July Music Challenge: Day 13 -- M is for Michael Card

It was tricky picking an M artist.  to be honest, it was hard narrowing down all the Michaels on my iPod.  But Michael Card's immense body of poignant songs made him the obvious choice. Over the years Michael's songs, most pulled straight from stories and lessons in Scripture, have come to be favorites of mine.

I have sen Michael in concert many times, and he is as much a teacher as a musician.  I am glad he falls on a Saturday, so I will be able to enjoy much of his music as I drive around delivering pizzas

Here is a video of Michael performing WHY with the help of Sara Groves.

July Music Challenge: Day 12 -- L is for Leigh Nash

Leigh Nash has been one of the most recognizable voice of the past two decades. Whether sing lead for Sixpence None the Richer, or as a soloist, her voice has a smooth, light quality that makes you smile when you here her, even if the song lyrics are deep and thoughtful, or at times brooding.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Leigh on more than one occasion, and she is one of the sweetest, most down to earth artists you could ever want to know.  Today I will only be featuring her solo work, not her work with Sixpence or Delerium.

Here is a video from her 2012 album of Hymns and Sacred Songs..enjoy.

July Music Challenge: Day 11 -- K is for Katy Perry

So this one may be one of my most commercial and "pop-y" entries in the music challenge.  But I can't help it, I like Katy.  I liked Katy before she was kissing girls and liking it.  I like her back when she was Katy Hudson, and singing about Jesus.  As I shuffle through Katy today I will be playing both her CCM music, and her fluffy, sexy pop stuff.  The video is from her Katy Hudson release.  The first Katy song that caught my attention.

July Music Challenge: Day 10 -- J is for Jeff Johnson

I was first introduced to the music of Jeff Johnson while I was at Wheaton College.  My friend Ty Warner played his Through the Door album, and I was hooked.   Jeff Johnson is to keyboard music what Phil Keaggy is to guitar (and in the last few years they have recorded a couple CDs together).

On his vocal albums Jeff combines intellectual lyrics, and tradition praise songs to draw the listener in.  His instrumental albums draw heavily on Celtic influences.  Wishing today was a weekend day because I have a lot of Jeff to listen to  I had the pleasure to meet Jeff once. He is a wonderful person as well as a musician and songwriter.

July Music Challenge: Day 9 -- I is for Imperials

The Imperials have been a force in Christian music for several decades.  Most notably during the 1980's when Russ Taff and then Paul Smith handled lead vocals.  They are still a force in the southern gospel market with a younger crew handling the music now.  But now and then the classic line-up in various forms shows up at events, such as this video from the 2013 nas convention.

July Music Challenge: Day 8 -- H is for The Hawk in Paris

The Hawk in Paris is a side project for Jars of Clay lead vocalist Dan Haseltine (sp).  They have only released two EPs with a total of ten songs, although they are promising a full length CD soon. But the musicis so good, I know I won't get tired of the ten songs repeating today.  If you don't know them yet, check out The Hawk in Paris.

P.S.-- imagine te song in this video played over clips from Doctor Who:

July Music Challenge: Day 7 -- G is for Genesis and Gabrial

Well, for the first Sunday of our music challenge I decided to go kinda biblical, and will feature the music of Genesis, along with original lead singer Peter Gabriel.  Genesis was one of the coolest progressive rock bands under the guidance of Gabriel.  Albums followed themes, and grand stories.  This is epitomised in the two disc set The Lamb Lie Down on Broadway (Gabriel's last studio effort with the band).  After Gabriel's departure the groups music took a commercial pop turn under the lead of drummer Phil Collins.  As far as radio play, and album sales, the band was much better of under Collins, but as for really creative music, the Gabriel era was the winner.

For me G is for Genesis and Gabriel...who is G for you??