Casting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Christian band that employs a soft rock music style. The band was created in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida [1] as part of a youth group. He also serves as a lead vocalist. Later they moved to McDonough, Georgia and more members joined creating the band now known as Casting Crowns. Some members of the band currently work as ministers for Eagles Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia.

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History

Christian pop group Casting Crowns began as a student worship band in Daytona Beach, FL, in 1999. Led by singer, songwriter, and youth pastor Mark Hall, the group initially included guitarists Juan DeVevo and Hector Cervantes and violinist Melodee DeVevo. The group relocated to McDonough, GA, in 2001, adding Chris Huffman on bass, Megan Garrett on keyboards and accordion, and drummer Andy Williams. This augmented version of Casting Crowns released two independent albums on CD, both of which were well received in the Atlanta area. One of the albums found its way into the hands of Mark Miller, lead singer for country group Sawyer Brown, who was struck by Casting Crowns' driving pop/rock style and Hall's vocal delivery of his hard-hitting but devout songs. Miller signed Casting Crowns to his fledgling Beach Street Records, a division of Reunion Records with distribution by the Provident Label Group, and took the group into the studio along with co-producer Steven Curtis Chapman, himself a popular artist on the CCM musical scene. The resulting eponymous album, Casting Crowns , was released in 2003 on the Beach Street imprint. The album quickly made them one of the fastest selling debut artists in Christian music history. Lifesong followed in 2005, debuting at #9 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart. Both albums have been certified Platinum. The band's third studio album The Altar and the Door debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart and #1 on the Hot Christian Albums chart upon its release in August 2007. Ten weeks after it came out it was certified Gold. The band's live albums Live from Atlanta (2004) and Lifesong Live (2006) have also earned Platinum certifications. The Altar and the Door Live, the live version of The Altar and the Door, has been certified Gold.

Casting Crowns has enjoyed tremendous success in the United States. They have released nine singles to date with seven of them becoming consecutive number one hits on various Christian music charts. "Voice of Truth" spent a record-breaking fourteen consecutive weeks at #1 beginning in 2003. "Lifesong" spent nine weeks in the top spot, with "Praise You in This Storm" remaining at #1 for seven weeks. Casting Crowns broke their own record in 2007 when the single "East to West" from The Altar and the Door hit sixteen consecutive weeks at #1. The song ended up enjoying the top spot for a total of nineteen weeks, now their most successful single to date. "Slow Fade" was also released as a single, and was included in the soundtrack of the Kirk Cameron film Fireproof .

In 2008, Casting Crowns scored their eighth number one hit with "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", a track from their newly-released Christmas album entitled Peace on Earth .

In early 2009, drummer Andy Williams left to pursue a further calling with blessings from the band. The very bald drummer was replaced with Brian Scoggin and his red locks of hair, an irony Mark mentions on tour.

Mark Hall recently announced that their fourth studio album will be called Until the Whole World Hears. It will be released November 2009.. On August 30, 2009 Casting Crowns performed on Huckabee, Mike Huckabee's political show.

Ministry

Casting Crowns frontman Mark Hall calls the band's work a ministry akin to what the world would call "preaching to the choir." In keeping with The Great Commission, Hall describes their music as a "ministry of discipleship." ^[2]

Several members of Casting Crowns currently minister at Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, GA where they play during the Contemporary Worship service on Sunday mornings.

Casting Crowns was of the only US bands to ever have been invited to North Korea. They attended the 2009 April Spring Arts Festival in Pyongyang where they performed with The Annie Moses Band. This was Casting Crowns second time invited to the Festival sponsored by Global Resource Services.

Members

• Mark Hall – lead vocals
• Melodee Devevo – violin, female vocalist
• Juan Devevo – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• Brian Scoggin – drums
• Hector Cervantes – electric guitar
• Chris Huffman – bass
• Megan Garrett – piano, keyboards, backing vocals

Chart Performance

Studio Albums - Billboard (North America)

Year	Album	Peak Chart Positions		RIAA Certifications
		Top Christian Albums	Billboard 200 Albums
2003	Casting Crowns	#2	#59	Platinum
2005	Lifesong	#1	#9	Platinum
2007	The Altar and the Door	#1	#2	Gold
2008	Peace on Earth	#1	#24	-
2009	Until the Whole World Hears	TBR	TBR	TBR

Live Albums - Billboard (North America)

Year	Album	Peak Chart Positions		RIAA Certifications
		Top Christian Albums	Billboard 200 Albums
2004	Live from Atlanta	#16	-	Platinum
2006	Lifesong Live	#16	-	Platinum
2008	The Altar and the Door Live	#6	#114	Gold

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Song	Peak Chart Positions		Album
		Hot Christian Songs	Hot Christian AC
2003	"If We Are the Body"1	3	3	Casting Crowns
2003	"Who Am I?"	1	1
2003	"Voice of Truth"	1	1
2005	"Lifesong"	1	1	Lifesong
2005	"Praise You in This Storm"	1	1
2006	"Does Anybody Hear Her?"	1	1
2007	"East to West"	1	1	The Altar and the Door
2007	"Every Man"	2	3
2008	"Slow Fade"	5	7
2009	"Until the Whole World Hears"	-	-	Until the Whole World Hears

Other Charting Songs - Billboard (North America)

Year	Song	Peak Chart Positions		Album
		Hot Christian Songs	Hot Christian AC
2008	"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"	3	1	Peace on Earth
2008	"While You Were Sleeping"	8	4

¹ Reached #1 on other legitimate radio charts.

² Currently active on the charts.

Additional Chart Achievements

Albums

• Casting Crowns spent 104 weeks on the Top Christian Albums chart.
• Casting Crowns spent 88 weeks on the Billboard 200 Albums chart.
• Lifesong spent 104 weeks on the Top Christian Albums chart.
• Lifesong spent 75 weeks on the Billboard 200 Albums chart.
• The Altar and the Door has spent 68 weeks on the Top Christian Albums chart and remains on the chart as of December 27, 2008.
• The Altar and the Door has spent 66 weeks on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and remains on the chart as of December 27, 2008.
• The Altar and the Door debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart, the highest debut ever for a Christian artist without crossover promotion.

Songs

• "Who Am I?" spent 6 weeks at #1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.
• "Who Am I?" spent 3 weeks at #1 on the Hot Christian AC chart.
• "Voice of Truth" spent a record-breaking 14 weeks at #1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.
• "Voice of Truth" spent a record-breaking 14 weeks at #1 on the Hot Christian AC chart.
• "Voice of Truth" reached #1 on both the Hot Christian Songs and Hot Christian AC charts after only 5 weeks.
• "Lifesong" spent 9 weeks at #1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.
• "Lifesong" spent 8 weeks at #1 on the Hot Christian AC chart.
• "Lifesong" debuted at #18 during its first week on the Hot Christian AC chart.
• "Lifesong" reached #1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart after only 7 weeks.
• "Praise You In This Storm" spent 7 weeks at #1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.
• "Praise You In This Storm" spent 5 weeks at #1 on the Hot Christian AC chart.
• "Does Anybody Hear Her?" spent 6 weeks at #1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.
• "Does Anybody Hear Her?" spent 7 weeks at #1 on the Hot Christian AC chart.
• "East to West" spent a record-breaking 19 weeks at #1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.
• "East to West" spent 12 weeks at #1 on the Hot Christian AC chart.
• "East to West" debuted at #15 during its first week on the Hot Christian Songs chart.
• "East to West" reached #1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart after only 7 weeks.
• "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" debuted at #13 during its first week on the Hot Christian Songs chart.
• "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" reached #1 on the Hot Christian AC chart after only 4 weeks.

Music Videos

• American Dream from the album Casting Crowns
• Does Anybody Hear Her from the album Lifesong
• Slow Fade from the album The Altar and the Door

Books

• Lifestories by Mark Hall
• Your Own Jesus by Mark Hall

Producers/Executive Producers

• Steven Curtis Chapman - Producer for album Casting Crowns
• Mark A. Miller - Producer for album Casting Crowns , Lifesong , The Altar and the Door
• Terry Hemmings - Executive Producer for album Lifesong , The Altar and the Door

Discography

;Studio albums

• 2001: Casting Crowns
• 2002: What If The Whole World Prayed
• 2003: Casting Crowns
• 2005: Lifesong
• 2007: The Altar and the Door
• 2008: Peace on Earth
• 2009: Until the Whole World Hears (November)

;Live albums

• 2004: Live from Atlanta
• 2006: Lifesong Live
• 2008: The Altar and the Door Live

Achievements

• Career sales have exceeded 4 million records.
• Debut album Casting Crowns (released September 30, 2003) certified RIAA Gold in July, 2004, Platinum in February, 2005.
• Live from Atlanta (released September 14, 2004) certified RIAA Gold (500,000 units sold) and Platinum (1,000,000 units sold) in October, 2004.
• Lifesong (released August 30, 2005) certified RIAA Gold in December, 2005, RIAA Platinum in February, 2007.
• Lifesong Live (released October 3, 2006) certified RIAA Gold (50,000 units sold) in January, 2007, RIAA Platinum (100,000 units sold) in May, 2007.
• Voted CCM Readers' Choice Awards "Favorite Band", "Favorite New Artist" and "Favorite Album" in 2005.
• "Lifesong" voted "Inspirational Single of the Year" by online music fans in the 2005 CCMSingles.Net Awards.
• "Praise You in this Storm" was the fifth most played song of 2006 according to R&R magazine ^[3]
• "East To West" voted "AC Single of the Year" and "Inspirational Single of the Year" by online music fans in the 2007 CCMSingles.Net Awards.
• Casting Crowns was the most played artist on Christian Radio in 2007, according Radio & Records Weekly charts (12/10).
• Casting Crowns is the second fastest Christian band in history to have their first two albums certified platinum, the other is Jars of Clay.

2007 American Music Awards

• Contemporary Inspirational Artist of the Year

2007 GMA Dove Awards (2 total wins)

• Group of the Year
• Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for "East to West"

2006 Grammy Awards

• Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album - Lifesong

2005 GMA Music Awards (7 total wins)

• Song of the Year - "Who Am I"
• Group of the Year
• Songwriter of the Year (Mark Hall)
• Pop/ Cont. Recorded Song - "Who Am I"
• Inspirational Recorded Song - "Voice of Truth"

2005 GMA Music Awards Nominations (13 total)

• Song of the Year - "Who Am I"
• Group of the Year
• Male Vocalist of the Year - Mark Hall
• Worship Song of the Year - "Who Am I"
• Artist of the Year
• Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song - "American Dream"
• Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song - "Who Am I"
• Inspirational Recorded Song - "Voice of Truth"
• Short Form Music Video - "American Dream"
• Long Form Music Video - Casting Crowns: Live From Atlanta
• Producer of the Year - Mark A. Miller

2004 GMA Music Awards

• Songwriter of the Year - Mark Hall

2004 GMA Music Award Nominations

• Songwriter of the Year - Mark Hall
• New Artist of the Year
• Pop Contemporary Song of the Year - "If We Are The Body"
• Pop Contemporary Album of the Year

Partnerships and Endorsements

Partnerships

• Jumpstart Resources
• World Vision
• Covenant Eyes ^[4]

Endorsements

• Gibson Guitars
• Avalon Guitars
• Vesper Guitars
• Audix Microphones
• Westone In Ear Monitors
• Pro Mark Drum Sticks
• Ultimate Microphone Stands
• Paul Reed Smith Guitars

References

1. There's No Slow Fade in the Forecast for Casting Crowns
2. MySpace.com - Casting Crowns - - Christian / Rock / Pop - www.myspace.com/castingcrowns
3. As played on the January 7 2007 Weekend 22
4. Casting Crowns Partnership web site