crowder has formed a new collective called "Crowder" that will be making its first performance at the Creation East Festival in June.[16][17] Parker, Dodson, Bush, and Waldrop have formed a new band, called "The Digital Age",[16] and are opening a recording studio in Waco, Texas.[18] Many of the members have rejoined UBC's worship team leading worship.[18]
The band often incorporated unconventional instruments and elements into their music which were created by the band's drummer Jeremy Bush. He modified a Speak & Spell for the song "I Can Hear the Angels Sing", a guitar-shaped controller for the Guitar Hero game to be used in "...Neverending...", and a robot drummer, named Steve 3PO, for use in "Church Music", a silver box with blue lights and switches for "Can You Feel It?", and a MOTM modular synthesizer used by Hogan. He also manufactured a seven square-foot MPC style-MIDI controller for the band Family Force 5. Hogan often played turntables and played electric violin with guitar effects. A Smule "I Am T-Pain" iPhone app is used on "The Nearness".[citation needed]
The band often recorded their albums in a barn behind Crowder's house.[citation needed]
- David Crowder – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, programming, theremin, keytar, electric guitar
- Jack Parker – electric guitar, background vocals, Rhodes piano, mandolin, and banjo
- Mike Dodson – bass guitar, keyboard, cello,
- Mike Hogan – violin/strings, turntables, guitar, keyboard
- Jeremy "B-Wack" Bush - drums, percussion, bells, programming
- Mark Waldrop – electric guitar, mandolin, background vocals
- Albums
- EPs
- Thoughts of You - Robbie Seay (2000)
- Passion: The Road to One Day - Passion Worship Band (2000)
- Our Love is Loud - Passion Worship Band (live, 2002)
- Sacred Revolution - Passion Worship Band (live, 2003)
- Passion: Hymns Ancient and Modern - Passion Worship Band (2004)
- How Great Is Our God - Passion Worship Band (live, 2005)
- Live from Austin Music Hall - Chris Tomlin (live, 2005)
- Everything Glorious - Passion Worship Band (live, 2006)
- Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia (2005)
- Ultimate Music Makeover: Michael W. Smith (compilation, 2005)
- X Worship 2006 (compilation, 2005)
- X Worship 2007 (compilation, 2006)
- When the Storm Comes - Minister RMB (When the Storm Comes, 2006)
- WOW Christmas: Green (compilation, Christmas)
- Music Inspired By the Motion Picture Amazing Grace (compilation, 2007, Sparrow Records)
- Glory Revealed (compilation by Mac Powell, 2007)
- Passion: Live from Passion07, Part 2 - Passion Worship Band (2007)
- God of This City - Passion Worship Band (2008)
- Passion: Awakening - Passion Worship Band (2010)
- The Shelter - Jars of Clay (2010) – on song "Lay It Down"
- Passion: Here for You - Passion Worship Band (2011)
- Seven Swans Reimagined (compilation, 2011)[22]
- Passion: White Flag - Passion Worship Band (2012)
- The band also created the theme music for Dr. James MacDonald's radio program Walk in the Word.
- Crowder also wrote the song "Rise Up" for Baylor University football team.
- Mark Waldrop recorded "Bwack Be Creepin'", the band's rap song.[10]
- GMA Dove Awards
Year |
Award |
Result |
2006 |
Group of the Year |
Nominated |
Rock/Contemporary Song of the Year ("Here is Our King") |
Won |
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year (A Collision) |
Won |
2007 |
Group of the Year |
Nominated |
2008 |
Group of the Year |
Nominated |
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("Everything Glorious") |
Won |
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year (Remedy) |
Nominated |
Worship Song of the Year ("Everything Glorious") |
Nominated |
Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Remedy) |
Won |
Recorded Music Packaging of the Year (Remedy) |
Won |
Short Form Music Video of the Year ("Foreverandever, etc.") |
Nominated |
2009 |
Group of the Year |
Nominated |
Recorded Music Packaging of the Year (Remedy Club Tour Edition) |
Nominated |
2010 |
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("How He Loves") |
Nominated |
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year (Church Music) |
Nominated |
Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Church Music) |
Won |
2011 |
Short Form Music Video of the Year ("SMS (Shine)") |
Won |
2012 |
Christmas album of the year (Oh for Joy) |
Won |
- Grammy Awards
David Crowder Band is also featured in other compilation albums that were either nominated or won Dove Awards for Special Event Album of the Year:
The band was named MSN's Artist of the Month for July 2006, and later won Artist of the Year for 2006.[24]
David Crowder has authored two books:
- David Crowder, Praise Habit: Finding God in Sunsets and Sushi, NavPress, 2005.
- David Crowder with Mike Hogan, Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, but Nobody Wants to Die or (The Eschatology of Bluegrass), Relevant Books, 2006.
- ^ "David Crowder Band Dominate Christian Charts". billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/artist/david-crowder-band/477793#/news/david-crowder-band-dominate-christian-charts-1006091752.story. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
- ^ "David Crowder: Stuff Christian Bands Like". Thepoachedegg.net. http://www.thepoachedegg.net/the-poached-egg/2011/03/david-crowder-stuff-christian-bands-like.html. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
- ^ "David Crowder*Band Rockumentary 2: You Can Bet Your Life On It". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJie0fedIeY. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
- ^ "Rupert Facebook". http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=808674213.
- ^ "Rupert MySpace". http://www.myspace.com/ruperttheremarkable.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ http://dcb01.com/churchmusic/cams.php4
- ^ "Album Release Dates, CD New Releases". Jesusfreakhideout.com. http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/releases/default.asp#sept09. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
- ^ http://www.davidcrowderband.com/fantastical/
- ^ a b "Bwack Be Creepin". http://www.youtube.com/user/davidcrowderband?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/22/Xbndw0xv0xw.
- ^ David Crowder Band (February 5, 2011). "We've officially". Facebook.com. http://www.facebook.com/davidcrowderband/posts/107768935968317. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
- ^ David Crowder Band (May 21, 2011). "Important News From Crowder Band". http://www.davidcrowderband.com/letter.html. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
- ^ "the shows". david crowder band. http://davidcrowderband.com/schedule/. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
- ^ "YouTube of Restrooms". http://www.youtube.com/user/davidcrowderband?blend=1&ob=4#p/a/u/0/FuHTZvkuCuo.
- ^ "David Crowder*Band to Debut Final, Epic Collection of 34 Songs". CMSpin.com. December 13, 2011. http://www.cmspin.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=6558&z=26. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
- ^ a b "Jesus Freak Hideout News". http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2012/03/27.JFH%20NEWS%20SHORTS%20FOR%20TUESDAY%20MARCH%2027%202012.asp.
- ^ "Creation eMag pg. 6". http://issuu.com/creationfest/docs/march2012emag?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222.
- ^ a b "David Crowder talks about plans after the David Crowder Band". http://www.hearitfirst.com/DavidCrowderBand.
- ^ Chart History, Billboard.com
- ^ "Tweet related to Give Us Rest release date". http://twitter.com/#!/crowderband/status/128562327997005824. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
- ^ New David Crowder*Band EP Premiers as iTunes Exclusive, Sparrow Records
- ^ Seven Swans Reimagined, On Joyful Wings
- ^ "Grammy Award Winners". The Recording Academy. http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
- ^ "David Crowder Band is MSN’s Artist of the Year 2006 - CMSpin News Article". Cmspin.com. January 12, 2007. http://www.cmspin.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=4068&z=26. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
David Crowder*Band
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- David Crowder
- Jack Parker
- Mike Dodson
- B-Wack
- Mike Hogan
- Mark Waldrop
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Former members |
- Jason Solley
- Taylor Johnson
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Studio Albums |
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Live Albums |
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EPs |
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