Franklin Graham Festival Musicians and Special Guests

NOTE: Not all guests listed will appear at all Franklin Graham Festivals.

Dennis Agajanian

Dennis Agajanian, known as the world's fastest acoustic guitar player, is accomplished on nearly all string and brass instruments. His music blends outlaw bluegrass, classical, country, and rock 'n' roll music. In 2003, he received two Christian Country Music Awards for Entertainer of the Year and Musician of the Year. Agajanian has traveled with Franklin Graham on relief missions to Bosnia, Nicaragua, and Ethiopia. His band performs for the Franklin Graham Festivals and the Harvest Crusades with Greg Laurie.

Bibleman

After being approached with the idea of Biblema n- a Bible superhero who fights with a sword of Truth - Willie Aames, cast member of the popular 80s TV classics Charles in Charge and Eight is Enough, wrote, produced, and starred in the Bibleman video series and nationwide tour for several years. Aames recently retired his position and passed the role on to Robert T. Schlipp, a former professional clown, T.V. weather anchor, and former pastor of one of the largest churches in northern California. Schlipp now performs as Bibleman with wife Anayansi, who plays the role of Biblegirl.

Steven Curtis Chapman

Chapman began his singing/songwriting career in 1987 with an amazing degree of instant success. He has recorded 14 albums, produced many No. 1 hits, and sold over 8 million records. The music industry has recognized Chapman for his talents with five Grammy Awards, 10 Grammy Award nominations, and 47 Dove Awards-more than any other artist. He released his latest album, All Things New, in September 2004.

The Tommy Coomes Band

Best known for its fresh, energetic pop approach to worship music, this band is composed of a gifted group of writers and musicians, each with a long history of individual success: Tommy Coomes, John and Anne Barbour, Bill Batstone, Glen Holmen, Jeff Lams, Linda McCrary, Alfie Silas, Marsha Skidmore, Bob Somma, Gary Verrill, and Bob Wilson. They have recorded numerous CDs on the Integrity Music and Maranatha! Music labels and have been an integral part of the Franklin Graham Festivals for more than 10 years.

Charlie Daniels

This southwestern legendary artist has spent 35 years in the business with more than 18 million record sales. Daniels' music blends rock, country, bluegrass, blues, and gospel sounds-a successful concoction producing albums with triple platinum status. His rebel anthems include "Long Haired Country Boy," "The South's Gonna Do It," and the platinum single, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." Daniels has recorded with musical icons Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, and Johnny Cash. He has also received several CMA Awards, a Dove award, and a Grammy award.

Delirious

Springing up in the United Kingdom in the early 1990s, Delirious started by performing locally and selling home-recorded albums. In 1995, they cut their first album and created their own label, Furious Records. Stew Smith (drums) handled graphic design, Jon Thatcher (bass) worked the stockroom, Stu G (guitars) pulled together the overseas gigs, Tim Jupp (keyboards) managed the business, and Martin Smith (vocals) produced and engineered the tracks. Since then, the band has rocked the modern worship movement with their music. They have toured throughout the world, and released their latest album, World Service, in early 2004.

Kirk Franklin

The Ft. Worth, Texas, native received his first recording contract offer when he was seven, and launched his first solo project in 1993, at age 23, with the Gospo Centric label. Considered a musical superstar, Kirk Franklin became the first gospel artist to sell more than 1 million copies of his debut album (entitled Kirk Franklin and the Family), which is now certified double platinum. Franklin, a Grammy, Dove, and Stellar Award-winner, recently released his latest album, The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin.

Steve Green

Throughout more than 20 years of ministry (Steve Green Ministries was established in 1984), Steve Green's music has been honored with four Grammy nominations, 13 No. 1 songs, and seven Dove Awards, Christian music's highest honor. With 23 recordings to his credit, Green has sold over three million albums worldwide. Green has worked to raise believers' awareness of persecuted Christians around the world and has performed in 44 countries, including various Spanish-speaking countries, as well as South Africa, Korea, and the Philippines.

Jars of Clay

This Grammy award-winning group started in 1994 as a four-man college band at Greenville College in Illinois, and has become one of the top alternative groups in the United States. The group immediately earned double-platinum (2 million units sold) certification for its self-titled debut album. Jars of Clay has headlined at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, appeared on five movie soundtracks, and produced an MTV music video-just a few examples of their mainstream influence and success. The band has also received several Dove Awards, 10 No. 1 singles, and sales exceeding 3 million records.

The Katinas

These five brothers signed with Gotee Records in 1997 after spending ten years of their youth in the Polynesian Islands. They have toured with CeCe Winans, Michael W. Smith, and Amy Grant, and captivated audiences with smooth harmonies, R&B songwriting abilities, and multicultural appeal. The Katinas earned three Dove Award nominations for their live worship album, Lifestyle, in 2002. They recently shared the stage with President Bush for a rally in Orlando, Fla.

Jennifer Knapp

Knapp started as a music major at Pittsburg State University in Kansas and has since been nominated for several Gospel Music Association awards. After hearing her five-song demo tape, Toby McKeehan of dcTalk helped her record with his label, Gotee Records. In 1999, she opened for dcTalk on an extended tour and won two Dove awards for New Artist of the Year and Rock Song of the Year.

Rachael Lampa

Nineteen-year-old Lampa of Louisville, Colo., began her career at age 12 singing the National Anthem at Colorado Rockies baseball games and guest appearing on the Jenny Jones Talent Search. Her nationwide debut appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno granted her instant fame at age 15. Combining sounds of rock, R&B, trance, and hip-hop, this passionate, Dove Award-winning artist has since released three albums, Live For You, Kaleidoscope, and Blur.

Crystal Lewis

Vibrant and compelling, Crystal Lewis wraps giant vocals with youthful innocence. She began her music career at the age of 15, and her distinctive voice and R&B style has left its mark on contemporary Christian music. Her solo career, which began in 1987, has established her as a gifted writer and a bold soloist. After the success of such albums as Beauty for Ashes and Gold, Crystal releases her latest studio recording, See (with both a Spanish and English version), and a children's album, Joyful Noise, during 2005.

Mary Mary

Blending hip-hop, soul, and pure gospel, this talented duo of singer/songwriters Erica and Tina Campbell-known as "Mary Mary"-are dazzling the music world with songs that are contemporary and caring, funky and faithful, soulful and deeply spiritual. Thankful, the group's debut album for Columbia Records, earned the duo a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Gospel Album. Their single, "Shackles," was a Top 10 Hit in the U.K., France, The Netherlands, and Australia. Mary Mary released their follow-up album, Incredible, in 2002.

Nicole C. Mullen

This artist has emerged as one of this generation's most compelling singer/songwriters. Since her self-titled, multi-Dove Award-winning debut effort, Mullen has continued to write songs that range from soaring praise ballads to intimate worship arias, gritty hip-hop anthems to Gospel hymns. She became the first woman in fourteen years to receive the Gospel Music Association's Songwriter of the Year title, and is the first African American to ever win a Dove Award in the Song of the Year category. Mullen's latest album, Everyday People, earned her a 2004 Grammy Award nomination, giving her a career total of 20 Grammy and Dove Award nominations.

Out of Eden

This platinum-selling sister trio has been making Christian music for more than a decade. They continue to stay strong with their latest 2004 album, Love, Peace, and Happiness, which has sold over 1 million copies. Out of Eden blends R&B with a modern pop sound and inspirational lyrics. The trio has been featured in the Eddie Murphy movie Dr. Dolittle, Christina Aguilera's Diary on MTV, The Chris Rock Show, and the UPN show Moesha. They have also shared the stage with legendary musical artists Destiny's Child, the Pointer Sisters, CeCe Winans, and Kirk Franklin.

Paul Overstreet

Paul Overstreet, a writer, artist, and producer who has co-written 27 Top 10 songs, is one of the most respected songwriters in country music. He has written famous hits Forever and Ever Amen, When You Say Nothing at All, and Love Can Build a Bridge. Artists Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker, and Alison Kraus have all recorded his songs. Overstreet holds two Grammy awards for Best Country Song, five awards as BMI/Nashville's Songwriter of the Year, and has a successful solo career. In 2003, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter's Association's International Hall of Fame.

Chris Rice

Chris Rice is a seven-time Dove Award nominee, including winner of the 1999 Male Vocalist of the Year award, yet he still devotes the majority of his touring time to youth and college retreats. The focus of his music is on relationships-what Rice considers the most important part of his work. Rice released a Best Of album in June 2004, including favorites off his four vocal recordings. In addition to his contemporary albums, Rice released two solo piano projects and has made television appearances on Talk Soup, CeCe's Place, and Prime Time Country.

Rebecca St. James

Rebecca St. James has experienced great success with a 2000 Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album and sell-out concerts worldwide. With nine albums to her credit, St. James has stayed consistently passionate about her platform of purity. In her latest endeavor, SHE (Safe, Healthy, Empowered), a book releasing in November 2004, St. James shares her views on the "new feminism." The Australia-born artist began her music career with ForeFront Records at age 16 and has since earned several Dove Award nominations.

Salvador

Based out of Austin, Texas, the five members of the Latin pop group Salvador describe their music in one word: fun. The group is notorious for energizing crowds with songs infused with guitars, organs, brass instruments, and pounding Latin percussion. Salvador has blended Christian themes with today's popular Latin styles-creating a "salsa-flavored" phenomenon that has produced several top hits. Salvador's latest album, So Natural, released in November 2004. They received the 2004 Dove Award for Spanish Language Album of the Year.

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

At the age of three, Ricky Skaggs sang harmonies with his mother in church, and at five, he mastered the mandolin. Now a bluegrass country star and record label owner, Skaggs' honors include three gold records, four platinum albums, and 12 No. 1 singles. Most recently, Skaggs accepted a 2001 Grammy Award for Best Southern, Traditional, or Bluegrass Gospel Album for Soldier of the Cross. He has also won seven previous Grammy Awards, three Academy of Country Music awards, and five Country Music Association Awards, including Vocal Event of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.

Michael W. Smith

Beginning as a keyboardist for Amy Grant, this international star is currently the best selling Christian male artist to date. He has 29 No. 1 hit songs, more than 8 million record sales, 2 platinum records, and 7 gold records. His 2001 album, Worship, is the best selling album in Christian retail history. He was a performer and presenter at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards and became the first Christian artist to ever earn the ASCAP Golden Note Award for lifetime achievement in songwriting. He also performed at the 2001 54th Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service and the National Day of Prayer. Smith has received three Grammy Awards and 32 Dove Awards.

Switchfoot

This San Diego alternative rock band has made its mark with their recent album, The Beautiful Letdown. Switchfoot entered the Billboard Top 200 this spring at No. 85, and currently has more than 1 million U.S. record sales. The band recently swept the 2004 Dove Awards with wins for Modern Rock Song of the Year, Rock Song of the Year, Rock-Contemporary Song of the Year, and Rock-Contemporary Album of the Year. Switchfoot has contributed songs to the soundtrack for the Mandy Moore film A Walk to Remember, and television shows, Dawson's Creek, Live...with Regis & Kelly, and Felicity.

Third Day

This five-man award-winning, platinum-selling band created a buzz in 1995 with their self-titled debut album. Third Day has since collected a  Grammy for Wire (2004 Best Rock Gospel Album) and Come Together (2002 Rock Gospel Album of the Year), six Grammy Award nominations, three Dove Awards, and fourteen No. 1 singles. On their first tour, Third Day performed in more than 60 cities, and joined the Newsboys on their Take Me to Your Leader tour in the spring of 1997. Billboard Magazine has declared Third Day as "the best rock band period."

Tree63

Coming from the coast of South Africa, Tree63 emerged on the U.S. Christian music scene in 2000 with a self-titled hit record. Their first two singles, "Treasure" and "Look What You've Done," both soared to No. 1 on the U.S. CHR charts, and the band received a Dove Award in 2001 for Rock Album of the Year. They released a follow-up album in 2002-Life and Times of Absolute Truth-and The Answer to the Question in March 2004.

Jeni Varnadeau

After spending years in church and school choirs, Jeni Varnadeau moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University. She earned a degree in commercial music, and recorded a six-song EP while marketing her music around Nashville. The mini-album found its way to producers John and Dino Elefante and Pamplin Music, with whom she signed in December of 1995. She has received six top-ten radio hits, performed on national tours, two movie soundtracks, and two No. 1 videos. She recently released her latest album, Melange.

Jaci Velasquez

Since the age of 10, Velasquez has performed for audiences ranging from packed stadium crowds to the President of the United States. In 1997, Velasquez released her debut album and received a Dove Award for New Artist of the Year. Her first Spanish-language project, Llegar A Ti (1999), hit the top of the Latin charts and gave Velasquez a 2000 Grammy Award nomination for Best Latin Pop Performance. Velasquez became the first Christian singer to hit No. 1 on the secular Latin charts, and her first album became the fastest-selling solo debut recording in Christian retail history. She received a 2002 Grammy nomination for her Spanish release, Mi Corazon, and a 2001 Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.

Marcos Vidal

Marcos Vidal began as a 12-year-old performing at his local church and is now a musician with international reach. Vidal is formally trained, having attended The Conservatory of Madrid as well as the Biblical Institute of Germany. His first album sold more than 100,000 copies, making him the first Hispanic Christian musician to sign with an American recording company. Vidal's Mi Regalo or "My Gift" was nominated for the Dove Award-Spanish Language Album of the Year.

Joy Williams

Raised in California, Joy Williams released her self-titled debut album in August 2001, and later released her second album, By Surprise, in 2002. She was nominated for GMA's 2004 Female Vocalist of the YEar Dove Award and for the 2002 New Artist of the Year Dove Award.

CeCe Winans

The eighth of ten children in the musical Winans family, CeCe Winans has achieved great success in her songwriting and singing career over the past decade. She performed with her brother, BeBe, and recorded gospel material with R&B flavors until 1995, when CeCe released her first solo album, Alone in His Presence. Winans has appeared on Oprah, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and Live . . . with Regis and Kathie Lee. This Grammy Award-winning artist released a gold-certified, self-titled album in 2001, and her latest album, Throne Room, in 2003.

-30-