Easter Song
Encyclopedia
Easter Song is a Contemporary Christian song that simply and joyfully tells of Jesus Christ’s resurrection and the elation Christians feel about this resurrection on Easter
. It first performed by the Jesus Music
group the 2nd Chapter of Acts
and was written by their lead singer/primary songwriter, Annie Herring
.
The song was well received when it was first recorded in 1974, and continues to be performed, appearing in church hymnals and Easter songbooks as well as on Wow Gold CD. According to Tori Taff of CCM Magazine
, "The opening notes to 'Easter Song' just may be the single most recognizable intro in contemporary Christian music" . The song even achieved moderate success as a crossover on mainstream radio stations . In 1998 CCM Magazine named "Easter Song" as the No. 4 Christian song of all time.
Easter Song has also been covered by several other artists, including GLAD
and Keith Green
.
However, Annie envisioned that the song should be sung by a choir, not by herself and her two siblings, who comprised 2nd Chapter of Acts. One day Annie sang it for a friend, Jimmy Owens
, thinking he might be able to use it in one of the musicals he was writing. Owens knew that the song was for 2nd Chapter of Acts to sing, and convinced Annie that the group should record it.
Unfortunately, 2nd Chapter of Act's band didn't share Jimmy's vision, and the drummer complained that he didn't hear any drums in that song at all. Buck Herring, Annie’s husband, wouldn’t take "no drums" for an answer, and told the drummer firmly to just play something, anything. The drummer put a different beat to the song, taking it once and for all out of the realm of a choral piece, and into the lilting rhythm. Then another friend, Michael Omartian
, added the energetic keyboards that has given the intro the title of "the single most recognizable intro in contemporary Christian music".
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
. It first performed by the Jesus Music
Jesus music
Jesus music, known as gospel beat music in the United Kingdom, is a style of Christian music which originated on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This musical genre developed in parallel to the Jesus movement...
group the 2nd Chapter of Acts
2nd Chapter of Acts
The 2nd Chapter of Acts was a Jesus Music and early Contemporary Christian Music group composed of sisters Annie Herring and Nelly Greisen and brother Matthew Ward. They began performing in 1973 and enjoyed their period of greatest success during the 1970s...
and was written by their lead singer/primary songwriter, Annie Herring
Annie Herring
Annie Herring is one of the pioneers of the Jesus music genre, later to be called Contemporary Christian music. She was more notably a part of the trio, 2nd Chapter of Acts in which she wrote most of the songs and sang lead and harmony vocals with her brother Matthew Ward and sister Nelly Greisen...
.
The song was well received when it was first recorded in 1974, and continues to be performed, appearing in church hymnals and Easter songbooks as well as on Wow Gold CD. According to Tori Taff of CCM Magazine
CCM Magazine
CCM Magazine was a monthly magazine published by Salem Publishing, a division of Salem Communications. It was first published in July 1978, and it has always been a Christian music magazine. On January 16, 2008, Salem announced that the April 2008 issue would be the final printed issue of the...
, "The opening notes to 'Easter Song' just may be the single most recognizable intro in contemporary Christian music" . The song even achieved moderate success as a crossover on mainstream radio stations . In 1998 CCM Magazine named "Easter Song" as the No. 4 Christian song of all time.
Easter Song has also been covered by several other artists, including GLAD
Glad (band)
GLAD is one of the pioneers of Christian pop/rock and a cappella music, having formed as a progressive rock group in 1972 and discovered a large audience for their a cappella music in 1988. Today, with over 1.5 million albums sold, they continue to perform concerts and release occasional recordings...
and Keith Green
Keith Green
Keith Gordon Green was an American gospel singer, songwriter, musician, and Contemporary Christian Music artist originally from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. Beyond his music, Green is best known for his strong devotion to Christian evangelism and challenging others to the same...
.
The Story Behind the Song
Annie Herring never thought she could become a song writer. However, when the Lord began to sing songs through her soon after her marriage in 1969, she wrote down the songs and would share them, first with her husband and siblings, then with others who wanted to hear her songs . According to Annie, Easter Song came about in the spring, around Easter time. She was sitting in front of the piano, and she said to Jesus, "You know, Father, I would really like to have a present". He answered her, "All right, here's a present". And He gave her Easter SongHowever, Annie envisioned that the song should be sung by a choir, not by herself and her two siblings, who comprised 2nd Chapter of Acts. One day Annie sang it for a friend, Jimmy Owens
Jimmy and Carol Owens
Jimmy and Carol Owens are a husband and wife songwriting and author team. They are best known for the Christian children's album, Ants'hillvania which was nominated for the Grammy Award, Best Album for Children, for the Grammy Awards of 1982...
, thinking he might be able to use it in one of the musicals he was writing. Owens knew that the song was for 2nd Chapter of Acts to sing, and convinced Annie that the group should record it.
Unfortunately, 2nd Chapter of Act's band didn't share Jimmy's vision, and the drummer complained that he didn't hear any drums in that song at all. Buck Herring, Annie’s husband, wouldn’t take "no drums" for an answer, and told the drummer firmly to just play something, anything. The drummer put a different beat to the song, taking it once and for all out of the realm of a choral piece, and into the lilting rhythm. Then another friend, Michael Omartian
Michael Omartian
Michael Omartian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter, keyboardist, and music producer. He has been a participant in over 350,000,000 albums and CD’s sold worldwide, as a producer, arranger, artist or musician, during a career that has spanned over 38 years...
, added the energetic keyboards that has given the intro the title of "the single most recognizable intro in contemporary Christian music".
Cover versions
- GLADGlad (band)GLAD is one of the pioneers of Christian pop/rock and a cappella music, having formed as a progressive rock group in 1972 and discovered a large audience for their a cappella music in 1988. Today, with over 1.5 million albums sold, they continue to perform concerts and release occasional recordings...
: The Acapella Project (1988) - Keith GreenKeith GreenKeith Gordon Green was an American gospel singer, songwriter, musician, and Contemporary Christian Music artist originally from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. Beyond his music, Green is best known for his strong devotion to Christian evangelism and challenging others to the same...
: For Him Who Has Ears to HearFor Him Who Has Ears to HearFor Him Who Has Ears To Hear is the debut release by piano, gospel singer Keith Green, It was released on May 20, 1977. The album photography was taken by Garry Heery with help from Max Blanc in the way of art direction...
(1978), The Ministry Years Volume One (1987), The Live Experience (2008), The Greatest Hits (2008) - Hella Heizmann: Ich Bin Dir Nah (2010)
- VeggieTalesVeggieTalesVeggieTales is an American series of children's computer animated films featuring anthropomorphic vegetables in stories conveying moral themes based on Christianity...
: A Very Veggie Easter (2006)