MercyMe
Encyclopedia
MercyMe is an American Christian rock
band founded in Greenville, Texas
. The band consists of vocalist Bart Millard, keyboardist James Bryson, percussionist Robby Shaffer, bassist Nathan Cochran and guitarists Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul.
The band formed in 1994 and released six independent albums prior to signing with INO Records
in 2001.
The group first gained mainstream recognition with the crossover single, “I Can Only Imagine
” which elevated their debut album, Almost There
, to double platinum certification. Since then, the group has released six additional studio albums (four of which have been certified gold) and a greatest hits album, 10
. The group has also had 13 consecutive top 5 singles on the Billboard
Christian Songs chart, with 7 of them reaching no. 1. MercyMe has won 8 Dove Awards and has had numerous Grammy Award nominations.
. This trip became the cause of Millard and Bryson’s consideration of playing music full-time. Millard and his friend, guitarist Mike Scheuchzer, moved to Oklahoma City to form MercyMe with Bryson. The trio set up a studio and a “living area” in an old abandoned day-care center. Bassist Nathan Cochran and Drummer Robby Shaffer joined the band later on, accompanying the band on releasing six independent projects before signing with INO Records
in 2001. Unlike their first three major label albums, their earlier indie projects tended to orient more towards rock rhythms. The group’s name, “MercyMe”, originated during Bart’s time as a youth ministry intern in Florida. Concerned that her grandson was home whenever she called, Bart’s grandmother would exclaim, “Well mercy me, why don’t you get a real job?”
, the band released its first major debut album, Almost There
. The single "I Can Only Imagine
" earned the band a Dove Award in 2002 for song of the year; however, it was not until three years after its release before the song began to gain mainstream success, topping the Billboard 200
sales chart for 7 weeks, and peaking at no. 71 on the Hot 100
, 33 on the Mainstream Top 40
, 27 on the Adult Top 40, 5 on the Adult Contemporary, and 52 on the Country Songs charts. The success of the single ultimately propelled Almost There to being certified double platinum, representing sales of over 2 million albums, as well as the single itself being certified platinum.
In 2002, MercyMe released their sophomore release, Spoken For
, which peaked at no. 2 on the Christian Albums chart. The album’s two singles, “Spoken For” and “Word of God Speak” went on to peak at #1 hits on Christian radio charts, with Word of God Speak spending a record 22 weeks atop the newly-created Billboard Christian Songs chart.
The album was eventually certified gold by the RIAA.
Spoken For earned the band three Dove Awards, but was to a certain extent overlooked by the attention that “I Can Only Imagine” was receiving in the mainstream markets at the time.
In 2003, guitarist Barry Graul, who had previously been with the Christian hard rock band Whitecross
, joined MercyMe, giving MercyMe a second guitarist with which to work with on their third studio album, Undone
. In 2004, the band headlined the “Imagine Tour” with fellow artists Amy Grant
and Bebo Norman
. In addition to headlining the "Imagine Tour", MercyMe released their third major label album, Undone
, which peaked at no. 12 on the Billboard 200
and no. 1 on the Christian Albums charts, their highest debut on the Billboard 200 at that point. The album spawned three successful singles - "Here With Me" (which topped the Christian Songs chart as well as reaching no. 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart and no. 38 on the Adult Top 40 chart), "Homesick" (which reached no. 3 on the Christian Songs chart and no. 9 on the Adult Contemporary charts), and "In the Blink of an Eye"(which topped the Christian Songs chart). The album itself won a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 36th GMA Dove Awards, and was certified gold by the RIAA.
MercyMe also released a live video album, "MercyMe Live", in 2004, which eventually was certified platinum by the RIAA.
, The Afters
and Monk and Neagle in support of their album, Undone
.
After releasing Undone in 2004, the band took a time to rest before releasing their next big release, so the band, seeing an opportunity, decided to work on a Christmas record. "The Christmas Sessions
" was recorded and ended up being released on September 27, 2005. "The Christmas Sessions" spawned 7 songs which hit the top 40 on the Christian Songs chart (with one hitting #1 and two others reaching the top ten), and four of these charted in the top 40 of the Adult Contemporary chart (with one peaking in the top 10). The album itself peaked at no. 64 on the Billboard 200 and no. 3 on the Christian Songs chart.
To promote "The Christmas Sessions", MercyMe had a Christmas tour with Steven Curtis Chapman
, who also released a Christmas album that year titled All I Really Want for Christmas
.
In 2006, MercyMe released Coming Up To Breathe
, which charted at no. 13 on the Billboard 200
and no. 1 on the Christian Albums chart. Although the band had earned a reputation for being an adult contemporary group with their other albums, the group decided to make Coming Up To Breathe a more rock-oriented album, in the vein of their earlier grunge
-influenced albums. As such, it also peaked at no, 5 on the Top Rock Albums chart and no. 13 on the Top Alternative Albums chart, their only chart appearances on these records to date.
"Coming Up To Breathe" spawned three radio singles ("So Long Self
", "Hold Fast", and "Bring the Rain"), two of which ("So Long Self
" and "Bring The Rain") reached the top spot on the Christian Songs chart. "So Long Self" and "Hold Fast" also both reached the top 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart. "Coming Up To Breathe" was eventually certified gold by the RIAA.
In support of "Coming Up To Breathe", MercyMe headlined the “Coming Up To Breathe Tour”, along with Audio Adrenaline
(on its farewell tour) and Phil Wickham
, seeing half their shows sell out two weeks into the tour.
. Millard, the band’s lead singer, had believed that All That is Within Me was going to be a worship album with half of the songs being cover songs and the other half original songs; however, when the band got in studio, they ended up having written all the songs found in this album.
Upon release, the album peaked at no. 15 on the Billboard 200 and no. 1 on the Christian Songs chart. The album contained three singles (“God With Us”, “You Reign” and “Finally Home”), all of which reached the top 3 on the Christian Songs chart; "Finally Home" also peaked at no. 17 on the Adult Contemporary chart (their last appearance on the chart to date). "All That Is Within Me" was also certified gold by the RIAA.
In 2008, the band released Coming Up To Breathe: Acoustic, an acoustic version of their earlier release "Coming Up To Breathe".
On April 7, 2009, MercyMe released their first greatest hits
compilation, 10
, a double album consisting of 15 studio recordings (12 of which were previously singles and 3 of which were new recordings) and 11 live or concept videos, as well as several documentaries on the band. The album charted at no. 18 on the Billboard 200 and no. 1 on the Christian Songs chart, although no singles were released from the album.
", was released on May 4th, 2010. The album itself peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard 200 (MercyMe's highest debut to date and first top 5 album ever on the chart) and no. 1 on the Christian Albums chart. The album (a concept album relating around the overall theme of love and vaguely relating to it's self-titled character) has also spawned three singles - "All of Creation
", "Beautiful
", and "Move
", all of which reached the top spot on the Christian Songs chart.
Upon wrapping up “The Generous Mr. Lovewell” tour, MercyMe was asked to perform the national anthem at a Dallas Cowboys
game.
MercyMe is currently working on a new album, "The Worship Sessions
", a worship album to be released exclusively at Family Christian Book Stores.
Since they have released "The Worship Sessions
", They announced through their website on September 1st, 2011 that they are working on a new studio album.
with various other country, gospel and contemporary Christian artists for the people affected by the Asian Tsunami
.
In 2009, MercyMe conducted tour in partnership with Compassion International
and Imagine A Cure in order to raise money to help kids with diabetes through Imagine A Cure and people with medical needs around the world through Compassion International
.
on the mission fields of Peru
. Since then, I Would Die For You has been used to raise money for The Go Foundation, which was born out of Higgins' untimely death.
, the MercyMe tour bus was traveling through an intersection on a green light when an oncoming passenger vehicle made a left turn on red into the path of the bus which resulted in a collision killing two passengers of the car and the unborn baby of the vehicle's driver. MercyMe was to perform at Six Flags St. Louis
but the park issued a statement saying the show was rescheduled because the band was "involved in a vehicle accident in Indiana."
Despite news reports claiming that the band remained silent during the days after the crash, not contacting the family of the deceased and injured, MercyMe did release a statement through publicist Velvet Rousseau Kelm the same day as the crash: "MercyMe would like to express their incredible heartache over this horrible accident. They are praying for the families of all who this will affect, and are asking others to please pray as well. The band and crew sustained minor bumps and bruises, however their hearts are heavy. They appreciate the concern they have received from people all over the world."
ASCAP Awards
American Music Awards
Billboard Magazine
Decade (2000–2009) Awards
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band founded in Greenville, Texas
Greenville, Texas
Greenville is the county seat, and the largest city, of Hunt County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,557....
. The band consists of vocalist Bart Millard, keyboardist James Bryson, percussionist Robby Shaffer, bassist Nathan Cochran and guitarists Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul.
The band formed in 1994 and released six independent albums prior to signing with INO Records
INO Records
INO Records, also known as Fair Trade Services, is an American record label based in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, specializing in Contemporary Christian music . It is distributed through Sony Music Entertainment, and was owned by Integrity Media until June 2011. When Integrity Media sold its assets...
in 2001.
The group first gained mainstream recognition with the crossover single, “I Can Only Imagine
I Can Only Imagine
"I Can Only Imagine" is a single recorded by contemporary Christian and Christian rock band MercyMe. Written and composed by Bart Millard, the song, based around a main piano track, was inspired by the death of Millard's father and considers what it would be like in Heaven and to be standing...
” which elevated their debut album, Almost There
Almost There (MercyMe album)
Almost There is the first major-label studio album from Contemporary Christian band MercyMe. Released on August 14, 2001, the album met to positive critical response and spawned the single "I Can Only Imagine", which achieved crossover success on mainstream radio.-Critical reception:Almost There...
, to double platinum certification. Since then, the group has released six additional studio albums (four of which have been certified gold) and a greatest hits album, 10
10 (MercyMe album)
- Personnel :*Brown Bannister – producer, engineer, digital editing, overdub engineer*Kristin Barlowe – photography*Steve Bishir – engineer, mixing, overdub engineer, tracking*Jim Bryson – piano, keyboards*Joel Cameron – mixing...
. The group has also had 13 consecutive top 5 singles on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Christian Songs chart, with 7 of them reaching no. 1. MercyMe has won 8 Dove Awards and has had numerous Grammy Award nominations.
Formation and Early years
Born into a family as the son of Southern Methodist University All-American player Arthur Millard and the brother of a football player, MercyMe's lead singer, Bart Millard wanted to become a football player, yet his football career ended when he injured his ankles in a high school football game. As a result of his injury, Millard took choir as an elective. During his freshmen year in college, Bart had to endure the death of his father. His youth pastor, who had moved from Texas to Florida, invited Bart to work with his youth group’s worship band. Millard accepted his invitation and went on to work on the video and sound systems for the group. On a day when the band’s lead singer got stuck on stage, Bart took the challenge of singing for the group. James (Jim) Bryson played piano for that band and later went on to play with Bart Millard and the worship band on a trip to SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. This trip became the cause of Millard and Bryson’s consideration of playing music full-time. Millard and his friend, guitarist Mike Scheuchzer, moved to Oklahoma City to form MercyMe with Bryson. The trio set up a studio and a “living area” in an old abandoned day-care center. Bassist Nathan Cochran and Drummer Robby Shaffer joined the band later on, accompanying the band on releasing six independent projects before signing with INO Records
INO Records
INO Records, also known as Fair Trade Services, is an American record label based in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, specializing in Contemporary Christian music . It is distributed through Sony Music Entertainment, and was owned by Integrity Media until June 2011. When Integrity Media sold its assets...
in 2001. Unlike their first three major label albums, their earlier indie projects tended to orient more towards rock rhythms. The group’s name, “MercyMe”, originated during Bart’s time as a youth ministry intern in Florida. Concerned that her grandson was home whenever she called, Bart’s grandmother would exclaim, “Well mercy me, why don’t you get a real job?”
Almost There, Spoken For and Undone (2001-2004)
After signing with INO RecordsINO Records
INO Records, also known as Fair Trade Services, is an American record label based in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, specializing in Contemporary Christian music . It is distributed through Sony Music Entertainment, and was owned by Integrity Media until June 2011. When Integrity Media sold its assets...
, the band released its first major debut album, Almost There
Almost There (MercyMe album)
Almost There is the first major-label studio album from Contemporary Christian band MercyMe. Released on August 14, 2001, the album met to positive critical response and spawned the single "I Can Only Imagine", which achieved crossover success on mainstream radio.-Critical reception:Almost There...
. The single "I Can Only Imagine
I Can Only Imagine
"I Can Only Imagine" is a single recorded by contemporary Christian and Christian rock band MercyMe. Written and composed by Bart Millard, the song, based around a main piano track, was inspired by the death of Millard's father and considers what it would be like in Heaven and to be standing...
" earned the band a Dove Award in 2002 for song of the year; however, it was not until three years after its release before the song began to gain mainstream success, topping the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
sales chart for 7 weeks, and peaking at no. 71 on the Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, 33 on the Mainstream Top 40
Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs)
The Mainstream Top 40 is an airplay chart from Billboard magazine, and is also known as Pop Songs on billboard.com. It was often mistaken for and confused with the now discontinued Pop 100 Airplay chart...
, 27 on the Adult Top 40, 5 on the Adult Contemporary, and 52 on the Country Songs charts. The success of the single ultimately propelled Almost There to being certified double platinum, representing sales of over 2 million albums, as well as the single itself being certified platinum.
In 2002, MercyMe released their sophomore release, Spoken For
Spoken For
Spoken For is the second major label, full-length studio album from Contemporary Christian band MercyMe. Released on October 1, 2002, Spoken For sold 28,000 copies in its first week, debuting at No. 41 on the Billboard 200; it also peaked at No. 2 on the Christian Albums chart and No. 6 on the Top...
, which peaked at no. 2 on the Christian Albums chart. The album’s two singles, “Spoken For” and “Word of God Speak” went on to peak at #1 hits on Christian radio charts, with Word of God Speak spending a record 22 weeks atop the newly-created Billboard Christian Songs chart.
The album was eventually certified gold by the RIAA.
Spoken For earned the band three Dove Awards, but was to a certain extent overlooked by the attention that “I Can Only Imagine” was receiving in the mainstream markets at the time.
In 2003, guitarist Barry Graul, who had previously been with the Christian hard rock band Whitecross
Whitecross
Whitecross is a Christian metal band that formed in 1985 in Waukegan, IL releasing their first recording in the year 1987. Their early albums, which often invite comparisons to Ratt, are laced with fast, technical guitar work. In 1994, bandleader, primary songwriter and producer Rex Carroll split...
, joined MercyMe, giving MercyMe a second guitarist with which to work with on their third studio album, Undone
Undone (MercyMe album)
Undone is the third major label studio album from Contemporary Christian band MercyMe. The album features the hit radio singles "Here With Me" and "Homesick". Undone peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and at number 12 on the Billboard 200...
. In 2004, the band headlined the “Imagine Tour” with fellow artists Amy Grant
Amy Grant
Amy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
and Bebo Norman
Bebo Norman
Jeffrey Stephen "Bebo" Norman is a contemporary Christian musician from Columbus, Georgia, USA. His most successful album to date is Myself When I Am Real, which included hit songs "Great Light of the World" and "Falling Down". Other popular songs by Norman include "Disappear", "Nothing Without...
. In addition to headlining the "Imagine Tour", MercyMe released their third major label album, Undone
Undone (MercyMe album)
Undone is the third major label studio album from Contemporary Christian band MercyMe. The album features the hit radio singles "Here With Me" and "Homesick". Undone peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and at number 12 on the Billboard 200...
, which peaked at no. 12 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and no. 1 on the Christian Albums charts, their highest debut on the Billboard 200 at that point. The album spawned three successful singles - "Here With Me" (which topped the Christian Songs chart as well as reaching no. 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart and no. 38 on the Adult Top 40 chart), "Homesick" (which reached no. 3 on the Christian Songs chart and no. 9 on the Adult Contemporary charts), and "In the Blink of an Eye"(which topped the Christian Songs chart). The album itself won a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 36th GMA Dove Awards, and was certified gold by the RIAA.
MercyMe also released a live video album, "MercyMe Live", in 2004, which eventually was certified platinum by the RIAA.
The Christmas Sessions and Coming Up To Breathe (2005-2006)
In 2005, MercyMe launched a tour with Jeremy CampJeremy Camp
Jeremy Thomas Camp is a contemporary Christian musician from Lafayette, Indiana. Camp has released seven albums, four of them RIAA-certified as Gold and two are live albums, and 17 number-one hit songs...
, The Afters
The Afters
The Afters are a Christian rock band founded by Joshua Havens and Matt Fuqua. Havens and Fuqua first worked together in a Starbucks coffee shop in Mesquite, Texas, where they played for customers, before deciding to form a band. They added Brad Wigg and Marc Dodd, who were also employed at the same...
and Monk and Neagle in support of their album, Undone
Undone (MercyMe album)
Undone is the third major label studio album from Contemporary Christian band MercyMe. The album features the hit radio singles "Here With Me" and "Homesick". Undone peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and at number 12 on the Billboard 200...
.
After releasing Undone in 2004, the band took a time to rest before releasing their next big release, so the band, seeing an opportunity, decided to work on a Christmas record. "The Christmas Sessions
The Christmas Sessions
The Christmas Sessions is the fourth major label, full-length studio album and first Christmas album from MercyMe, that was released on September 27, 2005 through INO Records...
" was recorded and ended up being released on September 27, 2005. "The Christmas Sessions" spawned 7 songs which hit the top 40 on the Christian Songs chart (with one hitting #1 and two others reaching the top ten), and four of these charted in the top 40 of the Adult Contemporary chart (with one peaking in the top 10). The album itself peaked at no. 64 on the Billboard 200 and no. 3 on the Christian Songs chart.
To promote "The Christmas Sessions", MercyMe had a Christmas tour with Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven Curtis Chapman is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist.After starting his career in the late 1980s as a singer/songwriter of contemporary Christian music, Chapman has since been recognized as one of the most prolific singers in the genre,...
, who also released a Christmas album that year titled All I Really Want for Christmas
All I Really Want for Christmas
All I Really Want for Christmas is the third Christmas album by Steven Curtis Chapman, released on September 27, 2005. The album includes traditional holiday favorites such as "Go Tell It on the Mountain" and "Silver Bells", as well as some of Chapman's own Christmas songs, some of which have been...
.
In 2006, MercyMe released Coming Up To Breathe
Coming Up to Breathe
Coming Up to Breathe is the fifth major label, full-length studio album from MercyMe. Released in on April 25, 2006, the album was intended by MercyMe to be edgier and heavier than their previous efforts. Coming Up to Breathe received almost universally positive reviews from critics, and sold...
, which charted at no. 13 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and no. 1 on the Christian Albums chart. Although the band had earned a reputation for being an adult contemporary group with their other albums, the group decided to make Coming Up To Breathe a more rock-oriented album, in the vein of their earlier grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
-influenced albums. As such, it also peaked at no, 5 on the Top Rock Albums chart and no. 13 on the Top Alternative Albums chart, their only chart appearances on these records to date.
"Coming Up To Breathe" spawned three radio singles ("So Long Self
So Long Self
"So Long Self" is a song written and performed by Contemporary Christian/Christian rock band MercyMe. Written and composed by MercyMe, the song is musically a power pop song with a lyrical theme revolving around a breakup with sin...
", "Hold Fast", and "Bring the Rain"), two of which ("So Long Self
So Long Self
"So Long Self" is a song written and performed by Contemporary Christian/Christian rock band MercyMe. Written and composed by MercyMe, the song is musically a power pop song with a lyrical theme revolving around a breakup with sin...
" and "Bring The Rain") reached the top spot on the Christian Songs chart. "So Long Self" and "Hold Fast" also both reached the top 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart. "Coming Up To Breathe" was eventually certified gold by the RIAA.
In support of "Coming Up To Breathe", MercyMe headlined the “Coming Up To Breathe Tour”, along with Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline was a Christian rock band that formed in the late 1980s at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. During the band's 17-year existence, they were awarded two Grammy awards, multiple Dove Awards and they released 17 number one singles. They were regular performers at the...
(on its farewell tour) and Phil Wickham
Phil Wickham
Phil Wickham is a Contemporary Christian vocalist/songwriter and guitarist from San Diego, California. Wickham has released five CDs, Give You My World in 2003, a self-titled album in 2006, Cannons in 2007, singalong in 2008, and Heaven & Earth in 2009. His upcoming album "Response" is slated to...
, seeing half their shows sell out two weeks into the tour.
All That is Within Me, Coming Up To Breathe: Acoustic, and 10 (2007-2009)
On November 20, 2007, MercyMe released All That Is Within MeAll That Is Within Me
All That Is Within Me is the sixth major label, full-length studio album from MercyMe, that was released on November 20, 2007 through INO Records. The first radio single released in support of the album is "God With Us"...
. Millard, the band’s lead singer, had believed that All That is Within Me was going to be a worship album with half of the songs being cover songs and the other half original songs; however, when the band got in studio, they ended up having written all the songs found in this album.
Upon release, the album peaked at no. 15 on the Billboard 200 and no. 1 on the Christian Songs chart. The album contained three singles (“God With Us”, “You Reign” and “Finally Home”), all of which reached the top 3 on the Christian Songs chart; "Finally Home" also peaked at no. 17 on the Adult Contemporary chart (their last appearance on the chart to date). "All That Is Within Me" was also certified gold by the RIAA.
In 2008, the band released Coming Up To Breathe: Acoustic, an acoustic version of their earlier release "Coming Up To Breathe".
On April 7, 2009, MercyMe released their first greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
compilation, 10
10 (MercyMe album)
- Personnel :*Brown Bannister – producer, engineer, digital editing, overdub engineer*Kristin Barlowe – photography*Steve Bishir – engineer, mixing, overdub engineer, tracking*Jim Bryson – piano, keyboards*Joel Cameron – mixing...
, a double album consisting of 15 studio recordings (12 of which were previously singles and 3 of which were new recordings) and 11 live or concept videos, as well as several documentaries on the band. The album charted at no. 18 on the Billboard 200 and no. 1 on the Christian Songs chart, although no singles were released from the album.
The Generous Mr. Lovewell and The Worship Sessions (2010-present)
MercyMe's seventh studio album, "The Generous Mr. LovewellThe Generous Mr. Lovewell
The Generous Mr. Lovewell is the seventh major label, full-length studio album from MercyMe. Released in May of 2010, the album is a concept record revolving around a fictional character, 'Mr. Lovewell', and the overall theme of love. Produced by Brown Bannister and Dan Muckala, the album met with...
", was released on May 4th, 2010. The album itself peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard 200 (MercyMe's highest debut to date and first top 5 album ever on the chart) and no. 1 on the Christian Albums chart. The album (a concept album relating around the overall theme of love and vaguely relating to it's self-titled character) has also spawned three singles - "All of Creation
All of Creation (song)
"All of Creation" is a song by Contemporary Christian/Christian rock band MercyMe. The song, written by MercyMe, Brown Bannister, and Dan Muckala, lyrically revolves around the theme of loves, life, and belief, as well as the foundation of Christian faith...
", "Beautiful
Beautiful (MercyMe song)
"Beautiful" is a song by Contemporary Christian/Christian rock band MercyMe. The song's lyrics revolve around the love of God, and the song itself was written with the daughters of the band in mind....
", and "Move
Move (MercyMe song)
"Move" is a song by contemporary Christian/Christian rock band MercyMe. Written by MercyMe and Dan Muckala, "Move" is a dance-rock song with a sound similar to that of Maroon 5, particularly their songs "Maroon 5" and "Makes Me Wonder"...
", all of which reached the top spot on the Christian Songs chart.
Upon wrapping up “The Generous Mr. Lovewell” tour, MercyMe was asked to perform the national anthem at a Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
game.
MercyMe is currently working on a new album, "The Worship Sessions
The Worship Sessions
The Worship Sessions is an album from CCM band MercyMe that released on August 30, 2011 exclusively through Family Christian Stores.-Style/Songs:...
", a worship album to be released exclusively at Family Christian Book Stores.
Since they have released "The Worship Sessions
The Worship Sessions
The Worship Sessions is an album from CCM band MercyMe that released on August 30, 2011 exclusively through Family Christian Stores.-Style/Songs:...
", They announced through their website on September 1st, 2011 that they are working on a new studio album.
Charity
In 2005, MercyMe participated in a benefit concert at Belmont UniversityBelmont University
Belmont University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It is the largest Christian university in Tennessee and the second largest private university in the state, behind nearby Vanderbilt University.-Belmont Mansion:Belmont Mansion...
with various other country, gospel and contemporary Christian artists for the people affected by the Asian Tsunami
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
.
In 2009, MercyMe conducted tour in partnership with Compassion International
Compassion International
Compassion International is a Christian child sponsorship organization dedicated to the long-term development of children living in poverty around the world. Compassion International, headquartered in Colorado Springs, functions in 26 countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Haiti, Kenya, and...
and Imagine A Cure in order to raise money to help kids with diabetes through Imagine A Cure and people with medical needs around the world through Compassion International
Compassion International
Compassion International is a Christian child sponsorship organization dedicated to the long-term development of children living in poverty around the world. Compassion International, headquartered in Colorado Springs, functions in 26 countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Haiti, Kenya, and...
.
The Go Foundation
Among the songs found in their eleventh album, Coming Up To Breathe, is a song titled I Would Die For You. This song was made in dedication to BJ Higgins, a young boy who contracted Bubonic PlagueBubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
on the mission fields of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. Since then, I Would Die For You has been used to raise money for The Go Foundation, which was born out of Higgins' untimely death.
Tour Bus Accident
On Saturday, August 8, 2009 at approximately 1:15 am in Fort Wayne, IndianaFort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, the MercyMe tour bus was traveling through an intersection on a green light when an oncoming passenger vehicle made a left turn on red into the path of the bus which resulted in a collision killing two passengers of the car and the unborn baby of the vehicle's driver. MercyMe was to perform at Six Flags St. Louis
Six Flags St. Louis
Six Flags St. Louis , is an amusement park owned by Six Flags, Inc. It is located in Eureka, Missouri, USA . Opened in 1971 as the third theme park of the Six Flags chain, this was the last park that was built under the Six Flags name...
but the park issued a statement saying the show was rescheduled because the band was "involved in a vehicle accident in Indiana."
Despite news reports claiming that the band remained silent during the days after the crash, not contacting the family of the deceased and injured, MercyMe did release a statement through publicist Velvet Rousseau Kelm the same day as the crash: "MercyMe would like to express their incredible heartache over this horrible accident. They are praying for the families of all who this will affect, and are asking others to please pray as well. The band and crew sustained minor bumps and bruises, however their hearts are heavy. They appreciate the concern they have received from people all over the world."
Current lineup
- Bart Millard - vocals
- Nathan Cochran - bass guitar
- Michael John Scheuchzer - guitars
- Robin (Robby) Troy Shaffer - Drums
- James (Jim) Philip Bryson - keyboards
- Barry Graul - guitars
Awards and accolades
GMA Dove Awards- 2002 Song of the Year - "I Can Only Imagine"
- 2002 Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year - "I Can Only Imagine"
- 2004 Song of the Year - "Word of God Speak"
- 2004 Artist of the Year
- 2004 Group of the Year
- 2004 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year - "Word of God Speak"
- 2005 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year – Undone
- 2005 Special Event Album of the Year- The Passion of the Christ: Songs
ASCAP Awards
- 2003 Bart Millard awarded Christian Songwriter of the Year at the 25th annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards.
American Music Awards
American Music Awards
-Conception:The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC...
- 2004 Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
- 2010 Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
Billboard Magazine
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Decade (2000–2009) Awards
- #1 Christian song of the Decade: "Word of God speak"
- #16 Christian song of the Decade: "Here With Me"
- #19 Christian song of the Decade: "God With Us"
- #35 Christian song of the Decade: "You Reign"
- #48 Christian song of the Decade: "In the Blink of an Eye"
- #49 Christian song of the Decade: "Bring the Rain"
- #4 Christian Album Artist of the Decade
- #4 Christian Album of the Decade: "Almost There"
- #38 Christian Album of the Decade: "Undone"
- #46 Christian Album of the Decade: "Spoken For"