Chris Tomlin
Biography
One of the leading artists and activist within contemporary Christian music, Chris Tomlin is a successful singer and songwriter whose 2005 album Arriving has sold over 500,000 copies, and whose compositions "Holy Is the Lord" and "How Great Is Our God" are among the most popular contemporary songs in the world's churches, being sung by millions of Christians at worship services every week. Born in Grand Saline, TX, in 1972, Tomlin grew up listening to country music and learned to play guitar from his father (Tomlin has cited Willie Nelson's Stardust as a key influence). At the age of nine, Tomlin accepted Jesus Christ as his savior, and at 14 wrote his first song of praise. Tomlin enrolled at Texas A&M in the early '90s to study medicine, but he became active in a campus worship and Bible study group called Breakaway, led by an ambitious young pastor named Louie Giglio. As Breakaway grew, Tomlin became increasingly active with the group, and he eventually became a worship leader as well as performing his own songs at meetings. As Giglio's Breakaway group evolved into Passion, a nationwide organization for young Christians on college campuses, Giglio started a record company, Sixsteps Records, to record youth-oriented Christian artists.
Tomlin, who songs had become mainstays at Breakaway and Passion services, became one of Sixsteps' first signings, and The Noise We Make, released in 2001, was Tomlin's first album. The band Tomlin assembled while serving as a pastor at Woodland, Texas's Harvest Ministry -- Daniel Carson on guitar, Jesse Reeves on bass, and Ryan Sandlin on drums -- began touring, often appearing at Passion events around the country as well as headlining their own concerts. (In 2004, Ryan Sandlin left the group, and Travis Nunn took over behind the drums.) In 2002, Tomlin moved to Austin, TX, and became a pastor at Austin's Stone Community Church, where he helps guide a congregation of 1,500. As Tomlin's songs and recordings found a wider audience, he was nominated for two Grammy Awards for his 2006 album See the Morning (which rose to number one on Billboard's Christian albums chart and number 15 on the overall Top 200), but the songwriter continued to emphasize that his mission was more important than his own music. "When I write songs, I try to write in a way to reach as many people as I can, to be a lighthouse versus a flashlight," Tomlin told a reporter in 2006. "A sweeping light that sweeps over a lot of people, versus a flashlight that's very focused. I pray that. Only God can do that." ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

Hello Love
2008

See The Morning
2006

The Early Years
2006

Live From Austin Music Hall
2005

Arriving
2004

Not To Us
2002
I love his music; the joy and thankfulness that are in his heart for the Lord just spill out everywhere in his songs! Our church choir director often uses Chris's music for us to sing in worship service, and truly, "How Can I Keep From Singing?" Chris's odes of praise to our King are stirring, and keep the focus straight on Jesus. We in our choir experience that same joy & thankfulness in our own hearts as we praise God together. Thank you, Chris, for using your gift to bless His church!
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everything that he plays i am always moved. i absolutely love the gift that he is so willing to share to worship God. Thank you Chris.
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Anytime one of his songs come on I perk up and say "who's that" and then once I realize who I'm hearing I say, "I should've known!!"
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Definitely one of the top 10 artists who are able to transcend the temptation of entertaining the masses rather than getting out of the way so that God flows through! There is purity and power in every song. Humility is power! I thank God that Chris knows who his Source is!
LET OUR EYES OF UNDERSTANDIN G BE OPENED LORD, LET OUR EARS HEAR THE DEEP TRUTHS OF YOUR WORD, LET YOUR HEART OF COMPASSION BE SHOWN IN ALL WE DO, LET OUR LIVES REFLECT YOUR LOVE AND BRING GLORY TO YOU! Peace, Eva |
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Chris Tomlin is awesome. I'm new to Christian and worship music, but this guy is just awesome. You can feel his love for God and Jesus in his music.
He has a new album coming out soon, Hello Love. I'm definetly getting it when it comes out. I still have to get Not To Us, Live From Austin Music Hall, and The Early Years. |
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I really like listening to Chris Tomlin, I can discern the anointing on his songs. He really is anointed by God, to sing Praises to our Father and King, into the Throne Room..
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I haven't heard him sing any unbelief yet! A real breath of fresh air.
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Chris Tomlin and Matt Redmon leading worship...I still have the picture on my cell phone...full house,everyo n e worshiping with hands uplifted. Their music appeals to all ages. If you have opportunity to go to a concert-"wor s h i p service" go...
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perfect in worship he is amazing and a bleesing to me as a christian woman who loves to worship.
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I'm new to Christian music, but I can't help but love Chris Tomlin's music. I just bought See The Morning and it's awesome. The music hooks you, but it's the lyrics about God and Jesus that drives the songs. Awesome.
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chris music has blessed me with such powerful words that i believe god is pleased with his gift of teaching us how to worship and to remind us of gods love through song and dancing
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The review calls Tomlin "activist" but gives no indication why this label applies. He seems pretty mainstream evangelical Christian in history, activity, and attitude.
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Chris Tomlin is a huge inspiration to all worship leaders. His music and passion encourages me to keep worship simple and vertical. It's not about the music but about our hearts and what we are focused on-The Lord.
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I slept in my car one night last summer because Chris was the featured artist at Lifest sun am. This guy sings from the heart and his passion for the LORD is out there for all to see
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I'm thankful he's created songs from the heart that help us to worship God and sing unto him. :)
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I like these Songs so much and our church choir sings these songs in our worship services
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It is amazing know how God transform lives for his glory. I am always move by Tomlin's outstanding gift from God, which I believe has made him so victorious in the comtemporary and non-comtempo r a r y christian music world. God bless you Chris tomlin.
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Hes one of my favorits, I love his voice and the way he sings. His songs have great meaning and Love in them. And I Love the way he praises the Lord
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thank you for the privilege of hearing your wonderful thoughts about God...more than enough!
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He seems to just be intent on leading praise and worship of our Almighty Lord. I heard him say on one of the new song cafe videos that he wanted his music to be easy to be played and sung for the purpose of just praising our Awesome God.
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I love hard Christian music but someone like Chris Tomlin has a way of making everyone listen to him, He is one of my favorites calms the soul and gives peace when it is needed.
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AMEN to that comment Rachelle!!! i've actually seen him in person and its that much more awesome... to see him live and watch him praise God like he does!!
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You Rock !!!!!!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
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May the Lord continue to bless the ministry of Chris in Austin. Chris's music ministry reaches out to so many!!! How amazing is our God!!!!!!!
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