Sonicflood

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sonicflood
OriginNashville, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresModern worship, CCM
Years active1997–present
LabelsGotee, INO, Resonate
MembersRick Heil
Ron Robinson
Phil Snowden
Dango Cellan
Chris Bevins
Past membersSee: Members
Websitewww.sonicflood.com

Sonicflood (sometimes stylized as SONICFLOOd) is an American contemporary worship music band from Nashville, Tennessee, that has been touted as "The Fathers of the Modern Worship Movement."[citation needed] The group took the name "Sonicflood", a reference to a line in the Book of Revelation, chapter 19, verse 6.[1]

They released their debut album at a time when such music was gaining commercial success in the Christian music industry. In turn, their success fed the contemporary worship music genre, expanding its appeal.[2]

Since their debut, Sonicflood has sold almost two million albums, and produced top worship hits (often as

covers) including "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
", "Resonate", "Cry Holy" and "Here I am to Worship". In the early years of their existence, the group earned two Dove awards and three further nominations, and one Grammy nomination. Additionally, their eponymous debut took Gold status, and spawned several No. 1 hits on Christian radio.

History

As Zilch

The band originally formed in 1997 under the name, "Zilch". Zilch began as

dc Talk's traveling band, forming into an independent act in 1997. The initial recording lineup was lead singer and guitarist Mark Lee Townsend, keyboardist Jason Halbert, bassist Otto "Sugar Bear" Price and drummer Rick May.[3] Zilch released its first album, Platinum, in 1997 on Gotee Records but received little publicity.[3] Platinum featured a modern rock sound with clear influences from 1960s pop music.[4] One review cited the sound as being similar to that of All Star United,[5] and another to Weezer plus pop and hip-hop influences.[6]

This release was not praise and worship music, which the band would soon become known for, but contained more standard fare, including songs on topics like friendship,

Platinum' album..." Jason Halbert told one reporter, "That basically means Zilch!," [4] Their song "In The Sky" is an answer to two hits at the time, Joan Osborne "One of Us" and Dishwalla "Counting Blue Cars
", opening with the line, "... she asked if God was just a slob like us, well maybe something there is lacking," the second verse begins with, "Let me tell you all my thoughts on God, cause I just met with Him this morning..."

In early 1998 Mark Lee Townsend stepped down from the role of lead singer and was replaced by then-independent artist Jeff Deyo.[8] Zilch would play shows, sometimes ending them with a praise song such as "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High."[9] The band found that playing such music changed the nature of audience interaction with their performance, in positive ways.[9]

Formation of Sonicflood

"We had misconceptions of what [praise and worship] was... Our idea in the past was that it had to be acoustic guitar, piano, and organ. Now, all of that goes out the window."

Jeff Deyo on praise and worship music[10]

Their label took notice as well, and eventually suggested that the band consider recording a full-length

Paul of Tarsus.[9]

Sonicflood began rotating personnel making changes that would heavily impact the future of the band. Otto Price played bass, co-produced, and shared some writing credits on the album, but not wanting to continue touring, dropped out of the core band.

The OC Supertones and Relient K
, among others. Additionally, he intended to release a second project under the name Zilch. However, despite occasional status updates throughout the first decade of the 2000s, that album is yet unreleased.

Seven Day Jesus guitarist Dwayne Larring and drummer Aaron Blanton became members of the band, bringing their number to four. The original lineup, under which the album Sonicflood was recorded consisted of Deyo, Halbert, Blanton, and Larring. Heil, then the Big Tent Revival bass guitar player, took over on bass guitar in early 1999 and joined as a founding member before Sonicflood began touring, but did not appear on the album.[12]

Sonicflood and Sonicpraise

Sonicflood released

Hillsong, Matt Redman, and others at a time when the genre was a fast-growing part of the Christian music industry.[14] The album landed on Billboard charts including the Billboard 200, the top 10 Christian albums, and peaking at No. 2 on the Heatseekers Chart.[11] The band would stay on the top 10 Christian album charts well into the year 2000 (for over 72 weeks),[15] and becoming possibly the best known praise and worship band in America.[16]

The release had two No. 1 hits on Christian radio, "I Want to Know You" (written by

Dove Award nominations in 2000 and one win, for "Praise and Worship Album". In 1999 the band recorded a live album at the Flevo Festival but featuring content from other shows as well.[11]
Originally scheduled for a late 2000 release, changes in the band's structure would delay the album until 2001. .

In the fall of 1999 the band toured with speaker Josh McDowell. The following Spring Sonicflood joined the "Love Liberty Disco Tour", headlined by the Newsboys.[18] The band also recorded a track for the compilation album City on a Hill with Peter Furler as lead vocalist. This release would take a Dove award for "Special Event Album" in 2001, although by that time the band would bear no resemblance to the one which recorded it.

Sonicflood dissolved throughout the year 2000, citing differences over the vision of the band.[19] Issues that led to the band dissolving included whether the band should return to a more conventional musical strain or continue making praise and worship music[9][19] and how the band should sound.[12] These were complicated by the fact that the band had no true leadership; the original arrangement was equal ownership for each member.[12] In a corporate fashion, this meant that each one had equal say in the direction of the band.[12] By the fall of that year, all members except Heil had departed.[19] Heil took the role of lead singer and began recruiting new members to fill the band's touring obligations and continue making praise and worship music.[20]

By spring 2001, Sonicflood had gone

Grammy nomination for "Best Gospel Rock Album", and the band was on Billboard charts once again.[11]

Under Rick Heil

With Heil at the helm, the band recruited Tom Michael, Todd Shay and Brett Vargason, each of whom were members of the John Cox Band and David "Moose" Alan, who played keyboards for

Resonate, released in the fall of 2001. Their 2003 release Cry Holy takes an acoustic rock sound, drawing comparisons to Chris Tomlin.[23]

Following the 2005 release of This Generation, the band toured internationally, recording their performances along the way.

missionaries as speakers.[24]

In 2007, the band appeared on

Praise the Lord to promote their appearance at an upcoming World Harvest Church-sponsored event.[26] Bandleader Rick Heil appeared again the following year, in support of A Heart Like Yours, telling the story of his healing from Crohn's disease[27] Heil contracted the disease at the age of 11, and was afflicted with it for 26 years.[28] Heil's case was particularly bad and, he was told, incurable, leaving his only hope for cure in miracles. While Heil does not profess to have experienced a miracle per se, he does say that "Jesus is the great physician... the healer of the heart, the soul, the mind."[28]

The band went on to record "A Heart Like Yours" in 2008 which has a rock and piano-dominated sound.[29] Then, in 2009 recorded a Christmas album, "When Love First Cried."

In 2009, guitarist Phil Baquie received notice of his

Christmas album
, When Love First Cried.

Members

Current members

  • Rick Heil – lead vocals, guitar (2000–present (formerly bass guitar with Big Tent Revival)
  • Ron Robinson – lead guitar, vocals, band music director (2009–present) (formerly guitar with Everlife)
  • Phil Snowden – bass guitar (2013–present)
  • Chris Bevins – keyboards, vocals (2013–present) (currently keyboards/vocals and band manager with Salvador)
  • Dango Cellan – drums (2016–present) (also drums with Scott Stapp, Fireflight)

Former members

Lead vocals

Bass guitar

  • Otto Price (1998–1999)
  • Rick Heil (1999–2000) (switched to lead vocals exclusively)
  • Tom Michael (2000–2004)
  • Bryan Willard (2004–2005)
  • Grant Norsworthy (2005–2007)

Drums

  • Aaron Blanton (1999–2000)
  • Brett Vargason (2000–2004)
  • Ben Showalter (2004–2005)
  • Chris Kimmerer (2006–2009)
  • Chris Knight (2009–2013)
  • Derek Wyatt (2013–2015) (formerly drums with Kelly Clarkson)

Keyboards

  • Jason Halbert (1999–2000)
  • David Alan (2000–2004) (also in Big Tent Revival)
  • McKendree Tucker (2008–2009)

Guitar

  • Dwayne Larring (1999–2000)
  • Matthew Knabe (1999-2000)
  • Todd Shay (2000–2004)
  • Trey Hill (2004–2007)
  • Jordan Jameson (2004–2007)
  • Phil Baquie (2008–2009)

Timeline

Discography

as Zilch

  • 1997 – Platinum

as Sonicflood

Awards and nominations

  • 2000 –
    Dove Award
    for Praise and Worship Album: Sonicflood
  • 2000 – Dove nomination for New Artist of the Year
  • 2000 – Dove nomination for Rock Recorded Song Of The Year: "I Have Come to Worship"
  • 2000 – Nashville Music Award nomination for Contemporary Christian Album: Sonicflood
  • 2001 – Dove Award for Special Event of the Year: City on a Hill: Songs of Worship and Praise
  • 2001 – Dove nomination for Song of the Year: "I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever"
  • 2002 –
    Grammy
    nomination for "Best Gospel Rock Album": Sonicpraise

References

  1. ISSN 0009-6466
    .
  2. OCLC 22937802
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 9781565636798
    .
  4. ^
    ISSN 1082-3980
    .
  5. ^
    ISSN 1082-3980
    .
  6. ^
    ISSN 0747-3486
    .
  7. OCLC 36184061
    .
  8. ^ "Who's That Guy?". Zilch Online. January 15, 1998. Archived from the original on July 2, 1998.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Chismar, Janet (December 28, 2001). "Jeff Deyo Traces the Road to and From Sonicflood". Crosswalk.com.
  10. ISSN 1524-7848
    .
  11. ^
    ISSN 1044-2197
    .
  12. ^ a b c d e Parrish, Robin (2004). "A Conversation with Jeff Deyo".
  13. ^ "Word Entertainment Announces Changes to A&R Department". Cmspin.com.
  14. OCLC 36184061
    .
  15. OCLC 22937802
    .
  16. ISSN 1524-7848
    .
  17. ISSN 0008-2538
    .
  18. ^ "Sonicflood on tour with the Newsboys". Cross Rhythms (56). April 2000.
  19. ^
    OCLC 22937802
    .
  20. ^ "Sonicflood change band line up". Cross Rhythms (60). December 2000.
  21. ^
    OCLC 22937802.  • Partial reprint: "Sonicflood to sign to Jeff Moseley's INO Music label". Cross Rhythms
    (63). July 2001.
  22. ISBN 1-56563-679-1
    .
  23. ^ Ake, Colin (January 3, 2003). "Cry Holy Review". Jesus Freak Hideout.
  24. ^
    Newswire
    ]. September 1, 2006.
  25. ^
    Newswire
    ]. January 24, 2006.
  26. ^ Sonicflood (April 16, 2007). "*Monday, April 16th, 2007* Sonicflood". Jesus Freak Hideout.
  27. ^ "Healing Touch". Cross Rhythms. September 10, 2008.
  28. ^
    Decatur, IL
    .
  29. ^ Willoughby, Peter (January 18, 2009). "A Heart Like Yours Review". Cross Rhythms.
  30. ^ "SONICFLOOd Guitarist Leaves For Afghanistan". Jesus Freak Hideout. October 22, 2009.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sonicflood&oldid=1178688309"