REBORN, IN STORES!
Avalon fan profile
BIO
It's about time more efforts were made to preserve the history-in-the-making that is contemporary Christian music. A natural tendency in mainstream circles, several artists have recently scored hits by recording cover albums of songs first popularized in the 1940s (Rod Stewart), 50s and 60s (Barry Manilow), and 60s and 70s (Michael McDonald's Motown albums). Such a practice feeds artists and audiences alike, paying tribute to an inspiring past while rediscovering the music's relevance today.
Now, premier Christian vocal group Avalon gives new voice and a debt of gratitude to various landmark faith-driven songs of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s on its ninth studio project Another Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics. And quite serendipitously, the process has blessed Avalon's members beyond all expectations they had at the outset.
"These are songs that first made us want to do what we're doing today," says Greg about their take on the works of Amy Grant ("Thy Word," "El Shaddai"), Michael W. Smith ("Place in This World"), Steven Curtis Chapman ("For the Sake of the Call"), and others. Melissa remembers singing "The Basics of Life" (4Him) during her high school days and taking her first solo on "Friend of a Wounded Heart" (Wayne Watson).
For Janna, a founding member of Avalon, the memories have much to do with the group's own story. While Another Time, Another Place focuses most on music that pre-dates Avalon's existence, the group does cover "People Get Ready . . . Jesus Is Comin," the 1996 hit by Crystal Lewis.
"We were on tour, opening for Crystal, when that song was so big," recalls Janna. "It was her encore every night. And during that tour, she won the Dove Award for Female Vocalist and we won New Artist. It was so fun and exciting. 'People Get Ready' holds a lot of meaning."
Even more special is Avalon's passionately charged-up version of Twila Paris' "God Is in Control," a hands-down favorite among the group members. "Our very first tour was opening and singing background vocals for Twila," says Janna. "It was amazing, having the chance to spend time with her early in our career, to be getting pearls of wisdom from such a seasoned artist."
Equally excited that the group selected her song for inclusion on Another Time, Another Place, Paris comments, "More than a decade ago, Avalon and I toured together for almost an entire year," she says. "They sang 'God Is in Control' with me, and it hasn't sounded as good since?until now! I'm honored that they've chosen to record it on this new project."
Another excellent addition to the album is Sandi Patty's song, title track and radio single, "Another Time, Another Place." "I am excited not only to have re-recorded 'Another Time, Another Place," but also that it is the title of our new record," says Janna. "This was and is such a beautiful song about the hope of glory we have in Christ. To know that this broken world we live in is not the end for us as believers but merely a 'passing through' is very comforting."
Other standouts on the project, produced by Shaun Shankel (Hilary Duff, Natalie Grant), include "Praise the Lord" (The Imperials),"The Reason We Sing" (First Call) and "People Need the Lord" (Steve Green).
Steve Green remarks on his song "People Need the Lord," "Even though I've sung the song at almost every concert for the past 23 years, it still touches a tender place in my soul. Perhaps it's the acknowledgement of dependency upon God, certainly for the gift of His grace, but also for every step of this spiritual journey. Hearing Avalon's rendition was moving. A timeless message to a new generation. Thank you Avalon."
Janna concludes, "We went into the studio and discovered just how well-written these songs were and how talented the original artists really are. These songs are timeless."
Avalon formed in 1996, setting a high standard in contemporary Christian music. Reviewing its 2006 project Faith: A Hymns Collection, All Music Guide noted "the vocal efficiency and personalized stylings that place Avalon among the elite singing groups in contemporary Christian circles." To date, the quartet has sold more than three million albums, charted 20 No. 1 singles, and won an American Music Award plus numerous Dove Awards such as the 1999 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year for "Testify to Love." That song, a listener favorite, has also been specially re-recorded for Another Time, Another Place. And when the next generation of Christian performers look back at the artists who influenced their path, perhaps even paying tribute to them on record, look for the name Avalon.
Contact Information:
Booking Agency
Greg Oliver Agency
615-790-5540
info@goa-inc.com
Artist Management
Proper Management
615-665-9786
info@propermgmt.com
Fan Mail
Avalon
PO Box 150867
Nashville, TN 37215
(c)Sparrow records
TOUR
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Date City Venue
Tour: An Evening With Selah and Avalon
10/03/09 Avalon Official Site in Medina Performing Arts Center Medina, OH
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Time: 7:30pm. Admission: $15. Box office: 330-723-0770. Address: 851 Weymouth Road. Buy tickets
10/08/09 Avalon Official Site in Bentonville, AR First Baptist Church Bentonville
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Time: 7:00pm. Box office: 479-273-3379. Address: 200 SW A Street. Buy tickets
10/09/09 Avalon Official Site in Oklahoma City, OK Victory Church
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Time: 7:00pm. Box office: 405-787-4200. Address: 7800 N Mac Arthur Blvd.
10/10/09 Avalon Official Site in McCook, NE McCook City Auditorium
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Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $15. Box office: 308-345-5331. Address: West 5th Street.
10/11/09 Avalon Official Site in LaVista, NE Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
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Time: 6:30pm. Admission: $15. Box office: 402-331-7376. Address: 7706 South 96th Street. Buy tickets
10/23/09 Avalon Official Site in Gaffney, SC Broad River Electric Coop Auditorium
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Time: 7:30pm. Admission: $10. Box office: 864-489-1604. Address: 811 Hamrick Street.
10/24/09 Avalon Official Site in Riverview, FL River of Life Christian Center
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Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $20. Box office: 813-677-4453. Address: 6605 Krycul Ave. Buy tickets
10/25/09 Avalon Official Site in Live Oak, FL First Baptist Church
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Time: 6:30pm. Admission: FREE. Box office: 386-362-1583. Address: 401 West Howard Street. Buy tickets
10/29/09 Avalon Official Site in Attica, NY Attica High School Auditorium
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Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $15 GA, $18 Dr, $19.50 Artist Ci. Box office: 607-776-4151. Address: 3338 East Main Street.
10/30/09 Avalon Official Site in Elmira, NY Clemens Center
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Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $15 GA, $18 Dr, $19.50 Artist Ci. Box office: 607-776-4151. Address: 207 Clemens Center Parkway.
10/31/09 Avalon Official Site in Auburn, NY Auburn High School
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Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $15 GA, $18 Dr, $19.50 Artist Ci. Box office: 607-776-4151. Address: 250 Lake Avenue.
11/01/09 Avalon Official Site in Poughkeepsie, NY Faith Assembly of God
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Time: 6:30pm. Admission: $14 Gr, $16 Adv, $19 Dr. Box office: 845-297-4583. Address: 254 Spackenkill Road.
11/06/09 Avalon Official Site in Joppa, MD Mountain Christian Church
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Time: 7:30pm. Admission: $16.50, $18.50, $25, $50 VIP. Address: 1824 Mountain Road. Buy tickets
11/07/09 Avalon Official Site in Mansfield, OH Community Bible Church
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Time: 6:00pm. Admission: $16. Box office: 419-747-7986. Address: 1043 Springmill Road.
11/08/09 Avalon Official Site in Gridley, IL First United Church of Gridley
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Time: 3:00pm. Admission: $20. Box office: 309-747-2229. Address: 406 W 7th Street. There will be two show times for this date and venue. The first concert will begin at 3pm and the second will be at 7pm.
11/09/09 Avalon Official Site in Edgerton, MN United Christian Schools
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Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $10 students, $15 adv, $20 go. Box office: 507-442-4471.
11/12/09 Avalon Official Site in Wyoming, MI Resurrection Life Church
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Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $5. Box office: 616-224-7482. Address: 5100 Ivanrest Ave SW. Buy tickets
11/14/09 Avalon Official Site in Milton, FL Pine Terrace Baptist Church
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Time: 7:00pm. Address: 6212 Pine Blossom Road. Buy tickets
12/03/09 Avalon Official Site in Portage, MI Kalamazoo First Assembly
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Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $12. Box office: 269-329-1977. Address: 5550 Oakland Dr. Christmas with Avalon Buy tickets
12/04/09 Avalon Official Site in Port Huron, MI Ross Bible Church
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Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $12 Balcony, $15 Adv, $18 Gld. Box office: 800-989-9637. Address: 2865 Maywood Dr. Christmas with Avalon Buy tickets
12/05/09 Avalon Official Site in West Branch, MI Ogemaw Hills Free Methodist Church
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Time: 7:00pm. Box office: 989-426-5733. Address: 3480 W M-76. Christmas with Avalon
12/12/09 Avalon Official Site in Tallahassee, FL Capital City Christian Church
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Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $10. Address: 6115 Mahan Drive. Christmas with Avalon Buy tickets
12/13/09 Avalon Official Site in Hollywood, FL Sheridan Hills Baptist Church
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Time: 7:00pm. Address: 3751 Sheridan Street. Christmas with Avalon Buy tickets
09/24/10 Avalon Official Site in Oro Valley, AZ Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene
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Time: 7:30pm. Box office: 520-297-8297. Address: 500 W Calle Concordia. Buy tickets
ALSO CHECK OUT
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Avalon are certainly proud of their past - 21 chart-topping singles, six Dove Awards, three Grammy nominations and an American Music Award - it sure would be easy for the quartet to rest on their laurels and continue to offer their known slick brand of vocal pop. But they are now Reborn, their aptly titled brand new project, slated for release on September 15.
It is important to note that the similarity between any previous Avalon albums and Reborn ends now, thanks to this cutting edge and unequivocally original record.
"Reborn is a fitting title because it signifies the birth of something new and exciting, which is certainly true of the current season of Avalon," explains Janna Long, the group's founding member.
Comprising the rest of the quartet is Greg Long (Janna's husband and group member since '03), Jeremi Richardson, as well as its newest member, Amy Richardson, making her Avalon debut on Reborn, and who also happens to be Jeremi's wife.
"I've literally listened to Avalon for as long as I can remember, so I can tell you both as a member and a fan that people's jaws are going to hit the ground when they hear Reborn," asserts Jeremi, who joined the group in 2007. "Everyone I've played it for so far says they'd never expect it, but at the same time, they can totally tell it's Avalon, which to us is the ultimate compliment."
One of the most instantly apparent changes comes in the credits, which for the very first time in the group's illustrious history unites the group with producer Ian Eskelin (All Star United, Krystal Meyers, Stellar Kart, Francesca Battistelli). It's a curious choice indeed considering his respected rankings in the modern rock spectrum, but one that helps cement Avalon's latest endeavor as arguably their most ambitious to date.
"This has been one of the most unique and fun recording projects I have ever been involved in," Ian Eskelin exclaims. "These guys are fearless and their vocals are killer. They are some of the hardest working, ready for anything, talented musicians I have worked with."
For the creation of Reborn, Avalon partnered with the label E1 Music. Along with the new venture came a completely open creative canvas where the group were encouraged to stretch themselves further than ever before. Previously known as Koch Records, E1 Music has hosted the diverse likes of The Beatles' Ringo Starr, Ashley Cleveland, Twila Paris, and Bishop E Long.
"They took all the reigns off and basically said, 'you've been doing this for a while, so just do what you do'," says Greg of the E1 experience. "No one was ever looking over our shoulders talking to us about core demographics, which gave us the chance to just focus on the artistic side. We love our history and are grateful for everything God's given us, but that type of freedom also allowed us the opportunity to experiment and have a lot of fun in the process."
Reborn offers aggressive melodies tied with atypical harmonies and guitar-driven moments. The new sound is sure to give dedicated Avalon fans a new twist on the group's well-known formula, while expanding its appeal to a wider audience than ever before.
"Over the last three years, we released a hymns record, a covers record and a retrospective record, plus had some members change," Janna reflects. "Between that and the fact that life was just happening right alongside it all, there's a pivotal change and evolution. Sure, the vocal standpoint is consistent with the Avalon sound, but the rest is much more varied. This is definitely not your mum's Avalon record!"
Reborn song listing*
1.Reborn
2.Alive
3.Arise
4.Feel
5.Fragile
6.Destined
7.Stay
8.Angels
9.California
10.Holy
REBORN
ALIVE
ARISE
FEEL
FRAGILE
DESTINED
STAY
ANGELS
CALIFORNIA
HOLY
