Word Records
Encyclopedia
Word Records is a Christian record label
based in Nashville, Tennessee
. It is a division of Word Entertainment (formerly known as Word Records & Music), which, itself is co-owned by Warner Music Group
and Curb Records
. Word Entertainment consists of Word Records, Word Music (printed music), Word Music Publishing and Word Distribution.
in 1951 by Jarrell McCracken. The label's name is based on a recording by McCracken, the first recording by the label, of a fictitious American football
match held at the "Great Stadium of Life," known as the Game of Life. The 23-year old KWTX sportscaster in Waco, TX, read an article by Jimmy Allen, a former athlete who became a Baptist preacher, and based his recording on the article which also is called "The Game of Life". The event is based on a full length match between the forces of Good and Evil with Jesus
Christ
and Satan
coaching the two teams. McCracken was familiar with play-by-play broadcasting, having created virtual baseball games for radio broadcast based on wire reports. McCracken originally presented his "The Game of Life" presentation on Sunday nights at various churches around the central Texas area. Everywhere he presented "The Game," he got requests for copies. Eventually, he had a short run of records pressed to offer at the churches that he visited. The fictional radio station in the recording has the call letters "WORD," so that was printed on the label of the custom record. Several months after he had begun distributing his record, a friend asked, "so when are you going to have your next release on your WORD record label?" It hadn't occurred to Jarrell that he had created a label, but he had.
Subsequent records focused on other spoken word recordings, but he soon branched out into gospel music, including George Beverly Shea
and Baylor Religious Hour Choir. Early employees included Kurt Kaiser
and Ralph Carmichael
.
The label struggled initially, and Marvin Norcross became an equity partner early in the label's beginnings. Word was both a publishing house and a record label by 1954.
Several subsidiary labels were started over the years: Canaan Records
in the sixties, Myrrh Records
(1972) and DaySpring Records in 1977, and Rejoice Records
in the eighties. Two of these labels no longer exist today in their original form. The Myrrh Label was resurrected in 2005 as a praise and worship record label: Myrrh Worship. Canaan Records
was also re-opened in early 2007 with Dave Clark at the helm.
Larry Norman
's Solid Rock Records
had a distribution deal with Word from 1975 to 1980. Artists on Solid Rock included Norman, Randy Stonehill
, Daniel Amos
, Tom Howard
and Mark Heard
.
In 1983 Chris Christian
signed a distribution deal to move his label Home Sweet Home Records
from Benson Records
to Word Records, today it is still active and remains under the independent ownership of Chris Christian
.
Light Records
was distributed in the 1970s by Word Records before being sold to Ralph Carmichael in the 1980s.
Reunion Records
signed a distribution and promotion contract in the 80s, the agreement lasted well into the 90s. Today Reunion Records
is distributed through Provident Music Group.
Star Song was distributed by Word Records but left their distribution deal in the late 1980s to sign with Sparrow Records
which was taken over by Chordant Distribution and then by EMI
.
Distribution deals with other labels in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s allowed Word Records to rise to the top, virtually housing a who’s who in Christian Music. They distributed, promoted and advertised the biggest names in Christian Music. Artists such as Amy Grant, Michael W Smith, Rich Mullins, Russ Taff, Paul Smith, The Imperials, Petra, Sandi Patty, Kenny Marks, Wayne Watson, Carman, The Archers, Steve Archer, White Heart, Gaither Vocal Band, Bill Gaither Trio, Point of Grace, Love Song, Sweet Comfort Band, The Nelons, Happy Goodman Family, Rusty Goodman, Florida Boys, Guardian and many, many more Legendary Artists.
In the 1976, McCracken sold part interest in his label to the American Broadcasting Company
. Ten years later, ABC merged with Capitol Cities, Inc. and forced McCracken out of the company.
From 1984 until 1990 Word Records was distributed in the general market by A&M Records
, afterwards distribution switched to Epic Records
until 2002.
In 1992, Capital Cities ABC sold Word to Thomas Nelson, Inc.
for $72 Million, and Nelson made two major changes—developing the present swirling W logo for book products which was unveiled in 1995, and also moving its headquarters from Waco, Texas, to its present headquarters in Nashville. Nelson split the record label and book publishing arms in 1996 when the labels were sold to Gaylord Entertainment. In an agreement with Gaylord, Thomas Nelson continued to use the "Word Publishing" name for its book imprint until 2002, at which time it became "W Publishing Group" and retained the swirling W logo. A highly controversial ad campaign introduced at the CBA convention in 2002 created litigation, settled later.
After Colin Reed took over Gaylord Entertainment in 2001, the hotelier made corporate changes at the company, including the ousting of longstanding president Roland Lundy, and sold off the Word Entertainment group to then-AOL Time Warner in 2002. In 2002, former Atlantic Records
Christian division manager Barry Landis briefly took the position of president of the label group division. Word went through a period of restructuring, closing their Los Angeles
music publishing office, absorbing Myrrh Records
, Squint Entertainment
, and Everland Entertainment into the Word Label Group, and reducing in-house staff. Curb Records
also gained a stake in the company during this time. In 2004, the company was sold again as part of Time Warner divestiture of its music division, selling it to a group of investors led by Edgar Bronfman
to form a newly independent Warner Music Group
.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
based in Nashville, Tennessee
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...
. It is a division of Word Entertainment (formerly known as Word Records & Music), which, itself is co-owned by Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
and Curb Records
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
. Word Entertainment consists of Word Records, Word Music (printed music), Word Music Publishing and Word Distribution.
History
Word Records was founded in Waco, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1951 by Jarrell McCracken. The label's name is based on a recording by McCracken, the first recording by the label, of a fictitious American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
match held at the "Great Stadium of Life," known as the Game of Life. The 23-year old KWTX sportscaster in Waco, TX, read an article by Jimmy Allen, a former athlete who became a Baptist preacher, and based his recording on the article which also is called "The Game of Life". The event is based on a full length match between the forces of Good and Evil with Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
and Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
coaching the two teams. McCracken was familiar with play-by-play broadcasting, having created virtual baseball games for radio broadcast based on wire reports. McCracken originally presented his "The Game of Life" presentation on Sunday nights at various churches around the central Texas area. Everywhere he presented "The Game," he got requests for copies. Eventually, he had a short run of records pressed to offer at the churches that he visited. The fictional radio station in the recording has the call letters "WORD," so that was printed on the label of the custom record. Several months after he had begun distributing his record, a friend asked, "so when are you going to have your next release on your WORD record label?" It hadn't occurred to Jarrell that he had created a label, but he had.
Subsequent records focused on other spoken word recordings, but he soon branched out into gospel music, including George Beverly Shea
George Beverly Shea
George Beverly "Bev" Shea is a Grammy Award-winning Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea has often been described as "America's beloved Gospel singer" and is considered "the first international singing 'star' of the gospel world," as a consequence of his solos at Billy...
and Baylor Religious Hour Choir. Early employees included Kurt Kaiser
Kurt Kaiser
Kurt Kaiser, is an award winning songwriter of Contemporary Christian music and member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. He has produced and arranged albums for the likes of: Kathleen Battle, Ernie Ford, Larnelle Harris, Burl Ives, Ken Medema, Christopher Parkening, George Beverly Shea, Joni...
and Ralph Carmichael
Ralph Carmichael
Ralph Carmichael is a composer and arranger of both secular pop music and contemporary Christian music, being regarded as one of the pioneers of the latter genre...
.
The label struggled initially, and Marvin Norcross became an equity partner early in the label's beginnings. Word was both a publishing house and a record label by 1954.
Several subsidiary labels were started over the years: Canaan Records
Canaan Records
Canaan Records is a Christian record label and is a subsidiary of Word Entertainment. It started in 1965 by founder Marvin Norcross as a vehicle for the label's Southern Gospel quartets. Their biggest artist to date is that of the Legendary Happy Goodman Family...
in the sixties, Myrrh Records
Myrrh Records
Myrrh Records, also known as Myrrh Worship, is a Christian music record label. According to Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, the label was instrumental in developing a popular following for Contemporary Christian music as the label that first published music by Barry McGuire, 2nd Chapter of...
(1972) and DaySpring Records in 1977, and Rejoice Records
Rejoice Records
Rejoice Records is a record label subsidiary of Word Records, started in the seventies....
in the eighties. Two of these labels no longer exist today in their original form. The Myrrh Label was resurrected in 2005 as a praise and worship record label: Myrrh Worship. Canaan Records
Canaan Records
Canaan Records is a Christian record label and is a subsidiary of Word Entertainment. It started in 1965 by founder Marvin Norcross as a vehicle for the label's Southern Gospel quartets. Their biggest artist to date is that of the Legendary Happy Goodman Family...
was also re-opened in early 2007 with Dave Clark at the helm.
Larry Norman
Larry Norman
Larry David Norman was an American Christian musician, singer, songwriter, record label owner, and record producer, who worked with Christian rock music...
's Solid Rock Records
Solid Rock Records
Solid Rock Records is the record label of Larry Norman. It was set up in 1975 to distribute his own work, after he had been released by Capitol Records. Solid Rock had a distribution deal with Word Records until 1980....
had a distribution deal with Word from 1975 to 1980. Artists on Solid Rock included Norman, Randy Stonehill
Randy Stonehill
Randall Evan "Randy" Stonehill is an American singer-songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the so-called "fathers of contemporary Christian music". His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but he has assayed other styles, with various albums focused on...
, Daniel Amos
Daniel Amos
Daniel Amos is a rock band formed in 1974 by Terry Scott Taylor on guitars and vocals, Marty Dieckmeyer on bass guitar, Steve Baxter on guitars and Jerry Chamberlain on lead guitars. Current members include bassist Tim Chandler, guitarist Greg Flesch and drummer Ed McTaggart...
, Tom Howard
Tom Howard (musician)
Tom Howard was an American pianist, musical arranger and orchestral conductor.In 1983, Howard helped the rock band Daniel Amos form the Alarma! Records label....
and Mark Heard
Mark Heard
John Mark Heard was a record producer, folk-rock singer, and songwriter originally from Macon, Georgia, USA....
.
In 1983 Chris Christian
Chris Christian
Chris Christian is a songwriter, record producer, and a record label executive. His songs have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Olivia Newton-John, Natalie Cole, Sheena Easton, The Pointer Sisters, Al Jarreau, The Carpenters, Amy Grant, Patti Austin, Dionne Warwick, Amy Grant, The Imperials, B.J...
signed a distribution deal to move his label Home Sweet Home Records
Home Sweet Home Records
Home Sweet Home Records is a record label, based in Dallas, Texas.Home Sweet Home was founded in 1981, in Nashville, Tennessee, by Grammy Award-winning producer and singer-songwriter Chris Christian...
from Benson Records
Benson Records
Benson Records was founded by Bob Benson & John T. Benson, beginning as the John T. Benson Music Publishing Company in 1902. The record label started out as Heart Warming Records and would come to house labels such as Impact Records, Greentree Records, RiverSong, StarSong and Home Sweet Home...
to Word Records, today it is still active and remains under the independent ownership of Chris Christian
Chris Christian
Chris Christian is a songwriter, record producer, and a record label executive. His songs have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Olivia Newton-John, Natalie Cole, Sheena Easton, The Pointer Sisters, Al Jarreau, The Carpenters, Amy Grant, Patti Austin, Dionne Warwick, Amy Grant, The Imperials, B.J...
.
Light Records
Light Records
Light Records was a gospel record label founded in 1966 by Ralph Carmichael as a joint venture with the Waco, Texas-based Word Records.-History:...
was distributed in the 1970s by Word Records before being sold to Ralph Carmichael in the 1980s.
Reunion Records
Reunion Records
Reunion Records is a Christian music record label based in Brentwood, Tennessee and operating under the Provident Label Group. The label was founded in 1982 by Dan Harrell and Mike Blanton.-History:...
signed a distribution and promotion contract in the 80s, the agreement lasted well into the 90s. Today Reunion Records
Reunion Records
Reunion Records is a Christian music record label based in Brentwood, Tennessee and operating under the Provident Label Group. The label was founded in 1982 by Dan Harrell and Mike Blanton.-History:...
is distributed through Provident Music Group.
Star Song was distributed by Word Records but left their distribution deal in the late 1980s to sign with Sparrow Records
Sparrow Records
-Background:Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then A&R director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by EMI in 1992, it is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group, and has been named by Billboard Magazine as "America's Best Christian Music Record Label"...
which was taken over by Chordant Distribution and then by 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...
.
Distribution deals with other labels in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s allowed Word Records to rise to the top, virtually housing a who’s who in Christian Music. They distributed, promoted and advertised the biggest names in Christian Music. Artists such as Amy Grant, Michael W Smith, Rich Mullins, Russ Taff, Paul Smith, The Imperials, Petra, Sandi Patty, Kenny Marks, Wayne Watson, Carman, The Archers, Steve Archer, White Heart, Gaither Vocal Band, Bill Gaither Trio, Point of Grace, Love Song, Sweet Comfort Band, The Nelons, Happy Goodman Family, Rusty Goodman, Florida Boys, Guardian and many, many more Legendary Artists.
In the 1976, McCracken sold part interest in his label to the American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. Ten years later, ABC merged with Capitol Cities, Inc. and forced McCracken out of the company.
From 1984 until 1990 Word Records was distributed in the general market by A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, afterwards distribution switched to Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
until 2002.
In 1992, Capital Cities ABC sold Word to Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Thomas Nelson (publisher)
Thomas Nelson is a publishing firm that began in Scotland in 1798 as the namesake of its founder. Its former US division is currently the sixth largest American trade publisher and the world's largest Christian publisher. It is owned by the private equity firm Kohlberg & Company...
for $72 Million, and Nelson made two major changes—developing the present swirling W logo for book products which was unveiled in 1995, and also moving its headquarters from Waco, Texas, to its present headquarters in Nashville. Nelson split the record label and book publishing arms in 1996 when the labels were sold to Gaylord Entertainment. In an agreement with Gaylord, Thomas Nelson continued to use the "Word Publishing" name for its book imprint until 2002, at which time it became "W Publishing Group" and retained the swirling W logo. A highly controversial ad campaign introduced at the CBA convention in 2002 created litigation, settled later.
After Colin Reed took over Gaylord Entertainment in 2001, the hotelier made corporate changes at the company, including the ousting of longstanding president Roland Lundy, and sold off the Word Entertainment group to then-AOL Time Warner in 2002. In 2002, former Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
Christian division manager Barry Landis briefly took the position of president of the label group division. Word went through a period of restructuring, closing their Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
music publishing office, absorbing Myrrh Records
Myrrh Records
Myrrh Records, also known as Myrrh Worship, is a Christian music record label. According to Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, the label was instrumental in developing a popular following for Contemporary Christian music as the label that first published music by Barry McGuire, 2nd Chapter of...
, Squint Entertainment
Squint Entertainment
Squint Entertainment was a record label owned by Word Entertainment, started in 1997 and run by musician and songwriter Steve Taylor. Squint pushed Sixpence None the Richer to mainstream success with their single "Kiss Me"....
, and Everland Entertainment into the Word Label Group, and reducing in-house staff. Curb Records
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
also gained a stake in the company during this time. In 2004, the company was sold again as part of Time Warner divestiture of its music division, selling it to a group of investors led by Edgar Bronfman
Edgar Bronfman
Edgar Bronfman may refer to:* Edgar Bronfman, Sr. , Canadian businessman and former long-time president of the World Jewish Congress* Edgar Bronfman, Jr. , CEO of the Warner Music Group...
to form a newly independent Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
.
Artist roster
This is a list of artists, past and present, who have recorded on Word Records over the past several decadesCurrent
- Meredith AndrewsMeredith AndrewsMeredith Sooter is a Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian music artist and worship leader.-Childhood:Andrews grew up in Wilson, NC, where she started singing when she was six years old. She attended Wilson Christian Academy, where she graduated. Andrews later attended college at Liberty...
2006-present - Chris AugustChris AugustChris August Megert is an American Contemporary Christian musician who performs under the stage name Chris August. He began recording as a secular musician before switching to Christian music. His song "Starry Night" which reached #1 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart in 2010/2011...
- Jason Castro 2010-present
- Point of GracePoint of GracePoint of Grace is an all-female Contemporary Christian music group. The trio consists of Shelley Breen, Denise Jones, and Leigh Cappillino. The group started out as a quartet in 1991, with original members Breen and Jones, as well as Terry Jones and Heather Payne...
1993 - Present - Mark SchultzMark Schultz (musician)Mark Schultz is a Contemporary Christian music singer/songwriter. He grew up in Colby, Kansas and graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in marketing. At Kansas State, Mark was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he served eight years as a youth group...
- Chris SlighChris SlighCharles Christopher Sligh is an American singer; songwriter and producer who was a finalist on the sixth season of American Idol, finishing in tenth place.-Early years:...
Former
- Jaci VelasquezJaci VelasquezJacquelyn Davette Velasquez is an American Contemporary Christian and Latin Pop singer—in both English and Spanish languages....
2006-Present - Anita BryantAnita BryantAnita Jane Bryant is an American singer, former Miss Oklahoma beauty pageant winner, and gay rights opponent. She scored four Top 40 hits in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including "Paper Roses", which reached #5...
- Charles BillingsleyCharles Billingsley (musician)Charles Billingsley is a Christian singer, worship leader, songwriter, speaker and author. He is the worship leader at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, which is led by Pastor Jonathan Falwell, son of the late Jerry Falwell.- Career :Charles began his solo career the day after he...
- DownhereDownhereNot to be confused with the album Down Here by Tracy Bonham.Downhere is a Juno Award-winning Christian rock band from Canada...
- George Beverly SheaGeorge Beverly SheaGeorge Beverly "Bev" Shea is a Grammy Award-winning Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea has often been described as "America's beloved Gospel singer" and is considered "the first international singing 'star' of the gospel world," as a consequence of his solos at Billy...
- Rich MullinsRich MullinsRichard Wayne "Rich" Mullins was an American Contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter born in Richmond, Indiana. He had two sisters and two brothers....
Reunion Records - The ImperialsThe ImperialsThe Imperials are an American Christian music group that has been around for over 45 years. Originating as a southern gospel quartet, the innovative group would become pioneers of contemporary Christian music in the 1960s. There have been many changes for the band in membership and musical styles...
1977-1984 Dayspring, 1985-1988 Myrrh - Russ TaffRuss TaffRussell Taff is an American gospel singer who is originally from Farmersville, California. Taff later then moved to Arkansas where he graduated from Cutter-Morning Star High School in Hot Springs, Arkansas....
1983-1991 Myrrh - 4Him4Him4Him was a Contemporary Christian group founded in 1990 in Alabama, USA. The group has a Grammy nomination, seven Dove awards and an album certified gold to their credit. The group was inducted into Alabama's Music Hall of Fame, following the awarding of The Governor’s Achievement Award...
- Paul SmithPaul Smith (christian music)Paul Charles Smith is a Contemporary Christian Music performer and songwriter. He is best remembered for his early years with influential gospel group, The Imperials. Paul spent four years with that group, recording four albums and one live video. Smith was inducted into the Gospel Music...
1986-1989 Dayspring - Gaither Vocal BandGaither Vocal BandThe Gaither Vocal Band is a Grammy award-winning Christian music vocal group, headed by Bill Gaither. They originally recorded contemporary Christian music, but after the popularity of the Gaither Homecoming videos, the group has become known for southern gospel.-Group history:The Gaither Vocal...
1980-1985 Dayspring - The ArchersThe Archers (musical group)The Archers were one of America's earliest Contemporary Christian music groups. They were originally brothers Tim and Steve Archer, Nancye Short and Billy Rush Masters. After Masters and Short departed in 1977, sister Janice Archer joined....
1975-1980 Light Records, 1990 Reunion Records - Steve ArcherSteve ArcherSteve Archer is an American singer-songwriter and producer. He is a pioneer of the genre of Jesus music, later to become known as contemporary Christian music...
1983-1988 Home Sweet Home Records - Happy Goodman Family 1964-1982 Canaan, 1990 Word Records
- Howard & Vestal Goodman 1983-1984 Word
- Rusty Goodman 1977-1987 Canaan
- The Florida Boys Canaan
- The Cathedrals Canaan
- The Inspirations Quartet Canaan
- The LefevresThe LeFevresThe LeFevres, or The Singing LeFevres, were an American Southern gospel singing group, active for nearly 50 years in the middle of the twentieth century....
Canaan - The KingsmenThe KingsmenThe Kingsmen is a 1960s garage rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States. They are best known for their 1963 recording of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", which held the #2 spot on the Billboard charts for six weeks...
Canaan - The Hemphills Canaan
- The Nelons Canaan
- The Lewis FamilyThe Lewis FamilyThe Lewis Family is a family of gospel and bluegrass musicians from Lincolnton, Georgia. They are known as the "First Family of Bluegrass Gospel"....
Canaan - Wendy Bagwell and the SunlitersWendy Bagwell and the SunlitersWendy Bagwell and the Sunliters was a Southern gospel music and comedy trio that was inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001...
Canaan - The HoppersThe HoppersThe Hoppers are a Southern Gospel group from North Carolina.The Hoppers are a family ensemble which first began performing together in 1957. They appeared at the inauguration ceremony for Ronald Reagan in 1981...
Canaan - Amy GrantAmy GrantAmy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
1977-2006 - Michael W Smith Reunion Records
- Sandi Patti
- Sixpence None The RicherSixpence None the RicherSixpence None the Richer is an American rock/pop band that formed in New Braunfels, Texas, eventually settling in Nashville, Tennessee. They are best known for their songs "Kiss Me" and "Breathe Your Name" and their covers of "Don't Dream It's Over" and "There She Goes". The name of the band is...
- Michael OmartianMichael OmartianMichael Omartian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter, keyboardist, and music producer. He has been a participant in over 350,000,000 albums and CD’s sold worldwide, as a producer, arranger, artist or musician, during a career that has spanned over 38 years...
- PetraPetra (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"...
1974-1977 Myrrh, 1983-1986 StarSong (under Word) 1989-1994 Dayspring, 1995-2000 Word Records - Dakota Motor Co 1994-1996 Myrrh
- GuardianGuardian (band)Guardian is an American Christian hard rock/metal band. The band released six studio albums, three additional albums in Spanish—and toured extensively worldwide...
1990-1994 Pakaderm, 1995-1997 Myrrh - Rusty Goodman
- Mike WarnkeMike WarnkeMichael Alfred "Mike" Warnke is a Christian evangelist and comedian. With the success of his books and recordings, Warnke became one of evangelical Christianity's best-known experts on the subject of Satanism before his claims of having been a Satanist high priest were discredited in 1991 by the...
- 1975-1986 Myrrh, 1987-1992 Dayspring - Mark LowryMark LowryMark Alan Lowry is a Christian comedian, songwriter, and singer, best known for co-writing the song “Mary, Did You Know?”. Lowry performed with the Gaither Vocal Band from 1988–2001 and, in January 2009, he re-joined the group along with other "GVB" alumni Michael English and David Phelps...
- Babbie MasonBabbie MasonBabbie Yvett Robie Wade Mason is an American gospel singer, songwriter, writer, and adjunct professor of songwriting at Atlanta Christian College and Lee University, and also a television talk-show host. In 1995, she was featured in the Warren Chaney docudrama, America: A Call to...
- Bryan DuncanBryan DuncanBryan Duncan is an American CCM musician. he is best known for his role in the Sweet Comfort Band and subsequent solo career that, combined, spanned more than twenty-five years...
- Greg X Volz
- Love SongLove Song (band)Love Song was one of the main Jesus music bands, one of the first Christian rock bands. It was founded in 1970 by Chuck Girard, Tommy Coomes, Jay Truax, and Fred Field. Additionally, the earliest members included David Ingram on keyboards, Ernie Earnshaw on drums and Jack Schaeffer on bass. It was...
- Wayne WatsonWayne WatsonWayne Watson is a Dove Award-winning singer-songwriter in contemporary Christian music. Some of his songs have become CCM classics, including "Another Time, Another Place," "For Such a Time as This," "Friend of a Wounded Heart," "Touch of the Master's Hand," "New Lives for Old," and "Watercolour...
- Billy Ray CyrusBilly Ray CyrusWilliam "Billy" Ray Cyrus is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist, who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon...
(Word/Warner Bros./Curb) (2003–2004) - David PhelpsDavid PhelpsDavid Norris Phelps is an American Christian vocalist, songwriter and vocal arranger, who is best known for singing tenor in the Gaither Vocal Band. He has also released several solo albums, including four Christmas collections...
- Building 429Building 429Building 429 is a Christian rock band signed to Essential Records. They were the Gospel Music Association 2005 New Artist of the Year. Their name is derived from a Biblical passage known as Ephesians 4:29, which, in the New International Version of the Bible, reads as follows: "Do not let any...
(Active on INO Records) - Stellar KartStellar KartStellar Kart is a Christian pop punk band from Phoenix, Arizona, USA . The band is signed to INO Records and released its first album in February 2005. Some of the singles from their debut album, All Gas. No Brake - including "Finish Last" and "Life Is Good" - have been played on Christian radio...
(Active on INO Records) - Randy TravisRandy TravisRandy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
- SalvadorSalvador (band)Salvador is a Christian band. The band began with Art, Nic, and Josh Gonzales as part of the worship band in their home church located in north east Austin, Texas. Which was called King of Glory church...
- Bruce CarrollBruce CarrollBruce Carroll , is an American CCM singer and multi Grammy and Dove Award winning recording artist. He currently is the director of arts and worship and leads a ten member band at the six thousand plus member Hope Church in Memphis, Tennessee.Bruce lives in Memphis, Tennessee with his wife...
- Wes KingWes KingWes King , born in Winder, Georgia, is an American contemporary-Christian singer, songwriter, and musician. He is perhaps best known for his 1993 album The Robe. For a very brief period in the late 1980s, he attended Covenant College outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee...
- Clay CrosseClay CrosseClay Crosse is a Dove award winning CCM artist. He is probably best known for the single "I Surrender All."-Music career:...
- Carolyn ArendsCarolyn ArendsCarolyn Arends is a Contemporary Christian musician, songwriter, and author based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.-Musical career:Arends began her career as a songwriter at Benson Music Publishing. In 1995, Carolyn began touring and releasing albums as a singer and guitarist. Her debut release...
- Ashley ClevelandAshley ClevelandAshley Cleveland is an American singer/songwriter perhaps best known as a background vocalist and Grammy-winning gospel singer. Ashley Cleveland was born in Knoxville, Tennessee...
- Skypark
- Across the SkyAcross The SkyAcross the Sky was a Dove Award-nominated Christian band formed in Nashville, Tennessee during 2000 by Matt Martin, Ben Kolarcik, and Justin Unger. Matt eventually left before their first album was recorded and now resides in Louisville, KY. Both musicians are of the singer-songwriter style...
- John GimenezJohn GimenezJohn Gimenez was a pastor, international overseer and bishop of Rock Ministerial Family and Rock Church International. He founded the Washington for Jesus events. He died on February 12, 2008.-References:...
- Rachael LampaRachael LampaRachael Maureen Lampa is a Dove award winning American Christian singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She rose to fame in 2000 with her debut album Live For You, winning a Dove Award as well as achieving four number one singles including "Blessed", "Shaken", "God Loves You",...
- Shirley CaesarShirley CaesarShirley Ann Caesar is an American Gospel music singer, songwriter and recording artist whose career has spanned six decades...
(Word/Rejoice/Myrrh) (1980–1991) - Kenny MarksKenny MarksKenny Marks, born Kenneth Michael Marks, November 6, 1950, Detroit Michigan, has performed on 6 of the 7 continents world-wide over his music career....
Hit songs
This is a short list of some of the songs that were made hits on Word Records over the years- Old man's rubble - Amy Grant
- In a little while - Amy Grant
- El Shaddai - Amy Grant
- Angels - Amy Grant
- Sing your praise to the lord - Amy Grant
- Thy word - Amy Grant
- Emmanuel - Amy Grant
- Find A Way - Amy Grant
- Stay for awhile - Amy Grant
- Lead me on - Amy Grant
- Saved by love - Amy Grant
- Baby, Baby - Amy Grant
- Every Heartbeat - Amy Grant
- Good for me - Amy Grant
- Thats what love is for - Amy Grant
- Breath of heaven - Amy Grant
- Lucky one - Amy Grant
- House of love - Amy Grant & Vince Gill
- Big yellow taxi - Amy Grant
- Takes a little time - Amy Grant
- A Christmas to remember - Amy Grant
- Simple things - Amy Grant
- Somewhere down the road - Amy Grant
- Sail On - The Imperials
- Bread on the Water - The Imperials
- Praise The Lord - The Imperials
- I'm Forgiven - The Imperials
- Eagle Song - The Imperials
- Trumpet of Jesus - The Imperials
- I'd Rather Believe In You - The Imperials
- Stand by the Power - The Imperials
- Lord of The Harvest - The Imperials
- You're the Only Jesus - The Imperials
- Here on the Rock - The Imperials
- They See God There - The Imperials
- Because He Lives - The Imperials
- Rise Again - The Imperials
- Let the Wind Blow - The Imperials
- Jericho - The Imperials
- Power of God - The Imperials
- Wings of Love - The Imperials
- Free the Fire - The Imperials
- The Boss - The Imperials
- Just Believe - Russ Taff
- We Will Stand - Russ Taff
- Inside Look - Russ Taff
- I'm Not Alone - Russ Taff
- Not Gonna Bow - Russ Taff
- Walk Between the Lines - Russ Taff
- I Still believe - Russ Taff
- Down in the lowlands - Russ Taff
- Winds of Change - Russ Taff
- I Cry - Russ Taff
- Table in the Wilderness - Russ Taff
- God Don't Never Change - Russ Taff
- Ain't No Grave - Russ Taff
- Sing Your Praise to the Lord - Rich Mullins (also recorded by Amy Grant)
- Awesome God - Rich Mullins
- If I Stand - Rich Mullins
- Elijah - Rich Mullins
- Hold Me Jesus - Rich Mullins
- Here In America - Rich Mullins
- Brothers Keeper - Rich Mullins
- My Deliverer - Rich Mullins
- Long Arm of the Lord - Wayne Watson
- Walk In The Dark - Wayne Watson
- Friend of a Wounded Heart - Wayne Watson
- I Love the Lord -Petra
- Creed - Petra
- Beyond Belief - Petra
- Love - Petra
- I'm on the rock - Petra
- Prayer - Petra
- Who's on the lords side - Petra
- Dance - Petra
- Destiny - Petra
- Sight unseen - Petra
- In the likeness of you - Petra
- Midnight Oil - Petra
- Good news - Petra
- Praying man - Petra
- Just Reach Out - Petra
- Enter In - Petra
- Think twice - Petra
- No Doubt - Petra
- Right place - Petra
- Lord I lift your name on high - Petra
- We Need Jesus - Petra
- If I Had to Die for Someone - Petra
- The longing - Petra
- Dr. Jones and The Kings of Rhythm - Guardian
- Shoe shine Johhny - Guardian
- I Found love - Guardian
- C'mon everyone - Guardian
- See you in heaven - Guardian
- This Old Man - Guardian
- Lead the way - Guardian
- Bottle Rocket - Guardian
- Coffee can - Guardian
- I'll Be Believing - Point of Grace
- Jesus Will Still Be There - Point of Grace
- Dying to Reach You - Point of Grace
- Gather at the River - Point of Grace
- How You Live - Point of Grace
- Great Divide - Point of Grace
- Steady On - Point of Grace
- Right where you are - Kenny Marks
- Friends - Kenny Marks
- The party is over - Kenny Marks
- Soul reviver - Kenny Marks
- Make it right - Kenny Marks
- White dress - Kenny Marks
- Say a prayer for me tonight - Kenny Marks
- I'll be a friend to you - Kenny Marks
- Next time you see Johhny - Kenny Marks
- Running on love - Kenny Marks
- Turn my world around - Kenny Marks
- Like a father should be - Kenny Marks
- Fire of Forgiveness - Kenny Marks
- Absolutely positively friends - Kenny Marks
- World gone mad - Kenny Marks
- Before my last goodbeye - Kenny Marks
- Make His Praise Glorious - Sandi Patty
- How Majestic Is Your Name - Sandi Patty
- Via Dolorosa - Sandi Patty
- The Star Spangled Banner - Sandi Patty
- We Shall Behold Him - Sandi Patty
- Another Time, Another Place - Sandi Patty and Wayne Watson
- The Champion - Carman
- Back to Who I Am - Paul Smith
- Beat of a Different Heart - Paul Smith
- He Came Down to my Level - Gaither Vocal Band
- No Other Name But Jesus - Gaither Vocal Band
- Living Sacrifice - Gaither Vocal Band
- What a Happy Time - The Happy Goodman Family
- When Morning Sweeps The Eastern Sky - The Happy Goodman Family
- The Lighthouse - The Happy Goodman Family
- I Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now - The Happy Goodman Family
- What A Beautiful Day - The Happy Goodman Family
- John the Revelator - The Happy Goodman Family
- I Believe He's Coming Back - The Happy Goodman Family
- Better Hurry Up - The Happy Goodman Family
- Oh Say, But I'm Glad - The Happy Goodman Family
- I Bowed On My Knees and Cried Holy - The Happy Goodman Family (first time ever recorded by Michael English)
- Home - The Happy Goodman Family
- Leavin' On My Mind - Rusty Goodman
- I Am - Rusty Goodman
- Jesus Knows All About It - Rusty Goodman
- Family Band - Rusty Goodman
- The Woodsman - Rusty Goodman
- I'm Standing on the Solid Rock - Florida Boys
- When He Was On The Cross (I was on his mind) - Florida Boys
- O for a Thousand Tongues - The Nelons
- Mary Did You Know - Mark Lowry
- Time Out - The Clark Sisters
External links
- Word Records website
- Word Distribution
- http://www.wordmusic.com
- Word Records History with artist roster, Billboard pop performance, photo gallery, more.
- Word Records role in The History of Christian Stand-up Comedy
- Chris Christian Entertainment - Home Sweet Home Records