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Kathleen Troccoli (born June 24, 1958) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, author, and speaker. She is best known for her husky-voiced alto. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Troccoli was raised in Islip Terrace, Long Island, New York where she graduated from East Islip High School. Her father died of colon cancer when she was 15. After graduating from high school, Troccoli studied jazz and opera at the Berklee College of Music in Boston for a year, then returned to Long Island to major in voice at Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) also singing with a SCCC-based jazz band and later singing in Long Island clubs. In the summer of 1978, Troccoli formed a friendship with a born again Christian co-worker while attending college; this led to Troccoli herself becoming a devout Christian. Troccoli was raised in a Catholic family, which was not particularly religious. As of 1998, she was a practicing Roman Catholic, but currently identifies as a non-denominational Christian. Troccoli's alto voice gained prominence when she opened for Ed Nalle's group, GLAD, when the group performed at the Long Island church Troccoli attended in 1980. Approximately six months afterwards, Nalle invited Troccoli to record a demo tape, with his band's backing, and Kathy accepted. After she and GLAD had recorded it, the tape was submitted to Michael Blanton and Dan Harrell (Amy Grant's brother-in-law); these two, as a result of hearing it, formed the Reunion Records label, in Nashville, Tennessee, specifically to record Troccoli, and Troccoli herself, in turn, moved to Nashville to reside with Harrell and his family. Troccoli released her debut album Stubborn Love in 1982. Its title song climbed up to number two on the Christian music charts. Her second and third albums, Heart & Soul (1984) and Images (1986) earned her Grammy nominations. After the release of Images and her collaboration with GLAD with the 1987 Christian hit "All the World Should Know," Troccoli then withdrew from her musical career returning to Long Island for a five-year sojourn, giving singing lessons and sang at weddings. In 1989, Troccoli was prominently featured on the single "I'll Be Your Shelter," a Diane Warren-penned song which pop singer Taylor Dayne recorded for her album Can't Fight Fate. "I'll Be Your Shelter" became a Top Ten single in 1990. At the same time, Troccoli was also caring for her mother who was in ill health. Troccoli's mother died of breast cancer in 1991. After her mother's death, Troccoli returned to the Reunion Records label in 1991 for her secular album debut, Pure Attraction. Her first mainstream success was the Billboard Top 20 hit "Everything Changes," written by Warren. "Everything Changes" also did well on the Christian radio charts. Prior to "Everything Changes," Troccoli had her first two number one songs on the Christian radio charts with "Love Was Never Meant to Die" and "Help Myself to You." Troccoli released her self-titled follow-up album Kathy Troccoli in 1994, Sounds of Heaven in 1995 and in 1996 was a featured singer on The Beach Boys collaborative album Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 singing "I Can Hear Music." Love & Mercy was released in 1997. The track "A Baby's Prayer" won Troccoli her first two Dove Awards as an artist and a songwriter that she co-wrote for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year. Corner of Eden was released in 1998 and won her another Dove Award for Inspirational Album of the Year. Troccoli collaborated with multi-award winning artist Sandi Patty with the album Together and her first Christmas album A Sentimental Christmas, both in 1999. Troccoli would continue to release albums throughout the 2000s and 2010s. A new album entitled The Legacy of You was released on December 1, 2023. More information on Kathy Troccoli at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Troccoli Discography Stubborn Love (1982) Heart & Soul (1984) Images (1986) Portfolio (1987) (compilation album) Pure Attraction (1991) Kathy Troccoli (1994) Sounds of Heaven (1995) Love & Mercy (1997) Corner of Eden (1998) Together (1999) (collaboration album with Sandi Patty) A Sentimental Christmas (1999) Love Has a Name (2000) The Heart of Me (2002) Greatest Hits (2003) (compilation album) K.T.'s Groovin' Medleys (children's album) (2004) Draw Me Close: Songs of Worship (2005) Comfort (2005) The Story of Love (2006) Hope's Alive (2008) Heartsongs (covers album) (2010) Christmas Songs (2011) 30 Years/Songs: The Kathy Troccoli Collection (2012) (compilation album) Worshipsongs: 'Tis So Sweet (2013) Better Days (2015) The Legacy of You (2023)

Leslie Ann Phillips (born June 28, 1962) is an American singer and songwriter. Phillips was born in Glendale, California to parents William and Peggy Phillips. She is the second of three children and has a brother and a sister. She was given the nickname Sam, which would later become her stage name. Phillips started singing at a young age, along with dancing, painting, and playing the piano. Phillips also started studying philosophy and fundamentalism at the age of 14. Phillips began writing songs as a teenager to cope with her parents' divorce. Phillips began her musical career in the early 1980s in the CCM industry, where she sang background vocals for Christian music artists like Randy Stonehill and Mark Heard. Phillips was signed as a solo artist with Myrrh Records under her given name and recorded four albums including The Turning. The Turning teamed her with producer T-Bone Burnett, who has worked with artists like Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Elvis Costello. The two would later get married and then divorce from 1989 to 2004. They have one daughter, Simone, born in 1997. Several of Phillips' songs became Top 10 singles on Christian radio and Myrrh Records promoted her as "the Christian Cyndi Lauper." Phillips was never comfortable with this image, and it was a bone of contention between her and her label. She began using the name "Sam" professionally in 1988 when she left Myrrh Records and Christian music and signed with Virgin Records to distance herself from her prior persona. Throughout the late 1980s and into the 1990s, she has performed as Sam Phillips, releasing critically acclaimed albums like 1994's Martinis and Bikinis which gave her a second Grammy nomination (her first was under Leslie Phillips) and in 1995 made her acting debut and co-starring with Bruce Willis in Die Hard With a Vengeance. Phillips would later compose scores for television shows like Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. You can read more on Leslie Phillips (now Sam Phillips) at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Phillips_(musician) Discography as Leslie Phillips: Beyond Saturday Night (1983) Dancing with Danger (1984) Black and White in a Grey World (1985) The Turning (1987) Recollection (1988) The Definitive Collection (2007) (Word Records compilation) as Sam Phillips: The Indescribable Wow (1988) Cruel Inventions (1991) Martinis & Bikinis (1994) Omnipop (It's Only a Flesh Wound Lambchop) (1996) Zero Zero Zero (1998) (compilation album) Fan Dance (2001) A Boot and a Shoe (2004) Don't Do Anything (2008) The Disappearing Act 1987–1998 (2008) (compilation album) Cameras in the Sky (2011) Push Any Button (2013) World on Sticks (2018) Cold Dark Nights (2019)

4Him was an American contemporary Christian vocal group founded in 1990 in Mobile, Alabama. The group has ten Dove awards, a Grammy nomination and one certified Gold album to their credit. The group was inducted into Alabama's Music Hall of Fame, following the awarding of The Governor's Achievement Award. The group has also been featured performers for popular Christian Evangelist crusaders, Billy Graham and Luis Palau. 4Him disbanded in 2006 to pursue individual careers of ministry and music. They have released 12 studio albums which have produced 27 number one singles. The group has made sporadic reunion appearances since 2009. Andy Chrisman, Mark Harris, Marty Magehee, and Kirk Sullivan originally met when they sang together in Truth, a Contemporary Christian vocal group founded in the late 1960s and directed by Roger Breland. Truth had a rotating roster of four male and four female vocalists. After three representatives from Benson Records attended several Truth concerts in the late 1980s during which Andy, Mark, Marty, and Kirk performed, Benson approached the quartet saying that they wanted to use the guys to create a new male four-member vocal group under the Benson label. "Where There Is Faith," their first single, stayed at No. 1 on the Christian charts for eight weeks, two months before 4Him left Truth. Releasing their self-titled debut in 1990, they blended the traditions of Christian music's past, with modern pop production and practical lyrics. In 1996, with the release of The Message, 4Him changed their overall sound in an effort to keep pushing the creative limits of the group. The guys replaced the over-the-top orchestrations and choral vocal arrangements with a stripped down, acoustic band approach where one of the guys would sing lead and the other three would sing backing vocals. On 1998's Obvious, each member took more ownership of their music – becoming more involved in the production and songwriting aspects. By 2004, all four of the guys reevaluated the future of the ministry. After close to seventeen years together, the members of 4Him decided to embark on solo careers. On September 23, 2006, they performed their final concert at Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile, AL, the city where 4Him's 17-year journey first started. At that concert, various individuals (including family members, record producers, management, and Truth founder Roger Breland) were recognized for their contributions to 4Him's ministry. Mark Harris has released three solo albums after 4Him's disbandment and won a Dove Award. Andy Chrisman, Marty Magehee and Kirk Sullivan have each released solo albums and all four men have each embarked on either church ministry or music production. 4Him made their first reunion on the K-Love Friends and Family Cruise in January 2009. A one-off concert in West Monroe, Louisiana took place in March, and another reunion happened on Kathy Troccoli's "KT and Friends Cruise" to Alaska in June 2010. In early 2013, they performed several concerts on a tour dubbed "With One Voice" together with the group Avalon and solo Christian singer songwriter Cindy Morgan. In September 2015, they performed an 11-city 25th anniversary tour. More information on 4Him at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4Him Discography 4Him (1990) Face the Nation (1991) The Basics of Life (1992) Christmas: The Season of Love (1993) The Ride (1994) The Message (1996) Obvious (1998) Best Ones (1999) (compilation album) Hymns: A Place of Worship (2000) Chapter One... A Decade (2001) (compilation album) Walk On (2001) Visible (2003) Encore...For Future Generations (2006)

Hymns: A Place of Worship is the eighth studio album by the Christian music male vocal group 4Him, released on July 25, 2000 by Benson Records. The album is produced by Michael Omartian, with Omartian and the group handling the vocal and song arrangements. Hymns: A Place of Worship features 4Him's take of sacred and traditional church hymns with four interludes sung a cappella. The album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. NOTE: this is their last album on the Benson Records label after more than ten years. Track listing All hymns were arranged by 4Him and Michael Omartian. 1. Faith of Our Fathers (interlude) (Federick William Faber, Henri F. Hemy) -0:36 2. The Solid Rock (Edward Mote, William B. Bradbury) -4:08 3. Be Thou My Vision -4:20 4. Take My Life and Let It Be (interlude) (Frances Ridley Havergal) -0:28 5. It Is Well (Horatio Gates Spafford, Philip P. Bliss) -5:08 6. O Sacred Head, Now Wounded (Hans Leo Hassler, Paul Gerhardt) -6:09 7. Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us (Dorothy Ann Thrupp, William B. Bradbury) -5:29 8. Holy, Holy, Holy (interlude) (John Bacchus Dykes, Reginald Heber) -0:48 9. All Creatures of Our God and King/Doxology -5:00 10. The Love of God (Frederick M. Lehmen) -5:30 11. Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Thomas O. Chisholm, William M. Runyan) -6:03 12. O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go (interlude) (Albert Lister Peace, George Matheson) -0:36 13. Fairest Lord Jesus (Joseph Augustus Seiss) -4:51 14. There is a Fountain (William Cowper) -5:15 Personnel 4Him: Mark Harris -vocals Andy Chrisman -vocals Kirk Sullivan -vocals Marty Magehee -vocals Radio singles 2000 "The Solid Rock" -#19 Christian AC Previous release: Best Ones (1999) (compilation album) Next release: Chapter One... A Decade (2001) (compilation album)

Geoff Moore (born February 22, 1961 in Flint, Michigan) is an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter. He began recording as a solo artist in 1984. In 1987, he formed Geoff Moore and The Distance, his touring band, which released eight albums generating a string of No. 1 radio hits throughout their 10+-year tenure. In 1998, Geoff retired the band from full-time touring. After a "farewell tour," Moore has continued as a solo artist, releasing eight more records between 1999 and 2015. The Next Thing was released in April 2016, making it his 25th album to date. Geoff is also an advocate for underprivileged children. He has partnered with Compassion International since 1985, being a spokesman and advocate for their work in releasing children from poverty throughout the developing world. He also works with Showhope, an organization founded by his close friends Steven and Mary Beth Chapman. Showhope cares for orphan children and helps assist with international adoptions. Geoff Moore is co-founder of an outdoor adventure company called Fellowship Adventures. Founded in 2014, Fellowship Adventures focuses on small group hunting, fishing, adventure and expeditions. He attended Holly Area Schools at Patterson Elementary, Holly, MI through grade six and then started attending Brandon Schools in Ortonville, MI. He began singing while he was at Taylor University in Indiana living in Wengatz Hall. At the time, he became a classmate to White Heart future lead singer, Rick Florian, when he stood in for the lead singer of his roommate's band. He graduated from Taylor in 1983. Newly married, he moved to Nashville soon after college. He was able to break into the music industry with the assistance of Michael W. Smith when the two met in the clothing store where Moore worked. He signed a publishing contract with Paragon Music, and began writing songs and singing on demo recordings. While with Paragon he wrote songs for fellow Christian singer and songwriter, Steven Curtis Chapman. Since that time, they have become best friends and have co-written numerous songs together, including the title track on Chapman's 1992 Dove Award and Grammy winning release The Great Adventure. During the mid-1980s, Moore recorded three solo albums released on the Power Discs label, including Where are the Other Nine?, Over the Edge and The Distance. After signing to Sparrow Records in 1987, he put together a touring band, called "the Distance," to continue with his career. In 1988, Geoff Moore and the Distance released their first official album together, entitled A Place to Stand. They also recorded Foundations in 1989 for Sparrow Records. After a year of touring, they jumped to Forefront Records and recorded Pure and Simple in 1990. They followed in 1992 with A Friend Like U. This album would garner them their first real US Christian radio exposure with its title song. This started their most prolific period with the Grammy-nominated albums Evolution in 1993 and Homerun in 1995. This album produced US Christian radio hits like "Evolution Redefined," "Life Together" and "Home Run." The video for "Home Run" featured former Major League All-Star pitcher Tim Burke. In 1995, Benson released a compilation of hits from Moore's first solo albums titled Familiar Stranger: The Early Works of Geoff Moore. The following year the band released a double-disc greatest hits compilation which contained new unreleased bonus tracks as well as a live concert from Rome, Georgia. In 1997, the band released Threads, another Grammy-nominated album which featured a cover of The Who's "I'm Free" as its lead single. After more than ten years with the Distance, which he called "an incredible journey" in the Star Tribune, Moore decided to disband the group and go his own way in 1998. In 1999 Moore returned to the studio to begin work on a new solo record. This began a new season of his music career which is still active today. More information on Geoff Moore at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoff_Moore Discography Early solo years (1984 - 1987): Where Are the Other Nine? (1984) Over the Edge (1986) The Distance (1987) Familiar Stranger: The Early Works of Geoff Moore (1995) (Benson Records compilation) Geoff Moore & The Distance (1988 - 1998): A Place to Stand (1988) Foundations (1989) Pure and Simple (1990) A Friend Like U (1992) Evolution (1993) Evolution: Extended Play Remixes (1995) Home Run (1995) Greatest Hits (1996) (compilation album) Threads (1997) The Very Best of Geoff Moore & The Distance (2006) (compilation album) Later to present solo years (1999 - present): Geoff Moore (1999) A Beautiful Sound (2002) Every Single One – Part I and II (2005) All Along The Road – Vol I and II (2006) Speak to Me (2007) Saying Grace (2011) 25 Favorites (2013) (compilation album) The Next Thing (2016)

Bryan Edward Duncan (born March 16, 1953) is an American contemporary Christian music artist. He is known for being lead singer of the group Sweet Comfort Band and his band Bryan Duncan & the NehoSoul Band, but is best known for his very successful solo career where he was a major act on the Myrrh and Word Record labels. He is the founder of online recovery shows "Radio Rehab/ Road To Redemption" while continuing as a solo artist with the 2019 Shine release. He has been the recipient of a Dove Award and was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year four times. He is also the winner of a Grammy Award for his participation of the Andraé Crouch tribute album Tribute – The Songs of Andraé Crouch . Bryan is also the host of the popular podcast "Nutshell Sermons." Duncan started his career by forming the folk/rock band Second Timothy while attending college in Florida. In 1972, Duncan moved to California and formed Sweet Comfort (later renamed as Sweet Comfort Band) which later transitioned to contemporary Christian music from the Jesus Music movement. After the band broke up in 1984 Duncan started his solo career. During this time, Duncan released several hit songs including "Traces of Heaven," "Things are Gonna Change," "United We Stand" and "Don't Look Away," all from the Slow Revival album; "Love Takes Time," "You Don't Leave Me Lonely," "Into My Heart," "When It Comes to Love" and "I'll Not Forget You," all from the Mercy album; and "A Heart Like Mine" from the various artists compilation album My Utmost for His Highest . In 2003, Duncan formed the Nehosoul Band with Ricky B. Rogers (bass player, music director, co-writer), composer and keyboardist Phil Curry, guitarist Walter Finch, and drummer Sam Matthews. The band released the album Music City Live in 2004, A Nehosoul Christmas in 2005, and Still Dancin' in 2008. In 2013, Bryan reunited with the Sweet Comfort Band. In April 2013, the Sweet Comfort Band released the album, The Waiting is Over . Duncan has sold in excess of 1 million records, released more than 12 solo albums, and appeared on several compilation projects. He has released three solo video projects and one joint tour video as well as having done the video for Left Behind: The Movie . Recently, Duncan started his own record label called Red Road Records. Duncan created a non-profit on-line radio show and podcast entitled "Radio Rehab" to encourage people in daily life. He released two books in 2010: Hog Wash , a book for bikers and Dear God...Really? (prayers You Won't Hear In Church) and 'Spoke To God...He Said' (5 second devotions). Duncan, Rogers, and Vail Johnson (of the Kenny G band) wrote together for Conversations , Duncan's first solo project since 2000's Joyride . It was released in 2012 on Red Road Records. Conversations followed with Bryan Duncan & Friends - The Live Experience and Shine . More information on Bryan Duncan at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Duncan Discography with Sweet Comfort Band: Sweet Comfort (1977) Breaking the Ice (1979) Hold on Tight (1980) Hearts of Fire (1981) Cutting Edge (1982) Perfect Timing (1984) The Waiting Is Over (2013) Solo albums: Have Yourself Committed (1985) Holy Rollin' (1986) Whistlin' In the Dark (1987) Strong Medicine (1989) Anonymous Confessions of a Lunatic Friend (1990) Mercy (1992) Slow Revival (1994) Unidos en Él (1995) (Spanish language album) The Light Years (1995) (compilation album) Christmas is Jesus (1995) My Utmost for His Highest: Quiet Prayers (1996) Blue Skies (1996) The Last Time I Was Here (1998) Love Takes Time: 17 Timeless Classics (1999) (compilation album) Joyride (2000) Twin Cities Live (2003) Conversations (2012) The Ultimate Collection (2014) (Word Records compilation album) Bryan Duncan & Friends - The Live Experience (2016) Shine (2019) with The NehoSoul Band: Music City Live (2004) A NehoSoul Christmas (2005) Still Dancin' (2009)

Rebecca Jean Fink (née Smallbone; born 26 July 1977), known professionally as Rebecca Jean or Rebecca St. James, is an Australian Christian pop rock singer, songwriter and actress. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first full-length studio album in 1991. She was signed to ForeFront Records in 1993, releasing her major label debut the following year. St. James rose to fame in the late 1990s with her RIAA certified Gold albums God and Pray, the latter of which won a Grammy Award in 1999 for Best Rock Gospel Album, and her holiday album Christmas. The albums spawned multiple singles, including "God," "Go and Sin No More," and "Pray." Since then she has established herself as one of the most prominent musical artists in contemporary Christian music (CCM), with five additional full-length studio albums: Transform, Worship God, If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something, I Will Praise You, and Kingdom Come. Staple songs such as "Wait for Me," "Reborn," "Song of Love," "Alive," "Shine Your Glory Down" and "Battle Is the Lord's" have all been derived from these releases. She has earned nine No. 1 hits on Christian radio and has sold nearly two million albums since starting her career. St. James is also an accomplished author and actress. To date, she has released over a dozen published books, narrated a documentary, and acted in nine films (including lead roles in Sarah's Choice and A Strange Brand of Happy), the musical stage show !Hero, and a VeggieTales episode ("An Easter Carol"). She is also an outspoken sexual abstinence and anti-abortion advocate, a spokesperson for Compassion International, the sister of Joel and Luke Smallbone, who comprise the duo for KING & COUNTRY, and the wife of Foster the People's former bassist Jacob "Cubbie" Fink. More information on Rebecca St. James at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_St._James Discography Refresh My Heart (1991) Rebecca St. James (1994) Rebecca St. James: Extended Play Remixes (EP) (1995) God (1996) Christmas (1997) Pray (1998) Transform (2000) Worship God (2002) Wait for Me: The Best from Rebecca St. James (2003) (compilation) Live Worship: Blessed Be Your Name (2004) If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something (2005) aLIVE in Florida (2007) (live album) The Ultimate Collection (2008) (Sparrow Records compilation) I Will Praise You (2011) Dawn (EP) (2020) Kingdom Come (2022)

Kimberly Boyce (born on March 14, 1961 in Winter Haven, Florida) is an American Christian music singer and songwriter. She grew up in Florida and sang together with her younger sister, Tina, and her mother, Gail. After graduating as salutatorian of her high school class, Kim pursued a broadcasting degree at the University of South Florida. During college, her inner beauty and talent, accompanied by her outer beauty and grace, led to her becoming Miss Florida and placement in the Top Ten Semi-Finalists at the 1984 Miss America Pageant. In 1985, Boyce turned down a network news position and moved to Nashville to pursue her dream of a career in CCM. During the past 15 years, Kim has achieved much success: seven Contemporary Christian albums, with several top ten songs, two hit videos, repeat Dove Award nominations and she has authored five books. Her early career was spent pioneering the genre of Christian dance/pop music. After much commercial and critical acclaim, Kim began in 1994 to change musical styles to an adult contemporary sound with her last two albums By Faith and As I Am. Boyce now resides in Branson, Missouri, with her husband, Gary Koreiba and they have two sons. They were both performers at Branson's Pierce Arrow Theater for many years. As of 2022, they are currently featured performers on the "Oh Happy Day!" gospel music show performing Sundays at the Hamners' Variety Theater. More information on Kim Boyce at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Boyce Discography Kim Boyce (1986) Time and Again (1988) Love Is You to Me (1989) This I Know (1990) Facts of Love (1992) By Faith (1994) As I Am (1997) The Definitive Collection (2007) (Word Records compilation)

What is "notability" on Wikipedia? According to Wikipedia, notability in music has to be an artist or group that is notable in a particular genre and deserves to be written in article form. (In other words, what are they famous for?) Artists and groups have to have acclaimed albums, win awards like the Grammys and chart on Billboard and Wikipedia has to have resources like where they got the information from. It has to come from secondary resources such as newspapers and magazines. But, in Christian music, information like that is limited and scarce. If I do an article in Wikipedia about an album, let's say for example, Sandi Patty's first professional recording album Sandi's Song from 1979. I did an article about this album, but unfortunately, Wikipedia would not accept the article because it was considered "not notable." Articles that are not notable will be deleted. In order for the article to be notable, Sandi's Song has to chart on the Billboard charts and win some awards. I'm afraid the people at Wikipedia do not understand how artists like Sandi Patty got their start in Christian music. Here at CCM Encyclopedia, there is no notability in the articles and especially in discographies. The articles I write will be from resources taken from Wikipedia. There will be no secondary resources either. The articles I write will be acceptable from me and to me. I don't need Wikipedia to look for those things they mentioned. Too many restrictions. Now I can write articles with ease and just take my time. I hope you enjoy reading about the Christian artists I will post and write about...but without the Wikipedia rules.