Geoff Moore

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Geoff Moore
Geoff Moore performing at Easterfest 2008.
Geoff Moore performing at Easterfest 2008.
Background information
Born February 21, 1961 (1961-02-21) (age 47)
Origin Flag of the United States Flint, Michigan, USA
Genre(s) CCM
Rock
Pop
Occupation(s) singer, songwriter
Instrument(s) vocals, guitar
Website Official site

Geoff Moore (born February 21, 1961 in Flint Michigan[1]) is a Contemporary Christian music artist and songwriter.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years

Moore was born in Michigan in 1961. His father played baseball for the Toledo Mud Hens, and later ran a steel fabrication plant.[1] He began singing while he was at Taylor University, at the time that he became a classmate to White Heart's future lead singer, Rick Florian, when he stood in for the lead singer of his roommate's band. Newly married, he moved to Nashville soon after college.[citation needed] 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.[1] He signed a publishing contract with Paragon Music, a company specialising in writing songs for others, and sang on demo recordings for extra money.[1] While with Paragon he wrote songs for fellow Christian singer and songwriter, Steven Curtis Chapman.[1] Since that time they've co-written several 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 albums released on the Power Discs label, including Where are the Other Nine?, Over the Edge and The Distance. When he was signed to Sparrow in 1987, he put together a backing band called "The Distance" to continue with his career.

[edit] The Distance

Geoff Moore and the Distance (1997)
Geoff Moore and the Distance (1997)

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 while, 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 winning albums Ev-O-Lu-Tion in 1993 and Homerun in 1995. This album produced US Christian radio hits like "Evolution…Redefined", "Life Together" and "Home Run". They were nominated for four Grammys.

In 1995, Benson released a compilation of hits from Moore’s first solo albums titled The Beginning Years. The following year the band released a compilation of hits from Moore and the Distance. One CD of the latter contained a live performance from Rome, Georgia, also recorded for Z Music Television.

In 1997, the band released Threads, featuring a cover of The Who's "I'm Free" as its lead single. However, the following year, Moore decided to break up the band and continue solo.[1]

[edit] Solo Again

In 1999, Moore released his eponymous solo album to much critical acclaim.[citation needed] He followed it in 2002 with A Beautiful Sound.

Moore has returned to live in his native state, where he enjoys hunting, fishing, and other outdoor pursuits. He and his wife Jan have been married for 22 years, and have two sons and two adopted daughters.

Near the end of 2005 he released two new studio albums independently. Called Every Single One Part One and Part Two, the albums are a combination of original songs and re-recorded classics from the now out of print Forefront albums with The Distance.

Moore's latest solo project Speak To Me, released on April 3, 2007 on Michael W. Smith's Rocketown Records label.

[edit] Trivia

  • Since 1985, Moore has been a spokesman for Compassion International, a Christian organization which gives long term support of children living in poverty around the world. He has also become an advocate for adoption. The Title track to the Every Single One CDs is about Compassion and their worldwide mission.[citation needed]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Solo

  • Where are the Other Nine? (1984)
  • Over the Edge (1986)
  • The Distance (1987)
  • Familiar Stranger: the Early Works of Geoff Moore (1995)
  • Geoff Moore (1999)
  • A Beautiful Sound (2002)
  • Every Single One Part I (2005)
  • Every Single One Part II (2005)
  • Speak To Me (2007)

[edit] With The Distance

  • A Place To Stand (1988)
  • Foundations (1989)
  • Pure & Simple (1990)
  • A Friend Like You (1992)
  • Evolution (1993)
  • Home Run (1995)
  • The Early Years (1995)
  • Greatest Hits (1996)
  • Threads (1997)

[edit] The Distance Members

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Belfiore, Michael (2004). "Geoff Moore", in DeRemer, Leigh Ann, ed.: Contemporary Musicians, Volume 43. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale Group, 133-134. ISSN 1044-2197. ISBN 0-7876-6796-X. 

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Geoff Moore
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION singer
DATE OF BIRTH 1961
PLACE OF BIRTH Flint Michigan
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH