Morgan Cryar
Encyclopedia
Morgan Cryar is a Contemporary Christian music
vocalist, songwriter, and producer, hailing from Louisiana. He is especially noted for his creative lyric-writing.
Cryar's debut, Keep No Secrets, was released in 1984, and its singles "Holy Fire" and "Carried Away" received moderate airplay on Christian radio; but it was his 1986 album, Fuel on the Fire, featuring the chart-topping contemporary Christian single (also nominated for a Dove Award for best video), "Pray in the U.S.A.," that began his road to success. Collaborating with producer Roy Salmond and composers Ty Tabor
and Doug Pinnick
(later of Kings X fame) and well-regarded CCM
session player, John Andrew Schreiner, Fuel on the Fire contains some "foot-tapping ditties" and "tuneful ballads" that make up Mr. Cryar's vocal performance. In the 1980s, Cryar toured with big names in the CCM industry, such as Petra
and DeGarmo and Key
, promoting Fuel for the Fire and his 1989 follow up Like A River to receptive high school-and-college-age audiences.
Cryar's level of recognition early on in his career paved the way for his fourth album, Kingdom Upside Down (1990), to reach #27 on the Billboard Christian charts, despite its criticism as a "pleasantly forgettable album," and for its single, "Father," to hit number one on the Christian radio charts. Additionally in the 1990s, he had a #1 Christian radio hit with "If I Never See a Miracle" from 1995's Love Over Gold, and the single, "What Sin?" from the same album had its own moderate success on Christian radio.
Years after its first release, his song, "See You On the Other Side," gained a special meaning when it was included in a multi-media presentation following the Oklahoma City bombing
of 1995 and subsequently played on mainstream radio stations across the nation; however, that wasn't Cryar's only song to have a second life. In 1998, the hit, "Pray in the U.S.A.." was also resurrected from Cryar's back-catalog with a new recording and video shot in honor of the National Day of Prayer
. The reprise features an all-star chorus, including CCM industry "well-knowns": John Schlitt
, Bob Hartman
, LuLu Roman
, members from the Winans family
, Rick Cua
, Kenny Marks
, Lisa Bevill
, Randy Thomas
and Andy Denton.
In the 2000s, Cryar used his experience on stage to energize a career behind the scenes as a record producer, mostly for independent artists, using his own label, Premier Records. He also was part of Christian Music Workshops, teaching songwriting, music business, and stage presence. As of 2007, Cryar was CEO of Singing Success, Inc. and resided in Nashville
, TN
with his wife, Melanie, and their seven children.
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
vocalist, songwriter, and producer, hailing from Louisiana. He is especially noted for his creative lyric-writing.
Cryar's debut, Keep No Secrets, was released in 1984, and its singles "Holy Fire" and "Carried Away" received moderate airplay on Christian radio; but it was his 1986 album, Fuel on the Fire, featuring the chart-topping contemporary Christian single (also nominated for a Dove Award for best video), "Pray in the U.S.A.," that began his road to success. Collaborating with producer Roy Salmond and composers Ty Tabor
Ty Tabor
Ty Tabor is the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the progressive metal band, King's X....
and Doug Pinnick
Doug Pinnick
Doug Pinnick sometimes stylised as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the hard rock/progressive metal band King's X. He has fourteen albums with King's X, four solo albums, and numerous side projects and guest...
(later of Kings X fame) and well-regarded CCM
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
session player, John Andrew Schreiner, Fuel on the Fire contains some "foot-tapping ditties" and "tuneful ballads" that make up Mr. Cryar's vocal performance. In the 1980s, Cryar toured with big names in the CCM industry, such as Petra
Petra (band)
Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
and DeGarmo and Key
DeGarmo and Key
DeGarmo & Key was a Christian Rock group that started professionally in 1978. The primary members were Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key. Eddie played keyboards and sang background vocals , while Dana played lead guitar and did the majority of the lead vocals. Other members included Tommy Cathey on bass...
, promoting Fuel for the Fire and his 1989 follow up Like A River to receptive high school-and-college-age audiences.
Cryar's level of recognition early on in his career paved the way for his fourth album, Kingdom Upside Down (1990), to reach #27 on the Billboard Christian charts, despite its criticism as a "pleasantly forgettable album," and for its single, "Father," to hit number one on the Christian radio charts. Additionally in the 1990s, he had a #1 Christian radio hit with "If I Never See a Miracle" from 1995's Love Over Gold, and the single, "What Sin?" from the same album had its own moderate success on Christian radio.
Years after its first release, his song, "See You On the Other Side," gained a special meaning when it was included in a multi-media presentation following the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
of 1995 and subsequently played on mainstream radio stations across the nation; however, that wasn't Cryar's only song to have a second life. In 1998, the hit, "Pray in the U.S.A.." was also resurrected from Cryar's back-catalog with a new recording and video shot in honor of the National Day of Prayer
National Day of Prayer
The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation". Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day...
. The reprise features an all-star chorus, including CCM industry "well-knowns": John Schlitt
John Schlitt
John William Schlitt is known for his career as the lead singer of Christian rock band Petra from 1986 until the band's retirement in late 2005. Prior to joining Petra in 1986, Schlitt was the vocalist for Head East....
, Bob Hartman
Bob Hartman
Robert Hartman is a Christian artist, guitarist, writer and songwriter. He is the founder of Christian rock band Petra. Hartman was involved with the band from its foundation in 1972 to its end in 2005. He took a break from touring in 1995, but continued to write most of the band's songs,...
, LuLu Roman
Lulu Roman
Lulu Roman is a former telephone operator and go-go dancer turned comedian and singer. She is probably best known as a regular on the comedy-music television series Hee Haw....
, members from the Winans family
Winans family
The Winans family is an African-American family of Gospel music artists from Detroit, Michigan.-Family members:* David "Pop" Winans, Sr. * Delores "Mom" Winans * David Winans Jr....
, Rick Cua
Rick Cua
Rick Cua is an American Dove Award and Grammy Award-winning Christian rock singer, songwriter, bassist, author, and ordained minister...
, Kenny Marks
Kenny Marks
Kenny Marks, born Kenneth Michael Marks, November 6, 1950, Detroit Michigan, has performed on 6 of the 7 continents world-wide over his music career....
, Lisa Bevill
Lisa Bevill
Lisa Bevill is an American Contemporary Christian musician best known for Christian radio hits such as No Condemnation, Only a Saviour and Hold On...
, Randy Thomas
Randy Thomas (musician)
Randy Thomas is an American Christian musician best known for being a member of the Sweet Comfort Band and Allies. In 1984 He formed "Allies" with Sam Scott and teamed up with Bob Carlisle. They spent 9 years between 84-93 doing concerts and recording six albums...
and Andy Denton.
In the 2000s, Cryar used his experience on stage to energize a career behind the scenes as a record producer, mostly for independent artists, using his own label, Premier Records. He also was part of Christian Music Workshops, teaching songwriting, music business, and stage presence. As of 2007, Cryar was CEO of Singing Success, Inc. and resided in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, TN
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
with his wife, Melanie, and their seven children.