Renowned modern worship songwriter/artist Brenton Brown releases his fourth full-length album, God My Rock, Oct. 2 from Integrity, with distribution in North America by Provident Music Distribution. Marking Brenton’s first live solo record and first live worship project since the Vineyard UK’s release of Come Now is the Time and its all time best-selling album Hungry, God My Rock features six brand new songs and new versions of many of Brenton’s worship classics all recorded with his band, The Worship Republic (Daniel Ornellas - bass, Ben Showalter - drums and Scotty Murray - guitar), in Dayton, OH in front of 4,000 energized high school age students at a Dare2Share event.
The songs on God My Rock came to life at this youth evangelistic mobilization organization event earlier this year and follows a two-year touring stint for Brenton and his band that started at Hume Lake Christian camps. “The pace and energy of this album,” says Brenton, “comes straight from so many of these amazing times of worship we’ve spent with middle and high schoolers over the last two years.”
Leading up to the recording, longtime friends Brenton and Paul Baloche teamed up to pen the anthemic first radio single and title track from the album. Taking a queue from the famous hymn of old, “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” the modern day expression in “God My Rock” points to the unshakeable truth of God’s reliability.
In addition to the title track, many of the new songs on God My Rock stem from local church roots, reflecting Brenton’s relationships and partners in ministry. “I will never forget the lady who ran to the front even before Will had finished speaking, asking, ‘Is this real? Is this happening? Can I get saved right now?’” remembers Brenton sitting backstage getting ready for Will Graham to make his appeal at a Billy Graham Evangelistic Association event. “It was so moving and unforgettable. I was so grateful when the lines ‘Jesus take all of me, I run to You, I run to You’ came to me, in a small way capturing the specialness of those nights.”
An ‘altar call’ song (“Jesus Take All Of Me (Just As I Am”)) was created out of that moment, while a ‘communion song’ was written at a worship leader’s retreat with Saddleback’s Travis Ryan (“Jesus My Victory”), a ‘doxology’ was written at a Baptist youth camp an hour outside of Lubbock, TX (“Send Us Out”), and a ‘pre-sermon’ song was written with Harvest Bible Chapel worship leader Andi Rozier (“Word of God”).
Along with these compelling new songs, God My Rock features favorites like “Hosanna,” “Glorious,” and “Humble King,” as well as a newly crafted “Everlasting God” that merges with John Mark McMillan’s “How He Loves.” The album also includes newly recorded and previously unreleased tracks “I Saw the Light” and the popular Americana version of “Like the Angels.”
The full God My Rock track listing with respective songwriters follows:
1) Our God Is Mercy – (Brenton Brown, Eoghan Heaslip, Nick Herbert)
2) Joyful – (Brenton Brown, Jason Ingram)
3) God My Rock – (Brenton Brown, Paul Baloche)
4) Jesus Take All of Me (Just As I Am) – (Brenton Brown, Charlotte Elliott)
5) Send Us Out – (Brenton Brown)
6) Wonderful Redeemer – (Brenton Brown)
7) Jesus My Victory (Communion Song) – (Brenton Brown, Travis Ryan, Brandon Collins)
8) Hosanna (Praise Is Rising) – (Brenton Brown, Paul Baloche)
9) Word of God – (Brenton Brown, Andi Rozier)
10) Humble King – (Brenton Brown)
11) Glorious – (Brenton Brown, Paul Baloche)
12) Like The Angels – (Brenton Brown)
13) I Saw The Light – (Hank Williams)
14) Everlasting God – How He Loves – (Brenton Brown, Ken Riley, John Mark McMillan)
A South African-raised Rhodes scholar who studied at Oxford University, was worship pastor in England’s Vineyard Church and now resides in Malibu, CA, Brenton Brown has written nine CCLI Top 500 songs that are being sung by millions in churches all around the world. His song “Everlasting God” was honored by ASCAP as one of the most performed songs in the USA in 2007 across all genres, marking the first time that a worship song has been recognized with such an honor.
For more Brenton Brown information, a compelling “There Is A King” video, tour dates, song chord charts/lyrics, photos and more, go to www.brentonbrown.com.
Modern worship songwriter/artist Brenton Brown, best known for anthems like “Everlasting God,” “Lord, Reign in Me,” “All Who Are Thirsty,” and “Your Love Is Amazing,” releases today his third full-length album, the acclaimed Our God Is Near from Kingsway with distribution in North America by EMI CMG.
Produced by Jason Ingram and Rusty Varenkamp, Our God Is Near features the musical collaboration of Brenton and his band, The Worship Republic members Daniel Ornellas (bass), Scotty Murray (guitar) and Ben Showalter (drums). Rich with compelling anthems and prayers set in highly singable, modern-edge melodies, the album also features Brenton co-writing with some of the finest worship songwriters of the day, including Paul Baloche, Marty Sampson, Matt Maher, Eoghan Heaslip and Jason Ingram. The resulting album showcases the undercurrent infusing Brenton’s music and life; his desire to seek and discover the nearness of God, to see His Kingdom at work in the world.
“Our God Is Near is bent on spanning the chasm between joy and death. Those two ideas seem totally disparate and juxtaposed, like they could never go together, but that’s what makes the good news good news,” analyzes Brenton. “When God is near, things change. He can literally bulldoze the mountains in our lives out of the way if he chooses to. We can’t fully understand it, and our language cannot describe it, but peace can come even in the fellowship of suffering. That we can die in him and rise in him confounds the trials of the world. Our music struggles to contain this idea.”
Brenton sets the tone on the album with the opening track, “Our God Is Mercy,” followed by the first radio single from Our God Is Near, “Joyful,” with its driving, modern spin on the famous hymn, and “We Lift You Up,” which was picked by Worship Leader to be featured on its Song DISCovery disc in May.
“In the spirit of Paul the Apostle, this is just for the Lord in the end, an honest offering,” says Brenton about the album. “All I need to do, all I ever want to do is pray some honest prayers and sing some things that are true about who God is.”
And that authenticity heard on the album has the critics praising Our God Is Near:
“Brenton Brown’s sung prayers are treasures that have graced the Church with hope, encouragement and transcendent worship.” - Worship Leader
“Don’t miss any of these great new songs. Brenton’s best overall work is this excellent new album Our God Is Near.” – NewReleaseTuesday.com
“Anyone looking for another solid worship album would do well to add Brown’s latest,” – Soul-Audio.com
“…there is an epic-ness that pulls the whole album together…” – Louder Than The Music
“Our God Is Near is surely Brenton’s best album yet…The whole album is beautifully produced…the guitars are bolder, drums fuller… a fantastic album and one definitely worth buying if you love energetic, fun heart-warming music…” – M-Brio Music
“…Our God Is Near is an album of contagious, worshipful melodies and is sure to be hit…Brown’s skills as a worship leader and songwriter are showcased well through his new release.” – Alpha Omega News
A South African-raised Rhodes scholar who studied at Oxford University, was worship pastor in England’s Vineyard Church and now resides in Malibu, CA, Brenton Brown has written nine CCLI Top 500 songs that are being sung by millions in churches all around the world. His song “Everlasting God” was honored by ASCAP as one of the most performed songs in the USA in 2007 across all genres, marking the first time that a worship song has been recognized with such an honor.
To learn more about Brenton Brown, see www.brentonbrown.com/blog/tag/south-africa.
Modern worship songwriter/artist Brenton Brown releases his acclaimed, full-length album, Adoration, today from Kingsway with distribution by EMI CMG. Adoration reflects Brenton’s personal journey though the struggles and joy of life, all intending to draw the listener closer to the mysterious, all consuming heart of God.
Like the title track, the new single from Adoration, “Amazing God,” which went for radio adds last week, is Brenton’s expression of hope as he and his wife, Jude, went through the painful loss of a stillborn baby girl, Grace, and the terror of nine months of pregnancy before the eventual joy with the healthy birth of their daughter, Bella.
“It really boggles the mind, but He can bear the weight of the world,” reflects Brenton. “He is an amazing, mind boggling God! His peace carried us through Grace’s death and continues to do so. His love, faithful as the dawn, has given rise to ‘Amazing God’ and ‘Adoration,’ songs that join a multitude of anthems of praise lifted by the cloud of witnesses across time and all across the earth. His hands are strong enough. He can heal the pain.”
Brenton will play these songs and others from Adoration internationally via television this spring. He recently performed several songs recorded live for a 30-minute “One Music Village” special that is slated to premiere March 16 on the JCTV Network. Brenton is further set to play new music at the Crystal Cathedral April 18 with the resulting “Hour of Power” syndicated program to air around the world on networks such as Lifetime Cable, TBN, CNBC Europe, VOX (Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and Ireland), METV (Middle East) and more. The CBN News “Midday” program also completed an interview with Brenton last week, sharing his story and “the beauty God can make out of ashes.” To see the CBN story, click this link.
In addition to television coverage, Brenton received two 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards nominations last week for “Worship Song” and “Inspirational Recorded Song” for “Hosanna,” co-written with Paul Baloche.
With accolades continuing to come in for Brenton, here is what critics are saying about Adoration:
“… the poignant strains of ‘All Who Are Thirsty’ and monumental fervor of ‘Amazing God’ remind us why Brown will be contributing to worship’s musical landscape for years.” – ChristianityToday.com
“Out of the 11 tracks, 10 of them are clearly suitable for congregational settings…memorable melodies, good arrangements and strong scriptural themes. Moreover, there’s a richness conveyed by the authorial context—the story of Brown’s personal journey adds further weight to these songs…Brown’s personal experience and decision to worship God in the face of his pain and loss make every lyric all the more honest, poignant and powerful.” – Advance Magazine
“Brenton Brown is a breath of fresh air in worship music. Between willingly letting other big-name worship leaders cover his songs and inadvertently take credit for them, and providing lead sheets and chord charts for worship leaders in churches to put to good use, he seems like a pretty stand-up guy and talented musician, who is undeservingly still relatively under the radar.” – JesusFreakHideout.com
“Brenton Brown may not be as big a name as the likes of Matt Redman or Chris Tomlin but listening to this album, you wonder if it’s only a matter of time… Brown has produced an album of towering melodies and carefully crafted quieter moments. Don’t be surprised if you hear a good chunk of it at a service near you soon.” – LIBAW News
Brenton Brown has written five CCLI’s Top 100 songs that are being sung by millions in churches all around the world, as well as played in concert venues and recorded on albums by an acclaimed group of artists, such as Chris Tomlin, Rebecca St. James, Lincoln Brewster and Flyleaf. His song “Everlasting God” was honored by ASCAP as one of the most performed songs in the USA in 2007 across all genres, marking the first time that a worship song has been recognized with such an honor.
Raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Brenton attended Oxford University in England as a Rhodes scholar studying political, philosophical and theological coursework before discovering a new style of worship spearheaded by the Vineyard Church and eventually participating in the movement’s first recordings led by worship leader Brian Doerksen, Come Now Is The Time and Hungry. Brenton also co-produced two Vineyard UK recordings, Surrender and Holy, and was worship pastor at the Oxford Vineyard, UK. Brenton now resides in Malibu, CA as his songs reverberate around the world. In addition the songs mentioned above, Brenton has written such modern classics as “Your Love is Amazing” and “Humble King.”
Sometimes it feels as if the burdens of this life are just too heavy to bear. Sometimes they weigh down on us so hard that the thought of anyone being able to carry them seems ludicrous. And then realizing that this kind of suffering is occurring across the world in thousands of cultures and millions of homes staggers and overwhelms us. Surely there are no hands strong enough to carry the weight of the world.
As a worship leader I have the privilege of traveling across the nations and listening to the growing anthem of worship rising to God from so many countries and cultures. I’ve looked out on people across the world who have endured enormous storms - from failing health to civil war to economic deprivation to acts of violence and terror to real hunger and real brokenness. And time and again I am surprised at the power of God to triumph over and transcend the most difficult circumstances life can bring. Worship rises from hearts placed in the most unbelievable circumstances on this planet. Are all these worshippers people of extraordinary faith? Perhaps they are. But what they definitely have in common is not the type of worshiper they are, but the type of God they worship. A God who can inspire inexplicable peace and joy in the middle of heartache and destruction.
One of the most extraordinary times of worship I remember is a small city hall packed full of Christians in a region of Eastern Europe called Kosova. A group of us from England and South Africa had traveled over to share what God had done in our country. I was expecting a room full of broken and destitute people. Women and children outnumbered the men due to the recent war, and there were many widows and orphans. The church in this predominantly Muslim region was not much more than 15 years old. But as the first notes of music sounded through that cold, neon lit hall, the place erupted in joyful, abandoned worship to the Lord. I can clearly remember hearing the sound of weeping and turning around to see my friend Marc James on the electric guitar in floods of tears, amazed at the power of God! While we were expecting brokenness God was revealing beauty and grace.
So cut to a hospital room in Southern California 6 years later. Again I can see a face so clearly. But this time it's the nurse holding the sonogram, searching for our daughter's heartbeat and realizing with horror that that was a sound none of us would ever hear again. A week away from her due date, in what had been a very normal pregnancy, our little girl Grace died in the womb. My wife had spent the last 9 months preparing the most beautiful little nursery for her first-born child. Her parents were flying in from South Africa. Friends were emailing her tips and best wishes. Life held so much promise. But instead of looking forward to the first blush of parenthood, Jude was facing the nightmare of having to deliverer her first daughter, still born. It was a weight so crushing, so heavy, that it felt too hard for us to bear. I wondered if we were ever going to make it through the despair and sadness that filled our hearts that day. I will never forget the long list of friends I phoned to tell the awful news. At the start of life death had arrived and taken our little girl.
I remember feeling so much despair and sadness in the following months that when I considered all the tragedy taking place on the earth I was overwhelmed. I thought about how people across the globe were experiencing hardship and loss as great and greater than ours, and it left a gaping hole in my heart. We staggered beneath the weight of grief. We trudged through each day, numb with loss and bewildered. But we also remembered the saints. We remembered the faces and the stories and accounts of God's deliverance and comfort from saints across the earth. We remembered the songs of God's faithfulness through testing. And slowly, like the passing of the seasons, we began to see that our God is not just a good friend in a difficult situation. He is also the Almighty, the creator of the heavens and the earth. Right now the entire universe rests upon the word of his power. Can he bring beauty out of ashes? Can he turn tears into songs of joy. Are his hands strong enough to bear not just my burdens, but also the burdens of the whole earth, the heaviest burdens of our heart? Is He up to the task? Absolutely.
His Hands are strong enough. He can handle it. The creator of all things can heal what He has made. He can clean what has been stained. Through him all things are possible. He can bear the weight not just of my burdens but of yours too.
It really boggles the mind. But He can bear the weight of the world. He is an amazing, mind boggling God! His peace carried us through Grace's death and continues to do so. His love, faithful as the dawn, has given rise to “Amazing God” and “Adoration,” songs that join a multitude of anthems of praise lifted by the cloud of witnesses across time and all across the earth. His hands are strong enough. He can heal the pain. He can clean the stain. He can turn our tears into songs of praise.
He’s an amazing GOD.
You're amazing God, You're amazing God
You can bear the weight of every heavy heart
You can heal the pain, You can clean the stain
You can turn our tears into songs of praise
You're amazing God
More information on Brenton can be found at www.BrentonBrown.com. Full “Amazing God” and “Adoraton” lyrics and chords can be found at http://www.brentonbrown.com/songs.html.
Modern worship songwriter/artist Brenton Brown releases his full-length album, Adoration, Feb. 23 from Kingsway with distribution by EMI CMG. Initially released in the UK under the title, Because of Your Love, the album has never been released in the US and has since been repackaged and expanded. It features a brand new song, “A Thousand Stars,” a new version of “Adoration,” a remix of “Amazing God,” and re-recordings of Brenton’s classic congregational favorites “Holy” and “All Who Are Thirsty.”
A collaborative effort, Adoration showcases an impressive musical team surrounding Brenton’s own guitar work and vocals. Musicians on the album include drummers Aaron Sterling (Natasha Bedingfield, Brooke Frasier, Miley Cyrus) and Ben Showalter (Chris Rice, Tim Hughes, Shaun Groves); guitarists Dwayne Larring (Sonic Flood, Kelly Clarkson), Gary Burnette (Taylor Swift, Etta James, Mark Schultz) and Scotty Murray; bassists Akil Thompson (Mandisa, Natalie Grant, Nicole C. Mullen) and Tree63’s Daniel Ornellas; and noted vocalists Matt Maher, Paul Baloche, Sarah MacIntosh (Chasing Furies), Kathryn Scott and African Children’s Choir (on “A Thousand Stars”).
Well-known songwriters and long-time friends Paul Baloche, Matt Maher and others share co-writing credits on the album, as Brenton and Jude Brown, along with Jason Ingram (Bebo Norman, Aaron Shust, Jim Brickman) and Paul Moak (Mat Kearney, Shane & Shane, Derek Webb), share producing responsibilities. The album was engineered and mixed by Joe Baldridge (Toby Mac, Tree63) with additional engineering by Paul Moak and Rusty Varenkamp (tobyMac, David Crowder Band, Mute Math).
While recording with some of the best musical talent to be found, for Brenton, making records is not about a career, but instead a response to what God has done and how his faith has grown. Adoration reflects the struggles of life and the glories of heaven, drawing the listener closer to the mysterious, all consuming heart of God.
The current radio single, “Adoration,” was not written for the sake of a title track, but simply because worship is hardwired into Brenton. It is his expression of hope as he and his wife, Jude, went through the painful loss of a stillborn baby girl, Gracie, and the terror of nine months of pregnancy before the eventual joy with the healthy birth of his daughter, Bella.
Speaking about this with incredible honesty, as well as a profound sense of God’s healing in place, Brenton describes the experience: “Our hearts were broken right at the start of what should have been a promising life. It was hard to imagine that there could ever be a happy ending. But we resolved to fall upon the Lord.”
“We can think that ‘most’ of what we need is found in Him,” continues Brenton. “Most, but somehow not quite all of it. Yet what brought us hope and encouragement is the fact that this life is not all there is to the story. The upward call of Christ draws us to the elements that continue.”
The lyrics of the song “Adoration” are anchored in the deeply personal trauma of birth and death, yet remain universal and inspiring for all:
We bow our hearts, we lift our hands,
we turn our eyes to you again
And we surrender to the truth
that all we need is found in You
Receive our adoration
Jesus Lamb of God
Receive our adoration,
How wonderful you are
For Brenton and Jude, the truth is simple: “We didn’t just receive comfort and strength, but the knowledge that our little girl Gracie is with Him, and that one day we will be reunited with her,” says Brenton. “That’s where the words in the bridge come from: Every soul you've saved sings out / everything you've made resounds / all creation's standing now / lifting up your name / We're joining in the angel's song / we're gathered to your ancient throne / children in our Father's arms / shouting out your praise.”
The full Adoration track listing follows (all songs written by Brenton Brown, with co-writes noted):
1) “Adoration”
2) “Amazing God”
3) “Holy”
4) “Because Of Your Love” (Written with Paul Baloche)
5) “All Who Are Thirsty” (Written with Glenn Robertson)
6) “Come Let Us Return ” (Written with Matt Maher)
7) “Our God Saves” (Written with Paul Baloche)
8) “Send Your Rain”
9) “Wonderful” (Written with Doug Bacon)
10) “We Need You”
11) “A Thousand Stars”
Brenton Brown has written five CCLI’s Top 100 songs that are being sung by millions in churches all around the world, as well as played in concert venues and recorded on albums by an acclaimed group of artists, such as Chris Tomlin, Rebecca St. James, Lincoln Brewster and Flyleaf’s Lacey Mosely. His song “Everlasting God” was honored by ASCAP as one of the most performed songs in the USA in 2007 across all genres, marking the first time that a worship song has been recognized with such an honor.
Raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Brenton attended Oxford University in England as a Rhodes scholar studying political, philosophical and theological coursework before discovering a new style of worship spearheaded by the Vineyard Church and eventually participating in the movement’s first recordings led by worship leader Brian Doerksen, Come Now Is The Time and Hungry. Brenton also co-produced two Vineyard UK recordings, Surrender and Holy, and was worship pastor at the Oxford Vineyard, UK. Brenton now resides in Malibu, CA as his songs reverberate around the world. In addition the songs mentioned above, Brenton has written such modern classics as “Your Love is Amazing” and “Humble King.”
(Nashville, TN) September 22, 2009 – Introducing Brenton Brown, a six-song CD for $5, releases today from Kingsway with distribution by EMI CMG. The recording features four CCLI Top 100 songs from modern worship songwriter/artist Brenton Brown, including such familiar anthems as “Lord Reign in Me,” “All Who Are Thirsty,” “Hosanna (Praise is Rising)” and “Everlasting God,” which was honored by ASCAP as one of the most performed songs in the USA in 2007 across all genres, marking the first time that a worship song has been recognized with such an honor.
Introducing Brenton Brown further features the current radio single “Adoration” and the brand new song, “Amazing God,” both songs being born out of Brenton’s heart of worship in the midst of his life experiences.
“Adoration” is an encouragement from Brenton to always hold onto hope in the Lord, no matter the circumstances. The song is Brenton’s expression of hope having gone through the painful loss of a stillborn baby girl, Gracie, and the terror of nine months of pregnancy before the eventual joy with the healthy birth of his daughter, Bella.
In addition to being played on radio, Brenton’s songs are being sung by millions in churches all around the world and recorded on albums by an acclaimed group of artists such as Chris Tomlin, Rebecca St. James and Lincoln Brewster. Introducing Brenton Brown links the songs being sung and heard around the world to the songwriter. Flyleaf’s Lacey Sturm confides, “I didn’t know Brenton had written so many of my favorite worship songs. So many artists cover his songs and I didn’t even know he wrote any of them!”
Here is what other artists are saying about Brenton Brown:
“Brenton's songs are a true gift to the church across the world. I have enjoyed a good friendship with Brenton and admire his God-given ability to lead people as they worship God.”
Chris Tomlin
“Brenton is not only a gifted songwriter and worship leader but he is also a wonderful human being. He is a shining example of persevering through tough times, praising God no matter the circumstances.”
Lincoln Brewster
“Brenton Brown is one of the outstanding voices of his generation! He weaves deep truth and great melodies into songs that are going to stand the test of time. I love singing and listening to his songs!”
Brian Doerksen
“Brenton has such a big heart, and it's been an honor to know him over the past few years. He's been an encouragement to us since we first started doing this full time. He's a top notch worship leader & song writer and has a vision to change the world.”
Jack Mooring (Leeland)
(Nashville, TN) August 6, 2009 – Modern worship songwriter/artist Brenton Brown may be the most popular worship leader you have never heard of. Fans of worship music will have the opportunity to get acquainted with this award winning songwriter’s best-loved works and new music on Introducing Brenton Brown, a six-song CD for $5 releasing Sept. 22 from Kingsway with distribution by EMI CMG.
The recording features four of Brenton’s five CCLI’s Top 100 songs that are being sung by millions in churches all around the world, as well as played in concert venues and recorded on albums by an acclaimed group of artists, such as Chris Tomlin, Rebecca St. James, Lincoln Brewster and Flyleaf’s Lacey Mosely. Introducing Brenton Brown includes such familiar anthems as “Lord Reign in Me,” “Your Love is Amazing,” “Hosanna (Praise is Rising)” and “Everlasting God,” which was honored by ASCAP as one of the most performed songs in the USA in 2007 across all genres, marking the first time that a worship song has been recognized with such an honor.
“Jude [Brenton’s wife] and I had been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and the scriptures in Isaiah 40 took on a significance I never dreamed I’d have to understand,” recalls Brenton. “The chorus of ‘Everlasting God’ was inspired by the ‘punch line’ of Isaiah 40 – God is everlasting, unfailing, unflagging. There is no limit to his strength and energy. More than that, this powerful, always-strong God has compassion and mercy on those who call on Him. He lifts us up when we are weak...an enormously comforting and sometimes challenging truth that we have been able to hold on to.”
Like “Everlasting God,” Introducing Brenton Brown features “Adoration” and the brand new song, “Amazing God,” which were born out of Brenton’s heart of worship in the midst of his life experiences.
“Adoration,” which is being released to radio this month, is an encouragement from Brenton to always hold onto hope in the Lord, no matter the circumstances. The song is Brenton’s expression of hope having gone through the painful loss of a stillborn baby girl, Gracie, and the terror of nine months of pregnancy before the eventual joy with the healthy birth of his daughter, Bella.
“Just singing this song was an act of faith. Jude and I felt incredibly empty and in so much pain, but we recognize that everything we need—and all that we love — is found in God, even our little girl that we lost,” Brenton says. “We get to sense some of that in worship when we experience His presence and the hope and joy of what’s to come. We taste a little bit of the kingdom of God.”
That theme of total surrender to God, and His hope-giving power also resonates in the moving strains of “Amazing God.”
“I remember thinking ‘This is too much’ and wondering if we'd ever recover as a family. Oftentimes I thought this was too heavy for God—that we were not going to heal from this,” Brenton shares. “But He managed to carry the weight. He can bear the weight of every heavy heart. He can turn our tears into songs of praise. And that’s a reason to worship with full abandon.”
Perhaps it is this very strength that continues to keep Brenton hitting the road with his band more than ever before, even as be battles CFS. Playing at numerous youth events, worship conventions, conferences and at the major festivals this summer, Brenton and his band also transition into fall with a major market tour with Tenth Avenue North that launches Sept. 3 in Indianapolis, IN. For all the latest tour information, go to www.BrentonBrown.com.
Raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Brenton attended Oxford University in England as a Rhodes scholar studying political, philosophical and theological coursework before discovering a new style of worship spearheaded by the Vineyard Church and eventually participating in the movement’s first recordings led by worship leader Brian Doerksen, Come Now Is The Time and Hungry. Brenton also co-produced two Vineyard UK recordings, Surrender and Holy, and was worship pastor at the Oxford Vineyard, UK. Brenton now resides in Malibu, CA as his songs reverberate around the world. In addition the songs mentioned above, Brenton has written such modern classics as “All Who Are Thirsty,” “Holy” and “Humble King.”
(NASHVILLE, TN) December 11, 2008 -- The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) recently honored Brenton Brown for his song “Everlasting God” at their awards ceremony in London which honored the top writer and publisher members of the PRS -- the UK's Performing Right Society. “Everlasting God” was recognized for being one of the top 20 songs played on American radio in 2007 and was also the first time a Christian song has ever received this honor. The award was picked up by Brown’s co-writer of the song, Ken Riley and Les Moir from Survivor Records.
“Everlasting God” won an award earlier this year by ASCAP and was also nominated for a 2008 Dove Award for “Worship Song of the Year”. Writing such modern worship classics as “Lord Reign in Me”, “Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing)”, “All Who Are Thirsty”, “Holy” and “Humble King”, Brown continues to be a formidable figure within the worship music scene.
Brown recently announced that he has signed an exclusive booking deal with Street Level Artists Agency, who also represents noted artists such as Michael Card, Phil Keaggy, Chris Rice, Ginny Owens, Shaun Groves, Ashley Cleveland, Margaret Becker, and Jason Gray, just to name a few.
In addition, Brown launched his new website, which can be found at www.brentonbrown.com. The website features an online store where fans can purchase his new album Because of Your Love.
Following the success of his debut album Everlasting God, Brown released Because Of Your Love earlier this year. Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Brown grew up listening to the charts and local African music, but couldn’t help being inspired by the bluegrass and country music his father’s loved - artists like Merle Haggard and Emmy-Lou Harris. Inspired by the music of his youth, and the fact that he and his wife have lived in the United States for three years, Brown wanted his new album to reflect the music that moves him so deeply.
For more information on Brenton Brown, please visit www.brentonbrown.com or www.myspace.com/brentonbrownmusic.
(NASHVILLE, TN) JUNE 25, 2008 --Award-winning songwriter and worship leader Brenton Brown has written some of the most popular praise and worship songs in the church today. Writing such modern worship classics as "Lord Reign in Me,” "Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing)," "All Who Are Thirsty," "Holy" and "Humble King," Brown is a formidable figure within the worship music scene. And now Brown is gearing up to release his sophomore album Because Of Your Love in July of 2008 through Survivor Records.
Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Brown grew up listening to the charts and local African music, but couldn’t help being inspired by the bluegrass and country music his father’s loved - artists like Merle Haggard and Emmy-Lou Harris. Inspired by the music of his youth, and the fact that he and his wife have lived in the United States for three years, Brown wanted his new album to reflect the music that moves him so deeply. “Living in Los Angeles for the past three years and playing with the guys I’ve played with has also influenced the sounds on this record,” states Brown. “Apart from the various country strains of ‘Americana’, the album also has a more than a little indie and alt-rock flavors to it.”
Because Of Your Love showcases an impressive musical team that collaborated with Brown, such as Aaron Sterling (Natasha Bedingfield, Liz Phair, Miley Cyrus); Dwayne Larring (Sonic Flood, Kelly Clarkson); Sarah MacIntosh (Sarah MacIntosh, Chasing Furies); Daniel Ornellas (Tree63); Chris Carmichael (Alison Krauss, Mindy Smith); Joshua Grange (KD Lang, Rocco Delucca, Dwight Yoakam); Phil Madeira (Emmy Lou-Harris, Patty Griffin, Julie Miller, Roseanne Cash); Larry Myers (Bob Dylan, Chuck Girard, Kevin Prosch) and Joe Baldridge (tobyMac, Tree63) engineered and mixed the album. Brown also welcomed the chance to write with longtime friends Paul Baloche and Matt Maher for the new album as well as sing with Kathryn Scott and Leeland Mooring.
Because Of Your Love follows the highly successful 2006 debut solo release Everlasting God. Brown won a 2008 ASCAP Award for the album’s title song “Everlasting God,” which he co-wrote with Ken Riley, and was nominated for a 2008 Dove Award for “Worship Song of the Year” for “Everlasting God”. In addition, Brown has been a featured worship leader on several Vineyard Music UK albums and co-producer on two - Surrender and Holy.
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South African-born worship artist Brenton Brown, best known for writing popular modern praise songs like “Lord Reign In Me” and “Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing),” and for his acclaimed new album, EVERLASTING GOD, has launched his own Web site.
ChristianityToday.com says, “EVERLASTING GOD is the rare worship album that’s equally suited to church and radio, while also reflecting Brown’s diverse musical upbringing. Both “So Alive” and the Isaiah 40-inspired title track are fine examples of modern pop/rock. In contrast, “Like the Angels” retains a soaring, hymn-like quality . . . and the terrific “We Will Worship Him” features Ladysmith Black Mambazo in a song as rhythmic and anthemic as Matt Redman’s “Better Is One Day.”
Sample the songs from EVERLASTING GOD, reach Brenton’s blog, check his U.S. tour dates, and more at
www.BrentonBrownMusic.com.
