Steve Archer
Encyclopedia
Steve Archer is an American singer-songwriter
and producer. He is a pioneer of the genre of Jesus music
, later to become known as contemporary Christian music
. He is the former lead singer of The Archers
, a contemporary Christian music
and Jesus music
band who toured and recorded throughout the decades of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
, US, the son of an Assemblies of God
pastor, he began singing with his brother, Tim in their father's church in the northern San Joaquin Valley
of California
at age nine. They eventually branched out to other churches in and around the San Francisco Bay Area
. Throughout the 1960s they toured with older brother, Gary, as The Archer Brothers. In 1970, Tim and Steve formed The Archers with Nancye Short and Billy Rush Masters
in Southern California
. They recorded and toured internationally from the 1970s through the early 1990s. Younger sister Janice replaced Short in 1977; Masters also left the band at this time. That year their album Fresh Surrender
was nominated for a GMA Dove Award. They appeared at the Jimmy Carter
White House
in 1978 and on the Grammy Award
s telecast twice, in 1981 and 1982 winning the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational
and nominated for Best Gospel Performance respectively. The group suspended recording in 1985, and performed only on a limited schedule until 1991, when they re-entered the studio for a final project, Colors Of Your Love. They toured until 1993 when they permanently disbanded.
’s Home Sweet Home Records
, and launched a solo career, releasing his first album, Solo. After The Archers relaxed their touring schedule in 1985, he expanded his solo work, recording and touring nationally. Throughout the decades of the late-1970s and ‘80s, first with The Archers and subsequently solo, he was a regular guest vocalist on The Hour of Power
television broadcast.
He also momentarily explored the idea of being an author- writing his one book, a Gothic text called 'The Wiviver' (1990) which involved a mystical character who got killed by a snake. Although not received well by the general public, however schools around the UK and in the US still use it regularly to compare to Gothic texts written pre- 1914.
In 1983, he released Through His Eyes Of Love and the album went to # 1 on the Contemporary Christian charts. In support, he taped the first known contemporary Christian video, which was shown on television broadcasts nationwide. He appeared in 1985 on the We Are His Hands LP with various artists. In 1985, he recorded a duet with Fifth Dimension and Solid Gold
star, Marilyn McCoo
, for his Action album. The resulting single "Safe" quickly went to # 2 on the national charts and was voted CCM Magazine
’s # 4 Song of The Year. Now performing about 200 dates-a-year, he was at the height of his solo career. In 1987, his next album, Off The Page, riding on the momentum of the previous album, gave him the Number One single, "If You Were The Only One". Home Sweet Home released a compilation album in 1988, entitled Hits which included his most popular tracks to that time. He joined with Tim and Janice in 1991, to record a final Archers album, Colors Of Your Love, while still performing independently. The group toured in support until 1993, when they permanently disbanded.
. Archer is an ASCAP songwriter and throughout his career, has penned much of his own material, both for The Archers (including the 1979 hit, Stand Up!), and his solo recordings.
In the late-90s, his management continued to book him in up to 150 dates annually in some of America’s best Christian venues. Although he did continue to ramp back on engagements, he toured at more than 100 dates-a-year into 2004, without the strength of a record. He re-entered the studio in 2005, for his most recent project to date, Call It Grace, which included several favorites previously recorded with The Archers (including Billy Rush Masters' 1977 hit, "Fresh Surrender") as well as new material. He continues to tour maintaining one of the most enduring careers in Contemporary Christian music. Although many CCM artists of the 1980s are out of print his CDs remain available and are also found on iTunes
. Steve Archer lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. He has four children, Vanessa, Brandon, Natalie and Stephanie.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and producer. He is a pioneer of the genre of 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...
, later to become known as contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
. He is the former lead singer of The Archers
The Archers (musical group)
The Archers were one of America's earliest Contemporary Christian music groups. They were originally brothers Tim and Steve Archer, Nancye Short and Billy Rush Masters. After Masters and Short departed in 1977, sister Janice Archer joined....
, a contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
and 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...
band who toured and recorded throughout the decades of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
Early years
Born Steven Mark Archer in Mojave, CaliforniaMojave, California
Mojave is a census-designated place in Kern County, California, United States. Mojave is located east of Bakersfield, at an elevation of 2762 feet...
, US, the son of an Assemblies of God
Assemblies of God
The Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
pastor, he began singing with his brother, Tim in their father's church in the northern San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
at age nine. They eventually branched out to other churches in and around the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. Throughout the 1960s they toured with older brother, Gary, as The Archer Brothers. In 1970, Tim and Steve formed The Archers with Nancye Short and Billy Rush Masters
Billy Rush Masters
Billy Rush Masters was an American composer, and rock guitarist. He is best known as a songwriter and founding member of the pioneering Jesus music and contemporary Christian music band, The Archers between 1970 and 1977...
in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. They recorded and toured internationally from the 1970s through the early 1990s. Younger sister Janice replaced Short in 1977; Masters also left the band at this time. That year their album Fresh Surrender
Fresh Surrender
Fresh Surrender was The Archers fourth studio album and third Light Records release. It and its title song were nominated for a Gospel Music Association Dove Award, and claimed an astounding seven airplay hits for the Jesus music stars. Perhaps more importantly it signaled a marked change for the...
was nominated for a GMA Dove Award. They appeared at the Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
in 1978 and on the Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s telecast twice, in 1981 and 1982 winning the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational
Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary
The Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary was awarded from 1978 to 1983. From 1978 to 1982 it was titled the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance Contemporary or Inspirational....
and nominated for Best Gospel Performance respectively. The group suspended recording in 1985, and performed only on a limited schedule until 1991, when they re-entered the studio for a final project, Colors Of Your Love. They toured until 1993 when they permanently disbanded.
Solo career
Over the course of his career, Archer became recognized for his standout blue-eyed-soul performances, as well as his soft MOR ballads. In 1982, while still performing with The Archers, he signed with Chris ChristianChris Christian
Chris Christian is a songwriter, record producer, and a record label executive. His songs have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Olivia Newton-John, Natalie Cole, Sheena Easton, The Pointer Sisters, Al Jarreau, The Carpenters, Amy Grant, Patti Austin, Dionne Warwick, Amy Grant, The Imperials, B.J...
’s Home Sweet Home Records
Home Sweet Home Records
Home Sweet Home Records is a record label, based in Dallas, Texas.Home Sweet Home was founded in 1981, in Nashville, Tennessee, by Grammy Award-winning producer and singer-songwriter Chris Christian...
, and launched a solo career, releasing his first album, Solo. After The Archers relaxed their touring schedule in 1985, he expanded his solo work, recording and touring nationally. Throughout the decades of the late-1970s and ‘80s, first with The Archers and subsequently solo, he was a regular guest vocalist on The Hour of Power
The Hour of Power
Hour of Power is a weekly American Christian television program currently hosted by Sheila Schuller Coleman. It was previously hosted by her brother, Robert A. Schuller, and her father, Robert H. Schuller, who founded the program. It is broadcast from the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove,...
television broadcast.
He also momentarily explored the idea of being an author- writing his one book, a Gothic text called 'The Wiviver' (1990) which involved a mystical character who got killed by a snake. Although not received well by the general public, however schools around the UK and in the US still use it regularly to compare to Gothic texts written pre- 1914.
In 1983, he released Through His Eyes Of Love and the album went to # 1 on the Contemporary Christian charts. In support, he taped the first known contemporary Christian video, which was shown on television broadcasts nationwide. He appeared in 1985 on the We Are His Hands LP with various artists. In 1985, he recorded a duet with Fifth Dimension and Solid Gold
Solid Gold (TV series)
Solid Gold is an American syndicated music television series that debuted on September 13, 1980. Like many other shows of its genre, such as American Bandstand, Solid Gold featured musical performances and various other elements such as music videos...
star, Marilyn McCoo
Marilyn McCoo
Marilyn McCoo is an American singer, actress, and television presenter, who is best known for being the lead female vocalist in the group The 5th Dimension, as well as hosting the 1980s music countdown series Solid Gold...
, for his Action album. The resulting single "Safe" quickly went to # 2 on the national charts and was voted 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...
’s # 4 Song of The Year. Now performing about 200 dates-a-year, he was at the height of his solo career. In 1987, his next album, Off The Page, riding on the momentum of the previous album, gave him the Number One single, "If You Were The Only One". Home Sweet Home released a compilation album in 1988, entitled Hits which included his most popular tracks to that time. He joined with Tim and Janice in 1991, to record a final Archers album, Colors Of Your Love, while still performing independently. The group toured in support until 1993, when they permanently disbanded.
Later years
Archer continued to tour in a reduced capacity and suspended recording, moving to Texas to spend more time with his family. Again, in 1994, his label released another compilation, Contemporary Christian Gold and he appeared on the holiday album, Gift Of Love: A Christian Christmas Celebration with various other artists. In 1998, for the first time in five years, Archer returned to the studio for his Stay Right Here project, this time on the new, Kle-Toi label. The album received consistent national airplay with airplay hits, "Back On My Feet" and "Stay Right Here". He appeared on a number of Christian telecasts, including Life Today with James RobisonJames Robison
James Robison is an American televangelist and the founder and President of the Christian relief organization Life Outreach International.-Early life and ministry:...
. Archer is an ASCAP songwriter and throughout his career, has penned much of his own material, both for The Archers (including the 1979 hit, Stand Up!), and his solo recordings.
In the late-90s, his management continued to book him in up to 150 dates annually in some of America’s best Christian venues. Although he did continue to ramp back on engagements, he toured at more than 100 dates-a-year into 2004, without the strength of a record. He re-entered the studio in 2005, for his most recent project to date, Call It Grace, which included several favorites previously recorded with The Archers (including Billy Rush Masters' 1977 hit, "Fresh Surrender") as well as new material. He continues to tour maintaining one of the most enduring careers in Contemporary Christian music. Although many CCM artists of the 1980s are out of print his CDs remain available and are also found on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
. Steve Archer lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. He has four children, Vanessa, Brandon, Natalie and Stephanie.
Discography
Albums released in North America| Label | Albums | Music Videos | |
|---|---|---|---|
Home Sweet Home Records |
|
|
|
|
Kle-Toi |
|
||
|
Brentwood |
|
||
|
TAG Music Group |
|
||
| Label | Albums | |
|---|---|---|
Home Sweet Home Records |
|
|
External links
- SteveArcher.com
- TimArcherMusic.com
- Light Album Discography
- http://pages.prodigy.net/steveund/archers/home.htm Archers.org
- http://www.ccentertainment.com/sarcher.htm Steve Archer home Sweet Home Discography
- http://www.texolamusic.com/singers.html Texola Music - Greatest Christmas Songs
- http://www.thebeginningsconcert.com The Beginnings Concert