Top Contemporary Christian Music Artists of the 1980s

I am a child of the 1980's, and much of my favorite music, both secular and Christian, comes from this time. It was in 1985, during my freshman year at Greenville College, that I received my introduction to Contemporary Christian Music. Greenville is a small Christian College located in Greenville, Illinois, and several of my neighbors in our dorm could be heard playing music by a broad range of Christian artists from the pop music of Amy Grant, to the classic rock sound of Petra, to the glam metal attack of Stryper. Here is a list of my ten favorite Contemporary Christian artists and groups from the 1980's. I'll add some of their key accomplishments in terms of their music and ministries, as well as what many of them are doing today. And I will also throw in some honorable mentions with some artists I really enjoyed, although they didn't quite make the list.

1) Petra. Petra was the premier rock band of 1980's CCM. Forming in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1972, they became one of the most recognized and best selling Christian bands of the 80's and 90's. Greg X. Volz fronted the group from 1978 until 1985, passing the microphone to former Head East vocalist John Schlitt, who served as lead singer until the group's retirement at the end of 2005. In addition to great musicianship and songwriting, the band members had a tremendous heart for ministry. Petra became the first Christian band to be enshrined in a Hard Rock Café, and in 1992, they became the first (and only) Christian band to play at Farm Aid. In 2000, they became the first rock band to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in recognition of their long track record of music ministry and lives transformed through the work God did through the band. Petra was a pioneer band in the CCM industry influencing countless artist who have entered music ministry over the last three and a half decades.

2) DeGarmo & Key. Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key grew up together in Memphis, and they began playing in bands together before they had even come to know Christ. DeGarmo & Key's music ministry started as a blues rock band during the late 1970's, and the band's sound evolved as they became power pop heavyweights during the mid-80's. In 1985, "Six, Six, Six" became the first Christian music video to be played on MTV. D&K disbanded in 1995, and then reunited for a concert in October 2007. The band is scheduled to play at this summer's Cornerstone festival in Bushnell, Illinois. During the late 80's, Eddie DeGarmo founded ForeFront Records, a CCM label that launched the recording careers of several Christian artists including DC Talk, Audio Adrenaline and Rebecca St. James. Dana Key pastors a small church in Lakeland, Tennessee.

3) Amy Grant She had a string of hits including "El Shaddai," "Thy Word," Amy was one of the first Christian artists to crossover into the secular market and gain airplay on mainstream radio. Since then, other Christian artists have crossed over into the mainstream market including Stryper, Michael W. Smith, Kathy Troccoli, MxPx, Sixpence None the Richer, P.O.D. and Switchfoot to name a few. Amy has won six Grammy Awards plus more than twenty Dove Awards (Gospel Music Awards). Her styles have ranged from pop to adult contemporary to country, although in recent years she has returned to her gospel music roots. Official website: www.amygrant.com

4) Michael W. Smith Known as "Smitty" to many of his fans, Michael started out during the early 1980's as a keyboardist for Amy Grant's backup band as well as writing songs for Amy as well as for Sandi Patty, Kathy Troccoli and Bill Gaither. His first solo album, The Michael W. Smith Project, was released in 1983 and was nominated for a Dove Award. Over the last twenty-five years, MWS has won three Grammys and thirty-four Dove Awards. Michael enjoyed some crossover success during the early 90's with mainstream hits like "Place in This World," "For You" and "I Will Be Here for You." Since then, he has recorded an instrumental album and two worship records, formed his own music label (Rocketown Records) and opened a teen club in Nashville. Official website: www.michaelwsmith.com

5) Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart Born into a southern gospel singing family in 1944, Mylon began writing gospel songs in his teens. His first song, "Without Him," was recorded in 1963 by Elvis Presley. Mylon began to pursue a recording career of his own beginning with the release of Mylon (which has been alternately titled We Believe, featuring classic song "Gospel Ship." But his follow-up albums contained fewer references to his faith as he began to descend into a lifestyle of heavy drug use. LeFevre recommitted his life to Christ in 1980 and he returned to the music scene with a new ministry and a new rock band, Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart. Over the next decade, Mylon released twelve albums and logged over a million miles on tour before a heart attack ended his ministry with Broken Heart. He has shifted his musical focus to praise music and became a teacher and preacher. Mylon ministers in about 75 churches each year, along with his wife Christi. Mylon LeFevre's official website: www.mylon.org

6) Daniel Amos Formed in 1974 and fronted by Terry Scott Taylor, this Southern California band was one of the first groups in Christian music to display a satirical sense of humor in their lyrics. DA also became a pioneer band in Christian rock as one of the first Christian alternative/modern rock bands, influencing a number of artists who have come along over the years. In addition to performing with Daniel Amos, Terry Taylor has produced several artists, recorded as a solo artist and pursued other side projects including the band Swirling Eddies and the supergroup Lost Dogs. Official website: www.danielamos.com

7) Steve Taylor While not related to Daniel Amos' Terry Taylor, Steve has also demonstrated a satirical sense of humor in his songwriting. From 1983-95, Taylor recorded five studio albums and two live recordings as a solo artist. He also fronted the band Chagall Guevara. It was with CG that Taylor recorded the song "Tale O' the Twister" which was featured in the soundtrack for the movie Pump Up the Volume (1990). Taylor transitioned from performing to producing, working with several Christian artists including the Newsboys, Guardian and Sixpence None the Richer. Steve also formed his own record label, Squint Entertainment, during the late 90's. In recent years he has worked as a filmmaker, directing music videos for many Contemporary Christian Music artists. He also wrote and directed The Second Chance (2006), a feature film starring Michael W. Smith. From singer/songwriter to producer to filmmaker, Steve Taylor continues to pursue using various media forms to communicate the gospel of Christ to a world that is hungry for the Word.

8) White Heart Formed in 1982, most of White Heart's founders had previously worked with Bill Gaither. The group released their first album that same year. Steve Green was the band's original lead singer, but left after the first album, having decided that rock was not his style. Scott Douglas fronted the band over the next two studio albums before Rick Florian became White Heart's long-term lead vocalist over the next eight studio albums. While the group has never officially disbanded, they have not released a studio album since 1997's Redemption. The mid-late 80's lineup of White Heart did reunite to perform when the band received a Soul2Soul Honor award in 2006.

9) 2^nd Chapter of Acts This trio, consisting of sisters Annie Herring and Nelly Griesen plus brother Matthew Ward, formed in 1973 and ministered together until 1988. The group was signed to their first contract after catching the attention of Pat Boone while playing coffee houses and other small venues. 2nd Chapter of Acts released seventeen albums during their fifteen year run. The members of 2^nd Chapter have also pursued separate ministries as solo artists. The Gospel Music Association recognized 2^nd Chapter's ministry and contributions in 1999 by inducting the group into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Official website: www.2ndchapterofacts.com

10) Phil Keaggy Phil Keaggy is one of the most widely respected guitarists in the music industry today. Keaggy began performing during the late 1960's with the band Glass Harp, which he had formed with two childhood friends. In 1970, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and left the band two years later. Phil released his first solo album, What a Day, in 1973. He began touring with many Contemporary Christian artists of the day, including Love Song and 2^nd Chapter of Acts. Over the years, he has been widely respected by his peers in both the Christian and secular music industries. Official website: www.philkeaggy.com

Honorable Mentions:

Russ Taff

Altar Boys

The 77's

Bebe & Cece Winans

David & the Giants