Anointed is a contemporary Christian music/gospel duo from Columbus, Ohio, known for their strong vocals and harmonies, featuring siblings Steve Crawford and Da'dra Crawford Greathouse, along with former members Denise "Nee-C" Walls (who left the group in 2001) and Mary Tiller (who left in 1995). Their musical style includes elements of R&B, pop, rock, funk and piano ballads. The group has won seven Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards and three Grammy Award nominations.
The members of Anointed all came from single-parent households and when the group first recorded, ranged in age from 19 to 23. As such, they considered it part of their ministry to set positive role models for young people, especially young urban African-Americans. Notably, they all pursued college educations while recording, proclaiming a "stay-in-school" message alongside their more evangelistic exhortations. They have also striven to overcome racial barriers in Christian music, however telling CCM Magazine in 1999 that they try to bring three diverse audiences together: young, conservative whites who like Christian pop, young, liberal African-Americans who like urban music and older, moderate African-Americans who like gospel.
In 1993, Anointed released their debut album Spiritual Love Affair and won them an audience of fans who love upbeat R&B music and earned a Stellar Award for Best New Artist. Two years later, The Call was released and would go on to become their best selling album to date, and to this day it is one of the best selling and popular contemporary Christian albums of the 1990s. The album won three Dove Awards, a Stellar award and a Grammy nomination. Mary Tiller left the group afterwards and the quartet was reduced down to a trio with the next album Under The Influence in the fall of 1996.
After the release of the group's self-titled fourth album in 1999, an extended tour followed. This was probably one of the most exciting, yet demanding times for the group. Nee-C Walls was the second member to leave Anointed, leaving the siblings Steve and Da'dra Crawford as a duo. In 2001, the sibling duo headed for the studio to produce what would be their first brother and sister project.
If We Pray was released early fall 2001. However, in 2002, because of transitions in the label, Anointed requested to be released from their deal and they and Word Records amicably parted ways. Following this, the duo was signed on to the Sony Urban label and Now Is The Time was released on April 5, 2005.
Since 2006, Steve and Da'dra have been part of the praise and worship team at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. In the 2010s, Anointed, as a duo, released stand-alone singles and the siblings have released solo albums.
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Discography