MercyMe
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| MercyMe | |
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 Bart Millard and drummer Robin Shaffer on the WinterJam Tour 2008 in Greenville, South Carolina
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Greenville, Texas |
| Genre(s) | CCM, Christian rock |
| Years active | 1994 - Present |
| Website | http://www.mercyme.org/ |
| Members | |
| Bart Millard Nathan Cochran Michael John Scheuchzer Robin Shaffer James Bryson Barry Graul |
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- (Mercy Me is also the title of a song by Alkaline Trio from the album Crimson.)
MercyMe is an Grammy Award-nominated and Dove Award winning American contemporary Christian band, originally formed in Greenville, Texas in 1994.
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[edit] History
The result of a praise and worship band experience, MercyMe was formed in 1994 by Bart Millard, Jim Bryson, and Mike Scheuchzer. Millard and Bryson met while working on a missions project overseas. The two agreed to start a new band in Oklahoma City with Scheuchzer, whom Millard already knew. It didn't take long for the band to build a solid fan base and they soon found themselves opening up for bands such as Audio Adrenaline.
Following a move to Nashville, Tennessee and then back to Millard's hometown in Texas, the band added bassist Nathan Cochran and percussionist Robby Shaffer to the roster. The band signed with INO Records in 2001 and released their first album, Almost There, which propelled them into the mainstream spotlight with the smash hit "I Can Only Imagine". The album went on to sell more than 2 million records in only three years and earned the band an American Music Award nomination.
In 2002, the band released their popular second album, Spoken For, which produced two more Top 10 hits. The combined success of the band's first two albums garnered a nomination for the Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist at the American Music Awards.
In 2004, MercyMe released Undone which produced two Top 10 hits: "Here With Me" which also hit Bilboard's Top 100 chart that same year, and "In The Blink of An Eye" which, as of the end of 2005, was at #5 on R&R's top Christian hits. This album also features the song "Homesick", which also received notice by Christian and mainstream stations. This song was written in dedication to loved ones that the band had lost that year.
In 2006, MercyMe released Coming Up To Breathe. While this album kept to the same style and appeal of its predecessors, Bart Millard wrote that the band was not seeking to meet its previous popularity, but rather a more personal album that was written for God. Despite this conviction, MercyMe's eleventh album has hit no. 13 on the Billboard charts and features the hits "So Long Self", "Coming Up To Breathe", and "Hold Fast".
On November 20, 2007, MercyMe released their newest studio project entitled All That Is Within Me. In September 2007, MercyMe began The All That Is Within Me Tour, a tour that features Shane & Shane, Monk and Neagle, and Aaron Shust.
MercyMe is the headlining act on this year's WinterJam Tour 1-10-08 through 3-16-08. Other acts include Newsong, Barlowgirl and Skillet.
[edit] The Go Foundation
Among the songs found in the 11th Album, Coming Up To Breathe, is written a song titled I Would Die For You. This song was made in dedication to BJ Higgins, a young boy who contracted Bubonic Plague on the mission fields of Peru. Since then I Would Die For You is used to raise money for The Go Foundation, which was born out of Higgins' untimely death.
[edit] Current lineup
- Bart Millard - vocals
- Nathan Cochran - bass guitar
- Michael John Scheuchzer - guitars
- Robin (Robbie) Troy Shaffer - percussion
- James (Jim) Philip Bryson - keyboards
- Barry Graul - guitars
[edit] Discography
[edit] Independent releases
Pleased To Meet You
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Traces Of Rain, Vol. 1
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Traces Of Rain, Vol. 2
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The Need
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The Worship Project
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Look
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[edit] Studio albums
Note: All certifications based on current data from RIAA's website: RIAA.com.
Almost There
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Spoken For
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Undone
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The Christmas Sessions
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Coming Up To Breathe
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All That Is Within Me
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[edit] Awards and accolades
[edit] Dove Awards
- 2002 Song of the Year - "I Can Only Imagine"
- 2002 Contemporary/Pop Recorded Song of the Year - "I Can Only Imagine"
- 2002 Songwriter of the Year Award - Bart Millard, songwriter of "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"
[edit] ASCAP Awards
- 2003 Bart Millard awarded Christian Songwriter of the Year at the 25th annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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| Band Members | Bart Millard • Nathan Cochran • Michael John Scheuchzer • Robin Shaffer • James Bryson • Barry Graul |
| Independent Releases | Pleased To Meet You • Traces Of Rain, Vol. 1 • Traces Of Rain, Vol. 2 • The Need • The Worship Project • Look |
| Studio Albums | Almost There • Spoken For • Undone • The Christmas Sessions • Coming Up To Breathe • All That Is Within Me |
| Singles | "I Can Only Imagine" • "Word Of God Speak" • "Spoken For" • "Here With Me" • "In The Blink Of An Eye" • "Homesick" • "So Long Self" • "Hold Fast" • "Bring The Rain" • "God With Us" • "You Reign" |
