MercyMe

MercyMe

Bart Millard and drummer Robby Shaffer on the WinterJam Tour 2008 in Greenville, South Carolina
Background information
Origin Greenville, Texas, U.S.
Genres Contemporary Christian,[1] indie rock,[2] worship
Years active 1994–present
Labels
Website mercyme.org
Members
  • Bart Millard
  • Nathan Cochran
  • Michael John Scheuchzer
  • Robin Shaffer
  • Barry Graul
Past members
  • James Bryson

MercyMe is an American contemporary Christian music band founded in Greenville, Texas. The band consists of vocalist Bart Millard, percussionist Robby Shaffer, bassist Nathan Cochran and guitarists Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul.

The band formed in 1994 and released six independent albums prior to signing with INO Records in 2001.[3] The group first gained mainstream recognition with the crossover single, "I Can Only Imagine" which elevated their debut album, Almost There, to double platinum certification. Since then, the group has released eight additional studio albums (six of which have been certified gold) and a greatest hits album, 10. The group has also had 13 consecutive top 5 singles on the Billboard Christian Songs chart, with 7 of them reaching No. 1. MercyMe has won 8 Dove Awards and has had many Grammy Award nominations. On April 8, 2014, the band released its eighth studio album titled Welcome to the New. MercyMe's ninth studio album, Lifer, was released on March 31, 2017.

History

Formation and early years

Born as the son of Southern Methodist University All-American player Arthur Millard[4] and the brother of a football player,[5] MercyMe's lead singer, Bart Millard wanted to become a football player, yet his football career ended when he injured his ankles in a high school football game.[4] As a result of his injury, Millard took choir as an elective.[5] During his freshmen year in college, Bart had to endure the death of his father.[5] His youth pastor, who had moved from Texas to Florida, invited Bart to work with his youth group's worship band.[5] Millard accepted his invitation and went on to work on the video and sound systems for the group.[6] On a day when the band's lead singer got sick on stage, Bart took the challenge of singing for the group.[6] 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.[6] This trip became the cause of Millard and Bryson's consideration of playing music full-time. Millard and his friend, guitarist Mike Scheuchzer, moved to Oklahoma City to form MercyMe with Bryson. The trio set up a studio and a "living area" in an old abandoned day-care center.[6] Bassist Nathan Cochran and Drummer Robby Shaffer joined the band later on, accompanying the band on releasing six independent projects before signing with INO Records in 2001. Unlike their first three major label albums, their earlier indie projects tended to orient more towards rock rhythms.[7] The group's name, "MercyMe", originated during Bart's time as a youth ministry intern in Florida. Concerned that her grandson was home whenever she called, Bart's grandmother would exclaim, "Well mercy me, why don't you get a real job?"[8][9]

Almost There, Spoken For and Undone (2001-2004)

After signing with INO Records, the band released its first major debut album, Almost There. The single "I Can Only Imagine" earned the band a Dove Award in 2002 for song of the year; however, it was not until three years after its release before the song began to gain mainstream success,[6] topping the Billboard 200 sales chart for seven weeks,[10] and peaking at No. 71 on the Hot 100, No. 33 on the Mainstream Top 40, No. 27 on the Adult Top 40, No. 5 on the Adult Contemporary, and No. 52 on the Country Songs charts. The success of the single ultimately propelled Almost There to being certified double platinum, representing sales of over 2 million albums, as well as the single itself being certified platinum.

In 2002, MercyMe released Spoken For, which peaked at No. 2 on the Christian Albums chart. The album's two singles, "Spoken For" and "Word of God Speak", went on to peak at No. 1 on Christian radio charts, with "Word of God Speak" spending a record 22 weeks atop the newly created Billboard Christian Songs chart.[10] The album was eventually certified gold by the RIAA.[11]

Spoken For earned the band three Dove Awards, but was to a certain extent overlooked by the attention that "I Can Only Imagine" was receiving in the mainstream markets at the time.

In 2003, guitarist Barry Graul, who had previously been with the Christian hard rock band Whitecross, joined MercyMe,[12] giving MercyMe a second guitarist to provide greater depth on their third studio album, Undone.[12] In 2004, the band headlined the "Imagine Tour" with fellow artists Amy Grant and Bebo Norman.[10] In addition to headlining the "Imagine Tour", MercyMe released their third major label album, Undone, which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Christian Albums charts, their highest debut on the chart at that point. The album spawned three successful singles - "Here With Me" (which topped the Christian Songs chart as well as reaching No. 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 38 on the Adult Top 40 chart), "Homesick" (which reached No. 3 on the Christian Songs chart and No. 9 on the Adult Contemporary charts), and "In the Blink of an Eye"(which topped the Christian Songs chart). The album itself won a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 36th GMA Dove Awards, and was certified gold by the RIAA.

MercyMe also released a live video album, "MercyMe Live", in 2004, which eventually was certified platinum by the RIAA.

The Christmas Sessions and Coming Up to Breathe (2005–2006)

In 2005, MercyMe launched a tour with Jeremy Camp, The Afters and Monk and Neagle in support of their album, Undone.[13]

After releasing Undone in 2004, the band took a time to rest before releasing their next big release, so the band, seeing an opportunity, decided to work on a Christmas record.[14] The Christmas Sessions was recorded and ended up being released on September 27, 2005. "The Christmas Sessions" spawned 7 songs which hit the top 40 on the Christian Songs chart (with one hitting No. 1 and two others reaching the top ten), and four of these charted in the top 40 of the Adult Contemporary chart (with one peaking in the top 10). The album itself peaked at No. 64 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the Christian Songs chart.

To promote The Christmas Sessions, MercyMe had a Christmas tour with Steven Curtis Chapman, who also released a Christmas album that year titled All I Really Want for Christmas.

In 2006, MercyMe released Coming Up to Breathe, which charted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart.[15][16] Although the band had earned a reputation for being an adult contemporary group with their other albums, the group decided to make Coming Up to Breathe a more rock-oriented album, in the vein of their earlier grunge-influenced albums.[17] As such, it also peaked at No. 5 on the Top Rock Albums chart and No. 13 on the Top Alternative Albums chart, their only chart appearances on these records to date.

Coming Up to Breathe spawned three radio singles ("So Long Self", "Hold Fast", and "Bring the Rain"), two of which ("So Long Self" and "Bring the Rain") reached the top spot on the Christian Songs chart. "So Long Self" and "Hold Fast" also both reached the top 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Coming Up to Breathe was eventually certified gold by the RIAA.

In support of Coming Up to Breathe, MercyMe headlined the "Coming Up to Breathe Tour", along with Audio Adrenaline (on its farewell tour) and Phil Wickham, seeing half their shows sell out two weeks into the tour.[18]

All That is Within Me, Coming Up to Breathe: Acoustic and 10 (2007–2009)

On November 20, 2007, MercyMe released All That Is Within Me. Millard, the band's lead singer, had believed that All That is Within Me was going to be a worship album with half of the songs being cover songs and the other half original songs; however, when the band got in studio, they ended up having written all the songs found in this album.[19]

Upon release, the album peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Christian Songs chart. The album contained three singles ("God With Us", "You Reign" and "Finally Home"), all of which reached the top 3 on the Christian Songs chart; "Finally Home" also peaked at No. 17 on the Adult Contemporary chart (their last appearance on the chart to date). "All That Is Within Me" was also certified gold by the RIAA.

In 2008, the band released Coming Up to Breathe: Acoustic, an acoustic version of their earlier release Coming Up to Breathe.

On April 7, 2009, MercyMe released their first greatest hits compilation, 10,[20] a double album consisting of 15 studio recordings (12 of which were previously singles and 3 of which were new recordings) and 11 live or concept videos, as well as several documentaries on the band. The album charted at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Christian Songs chart, although no singles were released from the album.

The Generous Mr. Lovewell and The Worship Sessions (2010–2011)

MercyMe's sixth studio album, The Generous Mr. Lovewell, was released on May 4, 2010. The album itself peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 (MercyMe's highest debut to date and first top 5 album ever on the chart) and No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart. The album (a concept album relating around the overall theme of love and vaguely relating to its self-titled character) has also spawned three singles - "All of Creation", "Beautiful", and "Move", all of which reached the top spot on the Christian Songs chart. Upon wrapping up "The Generous Mr. Lovewell" tour, MercyMe was asked to perform the national anthem at a Dallas Cowboys game.[21]

In 2011, the band released The Worship Sessions, a worship album that was released exclusively at Family Christian Book Stores.

The Hurt & The Healer, Welcome to the New, and Lifer (2012–present)

The Hurt & The Healer was released on May 22, 2012 by Fair Trade and Columbia Records. The album debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, selling 33,000 copies.[22] Notable singles from this album include "The Hurt and the Healer" and "You Are I Am". This is also the last studio album that involved Bryson before his taking an extended leave-of-absence from MercyMe.

Welcome to the New, the band's eighth studio album, was released on April 8, 2014 and is produced by David Garcia and Ben Glover.[23] Singles from this album include the pre-release single "Shake", and post-release singles "Greater" and "Dear Younger Me".

Lifer, MercyMe's ninth studio album, was released on March 31, 2017, with the lead single off the album being "Even If".[24]

Charity

In 2005, MercyMe participated in a benefit concert at Belmont University with various other country, gospel and contemporary Christian artists for the people affected by the Asian tsunami.[25]

In 2009, MercyMe conducted a tour in partnership with Compassion International and Imagine A Cure in order to raise money to help kids with diabetes through Imagine A Cure and people with medical needs around the world through Compassion International.[26]

The Go Foundation

"I Would Die For You", a song from their fourth album, Coming Up to Breathe, was dedicated to BJ Higgins, a young boy who contracted bubonic plague on the mission fields of Peru. The song has been used to raise money for The Go Foundation, which was born out of Higgins' untimely death.

Tour bus accident

On Saturday, August 8, 2009 at approximately 1:15 am in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the MercyMe tour bus was traveling through an intersection on a green light when an oncoming passenger vehicle made a left turn on red into the path of the bus which resulted in a collision killing two passengers of the car and the unborn baby of the vehicle's driver. MercyMe was to perform at Six Flags St. Louis but the park issued a statement saying the show was rescheduled because the band was "involved in a vehicle accident in Indiana."[27]

Despite news reports claiming that the band remained silent during the days after the crash, not contacting the family of the deceased and injured,[28] MercyMe did release a statement through their publicist the day of the crash.[29]

Members

Current members

Former members

Discography

Awards and accolades

GMA Dove Awards[30]
ASCAP Awards
American Music Awards
Billboard magazine Decade (2000–2009) Awards[33]

References

  1. ↑ "Featured Compassion Artists". Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  2. ↑ "The Hurt & The Healer by MercyMe - CD Reviews And Information - NewReleaseToday". Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Real People. Real Worship". CCM Magazine. December 2002. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  4. 1 2 Argyrakis, Andy (2004). "More Than You "Imagine"". Christianity Today. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Ashleigh Kittle. "MercyMe: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Somers, Eliza Marie (May 24, 2006). "Fluke brings Mercyme together". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
  7. ↑ Russ Breimeier. "MercyMe: Spoken For". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
  8. ↑ "17 Things You Probably Didn't Know About: MercyMe". CCM Magazine. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  9. ↑ Jen Abbas. "Finally There With MercyMe". Family Christian Stores, Inc. Archived from the original on August 29, 2009. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 "MercyMe begins 'Imagine Tour' in 2004". The Christian Post. December 13, 2003. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
  11. ↑ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database". RIAA. Archived from the original on June 26, 2007.
  12. 1 2 Hoover, Carl (October 16, 2008). "Christian Group MercyMe Combines Rock, Religious Influences in Music". Waco Tribune-Herald. Retrieved July 6, 2009.
  13. ↑ Camacho, Justin (November 2, 2004). "MercyMe Schedules 'Undone' Tour For February". The Christian Post. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  14. ↑ "Well Mercy Me, Children". CCM Magazine. December 2005. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Artist Chart History-MercyMe". billboard.com. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  16. ↑ Camacho, Justin (May 5, 2006). "MercyMe Hits Billboard Top 20 with Latest Release". The Christian Post. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  17. ↑ Farias, Andree (2006). "MercyMe's Jesus Freak?". Christianity Today. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
  18. ↑ "MercyMe National Tour Selling Out Nationwide". CCM Magazine. October 19, 2006. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
  19. ↑ Friedman, Stan (2007). "Comfortable with All That Is Within". Christianity Today. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
  20. ↑ Williams, Lindsay (April 2009). "10 Questions with MercyMe". CCM Magazine. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  21. ↑ "MercyMe Closes 2010 With Billboard's National Christian Audience and Christian AC Song of the Year, "All of Creation"". Fusemix.com. December 15, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  22. ↑ "John Mayer Earns Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200". Billboard.com. September 14, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Music News, January 2014: MercyMe Ushers in New Era with Eighth Studio Record Welcome to the New Available April 8". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  24. ↑ "MercyMe To Release New Album 'Lifer' On Mar. 31". New Release Today. January 23, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Country and Christian Artists to Stage Benefit for Tsunami Relief Efforts". USA Today. 2005. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
  26. ↑ Kimball, Josh (April 15, 2009). "'Rock and Worship Roadshow' Draws Over 120, 000 Music Fans". The Christian Post. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  27. ↑ Archived February 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  28. ↑ Organ, Aaron (August 11, 2009). "MercyMe silent, crash victim's brother says". News-Sentinel.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  29. ↑ Archived August 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  30. ↑ "Dove Awards History Artist:MercyMe". Gospel Music Association. Archived from the original on April 27, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  31. ↑ "MercyMe Wins American Music Award". Christianity Today. 2004. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  32. ↑ "MercyMe | MercyMe Named Americas Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist at 2010 American Music Awards". TodaysChristianMusic.com. November 22, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Billboard Names MercyMe Christian Songs Artist of the Decade "Word of God Speak" Named Song of the Decade". Jesus Freak Hideout. December 17, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
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