Rachel Rachel (band)
Encyclopedia
Rachel Rachel was a Contemporary Christian Rock musical group that was active in the early 1990s. The AOR group is best known as the first American female Christian rock
group in the history of CCM
. Members included Cheryl Jewell (lead singer), Heli Sterner (lead and rhythm guitars), Brynn Beltran
(keyboards), Jennifer York
(bass), and Jennifer “Sparky” Sparks (drums). Robin Spurs replaced Jennifer York on bass when York left the group after their first album.
, Jewell gave up several secular opportunities to join Rachel Rachel. Heli Sterner, a talented guitarists and strong vocalist, and Brynn Beltran, also a strong vocalist and keyboard player, soon also joined the band, and the group began to produce demos. White Heart
producer and guitarist Billy Smiley
heard one of these demos and began to help the group to prepare material for their first album. The last member of the original band to be recruited was Jennifer “Sparky” Sparks, who would play drums for the band until they disbanded in 1994.
, and several members of White Heart. The album contained a number of songs written by band members, as well as covers such as the Kansas
classic, “Carry On Wayward Son
”. The eighth track from this album, “I Will Stand By You”, written by lead singer Cheryl Jewell, Sue Sheridan, and Matthew Christianson, became a #4 radio hit. The album itself hit the #25 mark on the Billboard Contemporary Christian Music chart in June 1991.
With the success of Rachel Rachel’s first album, founder Jennifer York decided that she could quit the band. The remaining members could see only one possible replacement for a female bass player: Robin Spurs, who had recently left The Choir. However, initially Spurs declined the group’s offer, feeling that she was not ready to go back into music so quickly. Later, she accepted the position, saying that God had told her to get back into music with Rachel Rachel.
With a new band member ready to roll, the group released a second album, You Oughta Know by Now, in 1993. Again, this album was produced by Billy Smiley, and featured guest artists such as Mark Matheson, Blair Masters, Billy Smiley, and Dann Huff. Jennifer York also returned to add electric bass to the album. “Only Heaven Knows” (written by Billy Smiley, Brynn Beltran, and Heli Sterner) and “You’ll Never Know” (written by Brynn Beltran) both became #1 songs, and greatly increased Rachel Rachel’s popularity.
After releasing this album, Rachel Rachel spent seven months touring with WhiteHeart. However, apparently at the top of their career, Rachel Rachel disbanded. Brynn Beltran, keyboard player for the group, cited “creative differences” as part of the reasons for disbanding, explaining that because the group was based in California they were too far from the music scene in Nashville.
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...
group in the history of 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...
. Members included Cheryl Jewell (lead singer), Heli Sterner (lead and rhythm guitars), Brynn Beltran
Brynn Gersmehl
Brynn Gersmehl is a Christian musician from southern California who writes in the Contemporary Christian genera. She is best known for her involvement in the AOR group Rachel Rachel, the first all-girl Christian rock band, with whom she wrote and performed two #1 songs...
(keyboards), Jennifer York
Jennifer York
Jennifer York is a former traffic reporter most notable for her stint on the KTLA Morning News as an aerial traffic reporter.Gaining her Bachelors degree from UCLA, Jennifer worked as a talent coordinator for Pierre Cossette Productions, contributing to events such as the Grammy Awards and the...
(bass), and Jennifer “Sparky” Sparks (drums). Robin Spurs replaced Jennifer York on bass when York left the group after their first album.
Early History
Rachel Rachel was first envisioned by bass player Jennifer York while working for a radio station in New York City. She felt that the Lord told her to go to California to play bass, and to start an all-girl rock band. York knew that finding female rock musicians was not going to be an easy task, but talented musicians found their way into each of the needed roles. Lead singer Cheryl Jewell was discovered as the secretary of York’s manager, Bob Angelotti. A recent convert to ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, Jewell gave up several secular opportunities to join Rachel Rachel. Heli Sterner, a talented guitarists and strong vocalist, and Brynn Beltran, also a strong vocalist and keyboard player, soon also joined the band, and the group began to produce demos. White Heart
White Heart
White Heart, also listed as Whiteheart, was a Contemporary Christian Music pop-rock band which formed in 1982. White Heart's discography includes thirteen albums, the most recent of which was released in 1997. Original members Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl worked with a continually-changing cast...
producer and guitarist Billy Smiley
Billy Smiley
Billy Smiley is a music producer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known for being one of the core members of the Christian rock band White Heart. He was the bands' guitarist, vocalist, and main songwriter since 1982....
heard one of these demos and began to help the group to prepare material for their first album. The last member of the original band to be recruited was Jennifer “Sparky” Sparks, who would play drums for the band until they disbanded in 1994.
Career Years
Rachel Rachel signed on with Word Records in 1990, and began working on their first album. Released in 1991, Way to My Heart featured the members of Rachel Rachel, as well as studio musicians including Carl Marsh, Dann HuffDann Huff
Dann Huff is an American musician, session musician, singer-songwriter and producer. For his work as a producer in the Country music genre he has won several awards including the Musician of the Year award in 2001 and 2004 at the Country Music Association Awards and the Producer of the Year award...
, and several members of White Heart. The album contained a number of songs written by band members, as well as covers such as the Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
classic, “Carry On Wayward Son
Carry On Wayward Son
"Carry on Wayward Son" is a progressive rock single recorded by Kansas and written by Kerry Livgren for their 1976 album Leftoverture. In 1977, the song peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard pop singles chart, becoming their first Top 40 hit....
”. The eighth track from this album, “I Will Stand By You”, written by lead singer Cheryl Jewell, Sue Sheridan, and Matthew Christianson, became a #4 radio hit. The album itself hit the #25 mark on the Billboard Contemporary Christian Music chart in June 1991.
With the success of Rachel Rachel’s first album, founder Jennifer York decided that she could quit the band. The remaining members could see only one possible replacement for a female bass player: Robin Spurs, who had recently left The Choir. However, initially Spurs declined the group’s offer, feeling that she was not ready to go back into music so quickly. Later, she accepted the position, saying that God had told her to get back into music with Rachel Rachel.
With a new band member ready to roll, the group released a second album, You Oughta Know by Now, in 1993. Again, this album was produced by Billy Smiley, and featured guest artists such as Mark Matheson, Blair Masters, Billy Smiley, and Dann Huff. Jennifer York also returned to add electric bass to the album. “Only Heaven Knows” (written by Billy Smiley, Brynn Beltran, and Heli Sterner) and “You’ll Never Know” (written by Brynn Beltran) both became #1 songs, and greatly increased Rachel Rachel’s popularity.
After releasing this album, Rachel Rachel spent seven months touring with WhiteHeart. However, apparently at the top of their career, Rachel Rachel disbanded. Brynn Beltran, keyboard player for the group, cited “creative differences” as part of the reasons for disbanding, explaining that because the group was based in California they were too far from the music scene in Nashville.