October 6, 2009…Nashville, TN… With the release of his first Christmas album, Glory In The Highest, available nationwide today, GRAMMY ® nominee and Dove Award winner Chris Tomlin will embark on his first Christmas tour this December.
The Glory In The Highest Christmas tour will also feature Louie Giglio, Passion Conferences visionary, leader and Passion City Church pastor, along with the vocals of fellow sixstepsrecords’ artist Christy Nockels and new Sparrow Records recording artist Audrey Assad, who are both featured on the new album.
The Glory In The Highest Tour sets in motion on December 2nd in Orlando, FL making its way across the U.S through December 19th in Houston, TX. For more information on the tour please visit http://www.ChrisTomlin.com and for tour dates, please see listing below.
Tour Dates for Chris Tomlin’s “Glory In the Highest Tour”
(dates subject to change)
12/2 - Orlando, FL / Northland Church
12/4 - Birmingham, AL / Church of the Highlands
12/6 - Milwaukee, WI / Oak Creek Assembly
12/7 - Minneapolis, MN / Grace Church
12/8 - Chicago, IL / Life Changers International Church
12/10 - Washington DC / Hylton Memorial Church
12/11 - Virginia Beach, VA / Rock Church International
12/15 - Westlake Village, CA (Los Angeles) / Calvary Community Church
12/17 – Amarillo, TX/Hillside Christian Church
12/18 - Rogers (Bentonville), AR / Pinnacle Hills
12/19 - Houston, TX / Grace Church
September 1, 2009…Nashville, TN… GMA Dove award winning, GRAMMY® nominated and platinum selling artist and worship leader Chris Tomlin will release his first Christmas record, Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship with sixstepsrecords on October 6.
Produced by Ed Cash, Glory In The Highest features familiar classics including "Angels We Have Heard On High," "O, Holy Night," "Joy to the World [Unspeakable Joy]," to which Tomlin wrote a new refrain, and four new songs that will be Christmas favorites for years to come. With special guests Matt Redman, Christy Nockels and singer/songwriter, Audrey Assad, the album succeeds in its purpose of transforming familiar carols into songs of worship. Recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, TN, Tomlin filled the small room, formerly a church, with some of his closest friends, worship leaders and industry leaders including radio programmers and retailers from across the country.
“Christmas is a time when people who may not have sung a song the whole year, or their entire life, begin to sing,” says Tomlin. “There is something about a Christmas song, whether it’s sung at church or heard by carolers on the street, that gets people to join in song. They sing these timeless songs proclaiming that God has come, has entered this world and made a way for us.”
To kick off the holidays, three songs from the album will be released to radio the day after Thanksgiving: “Emmanuel [Hallowed Manger Ground],” “Joy to the World [Unspeakable Joy]” and Audrey Assad’s “Winter Snow” which features Tomlin.
Taken from the singer/songwriter’s fifth album, See the Morning (2006) the title-track, Glory In The Highest reflects the angels’ proclamation to the shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest,” announcing the birth of Christ. Today, thousands of years later, Tomlin wants to join in the celebration as people around the globe continue to proclaim the good news.
Tomlin believes it is the power of God that makes Christmas the one holiday that seems to join the whole world together. “It is the greatest story that has ever existed: the grace of God coming. And no matter where people fall on their views, everybody can come around the idea that something special has happened here, and that is worth singing about.”
Multi-platinum Christian rock band P.O.D., currently on hiatus following a lengthy world tour, will make its 2009 concert debut as part of a 14-act lineup announced today for Disney’s Night of Joy Sept. 11-12 at Walt Disney World Resort. The musically diverse event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park also will feature MercyMe, newsboys, Skillet, Flyleaf, Chris Tomlin, Kutless, Jars of Clay, Grits, Leeland, NEEDTOBREATHE, Superchick, Mandisa and Family Force 5.
Seven acts will perform each evening between 7 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. at stage locations throughout the park. Night of Joy begins after regular park operating hours, with concerts and select park attractions available exclusively for the enjoyment of event ticket holders.
P.O.D. is among four acts new to Night of Joy (along with Grits, NEEDTOBREATHE and Family Force 5), joining a legacy of 134 Christian music acts that have played Night of Joy since 1983. While a Disney “newbie,” the southern California-based band that fuses hard rock with hip-hop, reggae and Latin music is well known in music circles. They’ve been a hit on MTV, won two GMA Dove Awards, been Grammy-nominated, had two platinum-certified albums – one triple platinum – and in past summers played some of the north’s biggest Christian festivals.
But in spring/summer 2009, P.O.D. is chillin’: Vocalist Sonny Sandoval and the rest of the band are home in SoCal enjoying family life following a seven-month world tour that wound up in South America in December, making their Sept. 11 date at Disney P.O.D.’s first gig of the year.
“In the past year we’ve been blessed to play all around the globe but performing at Disney World excites me most of all,” Sandoval said.
The complete Sept. 11 Night of Joy lineup: P.O.D., newsboys, Kutless, Tomlin, NEEDTOBREATHE, Leeland and Superchick.
On Sept. 12, the Studios’ stages will present: Skillet, MercyMe, Jars of Clay, Flyleaf, Family Force 5, Grits and Mandisa.
Eight of the acts are nominated for Gospel Music Association Dove Awards in 2009, topped by Tomlin with seven nominations including artist of the year. Other nominees are Kutless, Leeland, NEEDTOBREATHE, Skillet, MercyMe, Mandisa and Grits.
For Mandisa, Night of Joy will mark her second “guest appearance” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2009. On Feb. 12, she was among an unprecedented gathering of 27 “American Idol” finalists – including the winners from each of the show’s first seven seasons – who participated in a Hollywood gala-style event to premiere “The American Idol Experience.” The new attraction immerses guests in the excitement of the hit TV show “American Idol,” with some guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios auditioning to take the spotlight onstage, while fellow guests cheer them on from the audience and vote for their favorite singer with instant results.
With an innovative ticket – exclusively for groups of 10 or more – that combines a “day” visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Night of Joy admission that evening, guests will have a chance to participate in “The American Idol Experience.” And by booking on or before Aug. 12, the Studios day/Night of Joy group ticket costs just $44.95 plus tax (beginning Aug. 13, it costs $49.95).
There’s also a two-day ticket exclusively for groups of 10 or more that combines Night of Joy admission on both evenings (Sept. 11 and Sept. 12) with two “day visits” to the guest’s choice of Walt Disney World theme parks (one per day) on Night of Joy weekend (Sept. 11-13). Booked on/before Aug. 12, that ticket costs just $89.95 plus tax (beginning Aug. 13, it costs $99.95).
Night of Joy tickets for individuals also are available. One-night tickets purchased in advance (up to the day prior to the event) are $49.95 plus tax (on event day, if available, tickets are $54.95). Two-night tickets (providing admission to Night of Joy on both Sept. 11 and 12) are $84.95 plus tax.
All the details about tickets for groups and individuals are available online at www.nightofjoy.com.
One of Christian music’s most recognizable and prolific female voices, Christy Nockels is performing for national audiences on Chris Tomlin’s “Hello Love Tour” her first solo radio single, “Life Light Up.” The song will vie for adds at Christian radio beginning this month and appear on Nockels’ sixstepsrecords debut, Life Light Up, in stores June 2.
Former member of celebrated vocal duo Watermark and perennial Female Vocalist of the Year Dove Award nominee, Oklahoma native Nockels began writing and leading worship music with her husband, Nathan, in 1995. In 1996, Passion founder, Louie Giglio, got a hold of their independent release and invited them to attend the very first Passion Conference in Austin, Texas. They’ve continued leading worship with the Passion movement the past 12 years and recently moved to Atlanta, Ga. to be in the founding family of Passion City Church.
Also recently joining the sixstepsrecords family of artists, Nockels was invited to sing vocals with friend and labelmate Chris Tomlin on his spring 2009 headlining tour, which kicked off January 22nd. The tour has already performed in front of 100,000 people in markets including Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, Newark, N.J., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Grand Rapids, Mich., and San Antonio.
“Everybody has their favorite singer, and amazingly, I’ve been able to sing with my favorite, Christy Nockels, for more than ten years now,” says labelmate Chris Tomlin. “I’m honored that she’s currently out singing with us on the ‘Hello Love Tour.’ Christy has always been part of the Passion family, and I’m excited she’s making new music with sixsteps. I can’t wait for people to hear and start singing these new songs.”
In addition to accompanying Tomlin on vocals, Nockels is debuting her first radio single, “Life Light Up,” on the tour. The single, which went for ads at Christian radio March 6, is currently available to fans for free download at http://www.christynockels.com. The single will appear on the upcoming full-length release, Life Light Up, produced by husband Nathan Nockels, in stores June 2nd.
“Christy’s heart and voice have been a prominent part of the Passion Movement since our earliest days,” says Louie Giglio, sixstepsrecords founder and director. “Out of that friendship, we could not be more excited about this new chapter in Christy’s life and our opportunity to partner with her as a solo artist. We believe her contribution to the music landscape is unique and much needed.”
For more information on Christy Nockels and to hear songs from her upcoming release, visit http://www.christynockels.com/.
NASHVILLE, TN....2/4/09...Three-time GRAMMY® nominee Chris Tomlin recently kicked off his “HELLO LOVE TOUR” in a big way, performing to over 40,000 fans in just the first 10 dates alone. Also featuring Israel Houghton and New Breed, markets including Baltimore, Newark, Hershey, Grand Rapids and Philadelphia have all reported capacity and/or sold out crowds.
"The Hello Love tour is more than just a show,” remarked Mike Alley, Director of Live Events for WRBS, and the promoter of the sold out Baltimore show. “It is more than just a praise concert. It is a Worship Experience. To look out over almost 8,000 people of every age, color and race singing and sharing together...I believe I glimpsed a small part of what Heaven will look like."
On the heels of his seventh No. 1 single, a new one launching this week ("I Will Rise"), and releasing HELLO LOVE, which took the No. 9 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart and was the highest charting iTunes® debut ever for Christian album, Tomlin launched the tour on January 22nd in Hershey, PA. The tour will hit over 36 cities across the U.S. through April 9th, including Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, AZ, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and more.
The HELLO LOVE TOUR is also supporting onemillioncan.com, a cause Tomlin is very passionate about, and which says every single one of us really can make a difference. Proof has came from PASSION events where over one million dollars has been raised to dig wells for Kenyan villages, provide life-altering surgeries for children in Afghanistan, and build homes for former child soldiers in Uganda. Throughout the HELLO LOVE TOUR, stories are being be shared about how the organization is continuously impacting lives to help people realize that they can do a lot with just a little.
With the Grand Rapids Press giving the show a 3.5 out of 4 star rating, the audience’s response to Tomlin was recently compared with that of one of the biggest pop acts of the moment by The New York Times, while the Cedar Rapids Gazette remarked how “It’s so easy to see why worship leaders and congregations embrace Tomlin’s music — every song stirs the soul and compels you to sing along.”
The artist Time Magazine calls “the most often sung artist anywhere” is currently performing new songs and past favorites, and while featuring Israel Houghton and New Breed, has also brought Christy Nockels out to be a part of the tour to sing vocals with Tomlin and perform her new single, "Life Light Up" which goes for radio adds on March 6th. One of the most recognizable and noted female voices in Christian music, Nockels has been leading as part of the Passion movement more than ten years. The most recent artist to join the sixstepsrecords' family, her upcoming full-length label debut releases June 2, 2009.
With six records, seven No. 1 radio singles, three GRAMMY nominations, 14 Dove Awards, one platinum and one gold album to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists in contemporary Christian music. Referred to by Time Magazine as “the most often sung artist anywhere,” Tomlin additionally has 10 Top 100 CCLI songs with 6 in the top 25. ASCAP’s 2007 Songwriter of the Year, Tomlin’s “How Great Is Our God” was his first No. 1 on the CCLI Top 25. The award-winning song moved to No. 1 after becoming one of the fasting rising modern day hymns in CCLI chart history. Tomlin continues to tour many dates every year and plays regularly at Passion Conferences in the States and worldwide.
NASHVILLE, TN....10/1/08...On the heels of his
seventh No. 1 single, releasing his chart-breaking project HELLO LOVE,
which took the No. 9 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart and was the
highest charting iTunes® debut ever for any album in the Christian industry,
Chris Tomlin has announced his ‘HELLO LOVE TOUR,’ featuring Israel Houghton and
New Breed.
“For me, it’s always
been about the relationship between music and the people,” explains Tomlin
about live shows. “What could be better than a tour where you get to
travel from city to city leading people to experience God? It is a
privilege and honor doing it with Israel Houghton. Israel and his band
are incredible musicians who have a passion for worship. In fact, when my
band heard they would tour with us, they said, ‘We need to practice!’ We hope
this tour unites the Church in worship like never before.”
The nationwide tour,
which kicks off on January 22 in Hershey, PA, will hit over 35 cities across
the U.S. through April 9th, including Baltimore, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, AZ,
Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Newark and more. Tickets for shows through
February 6th go on sale today, October 1st, with the remaining cities available
as of December 1st. To purchase tickets online, http://www.christomlin.com.
“On behalf of myself
and the New Breed team, we are beyond excited about being a part of this tour,”
says Houghton. “From the moment we heard about it we knew we wanted to serve
alongside such a gifted worship team as Chris Tomlin and his crew. He has
successfully impacted the Church and the world through his songs and worship,
and it's an honor to join him for the ‘HELLO LOVE TOUR’ in 2009.”
The artist Time
Magazine calls “the most often sung artist anywhere” is currently
performing new songs and past favorites on Passion’s first world tour, recently
returning from South Africa, and scheduled to hit Mexico City, Vancouver,
Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney this fall. For more PASSION World Tour
details please go to www.ChrisTomlin.com.
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) June 18, 2008 –Reigning three-time Gospel Music Association
Male Vocalist of the Year, best-selling worship leader Chris Tomlin releases
his fifth studio project, Hello Love, on Sept. 2. The album’s debut
single “Jesus Messiah,” released June 13, was the most added song on Christian
Adult Contemporary, Christian Hit Radio, and Christian Inspirational radio this
week, receiving 97 total adds, according to Radio & Records.
Following his 2006 RIAA
Gold-certified record, See the Morning, Tomlin’s latest project
communicates what he describes as the “need to introduce ourselves to love
again.” Produced by Ed Cash (Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, Bebo Norman), Hello
Love endeavors to give voice to the Church to worship their Creator. This
is evident throughout the album on songs like “Love,” “God of This City,”
“Sing, Sing, Sing,” and “I Will Rise” to name a few.
Tomlin explains, “With each
new record, I continue to strive to create songs that will help people voice
their worship to God. Worship is a massive word with a very broad scope, but in
the end, it is very simple. It is love! It’s our response in love to our great
God who loved us first.”
Among those new songs already
connecting with worshippers nationwide, and across the globe as Tomlin is
currently performing them on Passion’s first world tour, is debut radio single
“Jesus Messiah.” Released last Friday, “Jesus Messiah” garnered 97 adds across
three formats this week, marking the biggest ever add date for a single in
Christian Radio history. Early response from radio stations suggests the
song will be long-lived:
“Chris
Tomlin strikes gold again in his beautiful ballad ‘Jesus Messiah.’ Chris seems
unable to pen a bad or even mediocre song. It is simply always spectacular.” –Jon Rivers, music director KLOVE Radio Network
“Chris never disappoints. ‘Jesus Messiah’ is another example of
his deep songs that are easy to sing and still keep the focus on the One who
deserves the glory.” –Jim Beeler, music director, KSBJ-FM
“I knew Chris Tomlin’s new song, ‘Jesus Messiah’ was going to be an ‘add,’ but I’ve run out of
superlatives. It surpassed all our expectations; wow!” –Scott Valentine, program director,
KCMS-FM
“Tomlin
does it again! It’s honest. It’s sincere. It connects. It’s worship not
just for Sundays, but for life lived every day. It’s here, and will be for
years to come!” –Chris Lemke, GM/PD WCSG-FM
“I am
not sure how Chris keeps doing it, but once again we have a song that is going
to be huge! This one is easily on the short list for song of the year already.”
–Jeff Cruz, assistant program director, WPOZ-FM
Grant
Hubbard, vice president of national promotion for EMI CMG Label Group adds,
“Chris Tomlin has once again delivered a song that hits the bull’s eye of
radio’s target. 97 out-of-the-box adds shows the belief and trust that
radio has for Chris.”
President and CEO of EMI CMG,
Bill Hearn also comments, “Chris Tomlin’s songs continue to have a profound
effect on culture through the church worldwide and radio’s overwhelming
response to ‘Jesus Messiah’ is a powerful indication that this new song will
also have tremendous impact. All of us at EMI CMG and sixstepsrecords are
honored to play a role in this history making event and look forward to what we
believe will be one of the biggest albums of the year in all of music.”
Tomlin too is equally excited
about the song’s reception, commenting, “This is crazy! I can’t quite believe
these guys at EMI radio and the phenomenal job they have done to get ‘Jesus
Messiah’ to radio in such a strong and incredible way. I am grateful beyond
words and pray this song resonates with folks as they celebrate Jesus the
Messiah - the One who has come for us.”
The song is having an impact
online as well, ranking No. 1 today on the Christian Top Chart at iTunes. More
information on Chris Tomlin and Hello Love can be found at
christomlin.com and the Passion Conferences home site, 268generation.com.
With six records, six No. 1
radio singles, two GRAMMY nominations, 14 Dove Awards, and two gold albums to
his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists
in contemporary Christian music. Referred to by Time Magazine as “the
most often sung artist anywhere,” Tomlin additionally has 10 Top 100 CCLI songs
with 4 in the top 25. ASCAP’s 2007 Songwriter of the Year, Tomlin’s “How Great
Is Our God” was his first No. 1 on the CCLI Top 25.
The award-winning song moved to No. 1 after becoming one of the fasting rising
modern day hymns in CCLI chart history. Tomlin continues to tour many
dates every year and plays regularly at Passion Conferences in the States and
worldwide.
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Jan. 22, 2008 –ASCAP Songwriter of the Year and the Gospel Music Association’s reigning Artist of the Year, sixstepsrecords worship leader Chris Tomlin begins 2008 on top with his current project, See The Morning, certified Gold this month by the Recording Industry Association of America. His second consecutive Gold record, See the Morning’s third radio single “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone),” also became the album’s third consecutive No. 1 hit.
With career sales exceeding more than two million units, six No. 1 radio singles, 4 Top 25 CCLI songs, two GRAMMY nominations, 12 Dove Awards, and now two Gold albums to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known artist/worship leaders in the world. This month he celebrates the success of his fastest-selling album to date, See the Morning, released Sept. 26, 2006. The record ended 2007 at No. 3 on SoundScan®’s Top Selling Christian/Gospel Albums at Christian Retail year-end chart and was the No. 8 Top Selling Christian/Gospel Album overall. Only weeks later, the CD was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
“It’s no small thing to see this kind of success in a shrinking market, further evidence of God’s favor on Chris’ life and the songs He is birthing through him,” says Louie Giglio, sixstepsrecords founder and director. “The strength of See The Morning, especially on the heels of what we continue to see with Arriving, is incredibly humbling and gratifying to everyone who has worked so hard to help connect Chris’ music with worshipers around the globe.”
“The sales success we have witnessed for See The Morning is something to be grateful for and celebrated,” says President of EMI CMG Label Group, Peter York. “This is yet another milestone in Chris’s ministry that proves his songs continue to impact the global Church. We are truly thankful for our continued role in supporting his music and ministry.”
The project has been widely praised by such noteworthy publications as Time, Billboard, CCM, All Music Guide, Worship Leader and more. The album garnered Tomlin his first and second GRAMMY nominations for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance for “Made to Worship.” The record also debuted at No. 1 on the SoundScan® compiled Christian retail charts, landed Tomlin his highest Billboard Top 200 position ever at No. 15 with 47,420 units sold in its first week, and was named iTunes’ 2006 “Best Christian Album” of the year. See the Morning additionally boasts accolades including a 2007 Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year, Praise and Worship Album of the Year and Tomlin’s first two GRAMMY nominations for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance. The record has also yielded the No. 1 Radio & Records Christian Adult Contemporary and Inspirational single “Made To Worship” as well as “How Can I Keep From Singing,” No. 1 on Radio & Records Adult Contemporary Indicator chart.
But the highest-selling single off See the Morning is its latest No. 1 radio song on both the Radio & Records Christian AC Monitored chart and the Mediabase Christian AC chart, “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone).” Tomlin’s version of the traditional hymn includes a new refrain that he wrote with Louie Giglio to be highlighted in last year’s movie Amazing Grace.
Tomlin explains, “When I started doing some research on the most famous hymn, ‘Amazing Grace,” I was surprised that the last verse, ‘When we’ve been there 10,000 years bright shining as the sun,’ was written about 100 years after the original poem. The original last verse by John Newton, ‘The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,’ was this incredible verse that I’d never seen in a hymn book. It made me start thinking about the author, John Newton and where he’d come from. He went from being the former Captain of slave ships to the author of a poem about the grace and salvation of God in his own life. What a great reminder, we’re all made slaves to sin in our life, but God has set us free and His grace is enough for all of us. He has ransomed us from our slavery.”
ASCAP Songwriter of the Year and the Gospel Music Association’s Artist of the Year, worship leader Chris Tomlin extends his highly successful “How Great Is Our God Tour” to include an additional 14 dates this fall. Speaker and author Louie Giglio again joins Tomlin, who will introduce a special tour edition of See The Morning with bonus material on Oct. 23.
Ranked among Pollstar’s Top 100 Worldwide Tours, according to a 2007 mid-year report, the “How Great Is Our God Tour” was one of the hottest tickets last spring, selling out 20 events. Back by popular demand, Tomlin and Giglio reconvened earlier this month for another 14 cities through November. Again, the tour will assemble thousands nationwide, inviting them to experience the greatness of God through its music and message.
Tomlin reflects on this opportunity, “What a joy to be able to tour again this fall with a great friend and gifted speaker, Louie Giglio. I feel like what God has given us the opportunity to do together is a pretty special thing, and we go with huge expectations and excitement. We long to see God do some unbelievable things in our lives and the people who attend this tour.”
As a special offering to fans of the “How Great Is Our God Tour” Tomlin will release a bonus tour edition of his 2006 project, See The Morning, Oct. 23. In addition to the original album, this new package will include a DVD featuring live music videos recorded on tour last spring of “Let God Arise,” “How Can I Keep From Singing,” “How Great Is Our God” as well as Tomlin’s current radio single “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone),” presently at No. 2 on Radio & Records Christian Adult Contemporary Monitored chart. It will also incorporate Giglio’s “How Great Is Our God” tour message, which reminds fellow worshipers that the same God who spoke the universe into existence created each of us and knows our circumstances. The talk reminds listeners that although their life’s journey may be complicated and painful, God promises to preserve and restore us.
With five records, five No. 1 radio singles, two GRAMMY nominations, 12 Dove Awards, and one gold album to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists in contemporary Christian music. Referred to by Time Magazine as “the most often sung artist anywhere,” Tomlin has 17 Top 500 CCLI songs with five in the top 25. ASCAP’s 2007 Songwriter of the Year, Tomlin’s “How Great Is Our God” was his first No. 1 on the CCLI Top 25. The award- winning song moved to No. 1 after becoming one of the fasting rising modern day hymns in CCLI chart history. Tomlin is also the reigning Gospel Music Association Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year two years running. In 2007 he received nine Dove Award nominations to lead the field of artist nominees for the second consecutive year and was the most honored recipient with six awards.
In addition to serving at Austin Stone Community Church (Austin, TX), the church he co-founded, Tomlin most recently released, See The Morning, in 2006. The project has been widely praised by such noteworthy publications as Billboard, CCM, All Music Guide, Worship Leader and more. The album garnered Tomlin his first and second GRAMMY nominations for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance for “Made to Worship.” The record also debuted at No. 1 on the SoundScan® compiled Christian retail charts, landed Tomlin his highest Billboard Top 200 position ever at No. 15 with 47,420 units sold in its first week, and was named iTunes’ 2006 “Best Christian Album” of the year. He continues to tour many dates every year and plays regularly at Passion Conferences in the States and worldwide. More information on Chris Tomlin can be found at christomlin.com and the Passion Conferences home site, 268generation.com.
About sixstepsrecords:
Founded in 2000 by Louie Giglio, sixstepsrecords (
www.sixstepsrecords.com) is a worship label and a division of Passion Conferences. sixstepsrecords’ artists include Chris Tomlin (See the Morning), David Crowder Band (Remedy), Charlie Hall (Flying Into Daybreak), Matt Redman (Beautiful News), and Passion (The Best of Passion). The label partners with Sparrow Records/EMI CMG Label Group for A&R, marketing, sales and distribution operations.
“How Great Is Our God Tour” Itinerary
10/06 Nashville, TN Lipscomb University, Allen Arena
10/30 Tucson, AZ University of Arizona, Centennial Hall
11/01 San Diego, CA The Rock Church San Diego
11/02 Santa Barbara, CA Arlington Theatre
11/03 Fresno, CA Warnors Theatre
11/04 Sacramento, CA Memorial Auditorium
11/05 Salt Lake City, UT Abravanel Hall
11/08 Highlands Ranch (Denver), CO Cherry Hills Community Church
11/09 Council Bluffs (Omaha), IA Mid America Center
11/10 Fayetteville, AR University of Arkansas
11/11 Evansville, IN The Centre
11/13 Charlotte, NC Cricket Arena
11/15 Johnson City, TN Freedom Hall Civic Center
Deluxe CD/DVD editions of two current top-selling Christian music releases—Chris Tomlin’s SEE THE MORNING and tobyMac’s PORTABLE SOUNDS—will hit stores nationwide beginning October 23 each with a remarkably low list price of just $14.99.
SEE THE MORNING follows Tomlin’s gold-certified ARRIVING project and features the hits “Made to Worship,” “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone),” and “How Can I Keep from Singing?” The deluxe edition adds a DVD featuring four live performances from the spring 2007 How Great Is Our God Tour (“How Great Is Our God,” “Let God Arise,” “Amazing Grace,” “How Can I Keep from Singing?”) plus an inspiring talk from Passion worship conference founder Louie Giglio.
Upon its original release in September of last year, Amazon.com wrote, “So how does Chris Tomlin follow up his 2006 Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year Dove Awards? Easy . . . he goes out and releases his best work to date with SEE THE MORNING, a superb collection of worship-flavored tracks.”
Tomlin resumes the How Great Is Our God Tour next month. See concert dates here.
PORTABLE SOUNDS follows tobyMac’s gold-certified albums MOMENTUM and WELCOME TO DIVERSE CITY and features the hits “Made to Love,” “Lose My Soul” (featuring Mandisa and Kirk Franklin), “I’m For You,” and “Boomin’.” The deluxe edition adds an hour-long DVD featuring the “Boomin’” music video, live studio performances, and much more.
Upon its original release in February of this year, Amazon.com called tobyMac’s PORTABLE SOUNDS “his most impressive solo effort to date. The musician-producer sounds more confident and comfortable than ever before, deftly mixing elements of rap, rock, pop, R&B, funk, and even a little reggae into a deliciously creative entrée.”
tobyMac kicks off his Portable Sounds Tour on September 20 with special guests BarlowGirl and Thousand Foot Krutch. See and share the concert e-card at
tobyMac.com.
Passion Conferences and sixstepsrecords will present a limited-run, 12-city extension of the How Great Is Our God Tour this fall with award-winning worship songwriter Chris Tomlin and noted author/speaker Louie Giglio. Pre-sale front section tickets are now available exclusively via
ChrisTomlin.com.
The original 32-city tour held in January through March of this year included numerous sellouts and great reviews and fueled a public desire for more events. The fall leg of the How Great Is Our God Tour opens October 6 in Nashville, Tennessee, and is currently scheduled to conclude November 15.
Last December, Tomlin said, “‘How Great Is Our God’ is not just a title of a song, or a name for a tour. Instead the simple phrase ‘sing with me and all will see’ is the heartbeat of the tour—every night, a room filled with people seeing and singing of the greatness of God.”
In March, PARADE called Chris Tomlin the most popular artist in religious music because “he wrote or co-wrote three of the 10 most popular songs sung in churches each week, including ‘How Great Is Our God’—which puts his reach beyond that of most rock stars.” In April, Tomlin won the Gospel Music Association’s Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year awards for the second consecutive year in addition to three other honors. However, his songs such as “Made to Worship” and “Famous One” make it clear that Tomlin’s songs put the spotlight and glory upon God.
Louie Giglio, whose spoken words will complement Tomlin’s music each night on the How Great Is Our God Tour, is the founder of the Passion worship movement. Learn more at
268generation.com.
Passion Conferences and sixstepsrecords will present a limited-run, 12-city extension of the How Great Is Our God Tour this fall with award-winning worship songwriter Chris Tomlin and noted author/speaker Louie Giglio. Pre-sale front section tickets are now available exclusively via ChrisTomlin.com.
The original 32-city tour held in January through March of this year included numerous sellouts and great reviews and fueled a public desire for more events. The fall leg of the How Great Is Our God Tour opens October 6 in Nashville, Tennessee, and is currently scheduled to conclude November 15.
Last December, Tomlin said, “‘How Great Is Our God’ is not just a title of a song, or a name for a tour. Instead the simple phrase ‘sing with me and all will see’ is the heartbeat of the tour—every night, a room filled with people seeing and singing of the greatness of God.”
In March, PARADE called Chris Tomlin the most popular artist in religious music because “he wrote or co-wrote three of the 10 most popular songs sung in churches each week, including ‘How Great Is Our God’—which puts his reach beyond that of most rock stars.” In April, Tomlin won the Gospel Music Association’s Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year awards for the second consecutive year in addition to three other honors. However, his songs such as “Made to Worship” and “Famous One” make it clear that Tomlin’s songs put the spotlight and glory upon God.
Louie Giglio, whose spoken words will complement Tomlin’s music each night on the How Great Is Our God Tour, is the founder of the Passion worship movement. Learn more at 268generation.com.
“Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” —Psalm 30:5
We tremble under the weight of news reports. We shudder as cultural pillars appear to be crumbling. Yet God’s commitment to all life remains unshakable. Rain washes dry roots. The sick experience healing. This is life’s resurrection by the hand of God: dawn always breaks into morning over humanity’s dark night of the soul.
Inspired by the psalmist who describes God’s ongoing work as provoking new beginnings, award-winning singer/songwriter Chris Tomlin releases 'See the Morning'. After 15 years of writing songs for the church, Tomlin’s new 11-track album shows joy remains possible even in the messiness of life. Praise to God is not just for life’s prosperous seasons—it’s a constant way of living with hope.
“See the morning expresses the idea that God’s as faithful as the rising sun,” explains Tomlin. “Though your life may be shifting all around you and it may be dark, there is hope.” Chris cites empowering biblical stories from psalms, exodus, lamentations, joshua, isaiah and some accounts of Jesus’ miracles in the gospels to draw a resolute conclusion. “From these stories I’m inspired to notice morning as an incredible symbol in scripture. Morning is brand new. It’s fresh. It’s new life. That while the darkness came and was for a while, light is breaking through into morning.”
“That’s the hope i want to help people grab with this album,” Tomlin says.
See the morning started to emerge following the far-reaching success of tomlin’s 2004 sixstepsrecords/ sparrow records release arriving. That record delivered a call to the christian church to pursue life-renewing worship, and it indelibly reinforced Tomlin’s distinction as the voice of today’s modern expression of christian worship. The songs breathed vitality into both corporate and devotional worship music, creating a ripple effect like nothing Tomlin had previously experienced.
'Arriving' gave Tomlin his first riaa-certified gold record and made radio history by producing three no. 1 singles and three songs in the r&r ac top 30 simultaneously (two of those in the top 10). Tomlin led all artists this spring with 10 gma music award nominations, capping off the christian music industry’s april ceremony with five statuettes, including standout awards for artist of the year, male vocalist of the year and song of the year. The recording also caused the church to sing, with “how great is our god” and “holy is the lord” landing in the top 15 of the most sung ccli songs, and bringing his total ccli charting songs to 17 being sung by tens of millions of worshipers around the world. This season also successfully perpetuated Tomlin’s celebrated participation in the popular, college-focused passion conferences.
Grateful for these opportunities, the accolades also bring Tomlin the added weight of responsibility and concern for the human condition.
“The more I live, the more I see that life is not fair,” the Austin, Texas-based musician says. “Around the world, I’ve been exposed to much poverty and sickness. I hear about what people are going through, and I realize that some are not as blessed as others. The world is full of discouragement. I think God wants to give us all great compassion for those...so I want to use my voice to write songs that serve as a reminder to people that Jesus’ life provides hope for us all. Not just in the good times, but in the bad times, as well.”
“Hebrews says, ‘therefore through Jesus let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that praise His name and do not forget to do good and serve others, for which such things god is pleased,’” Tomlin continues. “I hope this music serves others. With worship music there is a revival. The spirit of God grows in people’s hearts. To worship Him is not only to sing our hearts out to God but also to love and serve people and to meet people where they are. Hopefully I can give voice to some songs that help people do just that.”
Combining the artist’s strong signature hooks and accessible choruses with the production expertise of the award-winning Ed Cash, who also produced 'Arriving', 'See the Morning' is imbued with a community spirit, as evidenced by the number of contributing songwriters. Tomlin is joined by Cash and Matt Redman in the opening track that anchors the theme of hope, “how can i keep from singing,” a rendition of the 1860 hymn by Robert Lowry:
how can i keep from singing your praise/ how can i ever say enough/ how amazing is your love
how can i keep from shouting your name/ i know i am loved by the king/ and it makes my heart want to sing
Hope also resonates vigorously on “rejoice” (the track from which the album’s title is drawn), as well as on the beautiful first radio single “made to worship.” Producer Cash, who encouraged Tomlin to record what became his first no. 1 radio hit, “indescribable,” brought Tomlin the chorus that he and stephen sharp had written for “made to worship.” Tomlin finished writing the song and audiences nationwide are responding, as it has already become a national radio hit.
The album further features the high-energy “let god arise” as a rowdy, rambunctious track inspired by psalm 68:1 and affirming that death does not get the final word over humanity.
“You cannot play something titled ‘let god arise’ as a ballad at 75 beats a minute,” Tomlin laughs. “We, as a band [Jesse Reeves (bass), Daniel Carson (guitar) and Travis Nunn (drums)] love to play loud and get people going. This is our rock and roll song.” Often testing new songs like that one on the road and in churches before deciding to record them, “everlasting god,” written by Brenton Brown and inspired by isaiah 40, is already a staple chorus at Austin Stone Community Church, which Tomlin co-founded in 2002.
Closing the album is “amazing grace (my chains are gone),” a new rendition of the classic hymn. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to mess with the most recognized hymn ever,” Tomlin admits. But after researching the song, he discovered the famous John Newton hymn has withstood previous editors. Reviving an original verse that had lost popular favor over the years, combined with a new chorus co-written with passion founder/director Louie Giglio, Tomlin rekindles a church standard for a new generation of worshipers.
“my chains are gone/ i’ve been set free/my god, my savior has ransomed me
and like a flood his mercy reigns/ unending love, amazing grace!”
As millions of people around the world are already singing his songs every week at collegiate gatherings, worship services, concert settings and as they sing along with radio, perhaps like the famous hymn from Newton, the songs of Chris Tomlin will live on in the hearts and through the voices of worshipers for generations.
“I want to write songs that last more than a few weeks on the radio,” Tomlin reflects. “I feel like God’s given me a gift to write songs for the average person that help them communicate their feelings to God. And for 'See the Morning', and really all my songs, I hope they will be ones that bring people closer to God, so much so that they are sung long after I’m gone.”
Chris Tomlin, winner of five 2006 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards including Artist of the Year Song of the Year, and Male Vocalist, is back in the studio with his band working on a follow-up to the gold-selling 2004 album, ARRIVING. The set is due in stores this September.
Tomlin is asking fans to pray for him and the band throughout the process—that the music they make will be pleasing to God and encouraging to others. For updates, check out Tomlin’s in-studio blog.
In a recent post, Tomlin wrote, “As many of you know, I have been honored with several awards as of late. I am humbled beyond belief. I heard these words recently from one of Keith Green’s best loved songs. They seemed timely, so I though I would pass them on: ‘I want to take Your word and shine it all around/first help me just to live it Lord/and when I’m doing well help me to never seek a crown/for my reward is giving glory to You.’”
For complete Chris Tomlin information, including summer festival concert dates, ringtones, and more, visit www.ChrisTomlin.com.
The editors of ChristianMusicToday.com completed their extensive recap of 2005 this week, naming Switchfoot and Chris Tomlin as Best Band and Best Solo Artist respectively.
About Switchfoot, the site writes: "After continuing to ride the success of 2003's The Beautiful Letdown, the band released its follow-up, Nothing Is Sound (our choice for best Christian album of 2005), to strong sales and then took the new music out on tour. Based on the quality of their music, stage design, and live performance, Switchfoot had clearly graduated into a first-class rock act that can compete with other heavy hitters in the mainstream, and remain one of Christian music's strongest ambassadors to the world."
Switchfoot will soon launch the second leg of its Nothing Is Sound tour.
In the solo artist category, "It only seemed fair to finally give Chris Tomlin his due . . . as someone who understands how to match a praise-filled lyric with an unforgettable melody or hook. His 2004 release, Arriving, gained even more momentum in the past year, causing at least four new songs to catch on with contemporary worship services. It's his rare balance of worship and artistry that's ensured him as a valuable resource to the church for years to come."
Chris Tomlin begins a new season of the Indescribable Tour with Passion founder Louie Giglio and artist-worshiper Matt Redman this month.
Last year proved to be a breakthrough experience for artist-worshiper, sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records’ Chris Tomlin. Capping the year with his first RIAA Certified Gold sales award for his current, critically acclaimed studio album, Arriving, 2005 also brought Tomlin a series of firsts at radio, retail and on tour.
Released Sept. 21, 2004, Arriving immediately became a top-seller, debuting at No. 39 on the Billboard Top 200. The album hit its stride six months into its release when it re-entered the Billboard Top 200 and landed at No. 1 for the first time on SoundScan's Top Christian Albums retail chart in March 2005. As momentum continued to build for Tomlin, he received his first GMA Music Award for Praise & Worship Album of the Year in April for Arriving, which was also voted best album in the 2005 Christian Retailing Retailers Choice Awards’ Music category in July. Additionally, the album landed among the top five “Best Inspirational Albums of 2005” at iTunes, was named a “best of ‘05” on Napster’s home page and marks the first Gold release for sixstepsrecords.
“All of us at ‘sixsteps’ have been humbled by the favor that seems to be resting on Arriving,” says Louie Giglio, sixstepsrecords founder and popular speaker/author. “We feel like the songs are God's gift for this generation of worshipers, entrusted to us to build up His church. Chris has carried them exceptionally well and God has used both album sales and radio airplay to exponentially broaden their reach to people around the globe.”
“It has been an honor for EMI CMG to partner with sixstepsrecords in the artist development story of Chris Tomlin that has unfolded over the last three years,” says Peter York, EMI CMG Label Group president. “Chris is one of the most prolific and engaging songwriters of the modern church. His music has impacted, encouraged and inspired believers around the world. We look to the future with great anticipation.”
Finding success at retail, Tomlin also became R&R’s most played artist at AC Christian Radio in 2005, while simultaneously capturing No. 1 at Inspirational radio on the year-end charts. Once relegated to Sunday morning radio shows, Tomlin’s “Indescribable,” “Holy Is The Lord,” and “The Way I Was Made” have sparked unprecedented airplay. Tomlin’s fourth single from Arriving, "How Great Is Our God," released to radio Dec. 16 and has already garnered a Worship Leader Praise Award for “Best Praise and Worship Song.”
Wally Decker of Winston Salem's WBFJ-FM remarks on Tomlin's radio success and the depth of the songs on Arriving: “The chart figures speak for themselves, then you realize that perhaps the best song from Arriving is only now making its way to radio, ‘How Great Is Our God.’ The songs we played in 2005 will become the hymns of our generation and the next.”
Tomlin’s songs also translate well live. Leading worship on the All Things New Tour with Steven Curtis Chapman and Casting Crowns that wrapped up last spring, followed by leading music fans during the summer festivals, and recently finishing the fall leg of his Indescribable Tour that saw 17 sold out nights, Chris Tomlin’s touring in 2005 put him in front of well over 500,000 people. After leading 18,000 during the Passion 06 collegiate gathering in Nashville last week, Tomlin continues this month on the Indescribable Tour with Giglio and fellow artist-worshiper and label mate, Matt Redman.
“The Indescribable Tour was just that, indescribable...a powerful night of worship,” says promoter Cliff Reiser, Rush Concerts president. “From the beginning of the concert to the end, it was a truly audience participation event. Chris and Matt both invigorated the audience with all those songs we all sing on Sunday, led by the artists who wrote them. An absolutely mesmerizing presentation by Louie Giglio made the night even more special. Promoter's do not usually see shows...I took the time to see this one. It was a great example of what contemporary Christian concerts can be and the impact they can have.”
The live Chris Tomlin tour experience was captured for the first time this year before a packed Austin Music Hall. The already critically acclaimed recording, Live From Austin Music Hall, released Dec. 26. The album consists of such CCLI chart favorites as “Forever,” “Famous One,” and “Kindness,” as well as a brand new live version of “Indescribable” with Tomlin playing piano.
Tomlin is also featured on the best sellers, Music Inspired By: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, which released Sept. 27, and Passion: How Great Is Our God, which released April 12.
Featured this month for the first time on the cover of CCM magazine, Tomlin is known for writing anthems sung by millions of people each week in churches around the world and has 15 Top 500 CCLI charting songs. Rooted in Passion’s collegiate movement that the New York Times calls “Christian Music’s New Wave,” Tomlin released his first book in February, The Way I Was Made. Additional Chris Tomlin information, tour dates, etc., can be found at www.christomlin.com, as well as at www.sixstepsrecords.com and www.emicmg.com.
Chris Tomlin's new concert disc, Live From Austin Music Hall, has just released to excellent reviews. Media comments suggest the onstage setting brings out the very best in this award-winning artist-worshiper's exceptional song catalog.
CrimsonLight.com says Live From Austin Music Hall is "a wonderful collection representative of Tomlin's signature worship songs . . . he lead(s) us into worship with great talent and great humility . . . (serving) to inspire intimate moments of worship that virtually transport one to stand in awe before the throne of God."
ChristianMusicToday.com declares: "Tomlin caps off his biggest year yet on a high note with the diverse musical stylings of Live From Austin Music Hall . . . Showing a knack for reinvention, Tomlin gives the familiar strains of ‘Forever' a welcome makeover with a few electronic touches . . . And a live CD wouldn't be complete without a guest appearance . . . fellow Texan David Crowder makes a cameo on ‘This Is Our God,' a highlight with a chorus catchy enough to take residence in your cranium for days."
JesusFreakHideout.com notes "the crowd is eagerly into it, worshiping with a fervor that rivals even the band onstage . . . songs like ‘Indescribable' were really meant to be sung by people everywhere, and it's the added dimension of the audience's voices that truly enhances this worship experience."
Live From Austin Music Hall is a specially priced eight-song concert disc featuring the Chris Tomlin worship hits "Indescribable," "Forever," "Kindness," "Unchanging," "On Our Side," "This Is Our God," "How Great Is Our God," and "Famous One." For complete details, just click over to ChrisTomlin.com.
