Maranatha! Music
Encyclopedia
Maranatha
! Music began as a non-profit outreach of Calvary Chapel
in 1971. The Jesus People
of the late 1960s and early 1970s began to write new hymn
s and worship songs with a folk-rock style. Maranatha! Music was founded at this time in order to publish and promote this new type of Christian music. Founder Chuck Smith
sold the label to his nephew Chuck Fromm. The label is currently distributed by Warner
Music Entertainment's Word Music.
that were representative of the Jesus people movement. Some of the early Maranatha! recording groups were Sweet Comfort Band
, Love Song
, Chuck Girard
, Children of the Day
, The Way
, Debby Kerner, and Daniel Amos
. The label's first release was a various artists compilation entitled The Everlastin' Living Jesus Music Concert, in 1971.
The label is currently distributed by Warner
Music Entertainment's Word Music.
Maranatha! also branched into the children's market segment. Premier products included Psalty the singing songbook and the Kid's Praise Kids. In the early 1990s this segment represented about 40% of company revenues.
In the 1980s, Maranatha! launched Broken Records, a label focusing on modern rock
, punk
and alternative
music.
Also of note is their "Colours Collection", a series of albums containing instrumental renditions of many of the songs found on their other albums.
' President's Award. In 1991, the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Gospel Music Association
.
However it should be noted that several artists have been a mainstay as regular performers or writers for the group, some examples include Bill Batstone, Kelly Willard, Jamie-Owens Collins, John Barbour, Tom Coomes, Dan Collins, Rita Baloche, Anne Barbour, Teri Desario, Lenny LeBlanc, Tom Howard, John Andrew Schreiner, Rick Founds, Cathy Spurr and Dave Spurr.
There is a popular, but inaccurate biography for the Maranatha! singers attributed to Greg Prato which states that the "Maranatha! Singers is a 50-person strong voice choir composed mostly of University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College students. Originally founded in 1970, the group is part of the University Methodist Church and Student Center (U.U.M.C.), Gainesville, FL."
However there is no evidence to back this claim up as no release from the Maranatha! Singers has contained this piece of information. Nevertheless the Calvary Chapel Community Choir has performed under the label of The Maranatha! Singers, this is verifiable as the Maranatha! Music label was born from the Calvary Chapel organization. In addition both the label and Calvary Chapel are based in California unlike University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College which are both based in Florida.
Maranatha
Maranatha is an Aramaic word occurring twice in the New Testament and also in the Didache which is part of the Apostolic Fathers' collection. It is transliterated into Greek letters rather than translated, and is found at the end of Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians...
! Music began as a non-profit outreach of Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel is an evangelical association of Christian churches with over one thousand congregations worldwide. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs. It presents itself as a "fellowship of...
in 1971. The Jesus People
Jesus movement
The Jesus movement was a movement in Christianity beginning on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s and spreading primarily through North America and Europe, before dying out by the early 1980s. It was the major Christian element within the hippie counterculture,...
of the late 1960s and early 1970s began to write new hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s and worship songs with a folk-rock style. Maranatha! Music was founded at this time in order to publish and promote this new type of Christian music. Founder Chuck Smith
Chuck Smith (pastor)
Charles Ward “Chuck” Smith, , is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement...
sold the label to his nephew Chuck Fromm. The label is currently distributed by Warner
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
Music Entertainment's Word Music.
Background
In the early 1970s Calvary Chapel was home to more than 15 musical groupsthat were representative of the Jesus people movement. Some of the early Maranatha! recording groups were Sweet Comfort Band
Sweet Comfort Band
Sweet Comfort Band was a Christian rock band that first performed in 1973 in Riverside, California, and were active until 1984. The band was initially composed of keyboardist/lead vocalist, Bryan Duncan, and brothers Kevin and Rick Thomson. The band was the brainchild of the Thomson brothers...
, Love Song
Love Song (band)
Love Song was one of the main Jesus music bands, one of the first Christian rock bands. It was founded in 1970 by Chuck Girard, Tommy Coomes, Jay Truax, and Fred Field. Additionally, the earliest members included David Ingram on keyboards, Ernie Earnshaw on drums and Jack Schaeffer on bass. It was...
, Chuck Girard
Chuck Girard
Chuck Girard is a pioneer of Contemporary Christian music. He was born August 27, 1943 in Los Angeles, California, and moved to Santa Rosa, California in his young teens...
, Children of the Day
Children of the Day
Children of the Day was a Contemporary Christian music group that recorded and toured from 1971 to 1979. It is considered by many to be the world's first contemporary Christian music group.-Beginnings:...
, The Way
The Way (band)
The Way was a Jesus music band who were active from 1971 to 1976. They released two albums on Maranatha! Records and contributed four non-LP tracks to their label's compilation series and one LP track was pulled for the first label retrospective.-History:...
, Debby Kerner, and Daniel Amos
Daniel Amos
Daniel Amos is a rock band formed in 1974 by Terry Scott Taylor on guitars and vocals, Marty Dieckmeyer on bass guitar, Steve Baxter on guitars and Jerry Chamberlain on lead guitars. Current members include bassist Tim Chandler, guitarist Greg Flesch and drummer Ed McTaggart...
. The label's first release was a various artists compilation entitled The Everlastin' Living Jesus Music Concert, in 1971.
The label is currently distributed by Warner
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
Music Entertainment's Word Music.
Maranatha! also branched into the children's market segment. Premier products included Psalty the singing songbook and the Kid's Praise Kids. In the early 1990s this segment represented about 40% of company revenues.
In the 1980s, Maranatha! launched Broken Records, a label focusing on modern rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
music.
Also of note is their "Colours Collection", a series of albums containing instrumental renditions of many of the songs found on their other albums.
Awards
In 1990, Maranatha! was awarded the National Religious BroadcastersNational Religious Broadcasters
National Religious Broadcasters is an American organization that represents Christian religious broadcasters on American television and radio, including several high-profile televangelists and Christian radio show hosts. It claims a membership of more than 1700 organizations...
' President's Award. In 1991, the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Gospel Music Association
Gospel Music Association
The Gospel Music Association was founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of Gospel music. There are currently about 4,000 members worldwide...
.
Maranatha! Singers
The Maranatha! Singers is a long running Christian musical group that has released numerous albums for the Maranatha! Music label. It is best to view the Maranatha! Singers as a brand name for the Maranatha! Music label as various vocalists, musicians and instrumentalists that have performed under that name as a group for the Maranatha! Music label, under the direction of either hired or staff producers & arrangers chosen for each individual recording project.However it should be noted that several artists have been a mainstay as regular performers or writers for the group, some examples include Bill Batstone, Kelly Willard, Jamie-Owens Collins, John Barbour, Tom Coomes, Dan Collins, Rita Baloche, Anne Barbour, Teri Desario, Lenny LeBlanc, Tom Howard, John Andrew Schreiner, Rick Founds, Cathy Spurr and Dave Spurr.
There is a popular, but inaccurate biography for the Maranatha! singers attributed to Greg Prato which states that the "Maranatha! Singers is a 50-person strong voice choir composed mostly of University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College students. Originally founded in 1970, the group is part of the University Methodist Church and Student Center (U.U.M.C.), Gainesville, FL."
However there is no evidence to back this claim up as no release from the Maranatha! Singers has contained this piece of information. Nevertheless the Calvary Chapel Community Choir has performed under the label of The Maranatha! Singers, this is verifiable as the Maranatha! Music label was born from the Calvary Chapel organization. In addition both the label and Calvary Chapel are based in California unlike University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College which are both based in Florida.
Maranatha! Singers discography
- Praise 1: The Praise Album (1974)
- Praise 2: Open Our Eyes (1976)
- Praise 3: Behold, Bless Ye the Lord (1979)
- Praise 4: In His Time (1980)
- Praise 5: Glorify Thy Name (1981)
- Praise 6: You Are My Hiding Place (1982)
- Praise 7: The Lord Reigns (1984)
- Praise 8: As the Deer (1986)
- Praise 9: Great Is Our Lord (1987)
- Praise 10: O Lord, My Lord (1988)
- Praise 11: Let Us Worship the Lord, Jehovah (1989)
- Praise 12: He Is Able (1990)
- Praise 13: Meet Us Here (1990)
- Praise 14: I Will Celebrate (1991)
- Praise 15: He Has Made Me Glad (1991)
- Praise 16: The Power of Your Love (1997)
- Praise 17: In Your Presence (1997)
- Praise 18: Grace Alone (1998)
- Praise 19: Glorious Father (1999)
- Praise 20: Who Is Like the Lord (1999)
Maranatha Colours Discography
- A Time For Joy - Reflections In Guitar - Steve Erquiaga and Wayne Brasel (1986)
- A Time For Peace - Ivory Sessions - Jeffrey Lams, Frank Martin, Kenneth Nash (1985)
- Christmas Colours - John Andrew Schreiner (1992)
- Classical Praise Cello - Robin Thompson-Clarke (1993)
- Classical Praise Piano - Tom Keene (1991)
- Colours In The Night - Saxophone Solos (1993)
- Hiding Place - Music For Devotions - Nick Coetzee (1999)
- Hymns In Colour - Harlan Rogers and Smitty Price (1989)
- I Love You Lord - Classical Guitar Praise - Rob and Gilly Bennett (1990)
- Instruments Of Your Peace - Celtic Music For Devotions - John Andrew Schreiner (1999)
- Jesus You Are My Life - Shawn Tubbs (1999)
- Jesus, Draw Me Close - Music For Devotions - Phil Kristianson (1998)
- Palette - A Colours Sampler - Tom Howard Ensemble, Phil Keaggy and Jeffrey Lams (1986)
- Praise - Harlan Rogers and Smitty Price (1987)
- Praise Beyond Words - Harlan Rogers, Phil Keaggy, Tom Howard (1991)
- Prisms - Portraits In Synthesis - Jeffrey Lams and John Andrew Schreiner (1986)
- Rainmaker - Music For Devotions - Nick Coetzee (1994)
- Reflection - A Colours Sampler - Tom Howard, Phil Keaggy, Smitty Price and Harlan Rogers (1987)
- Solo Piano - Tom Howard (1987)
- Spectrum - The Colours Sampler - Tom Howard, Phil Keaggy, Jeffrey Lams, John Andrew Schreiner and Steve Erquiaga (1986)
- Technicolours - Bob Somma & John Campbell (1991)
- The Colours Of Praise Two - Harlan Rogers and Smitty Price (1988)
- The Gift - A Colours Christmas - Jeffrey Lams, John Andrew Schreiner, Tom Howard, Harlan Rogers and Smitty Price (1986)
- The Harvest - Piano Solos - Tom Howard (1986)
- The Hidden Passage - Tom Howard (1986)
- The Wind And The Wheat - Phil Keaggy (1994)
- Timeless - Hymns In Colour - Harlan Rogers & Smitty Price (1986)
Maranatha Sanctuary Series - Colours Reissues
Note: Reissues had some song titles renamed on each recording to reach different markets but the music remains the same.- Hope (2002) - previously issued as "Classcial Praise Cello"
- Mercy (2002) - previously issued as "Classical Praise Piano"
- Reflection (2002)- previously issued as "Tom Howard - The Harvest"
- Rest (2000) - previously issued as "A Time For Joy"
- Restoration (2002)- Compilation from Colours
- Shelter (2000) - previously issued as "Tom Howard - The Hidden Passage"
- Serenity (2003) - previously issued as "Tom Howard - Solo Piano"
- Vision (2000) - previously issued as "Technicolours"
Artists
- Billy Batstone
- Charles BillingsleyCharles Billingsley (musician)Charles Billingsley is a Christian singer, worship leader, songwriter, speaker and author. He is the worship leader at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, which is led by Pastor Jonathan Falwell, son of the late Jerry Falwell.- Career :Charles began his solo career the day after he...
- Holland DavisHolland DavisHolland Davis is a Calvary Chapel Christian worship leader, songwriter, pastor, Bible teacher and author based in San Juan Capistrano. He is most known for his song "Let It Rise", which was featured on the album WOW Worship: Blue.-Career:...
- Jonathan ButlerJonathan ButlerJonathan Butler is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music is often classified as R&B, jazz fusion or worship music.-Biography:...
- Tommy WalkerTommy Walker (worship leader)Tommy Walker is an American worship leader, composer of contemporary worship music, recording artist and author. Since 1990, he has been the worship leader at Christian Assembly, a church affiliated with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in Los Angeles, California...
- Kelly WillardKelly WillardKelly Willard is a Contemporary Christian Musician best known for her praise and worship recordings. She was featured as a soloist on projects from Integrity, Vineyard Music, and Maranatha! Music...