Sparrow Records
Encyclopedia
Background
Sparrow Records was founded in 19761976 in music
-January–February:*January 5 – Former Beatles road manager Mal Evans is shot dead by Los Angeles police after refusing to drop what police only later determine is an air rifle....
by Billy Ray Hearn
Billy Ray Hearn
Billy Ray Hearn is currently the founder and chairman of EMI Christian Music Group, the world's largest religious music label.In 1954, Billy Ray Hearn graduated from Baylor University with a degree in church music....
, then A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
director at Myrrh Records
Myrrh Records
Myrrh Records, also known as Myrrh Worship, is a Christian music record label. According to Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, the label was instrumental in developing a popular following for Contemporary Christian music as the label that first published music by Barry McGuire, 2nd Chapter of...
. Purchased by EMI in 1992, it is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group
EMI Christian Music Group
EMI Christian Music Group is a subsidiary of EMI which contains its Christian music record labels, and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee...
, and has been named by Billboard Magazine as "America's Best Christian Music Record Label". Sparrow Records immediately rose to significant prominence with the signing of singer, songwriter, Contemporary Christian musician and minister 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...
. Within a year of his 1976 signing by Sparrow, 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...
was the top selling Christian artist in America.
As of 2009, Sparrow features many of Contemporary Christian Music's
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
popular and up-and-coming artists, including Britt Nicole
Britt Nicole
Brittany Nicole Waddell is a Christian music artist who performs under the name Britt Nicole. She is signed to EMI CMG/Sparrow.-Childhood:Britt Nicole was born on August 2nd 1985....
, Chris Tomlin
Chris Tomlin
Christopher Dwayne "Chris" Tomlin is an American Christian Contemporary Music artist, worship leader, and songwriter from Grand Saline, Texas, United States. He is a former staff member at Austin Stone Community Church and is signed to EMI's sixstepsrecords. Tomlin also leads worship at many...
, Mandisa
Mandisa
Mandisa Hundley is an American gospel singer, who was the ninth-place finalist in the fifth season of American Idol.-Early life:...
, Matt Redman
Matt Redman
Matt Redman is an English Christian worship leader, songwriter and author based in Brighton.He has worked with Newfrontiers, Passion Conferences, Hillsong London, Soul Survivor, is an artist for Sixstepsrecords and is a member of Compassionart a charity founded by Martin Smith.He appeared with...
, Matthew West
Matthew West
On July 26, 2002, only a week or two before signing a record contract with Universal South Records, West had an injury to his left arm which threatened his musical career and guitar playing. He says, "I locked myself out of my house. But I'd done that before, and I had a way of breaking in through...
, Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven Curtis Chapman is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist.After starting his career in the late 1980s as a singer/songwriter of contemporary Christian music, Chapman has since been recognized as one of the most prolific singers in the genre,...
, and Switchfoot
Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
. Since 1996, a popular production of Sparrow Records has been the annual WOW Hits CCM
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
series. The WOW franchise then added the annual WOW Gospel series of albums in 1998. The WOW Worship series was introduced in 1999, an annual compilation of the greatest hits in Worship
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
music. These compilations can be found in practically any popular music store. The WOW Worship series, once only focused on worship
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
music, now also includes 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...
hits in rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
, rap
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
, gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
, and R&B music as well.
Current Artists
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Matthew West On July 26, 2002, only a week or two before signing a record contract with Universal South Records, West had an injury to his left arm which threatened his musical career and guitar playing. He says, "I locked myself out of my house. But I'd done that before, and I had a way of breaking in through... Peter Furler Peter Andrew Furler is an Australian musician, songwriter, producer, and record executive but is best known as the former lead singer for the Christian rock band Newsboys.-Biography:... Sanctus Real Sanctus Real is an American Christian rock band formed in Toledo, Ohio, in 1996. The group is composed of Matt Hammitt , Chris Rohman , Dan Gartley , Pete Prevost , and Mark Graalman... Shawn McDonald -Childhood:As a child, McDonald lived with his grandparents because his parents could not take care of him. Not really understanding the situation, he became rebellious. He would sneak out of the house, drink alcohol, get intoxicated, and later use drugs... Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist.After starting his career in the late 1980s as a singer/songwriter of contemporary Christian music, Chapman has since been recognized as one of the most prolific singers in the genre,... |
Former Artists
- 2nd Chapter of Acts2nd Chapter of ActsThe 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...
(Disbanded) - Aaron Spiro (Active, currently unsigned)
- AvalonAvalonAvalon is a legendary island featured in the Arthurian legend. It first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 1136 pseudohistorical account Historia Regum Britanniae as the place where King Arthur's sword Excalibur was forged and later where Arthur was...
(Active, with Koch Records) - Bethany DillonBethany DillonBethany Dillon is a Contemporary Christian music artist. She is now married to contemporary Christian recording artist Shane Barnard of Shane & Shane.-Childhood:...
Active - Barry McGuireBarry McGuireBarry McGuire is an American singer-songwriter best known for the hit song "Eve of Destruction", and later as a pioneering singer and songwriter of Contemporary Christian Music.-Early life:...
(Inactive) - Charlie HallCharlie Hall (musician)Charlie Hall is a Christian worship leader and songwriter from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is a member of a group of musicians and speakers that collectively form the Passion movement.-Band members:...
(Active, with sixstepsrecordsSixstepsrecordssixstepsrecords is a record label associated with Passion Conferences. The label was started in Roswell, Georgia in 2000 by Louie Giglio. The stated purposed of the company is "to produce music that draws people to Jesus."-Artists:* David Crowder Band...
) - Jump 5 (Disbanded)
- Charlie PeacockCharlie PeacockCharlie Peacock is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, record producer, session musician and author. While growing up in California Peacock was inspired by John Coltrane and began playing the piano. After completing his education, Peacock formed a band and began a career as a professional...
- Chris TomlinChris TomlinChristopher Dwayne "Chris" Tomlin is an American Christian Contemporary Music artist, worship leader, and songwriter from Grand Saline, Texas, United States. He is a former staff member at Austin Stone Community Church and is signed to EMI's sixstepsrecords. Tomlin also leads worship at many...
(Active, with sixstepsrecordsSixstepsrecordssixstepsrecords is a record label associated with Passion Conferences. The label was started in Roswell, Georgia in 2000 by Louie Giglio. The stated purposed of the company is "to produce music that draws people to Jesus."-Artists:* David Crowder Band...
) - Christy NockelsWatermark (Band)Watermark was a Contemporary Christian singing duo composed of husband and wife Nathan and Christy Nockels. They were under Michael W. Smith's record label, Rocketown Records.-History:...
(Active, with sixstepsrecordsSixstepsrecordssixstepsrecords is a record label associated with Passion Conferences. The label was started in Roswell, Georgia in 2000 by Louie Giglio. The stated purposed of the company is "to produce music that draws people to Jesus."-Artists:* David Crowder Band...
) - David Crowder BandDavid Crowder BandThe David Crowder Band is a six-piece Christian Modern Worship band from Waco, Texas.-Band history:The band began when David Crowder, from Texarkana, Texas, realized that almost half of the students at Baylor University were not attending church...
(Active, with sixstepsrecordsSixstepsrecordssixstepsrecords is a record label associated with Passion Conferences. The label was started in Roswell, Georgia in 2000 by Louie Giglio. The stated purposed of the company is "to produce music that draws people to Jesus."-Artists:* David Crowder Band...
) - Delirious?Delirious?Delirious? were an English Christian rock and worship band. For the majority of their career, the lineup featured Martin Smith on vocals and guitar, Stu G on guitar and backing vocals, Jon Thatcher on bass guitar, Tim Jupp on keys and piano, and Stew Smith on drums and percussion...
(Disbanded) - The ElmsThe ElmsThe Elms may refer to:Places in Canada*The Elms, Toronto, a neighbourhood in TorontoBuildings and places in Great Britain*The Elms an historic Gothic house in Bedhampton, United Kingdom...
(Disbanded) - Geoff Moore and the Distance (Disbanded)
- John Michael TalbotJohn Michael TalbotJohn Michael Talbot is an American Roman Catholic singer-songwriter-guitarist who is founder of a monastic community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity.-Biography:...
(Active, with Troubadour for the Lord) - 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...
(Deceased) - Kirk FranklinKirk FranklinKirk Dwayne Franklin is an American Gospel music musician, choir director, and author, and is most notably known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew .- Early years :...
(Active, with GospoCentric RecordsGospoCentric RecordsGospoCentric Records is an Inglewood, California based Gospel music record label started as an independent label by Vicki Mack Lataillade and Claude Lataillade in 1993. The label rose to prominence in the 90's largely on the runaway success of gospel artist Kirk Franklin. The label has grown to...
) - Kristian StanfillKristian StanfillKristian Stanfill is an American Christian rock singer-songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia. His 2011 album Mountains Move reached #64 on the Billboard 200...
(Active, with sixstepsrecordsSixstepsrecordssixstepsrecords is a record label associated with Passion Conferences. The label was started in Roswell, Georgia in 2000 by Louie Giglio. The stated purposed of the company is "to produce music that draws people to Jesus."-Artists:* David Crowder Band...
) - Margaret BeckerMargaret BeckerMargaret Becker is an American Christian rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She has had twenty-one No. 1 Christian radio hits, won four Dove Awards, and been nominated for four Grammy Awards.-Biography:...
(Active, with Kingsway Music) - Matt RedmanMatt RedmanMatt Redman is an English Christian worship leader, songwriter and author based in Brighton.He has worked with Newfrontiers, Passion Conferences, Hillsong London, Soul Survivor, is an artist for Sixstepsrecords and is a member of Compassionart a charity founded by Martin Smith.He appeared with...
(Active, with sixstepsrecordsSixstepsrecordssixstepsrecords is a record label associated with Passion Conferences. The label was started in Roswell, Georgia in 2000 by Louie Giglio. The stated purposed of the company is "to produce music that draws people to Jesus."-Artists:* David Crowder Band...
) - Michael CardMichael CardMichael Card is an American Christian singer-songwriter, musician, author, and radio host from Franklin, Tennessee. He is best known for his contributions in Contemporary Christian Music, which couple folk-style melodies and instrumentation with lyrics that stem from intensive study of the Bible...
(Active, currently unsigned) - Michelle TumesMichelle TumesMichelle Tumes is a popular Australian Contemporary Christian musician. Michelle was born in Adelaide, Australia.-Career:Tumes first signed with an Australian publisher, but soon after moved to the United States to write songs for CCM musicians such as Jaci Velasquez...
(Active, with EMI CMG) - NeedtobreatheNeedtobreatheNeedtobreathe is an American rock band from Seneca, South Carolina. The band has charted on mainstream rock/pop charts, but have had their greatest number of singles on Christian music charts...
(Active, with Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
) - NewsboysNewsboysNewsboys are a Christian pop rock band founded in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Australia. They have released 15 studio albums, six of which have been certified gold...
(Active, with Inpop RecordsInpop RecordsInpop Records is an independent contemporary Christian music record label based in Franklin, Tennessee, USA. It was launched in July 1999 by Australians Peter Furler, Dale Bray, and Wes Campbell...
) - Out of the GreyOut of the GreyOut of the Grey is a husband-and-wife Contemporary Christian music project consisting of Scott and Christine Denté. Christine provides lead vocals, while Scott plays guitars and sings background, along with the occasional lead vocals. They have released six studio albums, one best-of compilation...
(On Hiatus) - Resurrection BandResurrection BandResurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, was a Christian rock band formed in 1972. They were part of the Jesus People USA Christian community in Chicago and most of its members have continued in that community to this day. Known for their blend of blues-rock and hard rock, Resurrection...
- Robbie Seay BandRobbie Seay BandRobbie Seay Band is a Christian rock/worship band located in Houston, Texas. The band leads worship at Ecclesia, a church in the Neartown area of Houston where Robbie's brother, Chris Seay, is the teaching pastor...
(Active, currently unsigned) - Russ TaffRuss TaffRussell Taff is an American gospel singer who is originally from Farmersville, California. Taff later then moved to Arkansas where he graduated from Cutter-Morning Star High School in Hot Springs, Arkansas....
(Active, with Springhouse Records) - Sheila WalshSheila WalshDr. Sheila Walsh, D.Min. is a Scottish-born contemporary Christian vocalist, songwriter, evangelist, author, inspirational speaker, and talk-show host.-Biography:...
- SkilletSkillet (band)Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996. The band currently consists of husband and wife John and Korey Cooper , along with Jen Ledger and lead guitarist Seth Morrison. The band has released eight albums, two receiving Grammy nominations: Collide and Comatose...
(Active, with Lava RecordsLava RecordsLava Records is an American based record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated through Universal Republic Records.-Company history:...
/Ardent RecordsArdent RecordsArdent Records, often shortened to "Ardent," is a Memphis record label founded by John Fry in 1959. Ardent of the 1960s and 1970s featured pop music acts and was distributed by Stax Records from 1972 until 1975. It is best remembered today for Big Star, whose first two albums, released in 1972...
/Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
) - Steve Green (Active, currently unsigned)
- Steve TaylorSteve TaylorRoland Stephen Taylor , is an American Christian singer, songwriter, record producer and film director.-Early life:Taylor, the eldest of three children, was born in Brawley, California. Taylor's father, Roland Taylor, was a Baptist minister. When Taylor was six years old, the family relocated to...
- Susan AshtonSusan AshtonSusan Ashton is a best-selling and award-winning American Contemporary Christian Music and country music artist who topped the Christian charts throughout the 1990s...
(Active, currently unsigned) - SwitchfootSwitchfootSwitchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
(Active, with lowercase people recordsLowercase people recordslowercase people records is the record label founded and run by the members of the band Switchfoot. It was founded after the band split with their major label, Columbia/SonyBMG. The label's name was drawn from the lyrics of a song written early in the band's career, "Company Car" from 1999's New...
(Switchfoot still has a distribution agreement with Sparrow Records)) - Tim HughesTim HughesTim Hughes is a British worship leader and singer-songwriter. He is currently Director of Worship at Holy Trinity Brompton, an Anglican church in central London, and heads up Worship Central, an international worship training and resource centre.- Personal life :Hughes is the son of an Anglican...
(Active, with Survivor RecordsSurvivor RecordsSurvivor Records is a British Christian Music record label and is a sub-ministry of Kingsway Communications. The label launched in 1997 as a medium by which to publish music associated with the Soul Survivor events...
) - Twila ParisTwila ParisTwila Paris Wright is a Contemporary Christian Music songwriter, author, vocalist and pianist.-Musical career:Since 1980, Twila Paris has released 22 albums, amassed 33 number one Christian Radio singles, and was named the Gospel Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year three years in a row...
(Active, with Koch RecordsKoch RecordsE1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
) - ZOEgirlZOEgirlZOEgirl was a Christian pop rock band. It was formed of singers Chrissy Conway-Katina, Alisa Childers and Kristin Swinford-Schweain. In 2002, ZOEgirl received a GMA Dove Award for New Artist of the Year. Before disbanding, the band released three more studio albums, as well as a remix album and a...
(Disbanded)