Christy Nockels
Encyclopedia
Christy Nockels is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music
. She was also one of the lead members of the band Watermark
, along with her husband, Nathan Nockels.
to a pastor
and a piano teacher but grew up in Oklahoma
.
Christy met Nathan Nockels in 1993 at the Christian Artists Seminar in Estes Park, Colorado
. After getting married in 1995, they began serving as worship leaders in their local church in Oklahoma City
. They also began writing songs together and released an album in 1996. The album, which was released under the name Sons & Daughters was called Holy Roar, and featured the contribution of fellow worship leader and friend, Charlie Hall
. Louie Giglio
, pastor and founder of the Passion Movement, heard the album and invited the Nockels and Charlie Hall to attend the first Passion Conference in Austin, Texas
, in 1997.
After this, Christy and Nathan moved to Texas and started leading worship for Metro Bible Study, a weekly gathering of 3,000 young adults at Houston's First Baptist Church. During that time, Rocketown Records
(owned by Michael W. Smith
) approached them and they signed a contract under the name Watermark
. After that, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee
in 1998. As Watermark, the Nockels recorded five albums and received several Dove Award nominations, including Female Vocalist of the Year for Christy and Producer of the Year for Nathan in 2007.
In 2006, Christy and Nathan decided to retire Watermark, and dedicate themselves to other areas of ministry, as well as their family. In 2008, they moved to Atlanta, Georgia
, where they helped to found Passion City Church with Louie Giglio
, and signed with Sixsteps Records. Christy also started writing songs and released her first solo album, Life Light Up, in 2009. The album was also produced by her husband, Nathan.
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
. She was also one of the lead members of the band Watermark
Watermark (Band)
Watermark was a Contemporary Christian singing duo composed of husband and wife Nathan and Christy Nockels. They were under Michael W. Smith's record label, Rocketown Records.-History:...
, along with her husband, Nathan Nockels.
Biography and career
Christy Nockels was born in Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
to a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
and a piano teacher but grew up in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
Christy met Nathan Nockels in 1993 at the Christian Artists Seminar in Estes Park, Colorado
Estes Park, Colorado
Estes Park is a town in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. A popular summer resort and the location of the headquarters for Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park lies along the Big Thompson River. Estes Park had a population of 5,858 at the 2010 census...
. After getting married in 1995, they began serving as worship leaders in their local church in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
. They also began writing songs together and released an album in 1996. The album, which was released under the name Sons & Daughters was called Holy Roar, and featured the contribution of fellow worship leader and friend, Charlie Hall
Charlie Hall (musician)
Charlie Hall is a Christian worship leader and songwriter from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is a member of a group of musicians and speakers that collectively form the Passion movement.-Band members:...
. Louie Giglio
Louie Giglio
Louie Giglio is a pastor , speaker and founder of the Passion Movement.-Biography:Giglio graduated from Georgia State University and earned a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Later he went to Grace Theological Seminary to pursue a Doctor of...
, pastor and founder of the Passion Movement, heard the album and invited the Nockels and Charlie Hall to attend the first Passion Conference in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, in 1997.
After this, Christy and Nathan moved to Texas and started leading worship for Metro Bible Study, a weekly gathering of 3,000 young adults at Houston's First Baptist Church. During that time, Rocketown Records
Rocketown Records
Rocketown Records was an independent record label which was started in 1996 by Michael W. Smith. The dream was to create a new, independent Christian record label that wouldn't follow the rules of the modern music business. In the fall of 1995, Michael W. Smith met with Don Donahue, who was, at...
(owned by Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith
Michael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
) approached them and they signed a contract under the name Watermark
Watermark (Band)
Watermark was a Contemporary Christian singing duo composed of husband and wife Nathan and Christy Nockels. They were under Michael W. Smith's record label, Rocketown Records.-History:...
. After that, they moved to 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...
in 1998. As Watermark, the Nockels recorded five albums and received several Dove Award nominations, including Female Vocalist of the Year for Christy and Producer of the Year for Nathan in 2007.
In 2006, Christy and Nathan decided to retire Watermark, and dedicate themselves to other areas of ministry, as well as their family. In 2008, they moved to Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, where they helped to found Passion City Church with Louie Giglio
Louie Giglio
Louie Giglio is a pastor , speaker and founder of the Passion Movement.-Biography:Giglio graduated from Georgia State University and earned a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Later he went to Grace Theological Seminary to pursue a Doctor of...
, and signed with Sixsteps Records. Christy also started writing songs and released her first solo album, Life Light Up, in 2009. The album was also produced by her husband, Nathan.
Personal life
Christy and Nathan Nockels have been married since 1995. They have three children together: Noah, Elliana, and Annie Rose.As Watermark
- 1998: Watermark
- 2000: All Things New
- 2002: Constant
- 2004: The Purest Place
- 2006: A Grateful People
GMA Dove Awards
- 2005: Female Vocalist of the Year nomination
- 2007: Female Vocalist of the Year nomination
- 2008: Female Vocalist of the Year nomination