Bart Millard
| Bart Millard | |
|---|---|
 Bart Millard in concert | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bart Marshall Millard[1] |
| Born |
December 1, 1972[1] Greenville, Texas, U.S.[1] |
| Genres | Rock, Christian rock, contemporary Christian |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | Fair Trade Services |
| Associated acts | MercyMe |
| Website |
bartmillard |
Bart Marshall Millard (born December 1, 1972) is an American singer and songwriter who is best known as the leader of the band MercyMe. He has also released two solo albums: Hymned, No. 1 in 2005 and Hymned Again in 2008. The latter garnered him a solo Grammy nomination in the category of Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album.
Band Career (1994–present)
In high school, Millard wanted to become a football player, which ended when he injured his ankles at a high school football game. As a result, Millard took choir as an elective. Millard's father died during his freshman year of college, and his youth pastor invited him to work with the church's youth group worship band. Millard accepted and worked with the video and audio systems for the group. James (Jim) Bryson played piano for that band and later went on to play with Bart Millard and the worship band on a trip to Switzerland. This trip inspired Millard to pursue a full-time musical career. Millard and two of his friends moved to Oklahoma City, and formed MercyMe. Since then, the band has recorded six Independent, Seven Studio, two Exclusive, one Christmas, and one Compilation album.
Solo Career (2004–present)
Millard made a promise to his grandmother to record a hymns album before she died, which he did with Hymned No. 1, and he subsequently shared the story of how he was inspired by his grandmother's faith.[2][3][4] Millard did the second of his two hymn albums because he realized that the church he was attending did not sing hymns, and he wanted his children to have hymns as a part of their lives.[2]
Millard said his dad heavily influenced him in his musical direction with respect to the hymns albums, drawing particularly on Willie Nelson and Louie Prima.[2] Millard stated that these influences would not be appropriate for MercyMe,[2] as MercyMe is similar to Coldplay, while these hymned efforts are more in the vein of Frank Sinatra.[2] Millard said that he embarked on his solo effort in order to give expression to musical styles that would not have been compatible with MercyMe.[2] Millard said that they sang a Hank Williams song called "I Saw the Light" in his church growing up.[2]
The title of Hymned Again is a "tongue-in-cheek" reference to the first album.[2] The first album was an effort to make songs that he did not particularly care about more cool, and the second album was created to achieve a Kansas City swing/shuffle, mood in the vein of Louie Prima, Harry Connick, Jr. and Jamie Cullum, which is what was achieved.[2][3] According to Greer, this album was very reminiscent of She by Connick, which was done five or six times according to Millard.[3] Millard said he accomplished this by listening to a stack of albums by these musicians.[3] Millard said the songs on the album Hymned Again are in the tradition of the Great Revival era musically, but that this was not done on purpose.[3] Millard said the one original song on the album, entitled "Jesus Cares for Me", was written by Thad Cockrell, which according to the singer "could’ve been written 50, 60 years ago."[3] Millard nervously asked Vince Gill to participate on the album.[3] On the subject of another "Hymned" effort, Millard said, "Man, I hope so."[2]
Millard is featured as a vocalist on "I See Love," a 2004 single by Third Day and Stephen Curtis Chapman. He is also featured as a backing vocalist on Phil Wickham's 2009 single "Safe."
Awards
Millard was called the Best Male Vocalist by Christianity Today in 2005, for his work on Hymned No. 1 and The Christmas Sessions album with MercyMe.[5] Millard's Hymned No. 1 was called the No. 9 best album of the year by Christianity Today in 2005.[6]
Personal life
Millard is married to Shannon, and they have five children: Sam, Gracie, Charlie, Sophie and Miles.[7]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 |
US Christian |
US Heat | |||
| 2005 | Hymned, No. 1
|
— | 12[8] | 13[8] | |
| 2008 | Hymned Again
|
126[9] | 8[9] | — | |
Guest appearances
| Year | Artist | Album | Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Third Day | Chronology Volume 2 | "I See Love" |
| Phil Wickham | Cannons | "The Light Will Come" | |
| 2009 | Heaven & Earth | "Safe" | |
| 2011 | Apostles Church | Love Came Through | "Jesus, Name Above All Names" |
| 2012 | Big Tent Revival | The Way Back Home | "The Weight" |
| 2013 | Hawk Nelson | Made | "Words" |
References
- 1 2 3 Christian Music Review. "Bart Millard biography". Archived from the original on April 29, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Breimeier, Russ (October 6, 2008). "Reimagining the Hymns". Christianity Today. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Greer, Andrew (August 26, 2008). "Bart Millard: The Solo Side, Take Two". Crosswalk via Christian Music Planet. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- ↑ Evans Price, Deborah (August 23, 2005). "Bart Millard: MawMaw's Boy". Crosswalk. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- ↑ Christianity Today (January 1, 2006). "Best Artists of 2005". Christianity Today. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- ↑ Christianity Today (January 1, 2006). "The Best Christian Albums of 2005". Christianity Today. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- ↑ K-LOVE (July 23, 2012). "Talking with Bart Millard: Kids & Insane Family Moments". Educational Media Foundation. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
- 1 2 Billboard (September 3, 2005). "Hymned No. 1 - Bart Millard". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
- 1 2 Billboard (September 6, 2008). "Hymned Again - Bart Millard". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2012.