Phillips, Craig and Dean

Phillips, Craig and Dean

Phillips, Craig and Dean at the 2010 GMA Dove Awards
Background information
Also known as PCD
Genres Contemporary Christian, contemporary worship
Occupation(s) Singers, songwriters, pastors
Years active 1991–present
Labels INO/Columbia
Website www.phillipscraiganddean.com
Members Randy Phillips
Shawn Craig
Dan Dean

Phillips, Craig and Dean are a contemporary Christian music trio composed of Randy Phillips, Shawn Craig, and Dan Dean. Since forming in 1991, they have released 12 albums and earned 18 No. 1 radio singles.[1][2] The group has received nine GMA Dove Award nominations, and sold over two million units,[2] receiving two Dove Awards for participating in the special event album My Utmost for His Highest in 1996, and also took the 2010 Dove Award for Inspirational Album of the Year, Fearless.

History

In 1991, Randy Phillips went to several record companies with a solo album he had. StarSong, a Nashville-based company, urged him to form a male vocal group. He then called two friends who also happened to be pastors—and had also recently made solo albums.[3]

In 1992 they released their eponymously titled debut album, which peaked at No. 13 on the Christian albums chart. The band followed it with Lifeline in 1994 and Trust in 1995, which charted at No. 12 and No. 11, respectively. The song Crucified with Christ from Trust was particularly popular, reaching No. 1 on the INSPO chart and being nominated for 'Inspirational Song of the Year' and ' Song of the Year' at the 1997 Dove Awards. It was also awarded the 'Inspirational Song of the Decade Award' by CCM Magazine.[4]

In 1996 they released a Christmas album titled Repeat the Sounding Joy featuring the Christ Church Choir and the Nashville String Machine.

In 1997 they released Where Strength Begins. The following year, they released a compilation titled Favorite Songs of All which included two new songs. In 1999 they returned with Restoration, and followed it with Let My Words Be Few in 2001 and Let Your Glory Fall in 2003.

In recent years, they've shed their contemporary Christian roots and focused on more worship oriented music. On that line, they've released their latest albums. It was through Phillips' weekly TV program that Phillips, Craig & Dean discovered what would be the title track for their 2004 CD Let The Worshipers Arise. The praise & worship-themed show sought to discover the best song from an unknown songwriter with Michael Ferrin of Texarkana, Texas taking home the top prize. Once the judging was over, the top five winners came to Austin and the winning song debuted on an Awakening broadcast. "When I heard him sing it live it was one of those moments," Phillips recalls. "I think when people hear it, it’s going to cause them to reach out to Christ with a renewed passion like they’ve never had before."

In 2006, Phillips, Craig and Dean released their 11th studio album, Top of My Lungs. Three singles from the album, Your Name, Saved the Day, and Top of My Lungs, landed Top 5 spots on the INSPO chart.[5] The band gained national attention when Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton approached the plate at home games during the 2008 season to "Saved the Day", a song from the album.[6]

They've also contributed to several Contemporary Christian music compilations, most notably My Utmost For His Highest in 1995. Their second greatest hits album, the 2-CD set The Ultimate Collection, was released by Sparrow Records in 2006.

Since all three singers are full-time pastors and make it a priority to be at their respective churches for Sunday services, they have declared a virtual moratorium on Saturday night concerts.

They have performed at the conventions of the National Religious Broadcasters and Christian Booksellers Association, appeared at Moody Church, played at Promise Keepers rallies, and recorded music for the National Day of Prayer. In 2001, the National Day of Prayer 50th Anniversary theme song was "Shine on Us", featuring the trio.

Phillips, Craig and Dean and Kari Jobe perform "Revelation Song" at the 2010 GMA Dove Awards

Their album Fearless was released on August 4, 2009.[7] It sold over 10,000 copies during its first week and reached number 46 on the Billboard 200, becoming the trio's highest-debuting album to date.[2] The album's first single was "Revelation Song". It reached number 1 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart in August 2009, and stayed at the top for 11 weeks. It also grabbed the top spot on the INSPO chart for 18 weeks.[8] In addition, "Revelation Song" earned a Dove Award at the 2010 GMA Dove Awards for 'Worship Song of the Year', while Fearless earned the 'Inspirational Album of the Year' award.[9][10] During the 2010 GMA Dove Awards, Phillips, Craig and Dean performed Revelation Song live with fellow CCM artist Kari Jobe.

In 2010, the second single from Fearless, "Great Are You Lord" reached No. 1 on the INSPO chart. It has also peaked at No. 23 on the Hot Christian Songs chart and 19 on the Christian AC chart.

The group's first EP, a Christmas project entitled Hope for All the World EP, was released later in 2010.

In 2012, the trio released their twelfth studio album, Breathe In. It peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's US Christian Albums chart.

In 2013, the songs from their Christmas EP were added in a full-length studio album of the same name along with four new songs.

On November 10, 2014, their fourteenth studio album, Above It All, was released. It takes on a new, modern, and electronic style while retaining PCD's trademark elements. The album has received both heavy criticism and heavy praise alike. The first single is a reverent cover of "Jesus, Only Jesus".

Theology

The trio has been criticized for their belief in the Oneness doctrine, a non-trinitarian belief (which denies the doctrine of the trinity and states that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are different manifestations of one God, rather than distinct persons).[11][12][13] PCD Ministries responded to these concerns with a statement affirming the trio's belief in the "existence of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – the Three in One."[14] Randy Phillips further clarified that "[w]e believe in one God who is eternal in His existence, Triune in His manifestation, being both Father, Son, and Holy Ghost and that He is Sovereign and Absolute in His authority."[11] In 2013, PCD Ministries issued a letter which stated that the trio "reject the teaching of modalism, a.k.a. Sabellianism."[15] It further clarified that while that the members of Phillips, Craig, and Dean are not affiliated with any denomination, they affirm the statement of faith of the Southern Baptist Convention.[15]

Members

Randy Phillips, Shawn Craig, and Dan Dean each is the senior pastor of a local church.

Randy Phillips

Shawn Craig

Dan Dean

Discography

Albums

Year Album US Christian Heatseekers Billboard 200 Label Record producer
1992 Phillips, Craig & Dean 13 Star Song Paul Mills
1994 Lifeline 12 Paul Mills / Brian Green
1995 Trust 11 40 Paul Mills
1996 Repeat the Sounding Joy
(Christmas album)
12 11 Paul Mills / Carl Marsh
1997 Where Strength Begins 6 16 Mills / Dennis Matkosky / Phil Naish
1999 Restoration 33 Sparrow Phil Naish
2001 Let My Words Be Few 15 Nathan Nockels
2003 Let Your Glory Fall 8 2 142
2004 Let The Worshipers Arise 5 7 179 INO/Columbia
2006 Top of My Lungs 12 4 181
2009 Fearless 1 46 Bernie Herms
2010 Hope for All the World EP
(Christmas EP)
Independent Nathan Nockels
2012 Breathe In 6 88 Fair Trade Nathan Nockels / Bernie Herms Here I Am to Worship
2013 Hope for All the World
(Christmas album)
Nathan Nockels
2014 Above It All 13 198 Seth Mosley, Nathan Nockels

Compilations

Singles

Year Single Peak Album
Christian Heatseekers
2003 "My Praise" 9 Let Your Glory Fall
"Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing)" 20
"Here I Am to Worship" 5
2004 "You Are God Alone" 3 10 Let the Worshipers Arise
2005 "Friend of God" 2 9
2007 "Your Name" 3 15 Top of My Lungs
"Saved the Day" 3 29
2008 "Top of My Lungs" 3 25
2009 "Revelation Song" 2 1 28 Fearless
2010 "Great Are You Lord" 2 19
"For All the World" 17 Hope for All the World EP
"Do You Hear What I Hear?" 31
2011 "From the Inside Out" 3 39 Fearless
2012 "When the Stars Burn Down (Blessing and Honor)"2 3 Breathe In
"Great I Am"
"–" denotes releases that did not chart

Video

Awards

GMA Dove Awards
Year Category Work Result
1993 New Artist of the Year Nominated
1995 Inspirational Song of the Year "I Want To Be Just Like You" Nominated
1995 Inspirational Album of the Year Lifeline Nominated
1995 Special Event Album of the Year My Utmost For His Highest Won
1997 Inspirational Song of the Year "Crucified With Christ" (Shawn Craig, songwriter) Nominated
1997 Song of the Year "Crucified With Christ" Nominated
2005 Praise and Worship Album Let the Worshipers Arise Nominated
2007 Praise and Worship Album Top of My Lungs Won
2010 Inspirational Album of the Year Fearless Won

Other awards

References

  1. Bush, John. "Phillips, Craig & Dean > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Phillips, Craig and Dean earn highest retail chart debut in career". Christian Today. 2009-08-13. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  3. "Phillips, Craig & Dean Biography". Last.fm. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  4. "Phillips Craig & Dean". klove.com.
  5. http://www.phillipscraiganddean.com/dload_factsheet.php?id=PCD_FactSheet.pdf
  6. "Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News, July 2008: PHILLIPS, CRAIG & DEAN FINDS FOLLOWING AT TEXAS RANGERS’ BALLPARK". jesusfreakhideout.com.
  7. Leahey, Andrew. "Fearless > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  8. "Christian Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  9. "41st Annual GMA Dove Awards on Gospel Music Channel". Doveawards.com. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
  10. "Phillips, Craig and Dean nab Inspirational Album of the Year at 41st annual GMA Dove Awards". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Eric Nielsen. "Blurring the Dividing Line: The Legacy of Phillips, Craig and Dean". Alpha & Omega Ministries. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  12. James White. "Loving the Trinity". Christian Research Institute. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  13. http://vintage.aomin.org/PCD2.html
  14. "Fax from PCD Ministires". Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  15. 15.0 15.1 "PCD Trinity Statement". Here I Blog. Mark Lamprecht. March 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  16. "Randy & Denise Phillips - LifeAustin". lifeaustin.com.
  17. http://www.thecrosspoint.com/index.cfm/PageID/1452/index.html
  18. THCAdmin. "About HC - Staff". theheartlandchurch.com.
  19. "Dan Dean of Phillips, Craig & Dean Announces He Is Recovering From Battle with Prostate Cancer". Todays Christian Music. Retrieved October 24, 2012.

External links