Selah (band)
Encyclopedia
Selah is a Christian
vocal trio consisting of Todd Smith
, Allan Hall, and Amy Perry. They have won three Dove Awards. The group has been featured on The 700 Club
, The Hour of Power, and TBN
.
and Nicol Smith, along with friend Allan Hall. The group quickly gained success with the release of their first album, Be Still My Soul, in 1999. They quickly earned a reputation for being able to reveal the heart of any song they recorded, transforming old Christian hymns into a more modern style and with their powerful voices and beautiful harmonies. Todd and Nicol, who spent their childhood in Subsaharan Africa, brought many African elements to their songs as well. They are as comfortable singing in Kituba
, as they are in English
. Todd gives credit for his music career to his missionary upbringing. “I've been singing in front of people since I was three,” he said. “My parents are missionaries. When we came back to the United States
, we had to visit each church that sponsored us. That was a good training ground.” They also did well-known covers of already-famous songs such as "You Raise Me Up
" by Secret Garden
and "Bless the Broken Road
" by Marcus Hummon
. Selah went on to win a Dove Award for their debut album.
Their second album Press On was released in 2001, and also won a Dove Award, along with many nominations for individual songs in the album.
In April 2000, Nicol Smith released her self-titled solo debut on Curb Records. She met and married Greg Sponberg in 2003. Nicol Sponberg released her second solo album, Resurrection (Curb Records), in 2004. The single "Crazy In Love" crossed over to the secular Adult Contemporary charts while songs like "Safe" continued to earn her airplay on Christian radio. Todd also produced a solo album, Alive, in 2004.
Nicol left the group in 2004, and for most of 2005 Melodie Crittenden
sang with the group.
The 2006 Bless the Broken Road
album was a project that teamed original Selah members Allan Hall and Todd Smith with a wide variety of guest singers.
After auditioning 15 female vocalists, Amy Perry became a full-time member based on her vocal abilities and spiritual, adding on to Todd and Allan. Allan Hall also began to get a more active singing role, from originally being the band's accompanist.
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...
vocal trio consisting of Todd Smith
Todd Smith (Selah)
Todd Smith is a singer and founding member of the contemporary Christian music band Selah. Smith remains an original member since its founding in 1998....
, Allan Hall, and Amy Perry. They have won three Dove Awards. The group has been featured on The 700 Club
The 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
, The Hour of Power, and TBN
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
.
History
Selah was originally formed by brother and sister, ToddTodd Smith (Selah)
Todd Smith is a singer and founding member of the contemporary Christian music band Selah. Smith remains an original member since its founding in 1998....
and Nicol Smith, along with friend Allan Hall. The group quickly gained success with the release of their first album, Be Still My Soul, in 1999. They quickly earned a reputation for being able to reveal the heart of any song they recorded, transforming old Christian hymns into a more modern style and with their powerful voices and beautiful harmonies. Todd and Nicol, who spent their childhood in Subsaharan Africa, brought many African elements to their songs as well. They are as comfortable singing in Kituba
Kituba
Kituba is a widely used lingua franca in Central Africa. It is a creole language based on Kikongo, a family of closely related Bantu languages. It is an official language in Congo-Brazzaville and Congo-Kinshasa....
, as they are in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. Todd gives credit for his music career to his missionary upbringing. “I've been singing in front of people since I was three,” he said. “My parents are missionaries. When we came back to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, we had to visit each church that sponsored us. That was a good training ground.” They also did well-known covers of already-famous songs such as "You Raise Me Up
You Raise Me Up
"You Raise Me Up" was the debut single from Westlife's fifth studio album, Face To Face.This version is considered by many to be the most popular , of all the various versions of the same song. The single peaked at #1 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the band's 13th Number One. It was the first...
" by Secret Garden
Secret Garden (duo)
Secret Garden is an award-winning Irish-Norwegian duo playing New Instrumental Music, also sometimes erroneously known as Neo-classical music.Secret Garden features the Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry and the Norwegian composer/pianist Rolf Løvland...
and "Bless the Broken Road
Bless the Broken Road
"Bless the Broken Road" is a song that has been recorded by several American country music artists. It was co-written by Marcus Hummon and members of the country music group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1994, and recorded by Hummon a year later...
" by Marcus Hummon
Marcus Hummon
Marcus Spencer Hummon is an American country music artist. After several years of playing in various bands, he eventually found his way to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was signed to a songwriting contract, and subsequently a record deal with Columbia Records, which released his debut album All...
. Selah went on to win a Dove Award for their debut album.
Their second album Press On was released in 2001, and also won a Dove Award, along with many nominations for individual songs in the album.
In April 2000, Nicol Smith released her self-titled solo debut on Curb Records. She met and married Greg Sponberg in 2003. Nicol Sponberg released her second solo album, Resurrection (Curb Records), in 2004. The single "Crazy In Love" crossed over to the secular Adult Contemporary charts while songs like "Safe" continued to earn her airplay on Christian radio. Todd also produced a solo album, Alive, in 2004.
Nicol left the group in 2004, and for most of 2005 Melodie Crittenden
Melodie Crittenden
Melodie Crittenden is an American country and Christian music artist. She initially recorded a self-titled debut album for Asylum/Elektra Records in 1998, the same year that she charted with her rendition of "Bless the Broken Road" ; she would later record the song a second time as a member of the...
sang with the group.
The 2006 Bless the Broken Road
Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album
Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album is an album from Contemporary Christian group Selah. It features the collaboration of other artists of the genre in each song...
album was a project that teamed original Selah members Allan Hall and Todd Smith with a wide variety of guest singers.
After auditioning 15 female vocalists, Amy Perry became a full-time member based on her vocal abilities and spiritual, adding on to Todd and Allan. Allan Hall also began to get a more active singing role, from originally being the band's accompanist.
Discography
- 1999: Be Still My Soul
- 2001: Press On
- 2002: Rose of Bethlehem
- 2004: Hiding PlaceHiding Place (Selah album)Hiding Place is an album from Contemporary Christian group Selah. It was released on 2004.-Track listing:#"You Raise Me Up" - 5:02#"Part the Waters Lord"/"I Need Thee Every Hour" Hiding Place is an album from Contemporary Christian group Selah. It was released on 2004.-Track listing:#"You Raise Me...
- 2005: Greatest HymnsGreatest HymnsGreatest Hymns is an album from Contemporary Christian group Selah. It features updated versions of classic Christian hymns. The album was released on August 23, 2005.-Track listing:#"Be Thou My Vision" - 3:17...
- 2006: Bless the Broken Road: The Duets AlbumBless the Broken Road: The Duets AlbumBless the Broken Road: The Duets Album is an album from Contemporary Christian group Selah. It features the collaboration of other artists of the genre in each song...
- 2007: Timeless: The Selah Collection
- 2009: You Deliver MeYou Deliver MeYou Deliver Me is the name of Selah's seventh studio album. It features an already hit cover of Hillsongs "Hosanna". The album releases August 25, 2009.-Track listing:# "Into My Heart / Fairest Lord Jesus"# "How Deep The Fathers Love For Us"...
- 2011: Hope of the Broken World
GMA Dove Awards
They have won the following Dove Awards:- 2000: Inspirational Album of the Year for Be Still My Soul
- 2002: Inspirational Album of the Year for Press On
- 2002: Traditional Recorded Gospel Song for "Hold On"
| Year | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Dove Awards of 2005 The 36th Annual GMA Dove Awards, also called the 36th Annual GMA Music Awards, were held on April 13, 2005 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2004. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee and was hosted by Steven Curtis Chapman, CeCe Winans, Rebecca St... |
Artist of the Year | |
| Group of the Year | ||
| Song of the Year ("You Raise Me Up You Raise Me Up "You Raise Me Up" was the debut single from Westlife's fifth studio album, Face To Face.This version is considered by many to be the most popular , of all the various versions of the same song. The single peaked at #1 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the band's 13th Number One. It was the first... ") |
||
| Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year ("You Raise Me Up") | ||
| Inspirational Album of the Year (Hiding Place Hiding Place (Selah album) Hiding Place is an album from Contemporary Christian group Selah. It was released on 2004.-Track listing:#"You Raise Me Up" - 5:02#"Part the Waters Lord"/"I Need Thee Every Hour" Hiding Place is an album from Contemporary Christian group Selah. It was released on 2004.-Track listing:#"You Raise Me... ) |
||
| Worship Song of the Year ("I Bless Your Name") | ||
| 2006 Dove Awards of 2006 The 37th Annual GMA Dove Awards, also called the 37th Annual GMA Music Awards, were held on April 5, 2006 recognizing accomplishments of Christian musicians for the year 2005. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Rebecca St. James and Kirk Franklin... |
Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year ("All My Praise") | |
| Inspirational Album of the Year (Greatest Hymns) | ||
| Worship Song of the Year ("Be Thou My Vision Be Thou My Vision Be Thou My Vision is a traditional hymn from Ireland, which is commonly attributed to Dallán Forgaill. It is popular among English-speaking churches around the world.-History:... ") |
||
| 2007 Dove Awards of 2007 The 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 25, 2007 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2006. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Brian Littrell, Natalie Grant, and Donnie McClurkin... |
Song of the Year ("Bless the Broken Road") | |
| Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("Bless the Broken Road") | ||
| Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year ("Glory") | ||
| Inspirational Album of the Year (Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album is an album from Contemporary Christian group Selah. It features the collaboration of other artists of the genre in each song... ) |
||
| 2008 Dove Awards of 2008 The 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 23, 2008 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2007. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee.Nominations were announced on February 14, 2008 by singer Michael W... |
Group of the Year | |
| Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year ("Be Thou Near To Me") | ||
| 2010 | Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year ("Hossana") | |
| Inspirational Album of the Year (You Deliver Me You Deliver Me You Deliver Me is the name of Selah's seventh studio album. It features an already hit cover of Hillsongs "Hosanna". The album releases August 25, 2009.-Track listing:# "Into My Heart / Fairest Lord Jesus"# "How Deep The Fathers Love For Us"... ) |
||
| Worship Song of the Year ("Hossana") | ||
| 2011 | Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year ("You Deliver Me") |
External links
- Selah - Official Site
- Selah's MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
Page