(Nashville, Tenn.) February 9, 2006 – Platinum-selling, Christian music supergroup Casting Crowns was awarded their first trophy at the 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Ca. The band received the award of Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) for its sophomore recording, Lifesong (8/30/2005). While this project was certified Gold after just 12 weeks in the market, the band has sold a total of nearly two million records in its short two-year career.
Casting Crowns lead singer Mark Hall, commented, “We were honored to represent Jesus and Christian music at the Grammy’s this year along with the other nominees in our category. God is showing through us that He can do whatever He wants with whomever He chooses. Our prayer is that we pointed to Jesus tonight and this award is placed at His feet.”
Lifesong debuted last August at No. 9 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart, one of only two Christian artists without crossover radio airplay to break the Top 10 on the Billboard chart in ten years. After a record-breaking headlining tour in the Fall of 2005, performing to nearly 150,000 fans over 38 dates, Casting Crowns leaves tomorrow on the second leg of “The Lifesong Tour.” Through May 7th, the band plans to reach 46 markets across the country with singer/songwriter Nichole Nordeman, speaker Tony Nolan and newcomer Josh Bates.
In spite of the group’s phenomenal industry success, Mark Hall and the band remain focused on the ministry, with Mark still leading his youth group’s 400 students each Wednesday night in Atlanta, Ga., even while on tour.
Casting Crowns was recently honored by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) with multiple nominations in the upcoming 37th Annual GMA Music Awards, The band garnered five nominations as a group, lead singer Mark Hall grabbed another four, and producer Mark A. Miller notched an additional three. Casting Crowns cements their place as one of the most respected and popular groups in Christian music with nods in the top categories of Artist of the Year and Group of the Year, one of several categories they won at last year’s awards. Casting Crowns was also nominated for their first American Music Award last fall.
The GRAMMY-winning Lifesong project’s first single and title track, “Lifesong,” marks the band's fourth consecutive career No.1 following mega hits 'If We Are the Body,' 'Who Am I,' and 'Voice of Truth,' all from the band's platinum-selling, self-titled debut record. The second single from Lifesong, “Praise You In This Storm,” was just released to all formats of Christian radio. Coming in August, 2006, “Lifestories,” a collection of stories marking the people and events behind the songs of Casting Crowns.
In 2004, Casting Crowns' debut album quickly earned the highest first-week sales of any debut artist on Nielsen SoundScan Christian market sales chart for the year, eventually selling over 1.3 million units. The project's three radio singles all spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on numerous charts, including a record-breaking 13 weeks at number one for their hit, “Voice of Truth.” For the year 2004, Casting Crowns was the most played artist on all Christian radio formats combined, and performed to more than one million people in concert.
For more information, please visit www.CastingCrowns.com or www.reunionrecords.com.