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Benny Ray Hester (born May 3, 1948) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and recording artist. He is perhaps best known for his CCM songs "When God Ran" and "Nobody Knows Me Like You," and for producing the groundbreaking tween/teen music-driven sketch comedy and dance television series Roundhouse on Nickelodeon. Hester received a television Cable Ace Award for the song "I Can Dream" and a collection of nominations for writing and producing a featured original song for each weekly episode of Roundhouse during its successful four-year run. He has written and recorded more than 25 number one and top ten songs. Hester's recording of his song "When God Ran" touched the consciousness of Christians worldwide, and is one of the longest running number one songs in contemporary Christian music history, number one for 13 weeks, and the number three song in the 60-year history of Word Records. "When God Ran" continues to be rerecorded by artists in many languages and musical genres, including adult contemporary, pop, rock, R&B, alternative, and Southern Gospel, making it to the top of the charts repeatedly. The title track from his third album, Nobody Knows Me Like You, reached number one on the Christian Music chart and became the first contemporary Christian music song to break the Billboard Top 50 Adult Contemporary chart, debuting at number 44 on November 7, 1981 and peaking at number 41 three weeks later, spending a total of nine weeks. Hester's first contemporary Christian music singles, "Jesus Came Into My Life" and "Be a Receiver," were breakthrough recordings for radio, blurring the lines between pop, rock, and inspirational music, and becoming the first contemporary pop rock songs to be universally accepted and widely played across all Christian Radio formats. His 1978 self-titled second album Benny Hester, re-released in 1983 as Be a Receiver, influenced the burgeoning contemporary Christian music scene, and ranks among the first "Contemporary Christian Music" albums as the musical landscape shifted with the end of the Jesus Music era and the birth of the industry known as contemporary Christian music. More information on Benny Hester at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Hester Discography Benny... (1972) Benny Hester (reissued as Be a Receiver) (1978) Nobody Knows Me Like You (1981) Legacy (1983) Benny From Here (1985) Through the Window (1987) Personal Best (1988) (compilation album) Perfect (1989) United We Stand/Divided We Fall (1990)

Carmelo Domenic Licciardello (January 19, 1956 – February 16, 2021), known by his stage name Carman, was an American contemporary Christian music singer, rapper, songwriter, television host and evangelist. He has won six Dove Awards, nominated for four Grammy Awards, sold over 10 million records and in 2018, was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In addition to music, Carman was a frequent host on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), most notably its flagship program Praise the Lord. From Wikipedia: Carman was born on January 19, 1956, to an Italian American family in Trenton, New Jersey. His mother was a skilled accordion player, and as a child, Carman performed in his mother's band. He learned to play the drums at the age of 5, the guitar at age of 15, and he started singing when he was 16. As a teen, he found some success performing at casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey. At age 17, he dropped out of high school. Later moving to Las Vegas in an effort to pursue a career in music, he visited his sister and her husband in Orange County, California. While there, Carman attended an Andraé Crouch concert, where he became a born again Christian and later embraced evangelical Christianity. In 1980, Carman made a custom album titled God's Not Finished with Me. In 1981, he was invited by Bill Gaither to tour with the Bill Gaither Trio. After relocating to Tulsa, Oklahoma, Carman released a moderately successful eponymous debut album. Carman was later issued as Some-o-Dat in 1982. The album mostly contained novelty songs. With the release of his next album, Sunday's on the Way in 1983, Carman experienced a string of contemporary Christian music chart successes beginning with the title song. As he continued his music career, he established the nonprofit organization Carman Ministries. After the release of The Champion in 1985, Carman achieved his first number one song, the title cut. His first number one album on the Christian charts, Revival in the Land, followed in 1989. Between 1987 and 1989, Carman was named Readers' Choice for Favorite Male Vocalist by Charisma magazine. In 1990 and 1992, Billboard named him the Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year. In 1994, Carman embarked on "The Standard" world tour, during which he promoted school-mandated prayer in the United States. He stated, "If you want to see a change in our schools, a change in our children and a change in this nation, we must change hearts, and that's what Christ can do. The only hope for America is Jesus." In his song "America Again," Carman raps, "In the '40s and '50s student problems were chewing gum and talking. In the '90s, rape and murder are the trend. The only way this nation can even hope to last this decade is to put God in America again." Around this time, Carman met with legislators in Washington, D.C., and initiated a campaign known as "Putting God in America Again," which sought to collect the names of one million people who support school-sponsored prayer in American public schools. It is believed that Carman holds the world record for the largest single Christian concert in history. In August 1993, with more than 50,000 in attendance, Carman was the main act in Johannesburg, South Africa. The following year he performed a free concert at Texas Stadium October 22, 1994, with 71,132 attendees. Another concert had 80,000 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1995, he translated some of his songs, and released his first Spanish-language album, Lo Mejor. Heart of a Champion, a 30-song retrospective was released in 2000. Beyond his music career, Carman participated in various television productions and interview duties as a host, for both the Trinity Broadcasting Network and its flagship program Praise the Lord. In 2001, he starred in the film Carman: The Champion. Carman was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2013, and was given a prognosis of three to four years to live. By early 2014, he said medical tests indicated his body was free of cancer and then continued preparing for his Live Across America album and tour. When the cancer went into remission, Carman attributed his healing to the faith of his fans. and planned his "No Plan B Tour" to start after his health returned. In December 2017, at the age of 61, Carman married Dana Morrow. In January 2020, Carman announced his cancer had returned. He resumed live concert church tours in June 2020. Carman died on February 16, 2021, at age 65 in a Las Vegas hospital. His death was the result of complications following surgery to repair a hiatal hernia. More information on Carman at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carman_(singer) Discography God's Not Finished With Me (1980) Carman (reissued as Some-O-Dat) (1982) Sunday's On the Way (1983) Comin' On Strong (1984) The Champion (1985) A Long Time Ago...in a Land Called Bethlehem (1986) Live...Radically Saved (1988) Revival in the Land (1989) Shakin' the House...Live! (with Commissioned and the Christ Church Choir) (1991) Addicted to Jesus (1991) Yo Kidz! (1992) The Absolute Best (1993) (compilation album) The Standard (1993) Yo Kidz! 2: The Armor of God (1994) Lo Mejor (1995) (Spanish language album) R.I.O.T. (Righteous Invasion of Truth) (1995) Carman's Yo Kidz -The Hits! (1996) (compilation album) The Best of the Early Years (1997) (compilation album) I Surrender All: 30 Classic Hymns (1997) Mission 3:16 (1998) Passion for Praise (1999) Heart of a Champion (2000) (2 CD compilation album) Ultimate Praise (2002) Live & Reloaded (2005) The Ultimate Collection (2007) (2 CD compilation album) Instrument of Praise (2007) No Plan B (2014) Legacy (2017) Remembering: Carman (2021) (retrospective playlist)

Mandisa Lynn Hundley (October 2, 1976 – April 18, 2024), known professionally as Mandisa, was an American gospel and contemporary Christian recording artist. She began her career as a contestant in the fifth season of American Idol finishing in ninth place. She is the fifth American Idol alumna to have won a Grammy Award, for her album Overcomer in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category. Mandisa has also written two books. After graduating from El Camino Fundamental High School, she attended American River College in Sacramento, where she studied vocal jazz. Then she studied at Fisk University in Tennessee and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in vocal performance. Mandisa was once a member of famous African-American a cappella ensemble The Fisk Jubilee Singers. Mandisa auditioned for the United States talent competition show American Idol in Chicago, in 2005. She referred to herself as "just Mandisa," and thus was billed simply as Mandisa on the show. She said that her musical influences ran the gamut from Whitney Houston to Def Leppard. Idol judge Simon Cowell made several comments about Mandisa's weight after her successful audition. He quipped, "Do we have a bigger stage this year?" Then when co-judge Paula Abdul commented that Mandisa had a "Frenchie" growl to her voice (referring to Frenchie Davis, another Idol contestant), Cowell responded that a more apt comparison would be to France itself. The comments and others drew the ire of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, (NAAFA) and would be one of the reasons Mandisa would entitle her 2007 debut album True Beauty. When Mandisa presented herself to the judges prior to the final cut-down to the season's 24 semi-finalists, she told Cowell: "What I want to say to you is that, yes, you hurt me and I cried and it was painful, it really was. But I want you to know that I've forgiven you and that you don't need someone to apologize in order to forgive somebody. I figure that if Jesus could die so that all of my wrongs could be forgiven, I can certainly extend that same grace to you." Cowell apologized to her immediately saying that he was "humbled." Mandisa was eliminated from American Idol on April 5, 2006, in the top nine, having never previously been in the bottom three. A full year later on July 27, 2007, Mandisa performed the song "I Don't Hurt Anymore" on the TV talk show Live with Regis and Kelly. She also joined Gladys Knight and others at the Apollo Theater for the benefit concert "Back to Harlem," to raise money for various charities. Later she collaborated with former DC Talk singer - songwriter Toby McKeehan (known professionally as tobyMac) and gospel performer Kirk Franklin on the track "Lose My Soul" on Toby's album Portable Sounds. Mandisa released her debut album True Beauty on Sparrow Records. She spent personal time with the album's writers before the songwriting process began, sharing her vision for the project and what she hoped to communicate through the songs. The lead single "Only the World" was released on May 22, 2007 and became an immediate hit. It topped at Billboard's Hot Single Sales chart and was a Top 10 hit on the Christian radio charts. True Beauty earned Mandisa her first Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and two Dove Award nominations for New Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year, both in 2008. Mandisa also wrote her first book entitled Idoleyes: My New Perspective on Faith, Fat & Fame sharing about her own heartaches, joys, triumphs and failures and showing women can be beautiful at any size and that healthy self-esteem and personal beauty come only when they accept themselves as a unique and much-loved woman of God's creation. Other albums followed include her Christmas album It's Christmas, plus Freedom, What If We Were Real, Overcomer and her last studio album Out of the Dark. Mandisa won her only Grammy Award for Overcomer as Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2014. In 2017, she released her final studio album Out of the Dark and in 2022 released her second book named after the album and subtitled My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy, a memoir about her struggles with depression, anxiety and thoughts of suicide published by K-LOVE Books. In February of 2020, Mandisa released her only "best of" album Overcomer: The Greatest Hits featuring 14 of her best tracks and one new track, a cover of the worship anthem "Way Maker." After that, Mandisa released four stand-alone tracks: "You Keep Hope Alive" with Jon Reddick and "It's Not Over" featuring fellow American Idol singer Jasmine Murray and Christian worship singer Rita Springer, both in 2020 and solo tracks "Breakthrough" and "Ruins," both released in 2021. Mandisa is also a featured vocalist on tracks by Crowder, Jordan Feliz and tobyMac among others. Mandisa died at her home in Nashville, Tennessee on April 18, 2024. She was 47 years old. More information on Mandisa at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandisa Discography True Beauty (2007) Christmas Joy EP (2007) It's Christmas (2008) Freedom (2009) What If We Were Real (2011) Remixed: Get Movin' (2012) (remix EP) Overcomer (2013) Get Up: The Remixes (2014) (remix album) Out of the Dark (2017) Overcomer: The Greatest Hits (2020) (compilation album)

Bob Bennett (born March 21, 1955) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, guitarist and songwriter from Downey, California. Bennett is known for his distinctive baritone voice, Christian lyrics and folk-inspired guitar playing. Bennett picked up his first guitar at age nine and formed a rock 'n' roll band in high school. In the late seventies he converted to Christianity and his songwriting began to reflect his newfound faith. His career was launched with the release of his 1979 folk-style debut recording First Things First. Three years later, Matters of the Heart, a recording CCM Magazine selected as 1982's "Album of the Year" and in 2001, was named as one of the 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. Soon after the release of his next recording, Non-Fiction, he served as the opening act on Amy Grant's Unguarded tour. Lord of the Past: A Compilation followed, which peaked at 30th position on Billboard magazine's Top Christian Albums chart in 1990. The album's title song reached number one on the Christian radio charts in early 1990 and a Top 10 hit with "Yours Alone." Later in 1990, Bob joined Christian singer - songwriter Michael Card on his Way of Wisdom tour, performing in front of sold-out audiences across the country. Bob credits his tour with Michael Card as being the only reason he had a career in 1990 and 1991. More albums followed: Songs from Bright Avenue was released in 1991, a collection of songs he wrote while struggling with the dissolution of his first marriage, followed by Small Graces, The View From Here, Christmastide and Joy Deep As Sorrow. As of 2024, Bennett still records and tours and has even done some livestream concerts that viewers can watch on their computer or TV screens in their living room. More information on Bob Bennett at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Bennett_(singer-songwriter) Discography First Things First (1979) Matters of the Heart (1982) Non-Fiction (1985) Lord of the Past: A Compilation (1989) (compilation album) Songs from Bright Avenue (1991) Small Graces (1997) The View from Here (2002) Christmastide (2009) Joy Deep As Sorrow (2012) Live at Judson University (2016) Collaboration albums Return of the Killer B's (2002) (live album with Bruce Carroll and Billy Sprague) Six String Prayers (2007) (with John Standefer) Songs for Israel (2010) (with Phil Keaggy, Randy Stonehill and Buck Storm) One Sunday in Salem (2023) (live album with Roby Duke and Steve Hopkins)

Hymns Collection is a 3-CD limited edition box set compilation album by the Christian vocal trio 2nd Chapter of Acts. It was released on March 12, 1993 by Sparrow Records. The set is compiled and produced by Buck Herring. It consists of the sibling trio's three hymns releases of the mid to late 1980s: Hymns, Hymns II and Hymns Instrumental, plus an unreleased hymns track "O Worship the King," that is found in Hymns II. This collection serves as a companion to their previous 2-CD retrospective box set 20. Track listing Disc 1 (Hymns) 1. All Creatures of Our God and King (William Henry Draper) -3:01 2. My Jesus I Love Thee (traditional) -4:56 3. Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Thomas Chisholm, William M. Runyan) -4:09 4. Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (traditional) -2:44 5. Crown Him With Many Crowns (traditional) -3:51 6. Take My Life and Let It Be (Frances Ridley Havergal) -1:49 7. Holy, Holy, Holy (John Bacchus Dykes, Reginald Heber) -5:39 8. Fairest Lord Jesus (traditional) -3:51 9. O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus (Samuel Trevor Francis) -4:12 10. How Great Thou Art (Stuart K. Hine) -5:26 11. He Has Formed Me (Annie Herring) -1:42 Disc 2 (Hymns II) 1. Medley -3:47 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Helen Howarth Lemmel) Praise to the Lord, The Almighty (Joachim Neander, Stralsund Gesangbuch, Catherine Winkworth) All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (John Rippon, Edward Perronet, James Ellor) Doxology (Thomas Ken, Geneva Psalter) 2. It Is Well With My Soul (Horatio G. Spafford, Philip P. Bliss) -6:09 3. This Is My Father's World (Maltbie Davenport Babcock, Franklin L. Sheppard) -3:44 4. O for a Thousand Tongues (Charles Wesley, Carl Gotthilf Glaser) -4:13 5. Morning Has Broken (Eleanor Farjeon) -4:13 6. Be Still, My Soul (Katharina A. von Schlegel, Jane Laurie Borthwick, Jean Sibelius) -5:19 7. A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Martin Luther, Frederick H. Hedge) -4:32 8. Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (Rowland H. Prichard, Charles Wesley) -4:52 9. O Sacred Head (Paul Gerhardt, James Waddel Alexander, Hans Leo Hassler) -5:11 10. Purify Me (Annie Herring) -2:05 11. O Worship the King (Robert Grant, William Gardiner, Johann Michael Haydn) -4:01 (previously unreleased) Disc 3 (Hymns Instrumental) 1. Medley -3:47 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Helen Howarth Lemmel) Praise to the Lord, The Almighty (Joachim Neander, Stralsund Gesangbuch, Catherine Winkworth) All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (John Rippon, Edward Perronet, James Ellor) Doxology (Thomas Ken, Geneva Psalter) 2. It Is Well With My Soul (Horatio G. Spafford, Philip P. Bliss) -6:09 3. This Is My Father's World (Maltbie Davenport Babcock, Franklin L. Sheppard) -3:44 4. O for a Thousand Tongues (Charles Wesley, Carl Gotthilf Glaser) -4:13 5. Morning Has Broken (Eleanor Farjeon) -4:13 6. Be Still, My Soul (Katharina A. von Schlegel, Jane Laurie Borthwick, Jean Sibelius) -5:19 7. A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Martin Luther, Frederick H. Hedge) -4:32 8. Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (Rowland H. Prichard, Charles Wesley) -4:52 9. O Sacred Head (Paul Gerhardt, James Waddel Alexander, Hans Leo Hassler) -5:11 10. All Creatures of Our God and King (William Henry Draper) -3:01 11. My Jesus I Love Thee (traditional) -4:56 12. Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Thomas Chisholm, William M. Runyan) -4:09 13. Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (traditional) -2:44 14. Crown Him With Many Crowns (traditional) -3:51 15. Holy, Holy, Holy (John Bacchus Dykes, Reginald Heber) -5:39 16. Fairest Lord Jesus (traditional) -3:51 17. O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus (Samuel Trevor Francis) -4:12 18. He Has Formed Me (Annie Herring) -1:42 All albums were compiled and produced by Buck Herring. Personnel 2nd Chapter of Acts: Annie Herring -vocals Nelly Greisen -vocals Matthew Ward -vocals Previous release: 20 (1992) (2 CD compilation box set) Next release: Very Best of 2nd Chapter of Acts (2006) (Sparrow Records compilation album)

Roland Stephen Taylor (born December 9, 1957) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, music executive, film maker, assistant professor, and actor. A figure in what has come to be known as Christian alternative rock, Taylor enjoyed a successful solo career during the 1980s, and also served in the short-lived group Chagall Guevara. In contrast to many Christian musical artists, his songs have often taken aim at Christian hypocrisy or "error" with the use of satirical, sardonic lyrics. In 1997, he founded the record label Squint Entertainment, which fueled the careers of artists such as Sixpence None the Richer, Chevelle, and Burlap to Cashmere. Despite this success, Taylor was ousted from the label by its parent, Word Entertainment, in 2001. He has produced and written for numerous musical acts, one of the most consistent being Newsboys. As a film-maker, Taylor co-wrote, directed, and produced the feature films Down Under the Big Top, The Second Chance, and Blue Like Jazz. After a decade and a half of hiatus, Taylor returned to performing music in 2010 as the front-man for Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil, a supergroup he founded with Peter Furler, Jimmy Abegg, and John Mark Painter. Along with a university residency and continued film making, Taylor would resume work on unfinished Chagall Guevara material into the 2020s. In 2022, the long-awaited second Chagall Guevara album Halcyon Days was released. More information on Steve Taylor at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Taylor Discography I Want to Be a Clone (EP) (1983) Meltdown (1984) On the Fritz (1985) Limelight (1986) I Predict 1990 (1987) The Best We Could Find (+3 That Never Escaped) (1988) (compilation album) Squint (1993) Now The Truth Can Be Told (1994) (2 CD compilation box set) Liver (1995) Goliath (2014) Wow to the Deadness (EP) (2016) (with Danielson) Wow to the Liveness (2016) (with Danielson) with Chagall Guevara: Chagall Guevara (1991) The Last Amen (2021) Halcyon Days (2022)

Hymns Instrumental (originally titled Hymns I and Hymns II Instrumental) is the final studio and instrumental album from the Christian vocal trio 2nd Chapter of Acts. It was released in the fall of 1989 on Live Oak Records. It features no vocals, but is an instrumental collection of all but four of the tracks from the previous two Hymns releases. It was compiled and produced by Buck Herring. In 1991, Sparrow Records reissued the album on CD. Track listing 1. Medley -3:47 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Helen Howarth Lemmel) Praise to the Lord, The Almighty (Joachim Neander, Stralsund Gesangbuch, Catherine Winkworth) All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (John Rippon, Edward Perronet, James Ellor) Doxology (Thomas Ken, Geneva Psalter) 2. It Is Well With My Soul (Horatio G. Spafford, Philip P. Bliss) -6:09 3. This Is My Father's World (Maltbie Davenport Babcock, Franklin L. Sheppard) -3:44 4. O for a Thousand Tongues (Charles Wesley, Carl Gotthilf Glaser) -4:13 5. Morning Has Broken (Eleanor Farjeon) -4:13 6. Be Still, My Soul (Katharina A. von Schlegel, Jane Laurie Borthwick, Jean Sibelius) -5:19 7. A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Martin Luther, Frederick H. Hedge) -4:32 8. Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (Rowland H. Prichard, Charles Wesley) -4:52 9. O Sacred Head (Paul Gerhardt, James Waddel Alexander, Hans Leo Hassler) -5:11 10. All Creatures of Our God and King (William Henry Draper) -3:01 11. My Jesus I Love Thee (traditional) -4:56 12. Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Thomas Chisholm, William M. Runyan) -4:09 13. Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (traditional) -2:44 14. Crown Him With Many Crowns (traditional) -3:51 15. Holy, Holy, Holy (John Bacchus Dykes, Reginald Heber) -5:39 16. Fairest Lord Jesus (traditional) -3:51 17. O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus (Samuel Trevor Francis) -4:12 18. He Has Formed Me (Annie Herring) -1:42 All tracks produced by Buck Herring. Previous release: Hymns II (1988) Next release: 20 (1992) (2 CD compilation box set)

Gary Winther Chapman (born August 19, 1957) is an American contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter and former television talk show host. Chapman was once married to Amy Grant and is father to their three children. Born in Waurika, Oklahoma, Chapman is the son of an Assemblies of God pastor, Terry Chapman. He grew up in De Leon, Texas. Chapman performed in bands throughout high school and college. After going to Bible college at what is now Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas, he moved to Nashville and was hired as bass player for The Rambos. In 1979, his song "Father's Eyes" was recorded as the title track to Amy Grant's Grammy-nominated second album My Father's Eyes. In 1982, his song "Finally" recorded by T. G. Sheppard reached No. 1 on the country music charts. He also received a Dove Award as Songwriter of the Year from the Gospel Music Association. During the rest of the 1980s and the early 1990s, Chapman continued to write, record, and produce music, while touring as an opening act and bass player for Grant. He sang "Brave Hearts" in 1987 for the Disney/Touchstone Pictures film Ernest Goes to Camp. Chapman's career reached new heights in the mid-1990s. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 1995. The Light Inside also resulted in a Dove Award nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year. It also yielded a contemporary Christian music chart No. 1 song, "Sweet Glow of Mercy." He won a second Dove Award in 1994 for co-producing the album, Songs From The Loft, featuring various artists. In April 1996, Chapman won Male Vocalist of the Year at the GMA Dove Awards. His 1996 album, Shelter, delivered another number one, "One of Two," with "A Man After Your Own Heart" resulting in a Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year and featuring on the Dove award winning Special Event Album of the Year, My Utmost for His Highest. Shelter also received a 1997 Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. At the 1998 Dove Awards, his album also featuring other artists, Hymns From The Ryman, won Country Album Of The Year. In the middle of 1996, Dick Clark Productions and The Nashville Network announced Chapman would replace Tom Wopat as host of their signature evening talk show, Prime Time Country. The show experienced improved ratings under Chapman, and kept the network's tradition of having a daily talk show, a network staple since its 1983 introduction (first with Ralph Emery, then Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase), but ended after 1999 because of MTV Networks' takeover of the CBS Cable Group. MTV shelved TNN in favour of starting an adult male-oriented network (first as Spike TV, then re-branded as Paramount Network), which also shut down CBS Cable Group and the network's Nashville, Tennessee and Concord, North Carolina operations, since TNN was based out of both offices. More information on Gary Chapman at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Chapman_(musician) Discography Sincerely Yours (1981) Happenin' (1982) (live album) Everyday Man (1987) The Light Inside (1994) Shelter (1996) Hymns from the Ryman (1997) (featuring Gary Chapman and special guests) This Gift (1997) Outside (1999) Best of Gary Chapman: After God's Own Heart (2002) (compilation album) Circles and Seasons (2002) The Truth (2013)

Outside is the sixth studio album by Christian singer - songwriter Gary Chapman. It was released on September 14, 1999 by Reunion Records. It is Chapman's first album of new material since Shelter (1996) and was released just a couple of months after his and Amy Grant's divorce was finalized. Outside's theme, according to Chapman, is about forgiveness, healing and moving on. Chapman only wrote two tracks, most notably, "Learning to Love" which tries to address the recent events, in an honest but nonjudgmental way. "Daddy Cut My Hair" written by Michael Kelly Blanchard is about a father-son relationship and is the album's best track. "Hold On" offers a message of simple encouragement that Chapman thought was important for his children to hear at a stressful time. Outside's overall sound is more soft and inspirational and less country pop/rock than in his previous albums and is produced by Chapman and musician Danny O'Lannerghty. Michael Omartian, who produced Chapman's previous album, co-wrote the album's opening track "Nothing Without You" and has played keyboards and piano on three songs and plays the accordion on "I Love You, I Do, You Bet." Track listing 1. Nothing Without You (Gary Chapman, Michael Omartian) -4:43 2. I Will Wait (Rodney Clawson, Tony Wood) -3:46 3. Daddy Cut My Hair (Michael Kelly Blanchard) -4:57 4. Outside (Jeff Silvey, Kyle Matthews) -4:22 5. Hold On (Jess Cates, Wendy Wills) -3:37 6. I Love You, I Do, You Bet (Michael Kelly Blanchard) -6:21 7. Let Evening Come (Jane Kenyon, Rob Mathes) -3:45 8. As Good As Goodbye Gets (Joel Lindsay, Tony Wood) -4:02 9. Learning to Love (Gary Chapman) -5:06 10. The Way You've Shown Me How (Chuck Leonard, Tim Akers) -3:23 Previous release: This Gift (1997) Next release: Best of Gary Chapman: After God's Own Heart (2002) (compilation album)

Keith Gordon Green (October 21, 1953 – July 28, 1982) was an American pianist, singer, songwriter and well known pioneer in the contemporary Christian music genre, who was originally from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. His most notable songs are "There Is a Redeemer," which was written by his wife Melody, "Oh Lord You're Beautiful" and "(Until) Your Love Broke Through." Two of his albums, For Him Who Has Ears to Hear and So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt, were both on the 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music list by CCM Magazine. In 1957, his family moved to Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California where he grew up. Green's parents were Jewish Christian Scientists and the family had a history of musical performance. According to his wife Melody, "growing up in an atmosphere of moral purity, free of alcohol and drugs, had a wonderfully preserving effect on Keith during his early years." In 1961, Green made his debut in an off-Broadway revival of The Time of the Cuckoo and also played Kurt von Trapp in the opening production of The Sound of Music when he was 10 years old. In 1965, Green signed a 5-year general market music contract with Decca Records and was expected to be the next teen idol. He did become the youngest member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) at the age of 11. The national attention that had been envisioned by Decca Records failed to materialize for Green, however, as Donny Osmond captured the attention of preteens and teenagers, eclipsing Green's newfound stardom; and he was quickly forgotten by the public. He grew up reading the New Testament and called the mixture of being Jewish and learning about Jesus "an odd combination" that left him open-minded but confused and deeply unsatisfied. As a teen perceiving his music career had failed, he ran away from home, began smoking marijuana, and used some psychedelics in hopes of finding spiritual truth. He became interested in eastern mysticism and the "free love" culture. His five year spiritual quest eventually led him back to the Bible, writing his diary in December 1972, "Jesus, you are hereby officially welcomed into me." In 1976, Green performed on the Firewind project, a musical written by the Talbot Brothers (John Michael and Terry) and Jamie Owens (Collins). That same year, he signed with Sparrow Records and a year later released his debut album For Him Who Has Ears to Hear. In 1978, Green released his second album No Compromise, in which his wife Melody wrote that the title "seemed to capture the heart of what Keith wanted to say to other Christians—that they needed to quit compromising, stop listening to the voice of the world, and start living committed lives." That same year, Green formed and founded Last Days Ministries and began publishing its newsletter in their garage. In 1979, the Greens, along with Last Days Ministries, moved from San Fernando Valley, California to Garden Valley, Texas, a crossroads community about 9 miles west of Lindale, Texas. That same year, Green negotiated a release from his contract with Sparrow and Green initiated a new policy of refusing to charge money for concerts or albums. Keith and Melody mortgaged their home to privately finance Green's next album, So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt. The album, which featured a guest appearance by Bob Dylan, was offered through mail order and at concerts for a price determined by the purchaser. By May 1982, Green had shipped out more than 200,000 units of his album – 61,000 for free. Subsequent albums included The Keith Green Collection (1981) and Songs for the Shepherd (1982). Some in the gospel industry labeled Green a "kook" for his unorthodox methods, but Green believed he had to practice what he preached, and he felt he could not charge $8.98 for a record when the gospel and salvation were free. On July 28, 1982, Green died in a plane crash while attempting to survey the Last Days Ministries compound along with his two children, a husband and wife church planter with their six children and the pilot of the small-twin engine plane. Green's wife Melody was at home with one-year-old Rebekah and six weeks pregnant with their fourth child, Rachel, who was born in March 1983. Melody now presides over Last Days Ministries and continued to lead it in Texas until 1996 when she moved to California and launched Last Days Ministries Online where all of Green's writings are free and his music can be found. The free monthly Last Days Ministries Newsletter is also sent out by request. Melody maintains the Keith Green Facebook page to honor Keith and also shares her opinions on the Melody Green Facebook Page where she interacts with Green's fans and Last Days Ministries fans. Since Green's passing, posthumous albums and many compilation albums were released. Tribute albums were also released with many Christian artists covering his songs, including No Compromise: Remembering the Music of Keith Green (1992) and Your Love Broke Through: The Worship Songs of Keith Green (2002). Green was posthumously inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2001. More information on Keith Green at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Green Discography Career releases (1977 - 1982): For Him Who Has Ears to Hear (1977) No Compromise (1978) So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt (1980) The Keith Green Collection (1981) (compilation album) Songs for the Shepherd (1982) Posthumous and compilation releases: (1983 to present): I Only Want to See You There (1983) (compilation album) The Prodigal Son (1983) (posthumous album) Jesus Commands Us to Go! (1984) (posthumous album) The Ministry Years 1977 - 1979, Volume 1 (1987) (compilation album) The Ministry Years 1980 - 1982, Volume 2 (1988) (compilation album) Make My Life a Prayer to You: Songs of Devotion (1998) (compilation album) Oh Lord, You're Beautiful: Songs of Worship (1998) (compilation album) Because of You: Songs of Testimony (1998) (compilation album) Here Am I, Send Me: Songs of Evangelism (1998) (compilation album) The Ultimate Collection (CD/DVD) (2002) (compilation album/video)

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)