Selah (band)
| Selah | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Nashville, Tennessee, United States |
| Genres | Contemporary Christian, gospel |
| Years active | 1997–present[1] |
| Labels | Curb |
| Website | selahonline.com |
| Members | |
| Amy Perry Allan Hall Todd Smith |
|
| Past members | |
| Nicol Sponberg Melodie Crittenden |
|
Selah is a contemporary Christian vocal trio consisting of Todd Smith, Allan Hall, and Amy Perry. They have won three Dove Awards. The group has been featured on The 700 Club, The Hour of Power, and TBN.
Contents |
[edit] History
Selah was originally formed by brother and sister, Todd and Nicol Smith, along with friend Allan Hall.[2] The group quickly gained success with the release of their first album, Be Still My Soul, in 1999. They quickly earned a reputation for being able to reveal the heart of any song they recorded,[3] transforming old Christian hymns into a more modern style and with their powerful voices and beautiful harmonies.[4] Todd and Nicol, who spent their childhood in Subsaharan Africa, brought many African elements to their songs as well. They are as comfortable singing in Kituba, as they are in English.[2] Todd gives credit for his music career to his missionary upbringing. “I've been singing in front of people since I was three,” he said. “My parents are missionaries. When we came back to the United States, we had to visit each church that sponsored us. That was a good training ground.”[5] They also did well-known covers of already-famous songs such as "You Raise Me Up" by Secret Garden and "Bless the Broken Road" by Marcus Hummon. Selah went on to win a Dove Award for their debut album.
Their second album Press On was released in 2001, and also won a Dove Award, along with many nominations for individual songs in the album.
In April 2000, Nicol Smith released her self-titled solo debut on Curb Records.[6] She met and married Greg Sponberg in 2003. Nicol Sponberg released her second solo album, Resurrection (Curb Records), in 2004. The single "Crazy In Love" crossed over to the secular Adult Contemporary charts while songs like "Safe" continued to earn her airplay on Christian radio. Todd also produced a solo album, Alive, in 2004.
Nicol left the group in 2004, and for most of 2005 Melodie Crittenden sang with the group.[7]
The 2006 Bless the Broken Road album was a project that teamed original Selah members Allan Hall and Todd Smith with a wide variety of guest singers.
After auditioning 15 female vocalists, Amy Perry became a full-time member based on her vocal abilities and spiritual, adding on to Todd and Allan.[7] Allan Hall also began to get a more active singing role, from originally being the band's accompanist.
[edit] Discography
- 1999: Be Still My Soul
- 2001: Press On
- 2002: Rose of Bethlehem
- 2004: Hiding Place
- 2005: Greatest Hymns
- 2006: Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album
- 2007: Timeless: The Selah Collection
- 2009: You Deliver Me
- 2011: Hope of the Broken World
[edit] GMA Dove Awards
They have won the following Dove Awards:
- 2000: Inspirational Album of the Year for Be Still My Soul
- 2002: Inspirational Album of the Year for Press On
- 2002: Traditional Recorded Gospel Song for "Hold On"
| Year | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Group of the Year | Nominated | |
| Song of the Year ("You Raise Me Up") | Nominated | |
| Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year ("You Raise Me Up") | Nominated | |
| Inspirational Album of the Year (Hiding Place) | Won | |
| Worship Song of the Year ("I Bless Your Name") | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year ("All My Praise") | Nominated |
| Inspirational Album of the Year (Greatest Hymns) | Nominated | |
| Worship Song of the Year ("Be Thou My Vision") | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Song of the Year ("Bless the Broken Road") | Nominated |
| Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("Bless the Broken Road") | Nominated | |
| Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year ("Glory") | Nominated | |
| Inspirational Album of the Year (Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album) | Won | |
| 2008 | Group of the Year | Nominated |
| Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year ("Be Thou Near To Me") | Nominated | |
| 2010 | Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year ("Hossana") | Nominated |
| Inspirational Album of the Year (You Deliver Me) | Nominated | |
| Worship Song of the Year ("Hossana") | Nominated | |
| 2011 | Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year ("You Deliver Me") | Nominated |
[edit] References
- ^ "Biography". http://www.christianmusiclighthouse.com/main/biography/selahbio/index.htm.
- ^ a b "Nicol Smith". Thefish.com. http://www.thefish.com/music/reviews/11620428/Nicol-Smith/. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- ^ "About Selah". Webstix. Archived from the original on March 14, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070314055536/http://www.selahonline.com/aboutus.htm. Retrieved March 15, 2007.
- ^ "Selah". Christianmusic.about.com. http://christianmusic.about.com/cs/artistprofiles/a/aa_pfl_selah.htm. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- ^ The News-Sentinal. http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100217/NEWS01/2170314/1001/NEWS
- ^ "Selah's Nicol Smith Ready to Solo". Billboard. http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4644734-1.html. Retrieved March 25, 2000.
- ^ a b "Selah: Blessing the Broken Road". Cbn.com. http://cbn.com/cbnmusic/interviews/jej_selah111806.aspx. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
