Hillsong United
Encyclopedia
The Hillsong United band is an Australian praise and worship band that originated as a part of Hillsong Church
. The band tours the world, performing at the various Hillsong church locations as well as general concert venues. They compose the songs for their own performances and for the other Hillsong Church worship teams that perform at weekly services. Subsidiary bands perform monthly in London and at summer camps sponsored by Hillsong. The music style is Christian praise and worship.
Powerhouse grew and split in the late 1990s into two youth groups: Powerhouse (18–25 years of age) and Wildlife (12-17 yrs). Reuben Morgan
, assisted by Marcus Beaumont and Tanya Riches, were the administrators of the older Powerhouse band that also included Mark Stevens, Nigel Hendroff, Peter King and Raymond Badham. At the older group Peter King was the main piano player and music director, with later guitarist Nigel Hendroff taking this music directing role. In the younger ministry Wildlife, the former Channel V Leg-Up competition-winning Able band boys Joel Houston and Marty Sampson
were trained by Hillsong Music Pastor Russell Fragar, with Able band's Luke Munns
and Michael Guy Chislett
being the main drummer and guitarist, respectively while Joel Houston played bass. Marty Sampson, Holly Dawson, Mark Stevens, Katrina Peoples, Michelle Fragar, Tanya Riches and Bec Mesiti were some of the original key vocalists. In the Summer of 1997, the team made a huge impact at their youth ministry's Summer Camp. Returning from Summer Camp, the youth ministries of Hillsong Church joined together on a monthly basis with these meetings called the "UNITED" Nights.
Delirious?'
Martin Smith
's song "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble" was the theme song of the 1997 camp, and the momentum of youth carried well beyond this camp into the church services, changing the style of the music. Once these songs had been sung for many nights in a row, Reuben Morgan realised the need for new songs that allowed the youth a voice and so wrote "My Redeemer Lives". This song was included in the upcoming Hillsong album, By Your Siderecorded in February that year. This album also featured youth songs including the title track written by Marty Sampson
("By Your Side") and Luke Munns
("Stay").
Darlene Zschech
suggested to Reuben Morgan that the youth band make an album in 1998 after so many songs were written in the youth ministry. As a result, the EP One was recorded.Everyday was recorded in 1999 and packaged with the Hillsong annual album. Both achieved Gold sales status in Australia. The band continued to release an album each year, rebranding as Hillsong United. In 2002 after Reuben Morgan stepped down as co-worship leader of the band, Joel Houston
, the eldest son of the church's senior pastor Brian Houston
, and Marty Sampson stepped up to lead the group together.
The band's members are involved in Hillsong Church services and also play for the megachurch. Many were volunteers who were not paid for their time or contribution. As such the lineup changes on a regular basis due to the volunteers needs and the needs of the church. Former original drummer Luke Munns
made a transition from the drums to front the rock/indie band LUKAS. Following his marriage to Michelle on November 2006, Marty Sampson stepped down as one of the main worship leaders of the band. He contributed two more songs with United—'Devotion,' which he wrote and sang on the album, and 'Saviour King,' which he wrote w/ Mia Fieldes—before he officially stepped down. These songs were part of the 2007 release All of the Above
. Popular New Zealand artist Brooke Ligertwood (aka Brooke Fraser
) recently joined the band when she joined the church, first appearing on United We Stand, however left Australia and the Hillsong band to tour her solo album 'Flags'. Current members of the Hillsong United band include Jonathon Douglass (J.D.), Jadwin "Jad" Gillies, Joel Houston, Annie Garratt, Matt Crocker, Dave Ware, Jill McCloghry, Sam Knock, Dylan Thomas, Joel Davies, Braden Lang, Peter James, Matthew Tennikoff, Adam Crosariol (on bass guitar
), Simon Kobler, Timon Klein, and Brandon Gillies (on drums).
The annual Hillsong United CD/DVD was recorded for many years during the Hillsong youth ministry's October conference Encounterfest, and albums released in the first quarter of the following year. The 2007 album All of the Above
was the first album to be fully studio recorded. The band has toured in a number of countries, leading worship for thousands in North
and South America
, Europe
, Asia
and Africa
.
Hillsong United posted on their Facebook page 28 March 2010 that they were heading in to record their next album. This new studio project was recorded at 301 Studios in Sydney, Australia. After much anticipation, "Aftermath"
was released on 15 February 2011. During its release, it reached number four on iTunes' Top Albums downloaded in the U.S.
The Hillsong United 2007 Tour was a tour by Hillsong United with supporting acts such as Starfield (in Toronto) to promote their 2007 album All of the Above
in the United States
and Canada
. The tour began on 13 April 2007 in Detroit, Michigan
and ended in Tacoma, Washington on 7 August 2007.
Hillsong Church
Hillsong Church is a Pentecostal megachurch affiliated with Australian Christian Churches and located in Sydney, Australia. The church's senior pastors, Brian and Bobbie Houston, began the church in 1983 as the Hills Christian Life Centre in Baulkham Hills...
. The band tours the world, performing at the various Hillsong church locations as well as general concert venues. They compose the songs for their own performances and for the other Hillsong Church worship teams that perform at weekly services. Subsidiary bands perform monthly in London and at summer camps sponsored by Hillsong. The music style is Christian praise and worship.
History
The band was originally formed by close friends from within the youth ministry called "Powerhouse Youth", led by Hillsong Pastor Donna Crouch for many years. As the house band for the Powerhouse meetings, they played original songs and rearranged popular radio tunes at their weekly meeting for local youth aged 16–25 year olds. Band members sometimes also contributed to the larger interdenominational ministry Youth Alive and its albums (Worship leaders Marty Sampson and Darlene Zschech and Keyboardist and Music Director Peter King were significant members joining United through the interdenominational youth ministry led by evangelist Pat Mesiti). Most members of the band also attended Hillsong Church services. Dr. Mark Evans (Macquarie Uni) states in his Ph. D thesis, "A youth band was formed from the Hillsong music team, which took what was happening in the church musically and played it louder and rockier, appealing directly to a youth demographic". Steve McPherson (now Director of Hillsong Publishing), Deb Ezzy (Darlene Zschech's younger sister), Dave Willersdorf, Joshua Bonet and Donia Makedonez were significant members in the first Powerhouse band.Powerhouse grew and split in the late 1990s into two youth groups: Powerhouse (18–25 years of age) and Wildlife (12-17 yrs). Reuben Morgan
Reuben Morgan
Reuben Morgan is the worship pastor and one of several worship leaders and songwriters alongside Darlene Zschech at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. He has written songs such as "Eagles Wings", "Hear Our Praises", "I Give You My Heart", "My Redeemer Lives" and "Mighty to Save", which won...
, assisted by Marcus Beaumont and Tanya Riches, were the administrators of the older Powerhouse band that also included Mark Stevens, Nigel Hendroff, Peter King and Raymond Badham. At the older group Peter King was the main piano player and music director, with later guitarist Nigel Hendroff taking this music directing role. In the younger ministry Wildlife, the former Channel V Leg-Up competition-winning Able band boys Joel Houston and Marty Sampson
Marty Sampson
Marty Sampson is a Christian songwriter and a worship leader at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Originally featuring in the Youth Alive albums of the late 1990s, he was one of original Hillsong United worship leaders. Guitar is his main instrument and he occasionally plays the piano. He...
were trained by Hillsong Music Pastor Russell Fragar, with Able band's Luke Munns
Luke Munns
Luke Andrew Munns in the Northern Beaches of Sydney is a musician, record producer and songwriter, known as the key worship drummer of Sydney based worship band Hillsong United, the worship band of Hillsong Church's youth group...
and Michael Guy Chislett
Michael Guy Chislett
Michael Guy Chislett is an Australian born musician.- Biography :Michael Guy Chislett was born on 6 April 1982 in Skipton, Victoria, a small country town in Australia. In 1992, he and his family moved to Sydney, where he attended Cherrybrook Technology High School. He dropped out in Year 10 to...
being the main drummer and guitarist, respectively while Joel Houston played bass. Marty Sampson, Holly Dawson, Mark Stevens, Katrina Peoples, Michelle Fragar, Tanya Riches and Bec Mesiti were some of the original key vocalists. In the Summer of 1997, the team made a huge impact at their youth ministry's Summer Camp. Returning from Summer Camp, the youth ministries of Hillsong Church joined together on a monthly basis with these meetings called the "UNITED" Nights.
Delirious?'
Delirious?
Delirious? were an English Christian rock and worship band. For the majority of their career, the lineup featured Martin Smith on vocals and guitar, Stu G on guitar and backing vocals, Jon Thatcher on bass guitar, Tim Jupp on keys and piano, and Stew Smith on drums and percussion...
Martin Smith
Martin Smith (songwriter)
Martin James Smith is an English vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. He was the front man of the Christian rock and worship band Delirious? He co-wrote three songs on Michael W. Smith's 2004 album Healing Rain and is going to be collaborating with Michael W. Smith on his upcoming album...
's song "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble" was the theme song of the 1997 camp, and the momentum of youth carried well beyond this camp into the church services, changing the style of the music. Once these songs had been sung for many nights in a row, Reuben Morgan realised the need for new songs that allowed the youth a voice and so wrote "My Redeemer Lives". This song was included in the upcoming Hillsong album, By Your Siderecorded in February that year. This album also featured youth songs including the title track written by Marty Sampson
Marty Sampson
Marty Sampson is a Christian songwriter and a worship leader at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Originally featuring in the Youth Alive albums of the late 1990s, he was one of original Hillsong United worship leaders. Guitar is his main instrument and he occasionally plays the piano. He...
("By Your Side") and Luke Munns
Luke Munns
Luke Andrew Munns in the Northern Beaches of Sydney is a musician, record producer and songwriter, known as the key worship drummer of Sydney based worship band Hillsong United, the worship band of Hillsong Church's youth group...
("Stay").
Darlene Zschech
Darlene Zschech
Darlene Joyce Zschech is an Australian Pentecostal worship leader and singer-songwriter who primarily writes praise and worship songs. She is the former worship pastor of Hillsong Church and is currently a member of Compassionart, a charity founded by Martin Smith.-Biography:As a young adult...
suggested to Reuben Morgan that the youth band make an album in 1998 after so many songs were written in the youth ministry. As a result, the EP One was recorded.Everyday was recorded in 1999 and packaged with the Hillsong annual album. Both achieved Gold sales status in Australia. The band continued to release an album each year, rebranding as Hillsong United. In 2002 after Reuben Morgan stepped down as co-worship leader of the band, Joel Houston
Joel Houston
Joel Timothy Houston is a musician, songwriter and pastor, best known as leader of the Sydney-based worship band Hillsong United, the youth worship band of Hillsong Church....
, the eldest son of the church's senior pastor Brian Houston
Brian Houston (pastor)
Brian Houston is a pastor in the Australian Christian Churches. He is currently the Senior Pastor at Hillsong Church which has locations in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia, London, Cape Town, Kiev, Germany, Paris, Moscow, Stockholm and New York City. He was also the National President of Australian...
, and Marty Sampson stepped up to lead the group together.
The band's members are involved in Hillsong Church services and also play for the megachurch. Many were volunteers who were not paid for their time or contribution. As such the lineup changes on a regular basis due to the volunteers needs and the needs of the church. Former original drummer Luke Munns
Luke Munns
Luke Andrew Munns in the Northern Beaches of Sydney is a musician, record producer and songwriter, known as the key worship drummer of Sydney based worship band Hillsong United, the worship band of Hillsong Church's youth group...
made a transition from the drums to front the rock/indie band LUKAS. Following his marriage to Michelle on November 2006, Marty Sampson stepped down as one of the main worship leaders of the band. He contributed two more songs with United—'Devotion,' which he wrote and sang on the album, and 'Saviour King,' which he wrote w/ Mia Fieldes—before he officially stepped down. These songs were part of the 2007 release All of the Above
All of the Above (Hillsong United album)
All of the Above is the eighth praise and worship album by Hillsong United, and their first ever studio recorded project and the first of a three-part global project. The album includes a DVD containing three live worship tracks recorded at the 2006 Encounterfest youth conference, a sermon from...
. Popular New Zealand artist Brooke Ligertwood (aka Brooke Fraser
Brooke Fraser
Brooke Gabrielle Fraser Ligertwood, better known as Brooke Fraser is a New Zealand award-winning folk-pop and Christian music artist...
) recently joined the band when she joined the church, first appearing on United We Stand, however left Australia and the Hillsong band to tour her solo album 'Flags'. Current members of the Hillsong United band include Jonathon Douglass (J.D.), Jadwin "Jad" Gillies, Joel Houston, Annie Garratt, Matt Crocker, Dave Ware, Jill McCloghry, Sam Knock, Dylan Thomas, Joel Davies, Braden Lang, Peter James, Matthew Tennikoff, Adam Crosariol (on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Simon Kobler, Timon Klein, and Brandon Gillies (on drums).
The annual Hillsong United CD/DVD was recorded for many years during the Hillsong youth ministry's October conference Encounterfest, and albums released in the first quarter of the following year. The 2007 album All of the Above
All of the Above (Hillsong United album)
All of the Above is the eighth praise and worship album by Hillsong United, and their first ever studio recorded project and the first of a three-part global project. The album includes a DVD containing three live worship tracks recorded at the 2006 Encounterfest youth conference, a sermon from...
was the first album to be fully studio recorded. The band has toured in a number of countries, leading worship for thousands in North
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
Hillsong United posted on their Facebook page 28 March 2010 that they were heading in to record their next album. This new studio project was recorded at 301 Studios in Sydney, Australia. After much anticipation, "Aftermath"
Aftermath (Hillsong United album)
Aftermath is the second studio album by Australian Contemporary Christian band Hillsong United. Production for the album began in March 2010 at Studios 301 in Sydney, Australia. The album was formerly known as This Means Love...
was released on 15 February 2011. During its release, it reached number four on iTunes' Top Albums downloaded in the U.S.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
NZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
US 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... |
||
| All of the Above All of the Above (Hillsong United album) All of the Above is the eighth praise and worship album by Hillsong United, and their first ever studio recorded project and the first of a three-part global project. The album includes a DVD containing three live worship tracks recorded at the 2006 Encounterfest youth conference, a sermon from... |
|
6 | 13 | 60 |
| Aftermath Aftermath (Hillsong United album) Aftermath is the second studio album by Australian Contemporary Christian band Hillsong United. Production for the album began in March 2010 at Studios 301 in Sydney, Australia. The album was formerly known as This Means Love... |
Hillsong Music Hillsong Music is Christian music produced by Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia as well as offshoot churches, Hillsong London and Hillsong Kiev... , Sparrow Sparrow The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds, Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows, or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genus of the family, Passer... |
4 | 12 | 17 |
Live albums
- 1999: Everyday
- 2000: Best Friend
- 2001: MajestyMajestyMajesty is an English word derived ultimately from the Latin maiestas, meaning "greatness".- Origin :Originally, during the Roman republic, the word maiestas was the legal term for the supreme status and dignity of the state, to be respected above everything else...
- 2002: To the Ends of the Earth
- 2004: More Than LifeMore Than LifeMore Than Life is the fifth live praise and worship album by Hillsong United. The CD comes with a free DVD which includes documentary footage, interviews and 'behind the scenes'.-Track listing:# "One Way" - 4:07...
- 2005: Look to YouLook to YouLook to You is the sixth live praise and worship album by Hillsong United. The CD comes with a free DVD which includes documentary footage, interviews and 'behind the scenes'.-Track listing:# "Salvation Is Here" - 4:42...
- 2006: United We Stand
- 2008: The I Heart Revolution: With Hearts As OneThe I Heart Revolution: With Hearts as OneThe I Heart Revolution: With Hearts as One is the ninth album by Hillsong United and the first of the three-part "I Heart Revolution" project. With Hearts as One was recorded around the world across the span of two years, and contains thirty songs. The album was released in Australia on 8 March...
- 2009: [a CROSS//the EARTH] :: Tear Down the WallsAcross the EarthAcross the Earth Tear Down the Walls, is the name for the 11th Hillsong United Album.It was released in Australia on 9 May 2009.Originally a two part project, the plans were later scrapped....
- 2012: Aftermath - Live in Miami
Studio albums
- 2007: All of the AboveAll of the Above (Hillsong United album)All of the Above is the eighth praise and worship album by Hillsong United, and their first ever studio recorded project and the first of a three-part global project. The album includes a DVD containing three live worship tracks recorded at the 2006 Encounterfest youth conference, a sermon from...
- 2011: AftermathAftermath (Hillsong United album)Aftermath is the second studio album by Australian Contemporary Christian band Hillsong United. Production for the album began in March 2010 at Studios 301 in Sydney, Australia. The album was formerly known as This Means Love...
Other Albums
- 2006: Unidos PermanecemosUnidos PermanecemosUnidos Permanecemos is a live album by Australian band Hillsong United. It was recorded in Spain and sung in Spanish.- Tracklisting :# Introducción - - 1:32...
(United We Stand in Spanish) - 2010: Con TodoCon TodoCon Todo is a worship album of Christian Contemporary music by Hillsong Church in Spanish, that was released on June 8, 2010. The album includes a selection of 14 songs by Hillsong translated and recorded in Spanish featuring Darlene Zschech, Reuben Morgan and other members of the Hillsong Worship...
(With Everything in Spanish)
DVDs
- 2004: More Than LifeMore Than LifeMore Than Life is the fifth live praise and worship album by Hillsong United. The CD comes with a free DVD which includes documentary footage, interviews and 'behind the scenes'.-Track listing:# "One Way" - 4:07...
(bonus DVD with album) - 2005: Look to YouLook to YouLook to You is the sixth live praise and worship album by Hillsong United. The CD comes with a free DVD which includes documentary footage, interviews and 'behind the scenes'.-Track listing:# "Salvation Is Here" - 4:42...
(bonus DVD with album) - 2006: United We Stand (bonus DVD with album)
- 2007: All of the AboveAll of the Above (Hillsong United album)All of the Above is the eighth praise and worship album by Hillsong United, and their first ever studio recorded project and the first of a three-part global project. The album includes a DVD containing three live worship tracks recorded at the 2006 Encounterfest youth conference, a sermon from...
(bonus DVD with album) - 2008: The I Heart Revolution: With Hearts As OneThe I Heart Revolution: With Hearts as OneThe I Heart Revolution: With Hearts as One is the ninth album by Hillsong United and the first of the three-part "I Heart Revolution" project. With Hearts as One was recorded around the world across the span of two years, and contains thirty songs. The album was released in Australia on 8 March...
(Music DVD) - 2010: The I Heart Revolution: We're All in This TogetherThe I Heart Revolution: We're All in This TogetherThe I Heart Revolution: We're All in This Together is a documentary film by Hillsong United and the second of the three-part "The I Heart Revolution" project. The film was released in cinemas for one night only in the US and Canada on November 4, 2009...
(Documentary DVD/Blu-ray) - 2012: Aftermath - Live in Miami (bonus DVD/Blu-ray with album)
Tours
- 2007
The Hillsong United 2007 Tour was a tour by Hillsong United with supporting acts such as Starfield (in Toronto) to promote their 2007 album All of the Above
All of the Above (Hillsong United album)
All of the Above is the eighth praise and worship album by Hillsong United, and their first ever studio recorded project and the first of a three-part global project. The album includes a DVD containing three live worship tracks recorded at the 2006 Encounterfest youth conference, a sermon from...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The tour began on 13 April 2007 in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and ended in Tacoma, Washington on 7 August 2007.
- 2009: Across The Earth Spring Tour 2009
- 2010: Across The Earth Europe Tour 2010
- 2011: Aftermath North American Tour 2011
Success and achievements
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
NZ Albums Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
U.S. 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... |
U.S. Billboard Christian Albums | U.S. Billboard Digital Albums | U.S. iTunes Top Albums Chart | Australia iTunes Top Albums Chart | ||
| All of the Above All of the Above (Hillsong United album) All of the Above is the eighth praise and worship album by Hillsong United, and their first ever studio recorded project and the first of a three-part global project. The album includes a DVD containing three live worship tracks recorded at the 2006 Encounterfest youth conference, a sermon from... |
|
6 | 13 | 60 | 1 | 60 | ? | 2 |
| [a CROSS//the EARTH] :: Tear Down the Walls Across the Earth Across the Earth Tear Down the Walls, is the name for the 11th Hillsong United Album.It was released in Australia on 9 May 2009.Originally a two part project, the plans were later scrapped.... |
Hillsong Music Hillsong Music is Christian music produced by Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia as well as offshoot churches, Hillsong London and Hillsong Kiev... |
22 | 21 | 21 | 1 | 56 | 1 | 1 |
| Aftermath Aftermath (Hillsong United album) Aftermath is the second studio album by Australian Contemporary Christian band Hillsong United. Production for the album began in March 2010 at Studios 301 in Sydney, Australia. The album was formerly known as This Means Love... |
Hillsong Music Hillsong Music is Christian music produced by Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia as well as offshoot churches, Hillsong London and Hillsong Kiev... , EMI EMI The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major... |
4 | 12 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
External links
- Official website
- Hillsong United Albums
- Site francophone sur Hillsong et United. Discographie complète
- Interview @ Christian Music Today, 6/07