Ken Tamplin is an American Christian rock

Christian rock

Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...

 performer and vocal coach

Vocal coach

A vocal coach is a music teacher who instructs singers on how to improve their singing technique, take care of and develop their voice, and prepare for the performance of a song or other work. Vocal coaches may give private music lessons to singers, or they may coach singers who are rehearsing on...

. Tamplin is known for his 4 octave vocal range and has composed music for television and movies.

Early years

Ken began playing guitar at age six and singing at age nine. Despite being raised in a Christian

Christian

A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...

 home, he was not openly Christian until some time before he began his musical career. Tamplin overdosed on angel dust four times, used and sold cocaine, hash and other drugs before the age of 14, when he became a Christian again. "I've been on fire for Him ever since", Tamplin was quoted as saying.

Career

Tamplin is one of the founding members of the group Shout

Shout (band)

Shout was a Christian glam metal band formed in 1987 by Ken Tamplin. Musically the band was similar to Stryper, but the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music cites them as being "more competent than Stryper". Lyrically, their songs were generally more straightforward than other Christian...

, along with Chuck King. He is also the winner of four Dove

Dove

Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...

 awards, including Hard Music Album of the Year at the 24th GMA Dove Awards

24th GMA Dove Awards

The 24th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 1, 1993 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1992. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Barbara Mandrell.-Award recipients:*Artist of the Year**Michael English...

 in 1993, for his album Tamplin.

In 2001 Tamplin produced the album Make Me Your Voice, featuring gospel singer Andrae Crouch

Andrae Crouch

Andraé Crouch is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, recording artist, record producer, and pastor.-Early years:Born Andraé Edward Crouch in San Francisco, California....

, to help raise funds for Christian groups working in Sudan.

Personal life

Tamplin is married with two children. He is cousin to former Van Halen

Van Halen

Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...

 frontman, Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar

Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....

Discography

In addition to the bands mentioned above, Ken Tamplin sung and played on these albums.

Albums

• 1990 - Tamplin and Friends - An Axe to Grind
• 1991 - Ken Tamplin - Soul Survivor
• 1993 - Tamplin - Tamplin
• 1995 - Tamplin - In the Witness Box
• 1995 - Ken Tamplin - We the People
• 1997 - Ken Tamplin - Liquid Music Compilation
• 1997 - Ken Tamplin - The Colors of Christmas
• 1999 - Ken Tamplin - Brave Days of Old
• 2001 - Ken Tamplin - Where Love Is
• 2003 - Ken Tamplin and Friends - Wake the Nations

External links

• Ken Tamplin Official Site
• Official Site of Shout
• Profile at No Life Til Metal