Sandra McCracken
Encyclopedia
Sandra McCracken is an independent singer-songwriter
. She currently resides in Nashville
, Tennessee
with her husband and fellow singer-songwriter Derek Webb
.
(on albums In the Company of Angels
, Back Home
, and Overdressed
) as well as for Webb’s solo release, She Must and Shall Go Free
and recorded five albums of her own (in addition to contributing to many others).
McCracken grew up in St. Louis, Missouri
and attended Westminster Christian Academy
. McCracken began her musical career shortly after graduating from Belmont University
, in 1999. She independently released two albums, The Crucible and Gypsy Flat Road
in 2000, and 2001 respectively.
In late 2003, McCracken recorded Best Laid Plans
with engineer, Ray Kennedy (Twang Trust) and world-renowned producer, Peter Collins
. In the summer of 2004, McCracken signed the album to Shell Records in London
, headed by UK music business legend, Dave Robinson. Shell released the album in the UK, followed by two radio singles, "Last Goodbye" and "No More Tears," which received significant airplay and attention across England
, Scotland
, Wales
and Ireland
.
In 2005, McCracken released The Builder and the Architect
, an album of hymns.
The same team which worked on Best Laid Plans recently came together again in February 2006 to record album number five, Gravity / Love
which was released in September 2006.
McCracken lists her musical influences as Joni Mitchell
, Neil Finn
, David Gray
, Emmylou Harris
, Bob Dylan
and Johnny Cash
.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. She currently resides 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...
, Tennessee
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 her husband and fellow singer-songwriter Derek Webb
Derek Webb
Derek Walsh Webb is an American singer-songwriter who first entered the music industry as a member of the band Caedmon's Call, and later embarked on a successful solo career....
.
Background
As a singer/songwriter, McCracken has penned songs for Caedmon's CallCaedmon's Call
Caedmon's Call is a Contemporary Christian band which fuses traditional folk with world music and alternative rock. They are composed of Cliff Young , Danielle Young , Derek Webb , Andrew Osenga , Garett Buell , Jeff Miller , Todd Bragg , and...
(on albums In the Company of Angels
In the Company of Angels
In the Company of Angels is a studio album from Caedmon's Call. This more than any other previous album by this band features songs of worship.Recorded at:*Sunrise Studios - Houston, TX *Second Studios - Houston, TX...
, Back Home
Back Home (Caedmon's Call album)
Back Home is the fifth major album release from Caedmon's Call.- Track listing :# "Only Hope" – 2:54# "You Created" – 3:27# "Walk with Me" – 4:19# "Hands of the Potter" – 3:51# "The Emptiest Day" – 3:51# "The Kingdom" – 4:30...
, and Overdressed
Overdressed
Overdressed is the eighth major studio release from Caedmon's Call, released in August 2007. It features collaboration with former member and successful solo artist Derek Webb...
) as well as for Webb’s solo release, She Must and Shall Go Free
She Must and Shall Go Free
She Must and Shall Go Free is the first solo studio album from Derek Webb following his 2003 departure from Caedmon's Call. It is notable for causing controversy in Contemporary Christian Music circles; some Christian retailers refused to stock the album for its use of "strong" language.One of the...
and recorded five albums of her own (in addition to contributing to many others).
McCracken grew up in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and attended Westminster Christian Academy
Westminster Christian Academy (Missouri)
Westminster Christian Academy is a private, Christian school, and is one of the biggest Christian schools in the country. It is a 7-12 grade secondary school with its main campus located in Town and Country, St. Louis County, Missouri, United States....
. McCracken began her musical career shortly after graduating from Belmont University
Belmont University
Belmont University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It is the largest Christian university in Tennessee and the second largest private university in the state, behind nearby Vanderbilt University.-Belmont Mansion:Belmont Mansion...
, in 1999. She independently released two albums, The Crucible and Gypsy Flat Road
Gypsy Flat Road
Gypsy Flat Road is the second studio album from Sandra McCracken.-Track listing:# "Gypsy Flat Road" – 4:17# "Family Name" – 4:34# "Where I`m From" – 4:49# "Violet Eyes" – 3:59# "Springtime Indiana" – 2:40# "Ticket Home" – 5:00...
in 2000, and 2001 respectively.
Best Laid Plans (album)
Best Laid Plans is a studio album from Sandra McCracken, recorded in late 2003 with engineer, Ray Kennedy and world-renowned producer, Peter Collins.In the summer of 2004, Sandra signed the album to Shell Records in London...
with engineer, Ray Kennedy (Twang Trust) and world-renowned producer, Peter Collins
Peter Collins (record producer)
Peter Collins is a record producer, born January 15, 1951, in London.In 1976 Collins was signed to Magnet Records and formed a group called Madison, along with Ziggy, Peter Spooner and Page 3 girl Cherri Gilham, to perform his pop song "Let It Ring"...
. In the summer of 2004, McCracken signed the album to Shell Records in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, headed by UK music business legend, Dave Robinson. Shell released the album in the UK, followed by two radio singles, "Last Goodbye" and "No More Tears," which received significant airplay and attention across England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
In 2005, McCracken released The Builder and the Architect
The Builder and the Architect
The Builder and the Architect is the fourth studio album from Sandra McCracken. It is an album of hymns.-Track listing:# "Thy Mercy"# "Grace Upon Grace"# "The Love of Christ is Rich and Free"# "In the Secret of His Presence"# "I Boast No More"...
, an album of hymns.
The same team which worked on Best Laid Plans recently came together again in February 2006 to record album number five, Gravity / Love
Gravity Love
Gravity | Love is a studio album from Sandra McCracken, recorded in 2006 with Ray Kennedy and Peter Collins . Additional engineering was done by Bleu and Jon Schroeder....
which was released in September 2006.
McCracken lists her musical influences as Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
, Neil Finn
Neil Finn
Neil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
, David Gray
David Gray (musician)
David Gray is an English singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later...
, Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
.
Discography
- 2000: The Crucible
- 2001: Gypsy Flat RoadGypsy Flat RoadGypsy Flat Road is the second studio album from Sandra McCracken.-Track listing:# "Gypsy Flat Road" – 4:17# "Family Name" – 4:34# "Where I`m From" – 4:49# "Violet Eyes" – 3:59# "Springtime Indiana" – 2:40# "Ticket Home" – 5:00...
- 2004: Best Laid PlansBest Laid Plans (album)Best Laid Plans is a studio album from Sandra McCracken, recorded in late 2003 with engineer, Ray Kennedy and world-renowned producer, Peter Collins.In the summer of 2004, Sandra signed the album to Shell Records in London...
- 2005: The Builder and the ArchitectThe Builder and the ArchitectThe Builder and the Architect is the fourth studio album from Sandra McCracken. It is an album of hymns.-Track listing:# "Thy Mercy"# "Grace Upon Grace"# "The Love of Christ is Rich and Free"# "In the Secret of His Presence"# "I Boast No More"...
- 2006: Gravity / LoveGravity LoveGravity | Love is a studio album from Sandra McCracken, recorded in 2006 with Ray Kennedy and Peter Collins . Additional engineering was done by Bleu and Jon Schroeder....
- 2008: The Ampersand EPThe Ampersand EPAmpersand EP is a duet album by husband and wife singer-songwriters Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken released on February 14, 2008.-Track listing:# "Valentine" - 4:08# "When The Summer's Gone" - 3:28# "Watch Your Mouth" - 4:22...
(with Derek WebbDerek WebbDerek Walsh Webb is an American singer-songwriter who first entered the music industry as a member of the band Caedmon's Call, and later embarked on a successful solo career....
) - 2008: Red Balloon
- 2009: Live Under Lights and Wires
- 2010: In Feast or Fallow
- 2011: "Tennessee EP" (with Derek WebbDerek WebbDerek Walsh Webb is an American singer-songwriter who first entered the music industry as a member of the band Caedmon's Call, and later embarked on a successful solo career....
)