- Chris Tomlin
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Chris Tomlin 
Chris TomlinBackground information Birth name Christopher Dwayne Tomlin Born May 4, 1972 Origin Grand Saline, Texas U.S. Genres Contemporary worship music, CCM Occupations Singer, songwriter, instrumentalist worship leader Instruments Guitar, piano Years active 1998–present Labels sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records Website Official website Christopher Dwayne "Chris" Tomlin (born May 4, 1972) is an American Christian Contemporary Music artist, worship leader, and songwriter from Grand Saline, Texas, United States. He is a former staff member at Austin Stone Community Church and is signed to EMI's sixstepsrecords. Tomlin also leads worship at many Passion events. Some of his most well-known songs are "How Great Is Our God", "Jesus Messiah", "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)", and the recent song "Our God" which he co-wrote with Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves and Jonas Myrin. He is currently a worship leader at Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia with Louie Giglio and Christy Nockels.
He was awarded Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2006, 2007, and 2008 GMA Dove Awards. He was also named Artist of the Year in 2007. Tomlin released his seventh studio album, And If Our God Is for Us..., on November 16, 2010. He is one of the members of Compassionart, a charity founded by Martin Smith (and Smith's wife, Anna) of the band Delirious?.
Contents
Early life
Tomlin was born in Grand Saline, Texas in 1972 to Connie and Donna Tomlin. He has two younger brothers, Ryan and Cory. Tomlin received his first guitar from his father at the age of eleven after contracting a case of mono.[1] Chris Tomlin first learned how to play the guitar by playing along side Willie Nelson records.[2]
Tomlin wrote his first worship song at age fourteen. He entered college planning to study physical therapy, but ended up not pursuing that career, as he has stated that he felt God's calling to something else.[citation needed]
In the mid-1990s Tomlin was a worship leader at the Dawson McAllister Youth Conferences, as well as at various church camps in Texas.
After attending Tyler Junior College and Texas A&M University, Tomlin continued to play and write songs, and in 1997, youth speaker Louie Giglio asked if he would be interested in working with the Passion Conferences. Tomlin has played a key role in the movement ever since.
Musical career
Chris performing at a concert in Johnson City, Tennessee
His first nationally released solo project, titled The Noise We Make, was released in 2001, featuring the songs "Forever," "Be Glorified", and "Kindness", all of which made the top 200 in the CCLI 2005 top 500 worship songs.[3] He also released the live EP 545 in 2002, and the studio album Not to Us (2002). His 2004 album Arriving is considered his breakout album as it produced the #1 hits "Indescribable" (written by Laura Story), "Holy Is the Lord", "How Great Is Our God", and "The Way I Was Made". Two other tracks from the album–"On Our Side" and "Mighty is the Power of the Cross", written with Shawn Craig of Phillips, Craig, and Dean–landed in the 2005 top 500 worship songs according to Christian Copyright Licensing International.[3] Arriving was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2008.
Chris performing live in concert in Nashville, TennesseeA year after Arriving, Tomlin released his first solo live album, titled Live From Austin Music Hall, and in 2006, his fourth studio album, See the Morning, which was nominated for two Grammy Awards,[4] been certified Gold by the RIAA, and has helped him win 6 Dove Awards in 2007, including a second consecutive "Artist of the Year" win. The three singles off this album have all been top #5 songs on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs Chart, and have all reached the number one position on the R&R' Christian AC Chart.
Although he is a solo artist, Tomlin travels around with a consistent band lineup. He also writes many of his songs with the members of his band. His band, in which he performs vocals, acoustic guitar, and piano, consists of Daniel Carson (electric guitar, backup vocals), Jesse Reeves (bass guitar, backup vocals), Travis Nunn (drums), and Matt Gilder (piano, keys). Tomlin and the band developed while working with the Harvest Ministry at The Woodlands United Methodist Church in The Woodlands, Texas in the late 1990s.
According to Christian Copyright Licensing International's list of the top 25 worship songs in the US in August 2007, Tomlin held 5 spots with songs he has either written or co-written with other songwriters: "How Great Is Our God" (#1), "Forever" (#5), "Holy Is the Lord" (#7), "We Fall Down" (#12), and "Indescribable" (#22). In 2008, Tomlin held 6 spots on 20 The Countdown Magazine's top 20 praise and worship songs: "We Fall Down" (#14), "Forever" (#10), "Holy is the Lord" (#8), "Indescribable" (#6), "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" (#3), and "How Great is our God" (#1).[5]
Tomlin has toured with several prominent contemporary Christian music artists, such as opening for Delirious? during his first ever tour, and as a supporting act of Steven Curtis Chapman during his All Things New Tour. Tomlin has also headlined several tours, such as headlining the Chris Tomlin Indescribable Tour, which featured world renowned worship artist Matt Redman, and speaker Louie Giglio,[6] and headlining the See the Morning Tour. From April to October 2007, Tomlin toured with Louie Giglio and Matt Redman on his "How Great Is Our God" tour.[3] In 2008, Tomlin toured with Passion Conferences on its world tour. In early 2009, he headlined the Hello Love tour with Israel Houghton and New Breed. In summer of 2010, he co-headlined the "Hello Tonight" tour with TobyMac.
Tomlin has also been featured at many conferences and music festivals. Among these, he has played at Grand Saline's annual Salt Festival.[7] Hillsong's 2007 conference, and the 2008 Compassionart International Songwriting retreat, which was dedicated to writing songs whose revenue would support charities serving the poorest of the world's poor. Other prominent songwriters included were Matt Redman, Martin Smith, Stuart Garrard, and Steven Curtis Chapman. In 2009, Tomlin played at the Harvest Crusade at Anaheim Angels Stadium.
At the end of 2006, Tomlin launched an online music website resource called Frequency[3] which Tomlin described as "a place to serve God and his people in worship." In 2007, he partnered with Larry Tardy to create a new site under a similar name, Frequency Worship.[8] The original site featured chord charts for some of Chris' songs, some instructional videos for those songs, and a message board meant for worship leaders. Since the updated launch in August 2008, Frequency has included chord charts for many popular worship songs, instructional videos, planning software for worship leaders, articles written by other artists, and more, branching out into all of worship music.
On June 14, 2007, Tomlin's version of the song "Indescribable" was used as the official wake-up call for Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester on Space Shuttle mission STS-117.
In May 2008, it was announced that Tomlin and his band would move from The Austin Stone Community Church, the church he helped plant with senior pastor Matt Carter in Austin, Texas to start a new church with Louie Giglio in Atlanta, Georgia.[9][10]
In 2009, Tomlin released a Christmas album, Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship.[11] It includes three original Christmas songs and features duets with Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, and Audrey Assad. The album peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200 list and at #1 for Holiday albums.
In March 2010, Tomlin and his band announced through their Twitter accounts the recording of a new studio album slated for a November 2010 release. On August 30, Tomlin announced on his Twitter that the title would be And If Our God Is for Us...[12] The first single "I Will Follow" was released to radio on August 23.
Personal life
Tomlin married his girlfriend, Lauren Bricken,[13] on November 9, 2010.[14][15][16]
In May 2011, Tomlin announced to his hometown that he and Lauren are expecting their first child.[17][18] He announced on Twitter that the couple's daughter, Ashlyn Alexandra Tomlin, was born in September 2011.[citation needed]
Discography
- Inside Your Love (1995)
- Authentic (1998)
- Too Much Free Time (1998) with Ross King
- The Noise We Make (2001)
- Not to Us (2002)
- Arriving (2004)
- See the Morning (2006)
- Hello Love (2008)
- Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship (2009)
- And If Our God Is for Us... (2010)
- How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection (2011)
- Passion event albums
- Better Is One Day (1999)
- The Road To One Day (2000)
- One Day: Live (2000)
- Our Love is Loud (2002)
- Sacred Revolution: Songs From OneDay 03 (2003)
- Hymns: Ancient and Modern (2004)
- How Great Is Our God (2005)
- Everything Glorious (2006)
- The Best of Passion (So Far) (2006)
- Live From Passion 07 Pts. 1 & 3 (2007)
- God of This City (2008)
- Awakening (2010)
- Here for You (2011)
- Non-album songs
- "Whisper My Name" [Forefront] - Eterne: Never Be the Same (2000)
- "Salvation" - Pour Over Me - Worship Together Live 2001 (2001)
- "Give Us Clean Hands" - Pour Over Me - Worship Together Live 2001 (2001)
- "Satisfied" [Forefront] - Secrets Of The Vine: Music... A Worship Experience (2002)
- "Lord, I'm Gonna Love You" [Sparrow] - Your Love Broke Through (2002)
- "Expressions of Your Love" (duet w/ Rebecca St. James) [Sparrow] - It Takes Two: 15 Collaborations & Duets (2003)
- "Where the Streets Have No Name" [Sparrow/EMI CMG] - In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa (2004)
- "You're The One" [Disney/EMI CMG] - Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)
- "Angels We Have Heard On High" [Word] - WOW Christmas: Green (2005)
- "Mighty to Save" [Integrity] - Bonus disc included with Fruitcake and Ice Cream DVD (2008)
- "Your Heart [David] - Music Inspired by The Story (2011)
Charts
Albums - Billboard (North America)
Year Album Peak chart positions RIAA certifications Top Christian Albums Billboard 200 Albums 2004 Arriving 6 39 Platinum 2006 See the Morning 1 15 Gold 2008 Hello Love 1 9 Gold 2009 Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship 2 19 Gold 2010 And If Our God Is for Us... 1 17 Singles - Billboard (North America)
Year Title Peak chart positions Album US Heat Hot Christian Songs 2004 "Indescribable" 2 Arriving 2005 "Holy Is the Lord" 2 "How Great Is Our God" 14 1 2006 "Made to Worship" 1 See the Morning 2007 "How Can I Keep from Singing" 2 "Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)" 2 2008 "Jesus Messiah" 2 Hello Love 2009 "I Will Rise" 50 2 "Sing Sing Sing" 6 "God of This City" 28 2010 "Our God" 9 1 Passion: Awakening "I Will Follow" 14 2 And If Our God Is for Us... 2011 "I Lift My Hands" 11 1 Currently active on the charts
Music videos
- "Expressions of Your Love" (With Rebecca St. James) (2004)
- "Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)" (2007)
- "I Lift My Hands" (2011)
Awards
GMA Dove Awards
Throughout his career, Chris Tomlin has been nominated to 32 Dove Awards (6 of them, collaborative efforts) and won 17 of them.
Year Award Result 2005 Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Arriving) Won 2006 Artist of the Year Won Male Vocalist of the Year Won Song of the Year ("Holy Is the Lord") Nominated Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God") Won Worship Song of the Year ("Holy Is the Lord") Won Worship Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God") Nominated Worship Song of the Year ("Indescribable")1 Won Special Event Album of the Year ("Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia")* Won Special Event Album of the Year ("Passion: How Great Is Our God")* Nominated Special Event Album of the Year ("WOW Christmas: Green")* Nominated 2007 Artist of the Year Won Male Vocalist of the Year Won Song of the Year ("Made to Worship") Nominated Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("Made to Worship") Nominated Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (See The Morning) Won Worship Song of the Year ("Holy Is the Lord") Won Worship Song of the Year ("Made to Worship") Nominated Praise & Worship Album of the Year (See The Morning) Won Special Event Album of the Year ("Passion: Everything Glorious")* Won 2008 Artist of the Year Nominated Male Vocalist of the Year Won Song of the Year ("Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)") Nominated Worship Song of the Year ("Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)") Nominated Worship Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God") Won Special Event Album of the Year ("Music Inspired By the Motion Picture Amazing Grace")* Nominated 2009 Artist of the Year Nominated Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated Song of the Year ("Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)") Nominated Worship Song of the Year ("Jesus Messiah") Nominated Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Hello Love) Nominated Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: God of This City)* Won Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God")2 Won 2010 Song of the Year ("I Will Rise") Nominated Worship Song of the Year ("I Will Rise") Nominated Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Hello Love) Nominated Christmas Album of the Year (Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship) Nominated 2011 Artist of the Year Nominated Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated Song of the Year ("Our God") Nominated Worship Song of the Year ("Our God") Won Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: Awakening)* Won - *Denotes a collaborative effort or a song contribution to a "Various artists" album.
- 1 The song was performed by Tomlin, but written and produced by Laura Story.
- 2 The song was performed by LaRue Howard, but written by Tomlin.
Billboard Music Awards
Year Award Result[19] 2011 Top Christian Artist Won Top Christian Album (And If Our God Is for Us...) Nominated Top Christian Song ("Our God") Won Others
Tomlin was nominated for two 2009 Visionary Award: Male Entertainer of the Year and Song of the Year for "Jesus Messiah".[20]
Bibliography
- Chris Tomlin, The Way I Was Made: Words and Music for an Unusual Life, Multnomah, 2004. ISBN 978-1590523278
References
- ^ Tyler Paper, "Superstar's homecoming brings memories, praise"
- ^ , [1]
- ^ a b c d "Chris Tomlin's official Site". Christomlin.com. http://www.christomlin.com/. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- ^ "Chris Tomlin's Biography at". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=425053&cr=artist&or=ASCENDING&sf=length&kw=Chris%20Tomlin. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- ^ "CCLI Top 25 Worship Songs List". Ccli.com. http://www.ccli.com/US/WhatWeOffer/ChurchCopyrightLicenses/top%20songs.aspx. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- ^ Chris Tomlin Indescribable Tour poster[dead link]
- ^ Van Zandt Newspapers, Chris Tomlin to Kick off Salt Festival
- ^ "Frequency Worship Official Site". Fqworship.com. http://www.fqworship.com/. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- ^ "Human3rror Blog". Human3rror.com. http://human3rror.com/2008/05/11/chris-tomlin-leaving-austin-stone/. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- ^ "Modern March blog". Modernmarch.com. 2008-10-10. http://modernmarch.com/2008/10/10/giglio-and-tomlin-to-plant-church/. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- ^ "NewReleaseTuesday.com". NewReleaseTuesday.com. 2011-09-19. http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/coming_soon.php. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- ^ "Chris Tomlin's Official Twitter". Twitter.com. 2010-08-30. http://twitter.com/tomlinchris/status/22550548556. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- ^ "Chris Tomlin Marries". Parachute Music. http://www.parachutemusic.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=757:chris-tomlin-marries&catid=16:international-news&Itemid=93. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- ^ Louie Giglio's Twitter Page
- ^ Shelley Giglio's Twitter Page
- ^ Janet Reeve's Twitter Page
- ^ Heathcock, Jennifer (2011-05-04). "CBS 19". Cbs19.tv. http://www.cbs19.tv/story/14575562/chris-tomlin-honored-in-grand-saline. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- ^ "The Fish". 1039thefish.com. 2011-05-08. http://www.1039thefish.com/article.asp?id=2183021&spid=40320. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- ^ "2011 Billboard Music Awards Winners". The Inquisitr. May 22, 2011. http://www.inquisitr.com/107858/2011-billboard-music-awards-winners-full-list/. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
- ^ http://www.hallmuseum.com Christian Music Hall of Fame official site
External links
Other releases 545 · Live From Austin Music Hall · The Early Years · See the Morning: Deluxe Edition · Arriving: Platinum EditionSingles "Indescribable" · "Holy Is the Lord" · "How Great Is Our God" · "Made to Worship" · "How Can I Can From Singing?" · "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" · "Jesus Messiah" · "I Will Rise" · "Sing, Sing, Sing" · "Our God" · "I Will Follow"
Artists Paul Baloche • Chris Tomlin • Tim Hughes • Matt Redman • Darlene Zschech • Israel Houghton • Michael W. Smith • Graham Kendrick • Andy Park • Steven Curtis Chapman • Stu Garrard • Martin SmithGuest vocalists Albums Related articles Categories:- Living people
- 1972 births
- American male singers
- American singer-songwriters
- American Christians
- Christian hymnwriters
- Christian religion-related songwriters
- People from Austin, Texas
- Texas A&M University alumni
- American performers of Christian music
- Musicians from Texas
- Contemporary worship music
- Tyler Junior College alumni
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