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Mark Hall (musician)
Encyclopedia
Mark Hall, Jr. is the lead vocalist for the Georgia
-based Christian
rock group Casting Crowns
, a seven-member group made up of all youth pastors.
The lead singer/songwriter and student pastor of almost 18 years of age, is Mark Hall. The group initially formed while Mark was serving at First Baptist Daytona Beach in 1999. Other members at that time included: Juan DeVevo (guitar), Melodee DeVevo (vocals and violin), Hector Cervantes (guitar), and Darren Hughes
(production manager).
. Almost immediately upon arriving, two others joined the band—Chris Huffman (bass guitar), and Megan Garrett (keyboard, vocals, accordion). A year later, Andy Williams (drummer) joined, and thus, Casting Crowns is complete. He is also a youth minister at Eagles Landing First Baptist Church.
The band recorded four studio records and three live records that were mainly distributed in the Atlanta area and received much praise. "There was the temptation to send our CDs to record companies," Hall says, "but we prayed about it and came to the realization we needed to keep doing our music our way."
In 2003, The Casting Crowns debuted their self-titled album, full of an edgy-pop sound and rich, heart-felt lyrics, with Miller and Chapman serving as co-producers. Their first single, "If We Are The Body," which challenges Christians in the church to truly look at the needs of people around them, took off fast and set the group on a whirlwind of activity. He received e-mails from pastors and their wives telling them of the impact their song was having in their youth group and with their students.
Hall's fundamental message is: "I want to shake people up and help them see that Jesus is not a religion, and God is not a book," Hall says. "You can't pray to a book and you can't draw strength from an idea or standard. If there's no relationship with Jesus as a person to you, you're in trouble. It's about life, not religion. It's about relationships, not books."
Melanie, Mark’s wife of 19 years, became the band’s manager. Mark affectionately refers to her as “the other half of my brain.”
", written by Hall, was also nominated for Song of the Year.
The next year, Hall collected four trophies at the 2008 39th GMA Dove Awards. Hall, who was that night's leading nominee with six, won Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for "East to West," which he co-wrote with Kevin Herms.
His participation on the multi-artist worship project Glory Revealed
brought Hall individual honors for Special Event Album of the Year for the CD, as well as Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "By His Wounds."
His band also had four nominations and won three: Group of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for The Altar and the Door
and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for "East to West."
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
-based 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...
rock group Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band. Casting Crowns was started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida as part of a youth group. He now serves as a lead vocalist...
, a seven-member group made up of all youth pastors.
Early childhood
Mark was tested for attention deficit disorder just before third grade and passed. He also was diagnosed with dyslexia. Mark defines himself as “a broken person made whole”. He talks about his trials in his book 'Lifestories'.The Beginning of Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns began as a student worship band.The lead singer/songwriter and student pastor of almost 18 years of age, is Mark Hall. The group initially formed while Mark was serving at First Baptist Daytona Beach in 1999. Other members at that time included: Juan DeVevo (guitar), Melodee DeVevo (vocals and violin), Hector Cervantes (guitar), and Darren Hughes
Darren Hughes
Darren Colyn Hughes was a New Zealand Member of Parliament between 2002 and 2011, first elected at the age of 24. He represented the Labour Party and was a Minister outside Cabinet in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand....
(production manager).
Moving to Georgia
After two years of service in Florida, Mark Hall and Casting Crowns migrated to Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, GeorgiaMcDonough, Georgia
McDonough is a city in Henry County, Georgia, United States. The population was 22084 at the 2010 census. Inclusion of the unincorporated neighborhoods surrounding McDonough, which are not part of a town/city, raises the population to approximately 30,000 from an estimate in 2008. The city is the...
. Almost immediately upon arriving, two others joined the band—Chris Huffman (bass guitar), and Megan Garrett (keyboard, vocals, accordion). A year later, Andy Williams (drummer) joined, and thus, Casting Crowns is complete. He is also a youth minister at Eagles Landing First Baptist Church.
The band recorded four studio records and three live records that were mainly distributed in the Atlanta area and received much praise. "There was the temptation to send our CDs to record companies," Hall says, "but we prayed about it and came to the realization we needed to keep doing our music our way."
Casting Crowns
Mark and the rest of the band say they had no desire to get into the music business. Mark was focused as a youth pastor and felt that that was where God wanted him to be.In 2003, The Casting Crowns debuted their self-titled album, full of an edgy-pop sound and rich, heart-felt lyrics, with Miller and Chapman serving as co-producers. Their first single, "If We Are The Body," which challenges Christians in the church to truly look at the needs of people around them, took off fast and set the group on a whirlwind of activity. He received e-mails from pastors and their wives telling them of the impact their song was having in their youth group and with their students.
Hall's fundamental message is: "I want to shake people up and help them see that Jesus is not a religion, and God is not a book," Hall says. "You can't pray to a book and you can't draw strength from an idea or standard. If there's no relationship with Jesus as a person to you, you're in trouble. It's about life, not religion. It's about relationships, not books."
Melanie, Mark’s wife of 19 years, became the band’s manager. Mark affectionately refers to her as “the other half of my brain.”
Awards
Mark Hall received several Dove Award nominations at the 36th GMA Dove Awards. In 2007, Hall was nominated to a Dove Award for Male Vocalist of the Year at the 38th GMA Dove Awards. The Casting Crowns song "Praise You In This StormPraise You in This Storm
"Praise You in This Storm" is a song by Christian rock band Casting Crowns. It was released as the second single from the band's 2005 album, Lifesong.This song was also featured the compilation album WOW Hits 2008.-Chart positions:...
", written by Hall, was also nominated for Song of the Year.
The next year, Hall collected four trophies at the 2008 39th GMA Dove Awards. Hall, who was that night's leading nominee with six, won Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for "East to West," which he co-wrote with Kevin Herms.
His participation on the multi-artist worship project Glory Revealed
Glory Revealed
Glory Revealed: The Word of God In Worship is a compilation album by popular CCM musicians. It garnered the Gospel Music Association's Special Event Album of the Year award for 2008.-Track listing:#Trevor Morgan - "He Will Rejoice"...
brought Hall individual honors for Special Event Album of the Year for the CD, as well as Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "By His Wounds."
His band also had four nominations and won three: Group of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for The Altar and the Door
The Altar and the Door
The Altar and the Door is the third studio album by American band Casting Crowns. The album was released on August 28, 2007. It includes two cover songs, including Chandler's "I Know You're There" and Steve Fee's "All Because of Jesus." The album debuted at number-two on the United States...
and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for "East to West."
Discography
- Casting CrownsCasting Crowns (album)- Charts and certifications :-Decade-end charts:...
(2003) - Live from AtlantaLive from AtlantaLive in Atlanta is an album by the band Casting Crowns. Released in 2004, it is a two-disc set which contains a concert DVD in addition to the music CD.-Track listing:#"If We Are the Body"#"Who Am I?"#"Voice of Truth"#"American Dream"...
(double disc with live CD and live DVD) (2004) - LifesongLifesong-Charts and certifications:-Decade-end charts:-Awards:In 2006, the album won a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 37th GMA Dove Awards. The title song was also nominated for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year....
(2005) - Lifesong LiveLifesong LiveLifesong Live is a live CD/DVD by the Christian rock band Casting Crowns, released in 2006. It included songs from their second studio release, Lifesong.- Track listing :#"Lifesong"#"Praise You in This Storm"#"Love Them Like Jesus"...
(double disc with CD and DVD) (2006) - Casting Crowns Gift Edition (re-release of 2003's Casting CrownsCasting Crowns (album)- Charts and certifications :-Decade-end charts:...
with bonus music videos, live footage, etc. on a bonus DVD) (2007) - The Altar and the DoorThe Altar and the DoorThe Altar and the Door is the third studio album by American band Casting Crowns. The album was released on August 28, 2007. It includes two cover songs, including Chandler's "I Know You're There" and Steve Fee's "All Because of Jesus." The album debuted at number-two on the United States...
(August 28, 2007) - The Altar and the Door LiveThe Altar and the Door LiveThe Altar and the Door Live is a live CD/DVD by the Christian rock band Casting Crowns, released in 2008.- Track listing :# "All Because of Jesus" # "Praise You with the Dance"# "Love Them Like Jesus"# "Every Man"# "The Word Is Alive"...
(double disc with CD and DVD) (2008) - Peace on EarthPeace on Earth (Casting Crowns album)- Awards :In 2009, the album won a Dove Award for Christmas Album of the Year at the 40th GMA Dove Awards....
(2008) - Until The Whole World HearsUntil the Whole World Hears-Chart positions:-Year-end charts:-Awards:The album was nominated for a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 42nd GMA Dove Awards....
(November 17, 2009) - Until the Whole World Hears LiveUntil the Whole World Hears... LiveUntil the Whole World Hears... Live is a live CD/DVD by the Christian rock band Casting Crowns. It was recorded on April 24, 2010 at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina, and released in August 31, 2010 by Reunion Records.- CD :...
(August, 2010) - Come to the WellCome to the WellCome to the Well is the fifth studio album by Contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns. Released on October 18, 2011, the album is a pop rock, worship, and rock album with influences from adult contemporary, pop, and country. The album discusses lyrical themes including forgiveness and grace, as...
(2011)
Compilation contributions
- Who But You (Abraham & Sarah) - with Megan Garrett, Music Inspired by the Story (EMI Christian Music 2011)
Books
- Lifestories by Mark Hall and Rev. Tim Luke
- Your Own Jesus by Mark Hall and Rev. Tim Luke (2009)
- The Well by Mark Hall