Phillips, Craig & Dean | |
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Phillips, Craig and Dean at the 2010 GMA Dove Awards
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Background information | |
Genres | Contemporary Christian, contemporary worship |
Occupation(s) | Singers, songwriters, pastors |
Years active | 1991–present |
Labels | INO/Columbia |
Website | www |
Members |
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Phillips, Craig and Dean (rendered as Phillips, Craig & Dean on albums) is a contemporary Christian music trio composed of Randy Phillips, Shawn Craig, and Dan Dean. Since forming in 1991, the group has sold over two million units. They have also received ten GMA Dove Award nominations, winning four, including Praise and Worship Album of the Year in 2007 for Top of My Lungs, and Inspirational Album of the Year in 2010 for Fearless.
In 1991, Randy Phillips went to several record companies with a solo album he had. StarSong, a Nashville-based company, urged him to form a male vocal group. He then called two friends who also happened to be pastors—and had also recently made solo albums.
In 1992 they released their eponymously titled debut album, which peaked at No. 13 on the Christian albums chart. The band followed it with Lifeline in 1994 and Trust in 1995, which charted at No. 12 and No. 11, respectively. The song "Crucified with Christ" from Trust was particularly popular, reaching No. 1 on the INSPO chart and being nominated for 'Inspirational Song of the Year' and ' Song of the Year' at the 1997 Dove Awards. It was also awarded the 'Inspirational Song of the Decade Award' by CCM Magazine.
In 1996 they released a Christmas album titled Repeat the Sounding Joy featuring the Christ Church Choir and the Nashville String Machine.
In 1997 they released Where Strength Begins. The following year, they released a compilation titled Favorite Songs of All which included two new songs. In 1999 they returned with Restoration, and followed it with Let My Words Be Few in 2001 and Let Your Glory Fall in 2003.
In recent years, they've shed their contemporary Christian roots and focused on more worship oriented music. On that line, they've released their latest albums. It was through Phillips' weekly TV program that Phillips, Craig & Dean discovered what would be the title track for their 2004 CD Let The Worshipers Arise. The praise & worship-themed show sought to discover the best song from an unknown songwriter with Michael Ferrin of Texarkana, Texas taking home the top prize. Once the judging was over, the top five winners came to Austin and the winning song debuted on an Awakening broadcast. "When I heard him sing it live it was one of those moments," Phillips recalls. "I think when people hear it, it’s going to cause them to reach out to Christ with a renewed passion like they’ve never had before."