Jason Upton
Encyclopedia
Jason Upton is an American
Christian
singer-songwriter
, musician
, recording artist and composer
. His musical creations are mostly Christian worship songs inspired by folk music
. Jason Upton is evolving on the margins of the Christian music industry
through his own record label Key of David Ministries. However, some of his music has been distributed by major Christian labels such as Sparrow Records
(EMI
), Gotee Records
and Integrity Music.
His multiple tours around the world, his appearances at services in Lou Engle
's movement The Call and on CBN’s 700 Club talk show made him known by the American public as well as internationally. His music is mostly covered by Christian media such as Relevant Magazine, Crosswalk, Christianity Today and Cross Rhythms.
roots since his biological father was a Cherokee
.
, Canada
, Europe
and South America
, leading worship in churches and at conferences, including Onething
. He has rarely appeared on television, although he has appeared at least twice on the 700 Club. He is not regularly played on mainstream Christian radio. During worship services he not only plays the piano or keyboard, or acts as the lead vocalist, he also teaches and encourages the congregation.
On August 14, 2001, Jason released his second album Faith, which was also recorded live. Post-production work gave the album a high-quality smooth sound. It was his first on a professional recording, and was released on 40 Records. The title track "Faith" was a spontaneous track, an unplanned song which Jason referred to in the liner notes of the album as a 'Spirit Song'. While it differed from Key of David, the album was well received.
In 2002, he released two independent CDs that were his first to have been recorded in the studio, at Dark Horse Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
. Jacob's Dream contained songs that were more introspective and meditative in nature than his previous works. Dying Star was a larger project and concentrated more on destruction of personal pride and complete submission to what Upton sees as God's plan and not what the mainstream church envisions. That same year, he collaborated with other Christian artists on a Keith Green
tribute entitled Your Love Broke Through: The Worship Songs of Keith Green. He re-recorded "You Are The One" for this project, further exposing him to mainstream Christian audiences. He also led worship at The Call New York that year.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Christian
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...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, recording artist and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. His musical creations are mostly Christian worship songs inspired by folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. Jason Upton is evolving on the margins of the Christian music industry
Christian music industry
The Christian music industry is a small part of the larger music industry, that focuses on traditional Gospel music, Southern Gospel music, Contemporary Christian music, and alternative Christian music. It is sometimes called the gospel music industry, although this designation is not a limitation...
through his own record label Key of David Ministries. However, some of his music has been distributed by major Christian labels such as 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"...
(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...
), Gotee Records
Gotee Records
Gotee Records is a record label founded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan , Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood...
and Integrity Music.
His multiple tours around the world, his appearances at services in Lou Engle
Lou Engle
Lou Engle is a controversial American charismatic Christian leader, best known for his leadership of The Call and association with prominent members of the Christian Right. He also is a senior leader of the International House of Prayer and has planted several smaller houses of prayer...
's movement The Call and on CBN’s 700 Club talk show made him known by the American public as well as internationally. His music is mostly covered by Christian media such as Relevant Magazine, Crosswalk, Christianity Today and Cross Rhythms.
Early life
Jason Upton was born on December 15, 1973 and was adopted by a Christian family in March 1974. He has Native AmericanIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
roots since his biological father was a Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
.
Events and tours
Jason Upton regularly tours in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, leading worship in churches and at conferences, including Onething
Onething conference
Onething is an annual Christian conference put on by the International House of Prayer every December at the Bartle Hall Convention Center in Kansas City, MO.-Themes:...
. He has rarely appeared on television, although he has appeared at least twice on the 700 Club. He is not regularly played on mainstream Christian radio. During worship services he not only plays the piano or keyboard, or acts as the lead vocalist, he also teaches and encourages the congregation.
Musical career
Upton released his first CD, Key of David, in 2000. It was recorded live in Virginia Beach that year and was produced by Upton's own Key of David Ministries. Over half of the album consists of unrehearsed, spontaneous songs and declarations. Later in 2000, Jason appeared at a National Day of Prayer and Fasting event called 'The Call D.C.'On August 14, 2001, Jason released his second album Faith, which was also recorded live. Post-production work gave the album a high-quality smooth sound. It was his first on a professional recording, and was released on 40 Records. The title track "Faith" was a spontaneous track, an unplanned song which Jason referred to in the liner notes of the album as a 'Spirit Song'. While it differed from Key of David, the album was well received.
In 2002, he released two independent CDs that were his first to have been recorded in the studio, at Dark Horse Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. Jacob's Dream contained songs that were more introspective and meditative in nature than his previous works. Dying Star was a larger project and concentrated more on destruction of personal pride and complete submission to what Upton sees as God's plan and not what the mainstream church envisions. That same year, he collaborated with other Christian artists on a Keith Green
Keith Green
Keith Gordon Green was an American gospel singer, songwriter, musician, and Contemporary Christian Music artist originally from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. Beyond his music, Green is best known for his strong devotion to Christian evangelism and challenging others to the same...
tribute entitled Your Love Broke Through: The Worship Songs of Keith Green. He re-recorded "You Are The One" for this project, further exposing him to mainstream Christian audiences. He also led worship at The Call New York that year.
Discography
- Key of David (2000), Key Of David Ministries
- Faith (2001), 40Records
- Jacob's Dream (2002), Key Of David Ministries
- You Are the One (2002, Single), Sparrow RecordsSparrow 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"...
- Dying Star (2003), Key Of David Ministries
- Remember (2003), Key Of David Ministries
- Trusting the Angels (2004), Key of David Ministries
- Great River Road (2005), Gotee RecordsGotee RecordsGotee Records is a record label founded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan , Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood...
- Open Up the Earth (2005), Key Of David Ministries
- Between Earth and Sky (2007), Key Of David Ministries
- Beautiful People (2007), Integrity Music
- 1200 Ft Below Sea level (2008), Key Of David Ministries
- On the Rim of the Visible World (2009), Key Of David Ministries
- Family Music (2010), Key Of David Ministries
- Jason Upton Live from Dublin (2010)
Award
In 2007, his album “Between Earth and Sky” was featured among CBN’s best Christian contemporary albums of 2007.Popular Culture
- Jason appeared in the documentary film "Justice Waiting" which also featured International House of Prayer-KC, Rick Joyner, and Lou Engle.