Cry Out to Jesus

Background:

Third Day is a multiple Grammy Award winning Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia during the 1990s. Now comprising of Mac Powell (lead vocals), Mark Lee (guitar), Tai Anderson (bass) and David Carr (drums), the band won their first Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album of the Year in 2002 for the album “Come Together” (2001). They went on to win the Grammy Awards for Best Rock Gospel Album of the Year for “Wire” (2004), Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year for “Wherever You Are” (2005) and Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album of the Year for “Live Revelations” (2009). The band was named Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist of the Year at the 2008 American Music Awards and became an inductee in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on September 19, 2009. The band also has won over 25 Dove Awards since 1998. The song “Cry Out to Jesus” was ranked No. 15 on the Billboard Magazine Best of the 2000s list of Song of the Decade. The band's other well known songs include “Nothing At All,” “Alien,” “Sky Falls Down,” “You Are So Good To Me,” “Sing A Song,” “Mountain of God” and “Call My Name.”

Marietta, GA

Childhood and Family:

In 1991, Third Day was originally founded by vocalist Mac Powell (born December 25, 1972) and acoustic guitarist Mark Lee (born May 29, 1973) in Marietta, Georgia. The two quickly added drummer David Carr and bassist Tai Anderson, both from a local band called Bullard Family Singers. There was also an original member named Billy Wilkins, a keyboardist, but he left the group in 1993 and now he is working as a economics and management teacher near Atlanta.

In 1993, the band released their first independent album, “Long Time Forgotten,” with 2,000 copies available. Their second demo album, “Contagious,” which was recorded at at Furies Studios, Atlanta, Georgia, just like its predecessor, followed in 1994. Lead guitarist Brad Avery joined the band in the following year.

After completing its line up, the band began playing more steadily in venues around the Southeast. It was during a show at the Strand Theatre in Marietta, Georgia that the band was offered a contract to sign with a new independent record label, Gray Dot Records.

Live Revelations

Career:

After signing with the indie label Gray Dot Records, Third Day launched their self titled debut album, “Third Day,” in 1995. Produced by David Mardis, the album sold about 20,000 units, which was considered very well for an independent release. It was not long before the band signed a multi album deal with the Brentwood, Tennessee based Christian music record label, Reunion Record. Reunion then launched the now official version of “Third Day” in the spring of 1996. The album was well received by both audience and critics and has been certified gold by the RIAA. It produced three No. 1 hit singles on the Christian Rock Chart with “Forever,” “Blackbird” and “Nothing At All” as well as a Top 10 hit “Consuming Fire” (#6), whose video won a Billboard Music in the category of Best Christian video. “Nothing at All” also marked the band's only mainstream rock radio hit in the United States, where it peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard rock charts. Still in 1996, following an opening gig for Christian music headliner The Newsboys, the band embarked on their own 65 city tour with All Star United and Seven Day Jesus as the opening acts. Third Day was nominated for a Dove Award for New Artist of the Year.

The second studio album “Conspiracy No. 5” was released on August 26, 1997, with Sam Taylor, who had worked on numerous of Kings X's records, as producer. The album reached No. 50 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Rock Gospel Album of the Year in 1998. It also won a Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year. The song “Alien” reached No. 1 on the Christian Rock Chart and received a Dove Award for Rock Recorded Song of the Year. The album also spawned three more singles with “Have Mercy,” a No. 2 on the Chrsitian Rock Chart, “Who I Am” and “My Hope Is You,” which reached No. 1 and No. 2 on the Christian CHR Chart, respectively.

In 1998, Third Day toured the US both alone and again as opening acts for The Newsboys. The same year, they also recorded a cover of Michael W.Smith's “Agnus Dei” for his compilation project, “Exodus,” which won GMA's Special Event Album of the Year. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Christian CHR Chart.

The band returned with the third album “Time” on August 24, 1999, their first album with Essential Records. It reached No. 63 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified gold by the RIAA. The album earned a Grammy nomination and a 2000 Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year. The song “Sky Falls Down,” which topped both the Christian Rock and the Christian CHR charts, won a 2001 Dove Award for Rock Recorded Song of the Year. “Time” also yielded the hit singles “I've Always Loved You,” which reached No. 1 in the Christian CHR and the Christian AC, and “Your Love Oh Lord (Psalm 36),” a chart topper at the Christian CHR. The follow up album “Offerings: A Worship Album” hit the music stores on July 11, 2000. Comprising of several new songs and live recordings of previously released material, the album peaked at No. 66 on the Billboard 200 and went platinum in the US. It won a 2001 Dove Award in the category of Praise and Worship Album of the Year. In support of “Time” and “Offerings: A Worship Album,” the band embarked on tour along with Jennifer Knapp. Still in 2000, the band also collaborated in the project “City on a Hill: Songs of Worship and Praise” alongside FFH, Caedmon's Call, Newsboys, Jars of Clay, and others. The album won GMA's Special Event Album of the Year in 2001.

Lured by the success of “Offerings: A Worship Album,” Third Day performed in Australia and New Zealand in 2001. The same year, the band also received Dove Awards for Artist of the Year and Group of the Year, apart from the aforementioned three categories. They closed the year with the release of the fifth studio album “Come Together” on November 6, 2001. Produced by Monroe Jones, the album rose to No. 31 on the Billboard 200 and went gold in the following year. It earned a Grammy for Best Rock Gospel Album of the Year and Dove Awards for Rock Album of the Year and Rock Recorded Song of the Year for the title track, which topped both the Christian Rock and the Christian CHR Charts.

In 2002, Third Day appeared in the film adaptation of Joseph Girzone's novel, “Joshua,” starring Tony Goldwyn, F. Murray Abraham and Kurt Fuller. Their song “ My Hope is You” was featured on the film soundtrack. Also in 2002, the band launched their first live album, “The Offerings Experience,” which won a 2002 Dove Award for Long Form Music Video of the Year. The band also won Dove Award for Group of the Year.

The band returned with their second worship album, “Offerings II: All I Have to Give,” in March 2003. It reached No. 18 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA. It produced the No. 1 hit singles “You Are So Good To Me,” “Sing A Song” and “God Of Wonders.” The album won a 2004 Dove Award for Worship Album of the Year. The second live DVD album “The Come Together Tour” was also released in 2003. It won a 2004 Dove award for Long Form Music Video of the Year. 2003 also saw the band win a Dove Award for Group of the Year and another Dove Award for Rock Recorded Song of the Year for the song “40 Days.”

On May 4, 2004, Third Day released the studio album “Wire,” which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and achieved a gold status in the US. The album won a 2005 Grammy for Best Rock Gospel Album of the Year and a Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year. The single “I Believe,” from “Wire,” reached No. 1 on the Christian AC and No. 3 on the Christian Songs chart. The same year, the band also contributed the song I See Love” for the album “The Passion of the Christ: Songs,” which won a Dove Award for Special Event Album of the Year at the 36th GMA Dove Awards. The live CD/DVD album “Live Wire” was launched on November 23, 2004 by Reunion Records. It has been certified platinum by the RIAA.

The studio album “Wherever You Are” was released on November 1, 2005 on Essential Records. It peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and went gold in the US. It won a 2007 Grammy for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year and was nominated for a Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year. It produced two No. 1 hit singles on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs with “Cry Out to Jesus” and “Mountain of God,” with the first song also winning a 2006 Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.

On October 17, 2006, the band released “Christmas Offerings.” It won a 2007 Dove Award, for Christmas Album of the Year. It was followed by “Chronology Volume 1” and “Chronology Volume 2” in March 2007 and August 2007, respectively. The album respectively reached No. 61 and No. 73 on the Billboard 200.

On July 29, 2008, Third Day resurfaced with “Revelation,” the band's ninth studio album and thirteenth overall release. Produced by Howard Benson, the album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Christian Album charts. It won Dove Awards for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year, and Recorded Music Packaging of the Year. The lead single “Call My Name” peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs and the Christian Christian CHR. “Live Revelations: Onstage, Offstage, Backstage” followed on April 7, 2009. It won a 2010 Grammy for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album of the Year.

The tent studio album “Move” hit the music stores on October 19, 2010. The album reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200, No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums, and No. 3 on the Billboard Rock Albums. It won a 2011 Dove Award for Recorded Music Packaging of the Year and was nominated for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year. The album generated the hit singles “Lift Up Your Face” (2010), “Children of God” (2010) and “Make Your Move” (2011), which peaked at No. 12 , No. 4 and No. 42 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs, respectively. “Lift Up Your Face” was nominated for a 2011 Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year

Awards:

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Recorded Music Packaging of the Year, “Move,” 2011

• Grammy: Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album of the Year, “Live Revelations,” 2010

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Recorded Music Packaging of the Year, “Revelation,” 2009

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year, “Revelation,” 2009

• American Music: Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist of the Year, 2008

• Grammy: Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year, “Wherever You Are,” 2007

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Christmas Album of the Year, “Christmas Offerings,” 2007

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year, “Cry Out to Jesus,” 2006

• Grammy: Best Rock Gospel Album of the Year, “Wire,” 2005

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year, “Wire,” 2005

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Special Event Album of the Year, “The Passion of the Christ: Songs,” 2005

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Long Form Music Video of the Year, “Third Day Live in Concert, The Come Together Tour,” 2004

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Praise and Worship Album of the Year, “Offerings II: All I Have to Give,” 2004

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Group of the Year, 2003

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Rock Recorded Song of the Year, “40 Days,” 2003

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Special Event Album of the Year, “City on a Hill: Sing Alleluia,” 2003

• Grammy: Best Rock Gospel Album of the Year, “Come Together,” 2002

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Group of the Year, 2002

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Long Form Music Video of the Year, “Third Day Live in Concert - The Offerings Experience,” 2002

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Rock Album of the Year, “Come Together,” 2002

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Rock Recorded Song of the Year, “Come Together,” 2002

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Special Event Album of the Year, “City on a Hill: Songs of Worship and Praise,” 2001

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Group of the Year, 2001

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Artist of the Year, 2001

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Praise and Worship Album of the Year, “Offerings: A Worship Album,” 2001

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Rock Recorded Song of the Year, “Sky Falls Down,” 2001

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Rock Album of the Year, “Time,” 2000

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Special Event Album of the Year, “Exodus,” 1999

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Rock Album of the Year, “Conspiracy No. 5,” 1998

• Gospel Music Award (GMA): Dove Award, Rock Recorded Song of the Year, “Alien,” 1998