Dc Talk
Encyclopedia
DC Talk is a Grammy
-winning Christian rock music
trio. The group was formed in Lynchburg, Virginia
in 1987 by Toby McKeehan
, Michael Tait
, and Kevin Max Smith
. They have released five major studio albums together: DC Talk
(1989), Nu Thang
(1990), Free at Last
(1992), Jesus Freak (1995), and Supernatural
(1998). In 2002, the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music called DC Talk "the most popular overtly Christian act of all time."
In 2000, the group released an EP titled Solo
which contained two solo songs from each member. Since that time, DC Talk has been on an indefinite hiatus, and the three band members have each led solo careers. They have performed and recorded individual songs together several times during the 2000s, although the group never officially reunited.
The group's musical style evolved significantly throughout their career. Their first two releases, DC Talk and Nu Thang, were of the rap/hip hop
genre. DC Talk's third album, Free at Last, also mainly took influence from the hip hop style, although their music began taking on a rock
sound. The trio's last two albums, Jesus Freak and Supernatural, were predominantly pop rock
.
, was given for being from the Washington D.C., area. While attending Liberty University
, McKeehan met Michael DeWayne Tait (1966- ), and the two began to perform together. Tait had been featured singing on Jerry Falwell
’s The Old Time Gospel Hour and recorded with the Falwell Singers. He also performed solo, what TobyMac later described his "kind of an R&B / church-oriented music."
The two joined forces to record a song that McKeehan had written, “Heavenbound”. They performed the song before an audience of 8,000 Liberty students with McKeehan rapping and Tait singing the chorus. The song was well received, selling out the approximately 3,000 copies of their demo tape, Christian Rhymes to a Rhythm. The tape included "Heavenbound” and was distributed by the group in the Washington D.C. area. The group’s demo tape eventually led to a recording contract with Forefront Records
in 1988. Kevin Max Smith, later "Kevin Max", (1967- ) came from a campus rock band to join the group, and the trio called themselves “DC Talk and the One Way Crew". The name was later simplified to “DC Talk”, which came to stand for “decent Christian talk”.
, in 1989 with Mike Valliere and Vic Mignogna
. The music video for their first single, "Heavenbound", received airplay on the BET
network. The album became the best selling debut by a Christian artist, but has since been surpassed.
, and a Christmas EP titled Yo, Ho, Ho!, were released in 1990. Yo Ho Ho had three songs, the track title, "Reason for the Season" and "The King", which was also on DC Talk's first album. Nu Thang had two successful singles: "I Luv Rap Music" and "Can I Get a Witness". Apart from dealing strictly with Christian themes, the band incorporated songs addressing social issues, such as racism
in the song "Walls" and abortion in "Children Can Live Without It". The hip hop/pop styling of the album earned the band attention, expanding the group's audience, and by 1991, Nu Thang had sold 200,000 copies. The band became an opening act for Michael W. Smith
and received a Dove Award. The release of their Rap, Rock, n' Soul video garnered a wider audience for the group, being certified gold for long form video.
In 1992, a year after its release,Nu Thang sold more than 300,000 copies and gave the trio two more Dove Awards. In addition to the increasing attention that the group began to receive, DC Talk appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show
that same year. "Nu Thang" ended up being certified gold, selling over 500,000 copies, an impressive feat for a Christian artist at that time.
, which was later RIAA-certified as Platinum. In 2001, CCM ranked "Free at Last" as the 9th best album in Christian music. The album produced six Christian radio
hits, including "I Don't Want It", a cover version of the Bill Withers
song "Lean on Me
" and a remake of "Jesus Is Just Alright
", originally recorded by the Art Reynolds Singers. It stayed at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard
CCM sales chart for 34 weeks. Dc Talk became one of the first contemporary Christian artists to perform on late-night television when, in the fall of 1993, the band performed "Jesus Is Still Alright" on The Tonight Show
with Jay Leno
. Free at Last also garnered the group's first Grammy Award
for Best Rock Gospel Album in 1994. The success of the album is attributed to the group moving away from a strictly rap sound to a blend of hip hop
and pop
. The album also prompted the filming of a documentary film with the same name.
, and was heavily promoted on Lightmusic TV, a Christian music video show. After months of teaser trailers, they abruptly stopped. A trailer included in the enhanced CD
single of "Jesus Freak" advertised a September 17, 1995 theatrical release date for the film. It was never released to theaters, as it could not find a distributor. Eight years after the film was to be released theatrically, the movie was finally released on DVD in unfinished form. Some of the footage used for the movie was shown in the video for the song "The Hardway". In 1994, they released one more Christmas single which was their remix version of the classic, "We Three Kings" which was on the album "Joyful Christmas" featuring many other Christian artists.
. The album, which was ultimately certified double platinum, was certified gold within thirty days of its release. This album was a fusion of the musical stylings, with a more pop
-rock
oriented sound combined with hip hop
.
Jesus Freak marked a milestone in the group's commercial career as they signed a deal with Virgin Records
in 1996 to distribute their music to the mainstream market. It also earned dc Talk their second Grammy.
The title track is also of historical importance. It is believed to be the first link between grunge and rapcore in CCM, and was the first non-AC song to win the Dove Award for Song of the Year. The song was also played on some secular stations.
"Between You and Me
" was a successful single, reaching No. 24 and No. 29 respectively on Billboard
s Adult Contemporary and Hot 100 and No. 12 on Casey's Top 40
, while the video received regular airtime on MTV
and VH1
.
With the release of the album, the group launched a massive tour titled the Freakshow Tour, which took the trio across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The group released a live video titled Live in Concert: Welcome To The Freak Show which contained footage from the Freakshow tour. An audio CD of the soundtrack from the video was also released under the same title, reaching No. 109 on the Billboard 200. The CD Welcome to the Freakshow was certified gold and won dc Talk another Grammy award.
, released in 1998, was their last all-new studio album. Upon release, the album overtook Jesus Freak to set a new record for the highest first week sales for a Christian release. It debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 charts, an unprecedented event for a Christian rock
album. Supernatural abandoned the hip hop/rap style found on the group's earlier releases to settle for the pop/rock sound. The group has stated in The Supernatural Experience video that this album was different; it was a collaborative effort of all three members. The songs "Consume Me", "Into Jesus", "Red Letters", and "My Friend (So Long)" received their fair share of radio play on Modern Rock, Contemporary Christian, and Alternative outlets. The group then embarked on a 60-city tour across the United States titled, The Supernatural Experience. Footage from the tour was combined with interviews and released as The Supernatural Experience video and was certified gold for long form video.
In addition to touring and recording Supernatural
, the members of the group went on to co-author a book titled Jesus Freaks
in collaboration with The Voice of the Martyrs
in 1999. The book contains the shortened biographies and incidents in the lives of famous and lesser-known Christians who stood up for their faith. Since then, the group has co-authored a series of other books.
was then released, containing many of their previously recorded songs either remixed or in their original formats. Two new songs, "Chance" and "Sugar Coat It", were recorded for the album. Intermission reached No. 81 on the Billboard 200
.
In 2000, the members announced that they would be taking a break from the group to pursue solo efforts. They released Solo: Special Edition EP, which contained two new songs from each member's solo ventures and a live version of the U2
song "40" performed by all three members. The EP reached No. 142 on the Billboard 200 and won dc Talk their fourth Grammy award.
DC Talk also planned and postponed a tour for the winter of 2002, starting with Fairfax, Va.
, entitled "Let's Roll
". The group also released a 10th Anniversary Edition of their 1992 album Free at Last
, which includes all of the songs from the original album (including interludes), a 2002 remake of "The Hardway", as well as a commentary at the end. The Special Edition releases also include the DVD of their Free At Last
documentary, as well as the music videos for "The Hardway" and "Jesus Is Just Alright
".
In 2004, DC Talk reunited for a remix of tobyMac's "Atmosphere" as the final track of the Welcome to Diverse City
album.
On September 12, 2005, DC Talk briefly reunited during a concert on September 12, in Redmond, WA. They played the songs, "In the Light" and "Jesus Freak
".
On January 12, 2006, Gotee Records
(founded by DC Talk's TobyMac
) announced the production of a 10th anniversary Jesus Freak tribute album entitled, Freaked!
. This album, which was released in June 2006, features songs from such Gotee Records
artists as Relient K
, Sarah Kelly
, The Showdown
, House of Heroes
, Verbs, Liquid
, and Family Force 5
. It also features a reunion of the Gotee Brothers.
In August 2006, an album titled The Early Years
was released. It is a compilation of songs from their first three albums.
On December 26, 2006, a 10th Anniversary Special Edition Jesus Freak album was released.
In 2007, DC Talk covered the Prince
penned song "The Cross", featuring on Kevin's album, The Blood
.
In 2008, Gospel Music Channel interviewed TobyMac, Michael Tait, Joey Elwood, Michael W. Smith
, Greg Ham, Peter York, Amanda McKeehan, and Dan Pitts for a TV show called Faith and Fame. The group also released another Greatest Hits
album.
In 2010, the trio performed with Aaron Shust
, Brandon Heath
, Matthew West
, Natalie Grant
, Steven Curtis Chapman
, Casting Crowns
, and many other artists to serve as backing choir for "Come Together Now", a song about the 2010 Haiti earthquake
s. The song was co-written by Michael W. Smith
, David Mullen
, and Cindy Morgan
.
On February 21, 2010, TobyMac and Michael Tait, along with the Newsboys
, performed the song "Jesus Freak" during Winter Jam in Nashville, Tennessee.
In June 2010, Kevin Max twittered that he was trying to arrange a reunion tour for "perhaps" 2011.
On August 3, 2010 "Jesus Freak" was released as a download to the Rock Band store. The song has a "Supervision Recommended" rating. The Rock Band store states that "Supervision Recommended" tracks "may contain suggestive lyrics and the infrequent use of strong language," and the song is not playable in LEGO Rock Band due to the rating.
In October 2010, Kevin Max discussed the prospect of new DC Talk music. He admitted that he would love to make more music but he thinks "that time has passed us by..." He then explained, "as individuals we are so different in our approaches that it might be quite a process." Kevin expressed interest in a reunion tour for the fans.
In January 2011, TobyMac stated that a reunion tour would probably happen "sooner or later.” He mentioned talking with Michael and Kevin about "when it should be" and "what it could look like." Fans hoping for a reunion tour in the near future may be disappointed: "Right now, I think we’re really just enjoying the mountain we’re climbing, each of us individually. It’s never been a completely closed door. We’ve always sort of laughed about it, smiled about it. It’s timing, I guess."
On May 28 and 29, 2011, at the Big Church Day Out in Wiston, UK, Toby joined the Newsboys twice to perform "Jesus Freak", and Michael sang "In the Light" on both days with Toby's band, Diverse City.
In June 2011, Toby admitted that he thought about Kevin and Michael for every song that he writes. His song “Wonderin’” is about his past with Kevin and Michael in DC Talk. “It’s just a warm look back at DC Talk,” says Toby, almost wistfully. “It’s reminiscing about Michael and Kevin and what we did together, and recognizing their influence on me. I love what I do today, but there are times when I wonder, What if we stayed together? I’ve got these dreams I’m pursuing now, but are they stealing me from you?”
On June 7, 2011, Back 2 Back Hits was released featuring songs off Jesus Freak and Supernatural.
, released in February 2007 and debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. In 2008, he released a live CD/DVD combo entitled Alive and Transported
. On February 9, 2010, Tonight
, his fourth studio album was released .
McKeehan has had some success in reaching the mainstream market. For example, his song "Showstopper" from his album Tonight has been used by the NFL Network, for the WWE's Fatal 4-Way pay-per-view event in 2010, and in the opening game of the 2009 World Series. His song "Ignition" from Portable Sounds
was used several times as well, including when the Arizona Cardinals entered the stadium for the 2009 Superbowl.
. The band's first release was Empty in 2001, which included the single "Loss for Words". Lose This Life was the follow-up album released in 2003. It contained the singles "Lose This Life", "God Can You Hear Me", and a hidden track
, "Christmas Song". Tait planned to release Loveology in 2007, an album he has been working on for a few years with Ben Moody
. Its release has been delayed for unknown reasons. Tait also featured in the Rock Opera !Hero
, as the main character, Hero. The production is a modern retelling of Jesus' life, as if he were born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. On March 9, 2009, it was announced that Peter Furler
was stepping down from touring and from his role as lead singer of Newsboys
, with Tait replacing him. His first album with the band was Born Again, which was released in July 2010.
was released by Forefront Records
in 2001, and included the singles "You", "Be", and "Existence". He signed with Northern Records
to release his next three projects. Between the Fence and the Universe was an EP released in 2004, and his next major studio album, The Imposter, was released in 2005. Holy Night
, a Christmas
album, was also released in 2005 through the Northern label. The Blood
was released on December 26, 2007 by Infinity Music Distribution. It features cover
s of several well known gospel songs, both classic and contemporary, as well as the original-written track "One Way, One Blood". The album includes collaborations with several other artists, including Chris Sligh
and Amy Grant
. dc Talk made an appearance on his version of Prince
's song "The Cross", with each member singing one verse in the beginning of the song. In 2008, Max starred in the independent film The Imposter, named after his first full length project on Northern Records, and also went on to saying it was not executed the way he wanted it to be. In early 2009 he released an EP titled "Crashing Gates
" and partnered with independent label dpulse, which subsequently re-released his previous poetry collaboration with Adrian Belew.
(as evidenced by "Colored People", the second track of Jesus Freak), as well as the uncompromising Christian
message in its music. "We're very open about our Christian
faith," says McKeehan, "but when we make our records we want to create a musical experience that anyone can immerse themselves in." But still, he says, "one of our goals is to encourage listeners to question themselves and to seek out truth."
E.R.A.C.E. (Eliminating Racism And Creating Equality) was launched in September 1997 when dc Talk participated in the "Racial Reconciliation Rally" in Little Rock, Arkansas
. The rally was part of a week-long emphasis on racial reconciliation.
In 1998, the group began the E.R.A.C.E. Foundation to combat racism. The foundation was started after four years of discussion and planning with manager Dan Pitts and Gotee Records
President, Joey Elwood. The primary aim of the foundation is to educate and equip America's youth with "an understanding of the importance of interracial unity". The foundation works on healing historically divided groups and healing rifts within the society.
Band
s
GMA Dove Awards
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...
-winning Christian rock 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...
trio. The group was formed in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
in 1987 by Toby McKeehan
TobyMac
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
, Michael Tait
Michael Tait
Michael DeWayne Tait is a Contemporary Christian Music artist. Michael Tait met Toby McKeehan and Kevin Max while attending Liberty University in the late 1980s, and formed four-time grammy winning band DC Talk, with whom he released 5 acclaimed studio albums...
, and Kevin Max Smith
Kevin Max
Kevin Max Smith is an American singer, songwriter, and poet. He is best known for being a member of the Christian pop group dc Talk...
. They have released five major studio albums together: DC Talk
DC Talk (album)
DC Talk is the first studio album released from vocal trio DC Talk. It is the most hip hop-oriented of all of their albums as each later album gradually progressed into a more rock-centered sound. Michael Tait stated that their original goal for the album was to sell 10,000 units. It sold 7,142...
(1989), Nu Thang
Nu Thang
Nu Thang is the second studio album from DC Talk, which was released in 1990. It was certified Gold by RIAA.-Track listing:#"When DC Talks" – 2:28#"He Works" – 3:39#"I Luv Rap Music" – 3:49#"No More" – 3:37#"Nu Thang" – 4:12...
(1990), Free at Last
Free at Last (dc Talk album)
Free at Last is the third studio album from DC Talk, which was released in 1992. Music videos were filmed for "Jesus Is Just Alright", "The Hardway" and "Luv Is A Verb"...
(1992), Jesus Freak (1995), and Supernatural
Supernatural (DC Talk album)
Supernatural is the sixth studio album from DC Talk. It was the last album released by DC Talk that featured all-new studio material and it debuted on the US Billboard Chart at #4...
(1998). In 2002, the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music called DC Talk "the most popular overtly Christian act of all time."
In 2000, the group released an EP titled Solo
Solo (dc Talk album)
Solo is an EP from DC Talk that consists entirely of the band's solo efforts with the exception of one number performed by the entire band, a live-performance cover of U2's 40.-Track listing:#"40 " – 2:40#"Alibi" - 4:12...
which contained two solo songs from each member. Since that time, DC Talk has been on an indefinite hiatus, and the three band members have each led solo careers. They have performed and recorded individual songs together several times during the 2000s, although the group never officially reunited.
The group's musical style evolved significantly throughout their career. Their first two releases, DC Talk and Nu Thang, were of the rap/hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
genre. DC Talk's third album, Free at Last, also mainly took influence from the hip hop style, although their music began taking on a 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...
sound. The trio's last two albums, Jesus Freak and Supernatural, were predominantly pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
.
Formation
“DC Talk” was a nickname that Toby Michael McKeehan, later "TobyMac", (1964- ), who was born in Falls Church, VirginiaFalls Church, Virginia
The City of Falls Church is an independent city in Virginia, United States, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The city population was 12,332 in 2010, up from 10,377 in 2000. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Anglican parish, Falls Church gained township status within...
, was given for being from the Washington D.C., area. While attending Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
, McKeehan met Michael DeWayne Tait (1966- ), and the two began to perform together. Tait had been featured singing on Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Lamon Falwell, Sr. was an evangelical fundamentalist Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and a conservative commentator from the United States. He was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia...
’s The Old Time Gospel Hour and recorded with the Falwell Singers. He also performed solo, what TobyMac later described his "kind of an R&B / church-oriented music."
The two joined forces to record a song that McKeehan had written, “Heavenbound”. They performed the song before an audience of 8,000 Liberty students with McKeehan rapping and Tait singing the chorus. The song was well received, selling out the approximately 3,000 copies of their demo tape, Christian Rhymes to a Rhythm. The tape included "Heavenbound” and was distributed by the group in the Washington D.C. area. The group’s demo tape eventually led to a recording contract with Forefront Records
ForeFront Records
ForeFront Records is a Christian Music record label founded in 1987 by Dan R. Brock, Eddie DeGarmo, Dana Key, and Ron W. Griffin. It was purchased by EMI in 1996 from current owners Dan R. Brock and Eddie DeGarmo and is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group.In 1998, ForeFront released a 2-CD...
in 1988. Kevin Max Smith, later "Kevin Max", (1967- ) came from a campus rock band to join the group, and the trio called themselves “DC Talk and the One Way Crew". The name was later simplified to “DC Talk”, which came to stand for “decent Christian talk”.
DC Talk (1989)
After signing the recording contract with ForeFront the label released their self-titled debut album, DC TalkDC Talk (album)
DC Talk is the first studio album released from vocal trio DC Talk. It is the most hip hop-oriented of all of their albums as each later album gradually progressed into a more rock-centered sound. Michael Tait stated that their original goal for the album was to sell 10,000 units. It sold 7,142...
, in 1989 with Mike Valliere and Vic Mignogna
Vic Mignogna
Victor Joseph "Vic" Mignogna is an American Anime Award winning voice actor and musician who has done voice work for many anime series, movies, and video games...
. The music video for their first single, "Heavenbound", received airplay on the BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
network. The album became the best selling debut by a Christian artist, but has since been surpassed.
Nu Thang (1990)
Their follow-up release, Nu ThangNu Thang
Nu Thang is the second studio album from DC Talk, which was released in 1990. It was certified Gold by RIAA.-Track listing:#"When DC Talks" – 2:28#"He Works" – 3:39#"I Luv Rap Music" – 3:49#"No More" – 3:37#"Nu Thang" – 4:12...
, and a Christmas EP titled Yo, Ho, Ho!, were released in 1990. Yo Ho Ho had three songs, the track title, "Reason for the Season" and "The King", which was also on DC Talk's first album. Nu Thang had two successful singles: "I Luv Rap Music" and "Can I Get a Witness". Apart from dealing strictly with Christian themes, the band incorporated songs addressing social issues, such as racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
in the song "Walls" and abortion in "Children Can Live Without It". The hip hop/pop styling of the album earned the band attention, expanding the group's audience, and by 1991, Nu Thang had sold 200,000 copies. The band became an opening act for Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith
Michael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
and received a Dove Award. The release of their Rap, Rock, n' Soul video garnered a wider audience for the group, being certified gold for long form video.
In 1992, a year after its release,Nu Thang sold more than 300,000 copies and gave the trio two more Dove Awards. In addition to the increasing attention that the group began to receive, DC Talk appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show
The Arsenio Hall Show
The Arsenio Hall Show is an American variety/talk show that aired late weeknights in syndication from January 3, 1989 to May 27, 1994. The show was created and hosted by comedian/actor Arsenio Hall.- Background :...
that same year. "Nu Thang" ended up being certified gold, selling over 500,000 copies, an impressive feat for a Christian artist at that time.
Free at Last (1992)
In 1992, the group released an album that would forever change the landscape of Christian music, Free at LastFree at Last (dc Talk album)
Free at Last is the third studio album from DC Talk, which was released in 1992. Music videos were filmed for "Jesus Is Just Alright", "The Hardway" and "Luv Is A Verb"...
, which was later RIAA-certified as Platinum. In 2001, CCM ranked "Free at Last" as the 9th best album in Christian music. The album produced six Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
hits, including "I Don't Want It", a cover version of the Bill Withers
Bill Withers
William Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"...
song "Lean on Me
Lean on Me (song)
"Lean on Me" is a song written and released by Bill Withers in 1972.It was his first and only number one on both the soul singles and the Billboard Hot 100. It is ranked number 205 on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Numerous cover versions have been recorded, and it is one of...
" and a remake of "Jesus Is Just Alright
Jesus Is Just Alright
"Jesus Is Just Alright" is a gospel song written by Arthur Reid Reynolds and first recorded by Reynolds' own group, The Art Reynolds Singers, on their 1966 album, Tellin' It Like It Is....
", originally recorded by the Art Reynolds Singers. It stayed at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
CCM sales chart for 34 weeks. Dc Talk became one of the first contemporary Christian artists to perform on late-night television when, in the fall of 1993, the band performed "Jesus Is Still Alright" on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
with Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
. Free at Last also garnered the group's first 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...
for Best Rock Gospel Album in 1994. The success of the album is attributed to the group moving away from a strictly rap sound to a blend of hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. The album also prompted the filming of a documentary film with the same name.
Free at Last the Movie
During the Free at Last tour, the band was followed around by camera crews to film a documentary. The documentary was going to be released as a theatrical film, Free at Last: the MovieFree at Last: the Movie
Free at Last: the Movie is the first DVD released by dc Talk. It is a documentary that follows the band after the release of their groundbreaking album, Free at Last...
, and was heavily promoted on Lightmusic TV, a Christian music video show. After months of teaser trailers, they abruptly stopped. A trailer included in the enhanced CD
Enhanced CD
Enhanced CD, also known as CD Extra and CD Plus, is a certification mark of the Recording Industry Association of America for various technologies that combine audio and computer data for use in both Compact Disc and CD-ROM players....
single of "Jesus Freak" advertised a September 17, 1995 theatrical release date for the film. It was never released to theaters, as it could not find a distributor. Eight years after the film was to be released theatrically, the movie was finally released on DVD in unfinished form. Some of the footage used for the movie was shown in the video for the song "The Hardway". In 1994, they released one more Christmas single which was their remix version of the classic, "We Three Kings" which was on the album "Joyful Christmas" featuring many other Christian artists.
Jesus Freak (1995–1997)
Jesus Freak was released in 1995, and it achieved the highest first-week sales of any Christian release in history, reaching No. 16 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. The album, which was ultimately certified double platinum, was certified gold within thirty days of its release. This album was a fusion of the musical stylings, with a more pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
-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...
oriented sound combined with hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
.
Jesus Freak marked a milestone in the group's commercial career as they signed a deal with Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
in 1996 to distribute their music to the mainstream market. It also earned dc Talk their second Grammy.
The title track is also of historical importance. It is believed to be the first link between grunge and rapcore in CCM, and was the first non-AC song to win the Dove Award for Song of the Year. The song was also played on some secular stations.
"Between You and Me
Between You and Me
"Between You And Me" is a song by the American contemporary Christian music group DC Talk...
" was a successful single, reaching No. 24 and No. 29 respectively on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Adult Contemporary and Hot 100 and No. 12 on Casey's Top 40
Casey's Top 40
Casey's Top 40 was a CHR/Pop music countdown that was hosted by Casey Kasem and distributed by Westwood One from 1989-1998. Kasem joined Westwood One when he was unable to reach an agreement with ABC Radio Networks in 1988, who was the distributor of American Top 40 at the time.-Similarities...
, while the video received regular airtime on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
.
With the release of the album, the group launched a massive tour titled the Freakshow Tour, which took the trio across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The group released a live video titled Live in Concert: Welcome To The Freak Show which contained footage from the Freakshow tour. An audio CD of the soundtrack from the video was also released under the same title, reaching No. 109 on the Billboard 200. The CD Welcome to the Freakshow was certified gold and won dc Talk another Grammy award.
Supernatural (1998–2000)
SupernaturalSupernatural (DC Talk album)
Supernatural is the sixth studio album from DC Talk. It was the last album released by DC Talk that featured all-new studio material and it debuted on the US Billboard Chart at #4...
, released in 1998, was their last all-new studio album. Upon release, the album overtook Jesus Freak to set a new record for the highest first week sales for a Christian release. It debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 charts, an unprecedented event for a Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
album. Supernatural abandoned the hip hop/rap style found on the group's earlier releases to settle for the pop/rock sound. The group has stated in The Supernatural Experience video that this album was different; it was a collaborative effort of all three members. The songs "Consume Me", "Into Jesus", "Red Letters", and "My Friend (So Long)" received their fair share of radio play on Modern Rock, Contemporary Christian, and Alternative outlets. The group then embarked on a 60-city tour across the United States titled, The Supernatural Experience. Footage from the tour was combined with interviews and released as The Supernatural Experience video and was certified gold for long form video.
In addition to touring and recording Supernatural
Supernatural (dc Talk album)
Supernatural is the sixth studio album from DC Talk. It was the last album released by DC Talk that featured all-new studio material and it debuted on the US Billboard Chart at #4...
, the members of the group went on to co-author a book titled Jesus Freaks
Jesus Freaks (book)
Jesus Freaks is a 1999 book by dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs. The name comes from the hit album that they released in 1995. It includes stories and testimonies of Christians from all over the world, past and present, who have been persecuted, tortured, or martyred for their Christian beliefs...
in collaboration with The Voice of the Martyrs
Voice of the Martyrs
The Voice of the Martyrs is the name of several related Christian organizations founded through the influence of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand in such countries as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. These VOM missions aim to raise awareness about the many thousands of Christians...
in 1999. The book contains the shortened biographies and incidents in the lives of famous and lesser-known Christians who stood up for their faith. Since then, the group has co-authored a series of other books.
Hiatus Begins (2000)
In 2000, DC Talk hosted a show titled Intermission: A Decade of DC Talk. A compilation album titled Intermission: The Greatest HitsIntermission: the Greatest Hits
Intermission: the Greatest Hits is the seventh album released by DC Talk. It is compiled of songs from some of their earlier albums, including their best known album, Jesus Freak. The songs "Chance" and "Sugar Coat It", along with a remix of "Say The Words", are songs that were recorded...
was then released, containing many of their previously recorded songs either remixed or in their original formats. Two new songs, "Chance" and "Sugar Coat It", were recorded for the album. Intermission reached No. 81 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
.
In 2000, the members announced that they would be taking a break from the group to pursue solo efforts. They released Solo: Special Edition EP, which contained two new songs from each member's solo ventures and a live version of the U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
song "40" performed by all three members. The EP reached No. 142 on the Billboard 200 and won dc Talk their fourth Grammy award.
DC Talk also planned and postponed a tour for the winter of 2002, starting with Fairfax, Va.
Reunions and Developments Since Hiatus (2000-Present)
In September 2002, DC Talk reunited to record and release a single about the September 11, 2001 attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, entitled "Let's Roll
Let's roll
"Let's roll" is a catchphrase that has been used extensively as a term to move and start an activity, attack, mission or project. After the September 11 attacks, the phrase, especially in the United States, has come to symbolize heroism, self sacrifice and initiative in a tough situation...
". The group also released a 10th Anniversary Edition of their 1992 album Free at Last
Free at Last (dc Talk album)
Free at Last is the third studio album from DC Talk, which was released in 1992. Music videos were filmed for "Jesus Is Just Alright", "The Hardway" and "Luv Is A Verb"...
, which includes all of the songs from the original album (including interludes), a 2002 remake of "The Hardway", as well as a commentary at the end. The Special Edition releases also include the DVD of their Free At Last
Free at Last: the Movie
Free at Last: the Movie is the first DVD released by dc Talk. It is a documentary that follows the band after the release of their groundbreaking album, Free at Last...
documentary, as well as the music videos for "The Hardway" and "Jesus Is Just Alright
Jesus Is Just Alright
"Jesus Is Just Alright" is a gospel song written by Arthur Reid Reynolds and first recorded by Reynolds' own group, The Art Reynolds Singers, on their 1966 album, Tellin' It Like It Is....
".
In 2004, DC Talk reunited for a remix of tobyMac's "Atmosphere" as the final track of the Welcome to Diverse City
Welcome to Diverse City (album)
Welcome to Diverse City is the second full length studio album released by Christian singer TobyMac. The songs on this album deal with racial tolerance in society and a desire to know God better...
album.
On September 12, 2005, DC Talk briefly reunited during a concert on September 12, in Redmond, WA. They played the songs, "In the Light" and "Jesus Freak
Jesus Freak (song)
"Jesus Freak" is a song by the American contemporary Christian music group DC Talk. Released on August 1, 1995, it was the lead radio single from the group's self-titled fourth album. The song was written and produced by Toby McKeehan and Mark Heimermann...
".
On January 12, 2006, Gotee Records
Gotee Records
Gotee Records is a record label founded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan , Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood...
(founded by DC Talk's TobyMac
TobyMac
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
) announced the production of a 10th anniversary Jesus Freak tribute album entitled, Freaked!
Freaked!
Freaked! is a tribute album to the album Jesus Freak. It features artists from Gotee singing most of the songs on the original album. The last track from Jesus Freak is omitted, as it was a poem by Kevin Max.-Track listing:...
. This album, which was released in June 2006, features songs from such Gotee Records
Gotee Records
Gotee Records is a record label founded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan , Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood...
artists as Relient K
Relient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
, Sarah Kelly
Sarah Kelly
Sarah Kelly is a contemporary Christian artist from Rockford, Illinois. She was signed to Gotee Records, a Christian label under EMI. Kelly is a two time Grammy Award nominee for albums "Take Me Away" and Where The Past Meets Today in the category of Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album...
, The Showdown
The Showdown (band)
The Showdown is a southern metal/metalcore band based in Elizabethton, Tennessee. While the members of the band are Christian and the band is signed to a Christian record label, the band does not consider itself a Christian act, according to guitarist Josh Childers...
, House of Heroes
House of Heroes
House of Heroes is an alternative rock band from Columbus, Ohio. They were also known by the name No Tagbacks. They are generally considered to be Christian rock, though their lyrics are not always transparently Christian...
, Verbs, Liquid
Liquid
Liquid is one of the three classical states of matter . Like a gas, a liquid is able to flow and take the shape of a container. Some liquids resist compression, while others can be compressed. Unlike a gas, a liquid does not disperse to fill every space of a container, and maintains a fairly...
, and Family Force 5
Family Force 5
Family Force 5 is a Christian crunk rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. They consist of Solomon "Soul Glow Activatur" Olds, Jacob "Crouton" Olds, Joshua "Fatty" Olds, Nathan "Nadaddy" Currin, and Derek "Chap Stique" Mount...
. It also features a reunion of the Gotee Brothers.
In August 2006, an album titled The Early Years
The Early Years (dc Talk album)
The Early Years is a compilation album from DC Talk featuring songs from their first three studio albums. The album was released to introduce newer fans of the group to their older material.-Track listing:#"Heavenbound" - 3:52...
was released. It is a compilation of songs from their first three albums.
On December 26, 2006, a 10th Anniversary Special Edition Jesus Freak album was released.
In 2007, DC Talk covered the Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
penned song "The Cross", featuring on Kevin's album, The Blood
The Blood (album)
The Blood is an album by Christian music artist Kevin Max that was released December 26, 2007.-Overview:Unlike Max's previous albums , The Blood is a gospel album instead of having his usual rock stylings...
.
In 2008, Gospel Music Channel interviewed TobyMac, Michael Tait, Joey Elwood, Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith
Michael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
, Greg Ham, Peter York, Amanda McKeehan, and Dan Pitts for a TV show called Faith and Fame. The group also released another Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (dc Talk album)
Greatest Hits is a compilation album from DC Talk that include most of their chart-topping radio singles and fan favorites spanning the course of their career...
album.
In 2010, the trio performed with Aaron Shust
Aaron Shust
Aaron Michael Shust is an American Contemporary Christian Music artist on the Centricity Music label. Shust was named the songwriter of the year at the GMA Dove Awards of 2007, and his song "My Savior My God" received the Song of the Year award.-Biography:Shust grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, Brandon Heath
Brandon Heath
Brandon Heath is a contemporary Christian musician from Nashville, Tennessee. He has released three studio albums: Don't Get Comfortable , What If We and "Leaving Eden" . He is best known for the No. 1 "I'm Not Who I Was" and "Give Me Your Eyes". He was nominated four times at the Dove Awards of...
, 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...
, Natalie Grant
Natalie Grant
Natalie Grant is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. Her work has gained prominence, including four consecutive Dove Awards for best female artist, and with her signature song, Held...
, 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,...
, Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band. Casting Crowns was started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida as part of a youth group. He now serves as a lead vocalist...
, and many other artists to serve as backing choir for "Come Together Now", a song about the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
s. The song was co-written by Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith
Michael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
, David Mullen
David Mullen (singer)
David Mullen is a former University of Florida football player, turned Contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter and producer. He released his first album in 1989, and won the GMA Dove Award for New Artist of the Year in 1990. He later married fellow Christian singer Nicole C. Mullen,...
, and Cindy Morgan
Cindy Morgan (singer)
Cindy Morgan is a Christian singer and songwriter.Morgan released her debut album, Real Life, in 1992 earning six Dove Award nominations. Her follow-up, Reason To Live, garnered her another Dove Award nomination.In 2001, Morgan decided to take a break from her career and dedicate time to her family...
.
On February 21, 2010, TobyMac and Michael Tait, along with the Newsboys
Newsboys
Newsboys 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...
, performed the song "Jesus Freak" during Winter Jam in Nashville, Tennessee.
In June 2010, Kevin Max twittered that he was trying to arrange a reunion tour for "perhaps" 2011.
On August 3, 2010 "Jesus Freak" was released as a download to the Rock Band store. The song has a "Supervision Recommended" rating. The Rock Band store states that "Supervision Recommended" tracks "may contain suggestive lyrics and the infrequent use of strong language," and the song is not playable in LEGO Rock Band due to the rating.
In October 2010, Kevin Max discussed the prospect of new DC Talk music. He admitted that he would love to make more music but he thinks "that time has passed us by..." He then explained, "as individuals we are so different in our approaches that it might be quite a process." Kevin expressed interest in a reunion tour for the fans.
In January 2011, TobyMac stated that a reunion tour would probably happen "sooner or later.” He mentioned talking with Michael and Kevin about "when it should be" and "what it could look like." Fans hoping for a reunion tour in the near future may be disappointed: "Right now, I think we’re really just enjoying the mountain we’re climbing, each of us individually. It’s never been a completely closed door. We’ve always sort of laughed about it, smiled about it. It’s timing, I guess."
On May 28 and 29, 2011, at the Big Church Day Out in Wiston, UK, Toby joined the Newsboys twice to perform "Jesus Freak", and Michael sang "In the Light" on both days with Toby's band, Diverse City.
In June 2011, Toby admitted that he thought about Kevin and Michael for every song that he writes. His song “Wonderin’” is about his past with Kevin and Michael in DC Talk. “It’s just a warm look back at DC Talk,” says Toby, almost wistfully. “It’s reminiscing about Michael and Kevin and what we did together, and recognizing their influence on me. I love what I do today, but there are times when I wonder, What if we stayed together? I’ve got these dreams I’m pursuing now, but are they stealing me from you?”
On June 7, 2011, Back 2 Back Hits was released featuring songs off Jesus Freak and Supernatural.
tobyMac
Toby McKeehan assumed the stage name of TobyMac, a name that was first mentioned in the lyrics of "Jesus Is Just Alright" when McKeehan rapped, "TobyMac, and the Mac is back no slack". He was given his name by his older brother who said he was going to be born in the month of "Tober". He has focused mostly on the pop/hip-hop genre. His first solo album, Momentum, was released in 2001 and included, "J Train", "Somebody's Watching", "Irene", "Extreme Days", "Get this Party Started", and "Love is in the House". Since then, he has released two other full albums and two remixed albums. Welcome to Diverse City, released in 2004, contained "Diverse City", "Catchafire (Whoopsi-Daisy)", "Gone", "Burn for You", and the remix of "Atmosphere", which featured his former band-mates. Portable SoundsPortable Sounds
Portable Sounds is the third full-length studio album from Christian pop rock and hip hop artist tobyMac. It was released on February 20, 2007, and debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200. The album features the singles "Lose My Soul", "Made to Love", "Boomin'", "I'm for You", and "One World "...
, released in February 2007 and debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. In 2008, he released a live CD/DVD combo entitled Alive and Transported
Alive and Transported
Alive and Transported is a live album by Christian hip hop artist tobyMac. It was released on May 27, 2008 and debuted at number 112 on the Billboard 200, and also placed at number 4 on Billboards Top Christian Albums chart. It is currently sold as a CD/DVD combo...
. On February 9, 2010, Tonight
Tonight (TobyMac album)
Tonight is the fourth solo album from the Christian pop–hip hop artist TobyMac. It is the follow-up album to his 2007 release Portable Sounds, and was released on February 9, 2010. The Deluxe Version of the album will contain a DVD containing interviews with Toby about the songs on the record, the...
, his fourth studio album was released .
McKeehan has had some success in reaching the mainstream market. For example, his song "Showstopper" from his album Tonight has been used by the NFL Network, for the WWE's Fatal 4-Way pay-per-view event in 2010, and in the opening game of the 2009 World Series. His song "Ignition" from Portable Sounds
Portable Sounds
Portable Sounds is the third full-length studio album from Christian pop rock and hip hop artist tobyMac. It was released on February 20, 2007, and debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200. The album features the singles "Lose My Soul", "Made to Love", "Boomin'", "I'm for You", and "One World "...
was used several times as well, including when the Arizona Cardinals entered the stadium for the 2009 Superbowl.
Michael Tait
Michael Tait pursued his solo efforts with the band, TaitTait (band)
Tait is a Christian rock band formed by Michael Tait, one of the members of dc Talk and the lead singer of Newsboys since 2010.- Pre-formation of Tait :...
. The band's first release was Empty in 2001, which included the single "Loss for Words". Lose This Life was the follow-up album released in 2003. It contained the singles "Lose This Life", "God Can You Hear Me", and a hidden track
Hidden track
In the field of recorded music, a hidden track is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener...
, "Christmas Song". Tait planned to release Loveology in 2007, an album he has been working on for a few years with Ben Moody
Ben Moody
Benjamin Robert Moody is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and actor. He is best known as co-founder, lead guitarist, and songwriter of Grammy Award-winning rock band Evanescence from 1995 to October 2003...
. Its release has been delayed for unknown reasons. Tait also featured in the Rock Opera !Hero
!Hero
!HERO is a rock opera about Jesus. It is based on the question, "What if Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?". After the original tour in 2003 ended, it was released on DVD, CD, and was written into a trilogy of novels and series of comic books....
, as the main character, Hero. The production is a modern retelling of Jesus' life, as if he were born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. On March 9, 2009, it was announced that Peter Furler
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:...
was stepping down from touring and from his role as lead singer of Newsboys
Newsboys
Newsboys 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...
, with Tait replacing him. His first album with the band was Born Again, which was released in July 2010.
Kevin Max
Kevin Max has released seven albums since the group's hiatus. Stereotype BeStereotype Be
Stereotype Be is Kevin Max's debut album as a solo artist. The album blends progressive rock, world music , spoken word, and traditional pop, with spiritual lyrics.-Track listing:#"Return of the Singer" – 3:49...
was released by Forefront Records
ForeFront Records
ForeFront Records is a Christian Music record label founded in 1987 by Dan R. Brock, Eddie DeGarmo, Dana Key, and Ron W. Griffin. It was purchased by EMI in 1996 from current owners Dan R. Brock and Eddie DeGarmo and is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group.In 1998, ForeFront released a 2-CD...
in 2001, and included the singles "You", "Be", and "Existence". He signed with Northern Records
Northern Records
Northern Records is an independent record label located in California. It was founded in 1999. It is currently being distributed in the United States and Canada by RED Distribution .-CD releases:-Digital releases:...
to release his next three projects. Between the Fence and the Universe was an EP released in 2004, and his next major studio album, The Imposter, was released in 2005. Holy Night
Holy Night (Kevin Max album)
Holy Night is a Christmas album by dc Talk member and solo artist Kevin Max. It features Max singing 13 classic Christmas songs. The CD was released by Northern Records.-Track listing:#"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" – 3:06#"The First Noel" – 3:11...
, a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
album, was also released in 2005 through the Northern label. The Blood
The Blood (album)
The Blood is an album by Christian music artist Kevin Max that was released December 26, 2007.-Overview:Unlike Max's previous albums , The Blood is a gospel album instead of having his usual rock stylings...
was released on December 26, 2007 by Infinity Music Distribution. It features cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of several well known gospel songs, both classic and contemporary, as well as the original-written track "One Way, One Blood". The album includes collaborations with several other artists, including Chris Sligh
Chris Sligh
Charles Christopher Sligh is an American singer; songwriter and producer who was a finalist on the sixth season of American Idol, finishing in tenth place.-Early years:...
and Amy Grant
Amy Grant
Amy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
. dc Talk made an appearance on his version of Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
's song "The Cross", with each member singing one verse in the beginning of the song. In 2008, Max starred in the independent film The Imposter, named after his first full length project on Northern Records, and also went on to saying it was not executed the way he wanted it to be. In early 2009 he released an EP titled "Crashing Gates
Crashing Gates
Crashing Gates is an EP by Kevin Max, released on December 9, 2008 on iTunes Store. It is a continuation of The Imposter—"a more focused collection of songs about the Apocalypse."...
" and partnered with independent label dpulse, which subsequently re-released his previous poetry collaboration with Adrian Belew.
Activism
The group is notable for its stances against racismRacism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
(as evidenced by "Colored People", the second track of Jesus Freak), as well as the uncompromising 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...
message in its music. "We're very open about our 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...
faith," says McKeehan, "but when we make our records we want to create a musical experience that anyone can immerse themselves in." But still, he says, "one of our goals is to encourage listeners to question themselves and to seek out truth."
E.R.A.C.E. (Eliminating Racism And Creating Equality) was launched in September 1997 when dc Talk participated in the "Racial Reconciliation Rally" in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. The rally was part of a week-long emphasis on racial reconciliation.
In 1998, the group began the E.R.A.C.E. Foundation to combat racism. The foundation was started after four years of discussion and planning with manager Dan Pitts and Gotee Records
Gotee Records
Gotee Records is a record label founded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan , Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood...
President, Joey Elwood. The primary aim of the foundation is to educate and equip America's youth with "an understanding of the importance of interracial unity". The foundation works on healing historically divided groups and healing rifts within the society.
Group members
- Toby McKeehanTobyMacToby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
- Michael TaitMichael TaitMichael DeWayne Tait is a Contemporary Christian Music artist. Michael Tait met Toby McKeehan and Kevin Max while attending Liberty University in the late 1980s, and formed four-time grammy winning band DC Talk, with whom he released 5 acclaimed studio albums...
- Kevin MaxKevin MaxKevin Max Smith is an American singer, songwriter, and poet. He is best known for being a member of the Christian pop group dc Talk...
Band
- Jason Halbert – keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with... - Otto Price – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Mark Townsend – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Martin Upton - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Brent Barcus – guitar
- Will Denton – drumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s - Marvin Sims – percussion
- GRITSGRITSGRITS, also known as G.R.I.T.S., is a Christian Hip Hop group from Nashville, Tennessee. Their name is an acronym, which stands for "Grammatical Revolution In The Spirit." GRITS is made up of Stacey "Coffee" Jones and Teron "Bonafide" Carter, both of whom were DC Talk dancers.Their song "Ooh Aah"...
- Choreography
Discography
Studio Albums- 1989: DC TalkDC Talk (album)DC Talk is the first studio album released from vocal trio DC Talk. It is the most hip hop-oriented of all of their albums as each later album gradually progressed into a more rock-centered sound. Michael Tait stated that their original goal for the album was to sell 10,000 units. It sold 7,142...
- 1990: Nu ThangNu ThangNu Thang is the second studio album from DC Talk, which was released in 1990. It was certified Gold by RIAA.-Track listing:#"When DC Talks" – 2:28#"He Works" – 3:39#"I Luv Rap Music" – 3:49#"No More" – 3:37#"Nu Thang" – 4:12...
- 1992: Free at LastFree at Last (dc Talk album)Free at Last is the third studio album from DC Talk, which was released in 1992. Music videos were filmed for "Jesus Is Just Alright", "The Hardway" and "Luv Is A Verb"...
- 1995: Jesus Freak
- 1998: SupernaturalSupernatural (DC Talk album)Supernatural is the sixth studio album from DC Talk. It was the last album released by DC Talk that featured all-new studio material and it debuted on the US Billboard Chart at #4...
Awards
Grammy AwardGrammy 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
- 1994: Free at LastFree at Last (dc Talk album)Free at Last is the third studio album from DC Talk, which was released in 1992. Music videos were filmed for "Jesus Is Just Alright", "The Hardway" and "Luv Is A Verb"...
– Best Rock Gospel Album - 1997: Jesus Freak – Best Rock Gospel Album
- 1998: Welcome to the Freak ShowWelcome to the Freak ShowWelcome to the Freak Show is the name of a live audio and video recording by DC Talk. Chronicling the Jesus Freak Tour in the spring of 1996, they were released separately two months apart in 1997 on CD and VHS, respectively. A DVD version was later released in 2003. Each version has been...
– Best Rock Gospel Album - 2002: SoloSolo (dc Talk album)Solo is an EP from DC Talk that consists entirely of the band's solo efforts with the exception of one number performed by the entire band, a live-performance cover of U2's 40.-Track listing:#"40 " – 2:40#"Alibi" - 4:12...
– Best Rock Gospel Album
GMA Dove Awards
- 1991: Nu ThangNu ThangNu Thang is the second studio album from DC Talk, which was released in 1990. It was certified Gold by RIAA.-Track listing:#"When DC Talks" – 2:28#"He Works" – 3:39#"I Luv Rap Music" – 3:49#"No More" – 3:37#"Nu Thang" – 4:12...
– Rap/Hip-Hop album of the Year - 1992: "I Luv Rap Music" – Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year
- 1992: Rap, Rock & Soul – Long Form Music Video of the Year
- 1993: "Can I Get a Witness?" – Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year
- 199424th GMA Dove AwardsThe 24th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 1, 1993 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1992. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Barbara Mandrell.-Award recipients:*Artist of the Year**Michael English...
: "Jesus Is Just Alright" – Rock Recorded Song of the Year - 1994: "Socially Acceptable" – Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year
- 199525th GMA Dove AwardsThe 25th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 28, 1994 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1993. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Amy Grant.-Award recipients:*Artist of the Year...
: "Luv Is a Verb" – Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year - 1996: Artist of the Year
- 1996: "Jesus FreakJesus Freak (song)"Jesus Freak" is a song by the American contemporary Christian music group DC Talk. Released on August 1, 1995, it was the lead radio single from the group's self-titled fourth album. The song was written and produced by Toby McKeehan and Mark Heimermann...
" – Rock Recorded Song of the Year - 1996: "Jesus FreakJesus Freak (song)"Jesus Freak" is a song by the American contemporary Christian music group DC Talk. Released on August 1, 1995, it was the lead radio single from the group's self-titled fourth album. The song was written and produced by Toby McKeehan and Mark Heimermann...
" – Song of the Year - 1997: "Between You and Me" – Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
- 1997: "Like It, Love It, Need It" – Rock Recorded Song of the Year
- 1997: "Jesus Freak" – Short Form Music Video of the Year
- 1997: "Jesus Freak" - Rock Album of the Year
- 1998: "Colored PeopleColored People (song)"Colored People" is a song written and recorded by Christian rock band DC Talk. The song was one of several radio singles released from the their 1995 studio album, Jesus Freak.-Music and lyrics:...
" – Short Form Music Video of the Year - 1999: Exodus – Special Event Album of the Year
- 2000: The Supernatural Experience – Long Form Music Video of the Year
- 2001: "Dive" – Modern Rock Recorded Song of the Year