Steve Green is 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...

 singer notable for his vocal range (tenor

Tenor

The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...

) and flexible solo style. Over his 35 year career, Green has been honored as a four-time 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...

 nominee, seven-time Dove Award winner. He has had 13 No. 1 songs, and has sold over three million albums.

Career

Green was born in Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...

 to missionary parents, Charles and Jo Green. He is one of six siblings who spent much of his early life in Argentina

Argentina

Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

 though like two of his siblings he attended Phoenix Christian High School in the early 1970s when his family was in the U.S. and graduated from there in 1974. He studied music at Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University is a for-profit Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona. It is owned by Grand Canyon Education . GCU was founded in 1949 as a non-profit liberal arts college. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. purchased Grand Canyon University in February 2004...

, then left to travel with the group Truth. After his two-year stint with Truth, Steve and Marijean were married and moved to Alexandria, Indiana

Alexandria, Indiana

Alexandria is a city in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is about northeast of Indianapolis. It is part of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area...

 to sing backup for the Bill Gaither Trio. In 1980 the Gaither Vocal Band

Gaither Vocal Band

The Gaither Vocal Band is a Grammy award-winning Christian music vocal group, headed by Bill Gaither. They originally recorded contemporary Christian music, but after the popularity of the Gaither Homecoming videos, the group has become known for southern gospel.-Group history:The Gaither Vocal...

 was formed and Steve sang tenor for the first two recordings. In 1982, Steve and Gaither's musicians formed the Christian rock band White Heart

White Heart

White Heart, also listed as Whiteheart, was a Contemporary Christian Music pop-rock band which formed in 1982. White Heart's discography includes thirteen albums, the most recent of which was released in 1997. Original members Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl worked with a continually-changing cast...

, but a difference in ministry vision accompanied by a confrontation with his brother, Randy, led to a spiritual renewal in Steve's life in 1983. He signed a solo contract with Sparrow Records

Sparrow Records

-Background:Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then A&R director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by EMI in 1992, it is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group, and has been named by Billboard Magazine as "America's Best Christian Music Record Label"...

, and his self-titled debut album appeared in 1984. In the same year, he established Steve Green Ministries.

His break out year came in 1985 with the release of He Holds the Keys, which earned Green the Dove Award for Male Vocalist of the Year in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) category. The following year, 1986, saw the release of two recordings, God And God Alone and a worship/hymns album entitled A Mighty Fortress. In early 1988, he released an album dedicated to his parents called Find Us Faithful. As the 1980s came to an end, many of Green's songs became recognized standards including "People Need The Lord" and "Broken And Spilled Out". He was often considered the male version of Sandi Patty, using many of the same songwriters and styles as well as the traditional ending the song on a (literal) high note. Green also contributed background vocals to Patty's 1986 hit, "Let There Be Praise."

Green was involved with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is an organization started by Billy Graham in 1950. The main focus of the BGEA is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible...

 from the mid-1980s onward. Green was one of the first artists to be involved with Promise Keepers

Promise Keepers

Promise Keepers is an international conservative Christian organization for men. While it originated in the United States, it is now world-wide...

, performing at their inaugural event at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado in July 1993 before 50,000 men. His song "Answer The Call" was inspired by the event and another song, "O Men of God Arise," embodies the Promise Keepers' message.

Green recorded The Mission in 1989 and continued his success with We Believe in 1991. As the early 1990s direction of Christian music changed to a more rock oriented format, Green returned to traditional roots by releasing an album of hymns in 1992. Yet Green switched styles toward a more "pop" flavor on his 1994 "Where Mercy Begins" album. He also received the first of two career boosts due to outside events.

On September 8, 1994, USAir Flight 427

USAir Flight 427

US Air Flight 427 was a scheduled flight from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to Pittsburgh, with a final destination of West Palm Beach, Florida...

 crashed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, killing all 132 persons on board. One passenger was an up-and-coming Christian singer named Kirk Lynn, who had just re-recorded Green's "As We Sail To Heaven's Shore" from the 1988 Find Us Faithful album. Only a rough cut played at the memorial service for the passengers. Grieving family members were told of Green's original, which boosted album sales for the older recording.

Green's style change continued on his 1996 recording, The Letter. He was also instrumental in attempting to set up an accountability group for fellow Christian artists and friends.

Green changed focus again in 1998 by declaring he would only record songs that honor the Lord - songs that he could be satisfied with should it be his last recording. That coincided with a controversial ruling 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...

 known as the "Definition of Gospel Music" that erupted with major disqualifications at the ensuing year's Dove Awards over songs that did not honor the Lord. That year saw the release of The Faithful and 2000 saw the release of a devotional song album entitled Morning Light

Morning Light

Morning Light is a 2008 film directed by Mark Monroe and executive produced by Roy Disney. The film was released on October 17, 2008 by Walt Disney Pictures...

. Two years later Green released Woven In Time and again found himself receiving a career boost.

Green was a personal friend of Space Shuttle Columbia

Space Shuttle Columbia

Space Shuttle Columbia was the first spaceworthy Space Shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet. First launched on the STS-1 mission, the first of the Space Shuttle program, it completed 27 missions before being destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003 near the end of its 28th, STS-107. All seven crew...

 commander Rick Husband, who was killed along with six others in the February 2003 disintegration during reentry

Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the death of all seven crew members...

. Green was interviewed by CNN and his song "God Of Wonders" got a boost from the unexpected publicity. He released another album in 2005.

Green's sister is married to Dr. Mark Bailey, president of the evangelical Dallas Theological Seminary

Dallas Theological Seminary

Dallas Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary located in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system known as Dispensationalism...

, and he helped the seminary celebrate its eightieth anniversary in April 2004. He has also written a thirty day devotional titled, "The Power of the Cross" and has recorded numerous children's videos and songs.

His bilingual abilities have seen the release of six Spanish CDs in the United States.

He is married to Marijean Green, whose own vocal qualities complimented her husband's on the song "Household of Faith" on the God And God Alone album and subsequent appearances. The song has become a staple among Christian wedding duets. They have two children, Summer (born 1981) and Josiah (born 1985).

Green has expanded his musical ministry to include videos and James Dobson

James Dobson

James Clayton "Jim" Dobson, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian author, psychologist, and founder in 1977 of Focus on the Family , which he led until 2003. In the 1980s he was ranked as one of the most influential spokesman for conservative social positions in American public life...

's Focus on the Family

Focus on the Family

Focus on the Family is an American evangelical Christian tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1977 by psychologist James Dobson, and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations that rose to prominence in the 1980s...

.

English albums

• Steve Green (1984)
• He Holds the Keys (1985)
• God and God Alone (1986)
• Joy To the World (1987)
• Find Us Faithful (1988)
• The Mission (1989)
• We Believe (1991)
• Hymns: A Portrait of Christ (1992)
• Where Mercy Begins (1994)
• People Need the Lord (compilation) (1995)
• The Letter (1996)
• The First Noel (1996)
• The Faithful (1998)
• Morning Light: Songs To Awaken the Dawn (1999)
• Woven in Time (2002)
• Somewhere Between (2005)
• The Ultimate Collection (2-disc compilation) (2006)
• Always: Songs of Worship (2007)
• A Journey of Faith (Live DVD/CD) (2008)
• Love Will Find A Way (2010)

Spanish albums

• Tienen Que Saber (1987)
• Toma La Cruz (1990)
• Himnos: Un Retrato De Cristo (1992)
• ¡En Vivo! (1994)
• 16 Melodías Bíblicas Para Niños (1994)
• Yo Iré

Kids projects

• Hide 'Em In Your Heart: Bible Memory Melodies, Vol. 1 (1990)
• Hide 'Em In Your Heart: Bible Memory Melodies, vol. 2 (1992)
• Hide 'Em In Your Heart: Praise & Worship for Kids (1998)
• The Adventures of Sir Bernard The Good Knight (2004)

Compilation Appearances

• New Young Messiah (1993)
• Phyllis Hyman: Living All Alone (1987)
• Hymns & Voices (1995)
• Saviour: Story of God's Passion for His People (1994)
• I Will Be Here: 25 of Today's Best Wedding & Love Songs (2002)
• Morning Like This (1986) - Sandi Patty
• Mysteries of the World (1980)
• Sandi Patty Love Overflowing
• Love Overflowing (1981) - Sandi Patty
• Hallelujah!: The Very Best of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir (2000) - Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
• More than Wonderful (1983) - Sandi Patty
  Sandi Patty
  Sandra Faye "Sandi" Patty is an American Christian music singer. For many years she was known as Sandi Patti. She has been dubbed "The Voice" by critics, because of her wide range and flexibility.-Early life:...
  
  
• Songs from the Heart (1984) - Sandi Patty
• No Compromise: Remembering the Music of Keith Green (1992)
• Unveiled Hope (1997) - Michael Card
• Various Artists If My People Pray
• If My People Pray (1999)
• Vital Signs (1984) - White Heart
• Original Soundtrack McCaughey Septuplets: Sweet Dreams
• McCaughey Septuplets: Sweet Dreams (1999) - Original Soundtrack
• Canciones De Lo Alto Del Granero (1994)
• Great Moments in Gospel Music, Vol. 2 (1988)
• Almighty God (1998)
• Coram Deo II (1993) - People of Praise
• Disney Christmas Carols of the Young Messiah-Christmas Carols of the Young Messiah (1995)
• Various Artists Inspirational Homecoming: A Tribute to the Gaither Legacy
• Inspirational Homecoming: A Tribute to the Gaither Legacy (1995)
• Rejoicing (1987)
• 25 Songs of Christmas, Vol. 2 (1985)
• Songs 4 Worship: Holy Ground (2001)
• Wedding Album [Capitol] (1995)
• We Are Called - An Experience in Worship (1983)
• Gaither Vocal Band Reunion Vol 1 & 2 CD\DVD (2009)
• Gaither's Giving Thanks(2010)