The Choir (alternative rock band)

The Choir is an atmospheric Christian alternative rock band currently comprising Derri Daugherty on guitar and vocals, Steve Hindalong on drums, and Dan Michaels on saxophone and lyricon. Long-time bassist Tim Chandler died in 2018, and guitarist Marc Byrd was the fifth member of the band between 2005–2014. As of 2023, the band has released 18 full-length studio albums, three EPs, five live albums, one single-disc compilation, one retrospective box set, and is still actively recording new material.

This article is about the Christian alternative rock band. For the 1960s garage rock band, see The Choir (garage rock).

The Choir
The Choir in April 2017. L to R:Dan Michaels, Steve Hindalong, Derri Daugherty.
The Choir in April 2017. L to R:
Dan Michaels, Steve Hindalong, Derri Daugherty.
Background information
OriginOrange County, California
GenresChristian alternative rock
Years active1984–present
Labels
Members
Past members
Websitethechoir.net

History

Southern California period (1983–1993)

The Choir was originally formed as Youth Choir in the early 1980s by Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong. Daniel Amos bass guitarist Tim Chandler introduced Hindalong to Daugherty, who was the band's roadie and sound man.[1] Hindalong and Daugherty quickly became friends, and Youth Choir was part of the Calvary Chapel Christian punk and alternative music scene,[1] which also included the bands Undercover, Crumbächer, Altar Boys and 4-4-1.

The band's first official recording was the track "It's So Wonderful", released in 1983 on the compilation album What's Shakin', which also included early work from Undercover, Altar Boys and The Lifters. This song was one of the few times that lead singer Derri Daugherty wrote both lyrics and music; as the band developed, the majority of the Choir's lyrical output would come from drummer/percussionist Steve Hindalong. As Youth Choir, they released their debut album Voices in Shadows in 1985, with Mike Sauerbrey on bass; their first EP Shades of Gray followed a year later, when Dan Michaels joined the band.

The Choir made a high-profile move to Myrrh Records in 1986 with their next release, Diamonds and Rain. Dropping the "Youth" from their moniker, they would be known as the Choir from that point forward.[2] This was followed by three more albums for Myrrh, which featured musical contributions from an array of Christian performers, including Charlie Peacock, Mark Heard, Steve Griffith of Vector and Gene Eugene and Riki Michele from Adam Again. The Choir's lineup also changed. Tim Chandler was the primary bass player until 1989's Wide-Eyed Wonder, as Robin Spurs replaced him on that album and tour, but she left the band during the recording of 1990's Circle Slide. Mike Sauerbrey returned to the band for these recording sessions, and remained with the Choir for two more years until Chandler rejoined the lineup for the independently-released Kissers and Killers.[3] Sauerbrey would not play with the band again; Spurs would rejoin the Choir briefly in 2017, when she performed on the Wide-Eyed Wonder reunion tour.[4]

The Choir toured extensively during this time, notably as the first band on stage at the inaugural Cornerstone Festival in Chicago in 1984.[5] They also performed at the Greenbelt Festival in England in 1986, and opened for Russ Taff on his nationwide tour in 1989. References to the band's tour experiences would remain an ongoing source of lyrical inspiration. During their Southern California period, the Choir's music was described by the Los Angeles Times as "magical songs that combine strains of murky psychedelia with pure pop." Billboard praised the band for its "dark poetic leanings, effects-laden guitars and strong melodic hooks". Hindalong's lyrics became known for their vulnerability and honesty, particularly about the challenges inherent in romantic relationships and the simple joys of family life.[2]

Initial Nashville period (1994–2009)

With much of the contemporary Christian music industry centered in Nashville, the band opted to make a permanent move there.[2] Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong were both married with children, and the alternative Christian music scene in Southern California was no longer as active as it was in its mid-80s heyday.[6] By contrast, the CCM industry had begun flourishing in Nashville in the early 1990s.[7] The Choir's first release after arriving in Nashville was Speckled Bird, a reworked version of Kissers and Killers that added five additional songs recorded in Nashville.[8] Their next album, Free Flying Soul, released in 1996, would bring the band their most notable industry accolades to that point, as they were awarded a GMA Dove Award for Best Modern/Alternative Rock Album.[3] Five years later, they received a nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards for their album, Flap Your Wings, released in 2000.[9] Celebrating this, the Choir released a boxed set of their entire musical output called Never Say Never: The First 20 Years, which included a bonus CD of unreleased B-sides and remixes.

Upon their arrival in Nashville, Dan Michaels went into artist management, including managing the Choir,[10] while Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong continued to contribute to and produce numerous side projects, including the Lost Dogs, and most notably, the City on a Hill worship music series.[3] The lead song from the first album in that series, "God of Wonders," written by Hindalong and future Choir guitarist Marc Byrd, proved to be one of the most successful contemporary worship songs of the early 2000s,[7] and the Choir has often performed that song live since. (That album also received a Dove Award for Special Event Album of the Year in 2001.)[11] In 2005, the Choir officially added Byrd to their lineup and released O How the Mighty Have Fallen, produced by Byrd and released independently on the band's own Galaxy21 label. On August 19 of that same year, the Choir played the Broken Records Reunion, a 20th anniversary concert at Mariners Church in Irvine, California, along with 4-4-1, Altar Boys, Crumbächer, and Undercover.[12]

Ongoing creative activity (2010–present)

After a five-year recording hiatus, the Choir released two full-length studio albums in 2010. In June, the band released Burning Like the Midnight Sun, which received positive reviews. Jeff Elbel, in the Chicago Sun-Times, called the album "a late-career triumph," and remarked that it was the band's "second exceptional album in a row, and its best since 1990's landmark Circle Slide."[13] In November, the band released de-plumed which featured cellist Matt Slocum of Sixpence None the Richer. A collection of acoustic reinterpretations of one song from each of their 12 prior studio albums, it was released shortly after Daugherty and Hindalong embarked on a multi-city acoustic tour as a duo version of the band.[14]

The Choir's next studio album, The Loudest Sound Ever Heard, was released in May 2012. Later that year, the band toured in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Chase the Kangaroo, playing the album in its entirety, followed by a selection of tracks from Loudest Sound.[15] For this tour, the band performed as a trio with bassist Tim Chandler. Then in July, the full lineup of the Choir closed out the final gathering of the Cornerstone Festival, in commemoration of their inaugural 1984 performance.[5]

Shift to crowdfunding (2013)

From this point forward, the Choir would shift to Kickstarter and PledgeMusic as their primary way of recording and releasing new studio albums, re-releases of older studio albums, and solo work by Steve Hindalong and Derri Daugherty. This funding process generated the studio releases Shadow Weaver (2014), Bloodshot (2018), and Deep Cuts (2021), while Kickstarter stretch goals added the Christmas-themed Peace, Love & Light EP (2013), the live albums Live and on the Wing in Music City (2014) and The Livestream Bootleg (2015), as well as the ambient release Words Spoken and Floating on Clouds (2023).[16][17] During this time, the band remastered and re-released Circle Slide and Wide-Eyed Wonder, and followed each re-release with a short tour during which the entire album was played in its entirety. Mike Roe of The 77s filled in on bass for the Circle Slide 25th anniversary tour in 2015,[18] while bassist Robin Spurs returned to the band to perform on the Wide-Eyed Wonder anniversary tour in 2017.[4] Hindalong's second solo album, The Warbler, was released in 2016,[19] and this was followed by Daugherty's latest solo release The Color of Dreams in 2018.[20] Later that year, long-time bassist Tim Chandler died on October 8, 2018.[21]

Post-Tim Chandler work (2019-present)

Beginning in mid-2019, the band began releasing non-album singles at the pace of one every other month, starting with a cover of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" and followed by "Mystical World", their first original composition after Chandler's death.[22] In March of 2021, the Choir shifted to Patreon where they continue to release new tracks exclusively for subscribers, including a 2021 re-recording of "Render Love" for the Electric Jesus film soundtrack.[23] Deep Cuts, also released in 2021, was the band's first studio album without contributions from Chandler, as bass duties were split between session player Chris Donohue and bassist Steven Mason from Jars of Clay.

Other projects

Each band member has worked on numerous projects outside the Choir.

Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong have produced and recorded several worship albums featuring other Contemporary Christian music artists, including their own At the Foot of the Cross series.[24] Volume One: Clouds, Rain, Fire was released in 1992,[24] and the song "Beautiful Scandalous Night" would later be re-recorded by the Choir eight years later for their Grammy-nominated Flap Your Wings album. The follow-up Volume Two: Seven Last Words of Christ was released in 1995.[24] Hindalong would later produce the successful City on a Hill series of worship albums in the early 2000s,[24] co-writing the well-known song "God of Wonders" with former bandmate Marc Byrd.[25]

Daugherty, Hindalong and Dan Michaels have all released solo works, with Daugherty also releasing an instrumental ambient project under the name Clouds Echo in Blue. Daugherty is one-half of Kerosene Halo, a duo project with 77's frontman Michael Roe; they have released three albums to date.[26] Daugherty has also been a member of the contemporary Christian supergroup Lost Dogs since 1991,[27] with Hindalong joining the group after the death of Gene Eugene.[28] In 2023, Hindalong would join with Jimmy Abegg, Phil Madeira, Matt Slocum and Ben Pearson to form The Ascendants and use Kickstarter to launch their debut album, The Fellowship of the Broken.[29] Before his death in 2018, Tim Chandler was the bass guitar player for Daniel Amos (and that band's side project, the Swirling Eddies) for many years, pre-dating his work with the Choir.[30] Bassist Robin Spurs later joined Rachel Rachel and toured with them in the early 1990s.[31] Byrd was a member of Common Children, then later he and bandmate Andrew Thompson formed the post-rock band Hammock in 2005.[32] Byrd has also recorded with his wife Christine Glass as Glassbyrd.[33] Michaels has recorded saxophone for, and performed on tour with, a variety of other artists including Adam Again, Crystal Lewis and Bryan Duncan.[34]

Personnel

Current members

Former members

  • Mike Sauerbrey - bass guitar
  • Robin Spurs - bass guitar, vocals
  • Marc Byrd - guitars, vocals
  • Tim Chandler - bass guitar, vocals

Touring musicians[34][35][36]

  • Billy Sammons (nee "Billy Wilde") - guitar
  • Bill Campbell - guitar
  • Wayne Everett - percussion
  • Michael Roe - bass guitar, vocals

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Live albums

Compilations

Singles
  • 1985 "I Can't Take It" b/w "Here in the Night (live)" (7-inch single; as Youth Choir)

Digital singles
  • 2004 "Travelin' Light (demo)" (music download)
  • 2006 "The Sun Also Rises (demo)" (streaming)
  • 2010 "Babe in the Straw" (music download)
  • 2012 "Shadow of the Cross" (music download)
  • 2013 "Beautiful Girl" (music download)
  • 2016 "Rhythm of the Road (Reimagined)" (music download)
  • 2019 "In the Air Tonight" (music download)
  • 2019 "After All (Reimagined) [featuring Leigh Nash]" (music download)
  • 2019 "Mystical World" (music download)
  • 2019 "Kathie's Garden" (music download)
  • 2019 "Counting Stars" (music download)
  • 2020 "What You Think I Am (Reimagined) [featuring Leigh Nash]" (music download)
  • 2020 "The Real WWW" (music download)

Patreon-exclusive music downloads

All songs initially released to Patreon supporters only. In 2023, the Choir began making some of these tracks more widely available under the banner The Patreon Sessions, either by individual download or on streaming platforms.[37] Tracks later made available outside of Patreon are indicated.

  • 2021 "Render Love (2021 Version)"
  • 2021 "Alone" (The Patreon Sessions music download; streaming)
  • 2021 "My Father's Son"
  • 2021 "One Man Band"
  • 2021 "Let It Ride" (The Patreon Sessions music download; streaming)
  • 2021 "Wings on Fire"
  • 2021 "Angry World" (The Patreon Sessions music download; streaming)
  • 2021 "Old Man Winter"
  • 2022 "Just Who" (The Patreon Sessions music download; streaming)
  • 2022 "Billy Wilde"
  • 2022 "Talk It Out" (The Patreon Sessions music download; streaming)
  • 2022 "Something in the Way She Moves"
  • 2022 "I Don't Want to Cry" (The Patreon Sessions music download; streaming)
  • 2022 "Centrifugal" (The Patreon Sessions music download; streaming)
  • 2022 "Sentimental Song (Reimagined)" (Facebook)
  • 2022 "Snow Angels and Holiday Prayers" (music download; streaming)
  • 2022 "Be My Girl" (The Patreon Sessions music download; streaming)
  • 2022 "We Drive On" (The Patreon Sessions music download; streaming)
  • 2022 "Mind Your Ways"
  • 2022 "Summon Your Soul" (The Patreon Sessions music download; streaming)
  • 2022 "A Matter of Degrees"
  • 2023 "Heaven" (The Patreon Sessions music download; streaming)
  • 2023 "Divine Intervention"
  • 2023 "More Than Words (2023 Version)"
  • 2023 "Let It Burn"
  • 2023 "Reach for the Sky"
  • 2023 "Chase the Kangaroo (Reimagined)"
  • 2023 "I Can't Rescue You"
  • 2023 "Sylvia's Mother"

Appearances on other works
  • 1983 What's Shakin' ["It's So Wonderful"] (as Youth Choir)
  • 1985 Broken Samples ["Here in the Night"] (as Youth Choir)
  • 1989 The Myrrh Radio Collection, Volume 1 ["Someone to Hold Onto"]
  • 1993 Brow Beat: Unplugged Alternative ["Wilderness" (acoustic version)]
  • 1993 Third Wave ["Kissers and Killers"]
  • 1994 Can You Dig It? ["Kissers and Killers"]
  • 1994 Strong Hand of Love ["Tip of My Tongue"]
  • 1995 Contemporary Adult Music for the 90's ["Wilderness"]
  • 1996 Orphans of God ["Tip of My Tongue"]
  • 1996 Seltzer: Modern Rock to Settle Your Soul ["The Ocean"]
  • 1998 Grab Bag Candy Sampler, Volume 1 ["Flowing Over Me" (demo version)]
  • 2003 Contemporary Christian Hits: A Collage ["Grace"]
  • 2022 There's a Rainbow Somewhere: The Songs of Randy Stonehill ["The Last Time I Saw Eden"]

Video releases
  • 1989 Wide-Eyed Wonder Videos (VHS: music videos for "Someone To Hold Onto" and "Robin Had A Dream"; 32-minute band documentary)
  • 1996 "Sled Dog" music video (Enhanced CD: included with bonus content on Let It Fly)
  • 1996 Tattoo Video Hoopla (VHS: live performance from Cornerstone '96)
  • 2016 Live and on the Wing in Music City (DVD: 2014 live performance included in CD/DVD combo)

Solo releases by members of the Choir
  • 1991 Reveal [EP] – Dan Michaels
  • 1998 Skinny – Steve Hindalong
  • 2002 A Few Unfinished Songs [EP] – Derri Daugherty
    • 2015 A Few Unfinished Songs (Deluxe) (re-release with six additional tracks)
  • 2003 Open Wide This Window – Glassbyrd (Marc Byrd and Christine Glass)
  • 2010 "I Still Believe" [Single] - Derri Daugherty
  • 2011 Clouds Echo in Blue – Clouds Echo in Blue (Derri Daugherty)
  • 2015 "Child in the Manger" [Single] - Derri Daugherty
  • 2016 The Warbler – Steve Hindalong
  • 2016 Hush Sorrow – Derri Daugherty
  • 2018 The Color of Dreams – Derri Daugherty

References

Footnotes

  1. Alfonso (2002), p. 139.
  2. Alfonso (2002), p. 140.
  3. Alfonso (2002), p. 141.
  4. "The Choir Partners with PledgeMusic for New Album". Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  5. "What our Friends and Cornerstone Family are Saying". Cornerstone Festival. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  6. Hindalong, Steve (June 11, 2022). "S2. Ep. 15: The Choir Interview (Steve Hindalong, Derri Daugherty & Dan Michaels)!". AREA 312 Rock & Metal Vodcast (Interview). Interviewed by Rex Smetzer. Wooster, Ohio, USA: YouTube.
  7. "Who Killed the Contemporary Christian Music Industry?". The Week. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  8. Michaels, Dan (June 11, 2022). "S2. Ep. 15: The Choir Interview (Steve Hindalong, Derri Daugherty & Dan Michaels)!". AREA 312 Rock & Metal Vodcast (Interview). Interviewed by Rex Smetzer. Wooster, Ohio, USA: YouTube.
  9. "44th Annual Grammy Awards (Nominees)". grammy.com. Grammy Awards. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  10. "10 Questions with… Dan Michaels". All Access Music Group. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  11. "Dove Award Recipients for 2001" Archived November 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Gospel Music Association.
  12. "Broken Records Reunion". Take 2 Productions. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  13. Eibel, Jeff. "Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago : News : Politics : Things To Do : Sports". Chicago. Archived from the original on October 21, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  14. Britt, Thomas (November 19, 2010). "The Choir Records Acoustic Takes of Old Favorites on 'De-Plumed'". popmatters.com. PopMatters. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  15. "The Choir announces new album "The Loudest Sound Ever Heard" releasing May 15th". christianmusicarchive.com. Christian Music Archive. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  16. "Join The Choir To Create A New Studio Album & Live Album by the Choir". Kickstarter. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  17. Rice, Mark (May 5, 2014). "The Choir, "Shadow Weaver" Review". jesusfreakhideout.com. Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  18. "The Choir to Celebrate 25 Year Anniversary of Circle Slide on Tour". February 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  19. "Steve Hindalong - The Warbler". Kickstarter. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  20. "Derri Daugherty - The Color of Dreams". Kickstarter. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  21. "In Memoriam: Bassist Tim Chandler (1960-2018)". MusicTap.com. October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  22. Cummings, Tony. "The Choir: The Nashville alt rock veterans making singles not albums". crossrhythms.com. CrossRhythms. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  23. "The Choir". Patreon. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  24. Powell (2002), p. 168.
  25. "God of Wonders". Ca.songselect.com. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  26. "Kerosene Halo". KeroseneHalo.net. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  27. Powell (2002), p. 539.
  28. "Lost Dogs". TheLostDogs.com. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  29. "Help Kickstart The Ascendants Debut Album". downthelinezine.com. Down The Line. April 15, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  30. Powell (2002), p. 226.
  31. McAdie, Bryan. "Rachel Rachel: An All Girl Rock Band Making an Impact Stateside". CR Mag 17. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  32. Lloyd, Shari. "A Feature of The Phantom Tollbooth". www.tollbooth.org. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  33. Powell (2002), p. 190.
  34. Conant, Palmer (2001), p. 26.
  35. Conant, Palmer (2001), p. 31.
  36. "The Choir to Celebrate 25 Year Anniversary of Circle Slide on Tour". February 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  37. "The Choir Announces the Patreon Sessions – New Song Releases". downthelinezine.com. Down The Line. February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.

Bibliography

  • Conant, Andy; Palmer, Dave (2001). The Choir: Never Say Never: The First 20 Years. Brentwood (Nashville, Tennessee), USA: Galaxy 21 Music. ISBN 0-688-12672-3.
  • Alfonso, Barry (2002). The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music. New York, New York, USA: Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-7718-7.
  • Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. Peabody, Massachusetts, USA: Hendrickson Publishers. ISBN 1-5656-3679-1.
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