Michael Gungor

Michael Gungor (born September 14, 1980) is an American singer-songwriter. He leads the musical collective Gungor, which has received multiple Grammy nominations. ^[1] The group's music has been compared to the music of Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, and Arcade Fire.^[2] Aside from his work with the band, he has written and produced music for several other artists. He has also written a book titled The Crowd, the Critic, and the Muse: A Book for Creators.

Background

Michael Gungor grew up in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He is the son of pastor and author Ed Gungor. He began writing and playing music at a young age and went on to study jazz guitar at both Western Michigan University and the University of North Texas while also touring and working as a multi-instrumentalist musician. He met his wife Lisa at Oral Robers University during their freshman year, and she, also a musician, later became his music partner and serves as the other primary vocalist and songwriter for Gungor. They live in Denver, Colorado with their three-year-old daughter.^[3]

The Michael Gungor Band

In 2002, he helped record an album for his local church, and the project was picked up by Integrity Music. They released the album "Bigger Than My Imagination" in 2003. As he began to travel, the Michael Gungor Band began to evolve and he produced All I Need is Here with Michael Rossback in 2005. In 2007, he was signed to Brash Music, and the Michael Gungor Band came out with their first album, Ancient Skies. The album consisted of the single All I Need is Here with the addition of a few newer songs to the album as well. Michael Gungor also contributed to the composition of songs for other artists such as Israel Houghton.

Bloom

Michael Gungor and his wife, Lisa, moved to Denver and in 2007 founded a progressive label-less, non-denominational church community called Bloom.^[4]

Gungor

After moving, the group's name changed from "The Michael Gungor Band" to simply "Gungor" (styled as güngör).^[5] The first album release was Beautiful Things in 2010. In 2011, the album and its title track, "Beautiful Things", were nominated for the Grammy categories Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album and Best Gospel Song, respectively.

The second album release was Ghosts Upon the Earth in 2011, and third release, a live album, A Creation Liturgy was released in 2012. The band's third studio album, I Am Mountain, was released on September 24, 2013.^[6] On October 24, 2013 the band began its 60-city headline tour across the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.^[7][8]

Though Gungor's music is filled with Christian themes and language and is spiritual in nature, the band has attempted to distance itself from being labeled simply a "Christian" band due to the problematic way the term is often used.^[9][10] Michael refers to Gungor as a collective because at any given time the group is composed of 3-10 members. He and his wife believe that their music transcends one genre.^[11][12] Gungor write songs that are a mix of Indie Rock, Post Rock, Prog, Soft Rock and more. If asked, Michael describes his song style as "alternative, folk, textured and experimental."^[13] They will be performing at SXSW 2014.^[11]

Discography

• Ancient Skies EP (March 24, 2006)
• All I Need Is Here (2007)
• Ancient Skies (2008)
• Beautiful Things (February 16, 2010)
• Ghosts Upon the Earth (September 20, 2011)
• A Creation Liturgy (October 9, 2012)
• I Am Mountain (September 24, 2013)

Awards

• GMA Dove Awards 2008: "Say So" – Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year ^[14]
• Independent Music Awards 2013: A Creation Liturgy (Live) - Best Live Performance Album^[15]

Publications

• The Crowd, the Critic, and the Muse - (2012)

References

External links

• Gungor - official website
• Bloom Church - Denver
• Interview with Michael Gungor