Chris Tomlin
Chris Tomlin |
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Christopher Dwayne "Chris" Tomlin (born May 4, 1972) is an American Christian Contemporary Music artist, worship leader, and songwriter from Grand Saline, Texas, United States. He is a former staff member at Austin Stone Community Church and is signed to EMI's sixstepsrecords. Tomlin also leads worship at many Passion events. Some of his most well-known songs are "How Great Is Our God", "Jesus Messiah", "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)", and the recent song "Our God" which he co-wrote with Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves and Jonas Myrin. He is currently a lead worshipper at Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia with Louie Giglio and Christy Nockels.
He was awarded Male Vocalist at the 2006, 2007, and 2008 GMA Dove Awards. He was also named Artist of the Year in 2007. Tomlin released his seventh studio album, And If Our God Is for Us..., on November 16, 2010. He is one of the members of Compassionart, a charity founded by Martin Smith (and Smith's wife, Anna) of the band Delirious?.
Early life
Tomlin was born in Grand Saline, Texas in 1972 to Connie and Donna Tomlin. He has two younger brothers, Ryan and Cory. Tomlin received his first guitar from his father at the age of eleven after contracting a case of mono.[1] Chris Tomlin first learned how to play the guitar by playing along side Willie Nelson records.[2]
Tomlin wrote his first worship song at age fourteen. He entered college planning to study physical therapy, but ended up not pursuing that career, as he has stated that he felt God's calling to something else.[citation needed]
In the mid-1990s Tomlin was a worship leader at the Dawson McAllister Youth Conferences, as well as at various church camps in Texas.
After attending Tyler Junior College and Texas A&M University, Tomlin continued to play and write songs, and in 1997, youth speaker Louie Giglio asked if he would be interested in working with the Passion Conferences. Tomlin has played a key role in the movement ever since.
Musical career
His first nationally released solo project, titled The Noise We Make, was released in 2001, featuring the songs "Forever," "Be Glorified", and "Kindness", all of which made the top 200 in the CCLI 2005 top 500 worship songs.[3] He also released the live EP 545 in 2002, and the studio album Not to Us (2002). His 2004 album Arriving is considered his breakout album as it produced the #1 hits "Indescribable" (written by Laura Story), "Holy Is the Lord", "How Great Is Our God", and "The Way I Was Made". Two other tracks from the album–"On Our Side" and "Mighty is the Power of the Cross", written with Shawn Craig of Phillips, Craig, and Dean–landed in the 2005 top 500 worship songs according to Christian Copyright Licensing International.[3] Arriving was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2008.
A year after Arriving, Tomlin released his first solo live album, titled Live From Austin Music Hall, and in 2006, his fourth studio album, See the Morning, which was nominated for two Grammy Awards,[4] been certified Gold by the RIAA, and has helped him win 6 Dove Awards in 2007, including a second consecutive "Artist of the Year" win. The three singles off this album have all been top #5 songs on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs Chart, and have all reached the number one position on the R&R' Christian AC Chart.
Although he is a solo artist, Tomlin travels around with a consistent band lineup. He also writes many of his songs with the members of his band. His band, in which he performs vocals, acoustic guitar, and piano, consists of Daniel Carson (electric guitar, backup vocals), Jesse Reeves (bass guitar, backup vocals), Travis Nunn (drums), and Matt Gilder (piano, keys). Tomlin and the band developed while working with the Harvest Ministry at The Woodlands United Methodist Church in The Woodlands, Texas in the late 1990s.
According to Christian Copyright Licensing International's list of the top 25 worship songs in the US in August 2007, Tomlin held 5 spots with songs he has either written or co-written with other songwriters: "How Great Is Our God" (#1), "Forever" (#5), "Holy Is the Lord" (#7), "We Fall Down" (#12), and "Indescribable" (#22). In 2008, Tomlin held 6 spots on 20 The Countdown Magazine's top 20 praise and worship songs: "We Fall Down" (#14), "Forever" (#10), "Holy is the Lord" (#8), "Indescribable" (#6), "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" (#3), and "How Great is our God" (#1).[5]
Tomlin has toured with several prominent contemporary Christian music artists, such as opening for Delirious? during his first ever tour, and as a supporting act of Steven Curtis Chapman during his All Things New Tour. Tomlin has also headlined several tours, such as headlining the Chris Tomlin Indescribable Tour, which featured world renowned worship artist Matt Redman, and speaker Louie Giglio,[6] and headlining the See the Morning Tour. From April to October 2007, Tomlin toured with Louie Giglio and Matt Redman on his "How Great Is Our God" tour.[3] In 2008, Tomlin toured with Passion Conferences on its world tour. In early 2009, he headlined the Hello Love tour with Israel Houghton and New Breed. In summer of 2010, he co-headlined the "Hello Tonight" tour with TobyMac.
Tomlin has also been featured at many conferences and music festivals. Among these, he has played at Grand Saline's annual Salt Festival.[7] Hillsong's 2007 conference, and the 2008 Compassionart International Songwriting retreat, which was dedicated to writing songs whose revenue would support charities serving the poorest of the world's poor. Other prominent songwriters included were Matt Redman, Martin Smith, Stuart Garrard, and Steven Curtis Chapman. In 2009, Tomlin played at the Harvest Crusade at Anaheim Angels Stadium.
At the end of 2006, Tomlin launched an online music website resource called Frequency[3] which Tomlin described as "a place to serve God and his people in worship." In 2007, he partnered with Larry Tardy to create a new site under a similar name, Frequency Worship.[8] The original site featured chord charts for some of Chris' songs, some instructional videos for those songs, and a message board meant for worship leaders. Since the updated launch in August 2008, Frequency has included chord charts for many popular worship songs, instructional videos, planning software for worship leaders, articles written by other artists, and more, branching out into all of worship music.
On June 14, 2007, Tomlin's version of the song "Indescribable" was used as the official wake-up call for Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester on Space Shuttle mission STS-117.
In May 2008, it was announced that Tomlin and his band would move from The Austin Stone Community Church, the church he helped plant with senior pastor Matt Carter in Austin, Texas to start a new church with Louie Giglio in Atlanta, Georgia.[9][10]
In 2009, Tomlin released a Christmas album, Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship.[11] It includes three original Christmas songs and features duets with Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, and Audrey Assad. The album peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200 list and at #1 for Holiday albums.
In March 2010, Tomlin and his band announced through their Twitter accounts the recording of a new studio album slated for a November 2010 release. On August 30, Tomlin announced on his twitter that the title would be And If Our God Is for Us...[12] The first single "I Will Follow" was released to radio on August 23.
Criticism
Tomlin has been criticized by various Evangelical Christian leaders, most notably John Stackhouse, who see him as a source of poorly-crafted lyrics, typically with little regard for sustained lyrical themes, coherent metaphors, or perfect rhyme.[13] Instead, Tomlin occasionally uses half rhyme.
Personal life
Tomlin married his girlfriend of two years, Lauren Bricken,[14] on November 9, 2010.[15][16][17]
Discography
- 1995: Inside Your Love
- 1998: Authentic
- 1998: Too Much Free Time with Ross King.
- 2001: The Noise We Make
- 2002: Not to Us
- 2004: Arriving
- 2006: See the Morning
- 2008: Hello Love
- 2009: Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship
- 2010: And If Our God Is for Us...
Passion event albums
- Live Worship From The 268 Generation (1998)
- Better Is One Day (1999)
- The Road To One Day (2000)
- One Day: Live (2000)
- The Noise We Make (2001)
- Our Love is Loud (2002)
- Sacred Revolution: Songs From OneDay 03 (2003)
- Hymns: Ancient and Modern (2004)
- How Great Is Our God (2005)
- Everything Glorious (2006)
- The Best of Passion (So Far) (2006)
- Live From Passion 07 Pts. 1 & 3 (2007)
- God of This City (2008)
- Awakening (2010)
- Here for You (March 8, 2011)[18]
Other songs (not included in an album)
- "Whisper My Name" [Forefront] - Eterne: Never Be the Same (2000)
- "Salvation" - Pour Over Me - Worship Together Live 2001 (2001)
- "Give Us Clean Hands" - Pour Over Me - Worship Together Live 2001 (2001)
- "Satisfied" [Forefront] - Secrets Of The Vine: Music... A Worship Experience (2002)
- "Lord, I'm Gonna Love You" [Sparrow] - Your Love Broke Through (2002)
- "Expressions of Your Love" (duet w/ Rebecca St. James) [Sparrow] - It Takes Two: 15 Collaborations & Duets (2003)
- "Where the Streets Have No Name" [Sparrow/EMI CMG] - In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa (2004)
- "You're The One" [Disney/EMI CMG] - Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)
- "Angels We Have Heard On High" [Word] - WOW Christmas: Green (2005)
- "Mighty to Save" [Integrity] - Bonus disc included with Fruitcake and Ice Cream DVD (2008)
Charts
Albums - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Album | Peak Chart Positions | RIAA certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Christian Albums | Billboard 200 Albums | |||
| 2004 | Arriving | 6 | 39 | Platinum |
| 2006 | See the Morning | 1 | 15 | Gold |
| 2008 | Hello Love | 1 | 9 | Gold |
| 2009 | Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship | 2 | 44 | |
| 2010 | And If Our God Is for Us... | 1 | 17 | |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Title | Peak Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Heat | Hot Christian Songs | |||
| 2004 | "Indescribable" | 2 | Arriving | |
| 2005 | "Holy Is the Lord" | 2 | ||
| "How Great Is Our God" | 14 | 1 | ||
| 2006 | "Made to Worship" | 1 | See the Morning | |
| 2007 | "How Can I Keep from Singing" | 2 | ||
| "Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)" | 2 | |||
| 2008 | "Jesus Messiah" | 2 | Hello Love | |
| 2009 | "I Will Rise" | 50 | 2 | |
| "Sing Sing Sing" | 6 | |||
| "God of This City" | 28 | |||
| 2010 | "Our God" | 9 | 1 | Passion: Awakening |
| "I Will Follow" | 14 | 21 | And If Our God Is for Us... | |
| 2011 | "I Lift My Hands" | 201 | ||
1 Currently active on the charts
Music videos
- "Expressions of Your Love" (With Rebecca St. James) (2004)
- "Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)" (2007)
Awards
GMA Dove Awards
Throughout his career, Chris Tomlin has been nominated to 32 Dove Awards (6 of them, collaborative efforts) and won 17 of them.
| Year | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Arriving) | Won |
| 2006 | Artist of the Year | Won |
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Won | |
| Song of the Year ("Holy Is the Lord") | Nominated | |
| Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God") | Won | |
| Worship Song of the Year ("Holy Is the Lord") | Won | |
| Worship Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God") | Nominated | |
| Worship Song of the Year ("Indescribable")1 | Won | |
| Special Event Album of the Year ("Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia")* | Won | |
| Special Event Album of the Year ("Passion: How Great Is Our God")* | Nominated | |
| Special Event Album of the Year ("WOW Christmas: Green")* | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Artist of the Year | Won |
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Won | |
| Song of the Year ("Made to Worship") | Nominated | |
| Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("Made to Worship") | Nominated | |
| Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (See The Morning) | Won | |
| Worship Song of the Year ("Holy Is the Lord") | Won | |
| Worship Song of the Year ("Made to Worship") | Nominated | |
| Praise & Worship Album of the Year (See The Morning) | Won | |
| Special Event Album of the Year ("Passion: Everything Glorious")* | Won | |
| 2008 | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Won | |
| Song of the Year ("Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)") | Nominated | |
| Worship Song of the Year ("Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)") | Nominated | |
| Worship Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God") | Won | |
| Special Event Album of the Year ("Music Inspired By the Motion Picture Amazing Grace")* | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | |
| Song of the Year ("Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)") | Nominated | |
| Worship Song of the Year ("Jesus Messiah") | Nominated | |
| Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Hello Love) | Nominated | |
| Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: God of This City)* | Won | |
| Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God")2 | Won | |
| 2010 | Song of the Year ("I Will Rise") | Nominated |
| Worship Song of the Year ("I Will Rise") | Nominated | |
| Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Hello Love) | Nominated | |
| Christmas Album of the Year (Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship) | Nominated | |
| 2011 | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | |
| Song of the Year ("Our God") | Nominated | |
| Worship Song of the Year ("Our God") | Won | |
| Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: Awakening)* | Won |
- *Denotes a collaborative effort or a song contribution to a "Various artists" album.
- 1 The song was performed by Tomlin, but written and produced by Laura Story.
- 2 The song was performed by LaRue Howard, but written by Tomlin.
Others
Tomlin was nominated for two 2009 Visionary Award: Male Entertainer of the Year and Song of the Year for "Jesus Messiah".[19]
Bibliography
- Chris Tomlin, The Way I Was Made: Words and Music for an Unusual Life, Multnomah, 2004. ISBN 978-1590523278
References
- ^ Tyler Paper, "Superstar's homecoming brings memories, praise"
- ^ , [1]
- ^ a b c d Chris Tomlin's official Site
- ^ Chris Tomlin's Biography at Billboard.com
- ^ CCLI Top 25 Worship Songs List
- ^ Chris Tomlin Indescribable Tour poster
- ^ Van Zandt Newspapers, Chris Tomlin to Kick off Salt Festival
- ^ Frequency Worship Official Site
- ^ Human3rror Blog
- ^ Modern March blog
- ^ NewReleaseTuesday.com
- ^ Chris Tomlin's Official Twitter
- ^ Stackhouse, John (February 9, 2009). "Chris Tomlin's Worship Songs: We Have Got to Do Better". Retrieved 25 February 2011.
- ^ [2]
- ^ Louie Giglio's Twitter Page
- ^ Shelley Giglio's Twitter Page
- ^ Janet Reeve's Twitter Page
- ^ Jesus Freak Hideout http://jesusfreakhideout.com/releases/default.asp
- ^ http://www.hallmuseum.com Christian Music Hall of Fame official site
