Bringing together a who’s who of Christian music icons for an evening of some of the biggest songs in the genre’s history, the “Greatest Hits Live Tour” is set to hit seven cities in November. Presented by GRAMMY®-nominated industry leaders NewSong, the inaugural outing will also showcase multi-GRAMMY®-nominated, Dove Award-winning artists Point of Grace, Avalon and Nicole C. Mullen, as well as GRAMMY® and Dove Award-winning singer/songwriters Bob Carlisle and Rebecca St. James.
Sponsored by Holt International, “Greatest Hits Live” will kick-off November 1 in Jacksonville, Florida, and the tour is slated to hit Dallas; Atlanta; Birmingham, Alabama; Tupelo, Mississippi; and Louisville, Kentucky, before concluding November 11 in Bossier City, Louisiana.
“We hope ‘Greatest Hits Live’ will be a night of falling in love with these classic songs all over again,” said tour creator and NewSong founding member Eddie Carswell. “There are nearly 100 #1 hits among all six artists on the tour, and we’ll each be performing some of these singles for the first time in years. Not only is the music so personal to us, but we continue to hear stories of how God has used these songs to work in the hearts of others. It’s a powerful reminder of why we all do what we do.”
With a career spanning more than 30 years, NewSong’s accolades include 20 albums, 20 #1 Christian radio singles, a #1 mainstream AC hit, a GRAMMY® Award nomination and induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, among numerous other achievements. Founders and hosts of Christian music’s largest annual tour, the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, the outing exploded from a single show in 1995 to the world’s #1 first-quarter tour for four consecutive years, according to Pollstar. One of the most beloved bands in Christian music, NewSong’s discography includes such defining songs as “Arise, My Love,” “The Christmas Shoes,” “Rescue” and “I Am A Christian.”
For more than two decades, Point of Grace’s soaring melodies and rich harmonies have helped define the sound of contemporary Christian music. Comprised of Shelley Breen, Denise Jones and Leigh Cappillino, the group has sold more than 8 million units; garnered two Platinum records; three GRAMMY® nominations; 27 #1 singles and numerous Dove Awards. They are known for such Christian radio standards as “I’ll Be Believing,” “Keep the Candle Burning,” “Circle of Friends” and “Jesus Will Still Be There.”
Following the release of their self-titled debut in 1996, Avalon quickly became synonymous with the sound of Christian radio. From “Adonai” to “Can’t Live A Day” to the smash anthem “Testify To Love,” the group has earned a total of 22 #1 singles, three GRAMMY® nominations, an American Music Award and six Dove Awards. Avalon’s critically-acclaimed recordings include A Maze of Grace, In A Different Light and Oxygen, among others. Today the seminal vocal group is comprised of two couples: Greg and Janna Long, and Jeremi and Amy Richardson.
The first African American to win GMA’s coveted Songwriter of the Year trophy for her blockbuster hit “Redeemer,” Nicole C. Mullen has been a trailblazer of the genre. With two GRAMMY® nominations and seven Dove Awards to her credit, she has also helped pen such classic songs as “On My Knees” and “Call on Jesus.” A sought-after speaker and singer, Mullen is the founder of Baby Girls Club, a mentorship program for young ladies.
Known for his multi-format 1997 smash “Butterfly Kisses”—a song written for his daughter which went on to sell more than 2 million copies and win a GRAMMY® Award—singer/songwriter Bob Carlisle’s Christian music journey began as co-founder of ALLIES, one of the industry’s pioneering rock bands. A four-time Dove Award-winner, Carlisle launched his acclaimed solo career in the 1990s. In addition to “Butterfly Kisses” and Dolly Parton’s #1 country single “Why’d You Come In Here (Looking Like That?),” his signature songs include “Giving You The Rest of My Life,” “Getting Stronger” and “Bridge Between Two Hearts.”
Stepping into the Christian music spotlight as a teenager, Australian-born Rebecca St. James is known for such hits as “God,” “Pray,” “Reborn” and “Wait For Me,” the latter representing her noted platform as an advocate for sexual purity. St. James has earned two Gold albums and a GRAMMY® Award, selling more than 2 million albums to date. Also an acclaimed author and actress, her books include “40 Days With God: A Devotional Journey,” “Pure” and “What Is He Thinking,” and she has starred in such films as “Sarah’s Choice,” “The Frontier Boys” and “Faith of Our Fathers.”
For further information, visit greatesthitslivetour.com.
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