Hillsong United (band)

This article is about the band. For the Hillsong Church youth ministry, see Hillsong Church.
Hillsong United
Background information
Origin Sydney, Australia
Genres Worship music, contemporary Christian, Christian rock
Years active 1998–present
Labels Hillsong
Associated acts Hillsong Worship, Hillsong Young & Free
Website www.hillsong.com/united
Members
Past members

The Hillsong United band (stylised as Hillsong UNITED or UNITED) is a worship band that originated as a part of Hillsong Church. Formed in 1998 as part of Hillsong's youth ministry, the band consists of several rotating worship leaders from the church, including Brooke Fraser, Joel Houston, Reuben Morgan and Marty Sampson. Due to several songs written by the youth ministry, Hillsong worship leader Darlene Zschech recommended that they record an album, which resulted in their debut extended play, One, which was released alongside the Hillsong Worship album Touching Heaven Changing Earth. Since then, the group has released eleven annual live albums, as well as four studio albums. The band composes songs and performs in church services as well as concerts in worldwide tours.

History

The band was originally formed in 1998, by close friends from within the youth ministry called "Powerhouse Youth", led by Hillsong Youth Pastors Phil and Lucinda Dooley for many years.[1] As the house band for the Powerhouse meetings, they played original songs and rearranged popular radio tunes at their weekly meeting for local youth aged 16–25. Band members sometimes also contributed to the larger interdenominational ministry Youth Alive Australia and its albums. Most members of the band also attended Hillsong Church services.

Powerhouse grew and split in the late 1990s into two youth groups: Powerhouse (aged 18–25) and Wildlife (12-17). Reuben Morgan, assisted by guitarist Marcus Beaumont and vocalist/songwriter Tanya Riches, were the administrators of the 18-25's Powerhouse band that also included Mark Stevens, Nigel Hendroff, Peter King and Raymond Badham. At the older group Peter King was the main piano player and music director, with later guitarist Nigel Hendroff taking this music directing role. In the younger ministry Wildlife, the former Channel V Leg-Up competition-winning Able band boys Joel Houston and Marty Sampson were trained by Hillsong Music Pastor Russell Fragar, with Able band's Luke Munns and Michael Guy Chislett being the main drummer and guitarist, respectively while Joel Houston played bass. Marty Sampson, Holly Dawson, Mark Stevens, Katrina Peoples, Michelle Fragar, Tanya Riches and Bec Mesiti were some original key vocalists. In the Summer of 1997, the team made a huge impact at their youth ministry's Summer Camp. Returning from Summer Camp, the youth ministries of Hillsong Church joined together on a monthly basis with these meetings called the "UNITED" Nights.

Darlene Zschech suggested to Reuben Morgan that the youth band make an album in 1998 after so many songs were written in the youth ministry[2][3] As a result, the EP One was recorded by a new band. Everyday was recorded in 1999 and packaged with the Hillsong Worship annual album. Both achieved Gold sales status in Australia. The band continued to release an album each year, rebranding as Hillsong United. In 2002 after Reuben Morgan stepped down as co-worship leader of the band, Joel Houston, the eldest son of the church's senior pastor Brian Houston, and Marty Sampson led the group together.

The band's members are involved in Hillsong Church services and also play for the church.[4] Many were volunteers who went unpaid for their time or contribution. As such the line up changes on a regular basis due to the volunteers needs and the needs of the church; that is to say, due to the naturally resultant "churn". Former original drummer Luke Munns (1998-2006) played on seven live recordings and transitioned out from the drums to front the rock/indie band LUKAS. Following his marriage to Michelle on November 2006, Sampson stepped down as one of the main leaders of the band. He contributed two more songs with United—"Devotion", which he wrote and sang, and "Saviour King", which he wrote with Mia Fieldes—before he officially stepped down. These songs were part of the 2007 release All of the Above. Current members of the Hillsong United band include Joel Houston, Jonathon Douglass (J.D.), Jadwin "Jad" Gillies, Matt Crocker, Taya Smith, Dylan Thomas (on rhythm guitar), Timon Klein (on lead guitar), Peter James & Benjamin Tennikoff (on keyboards), Adam Crosariol (on bass guitar), and Simon Kobler (on drums).

The annual Hillsong United CD/DVD was recorded for many years during the Hillsong youth ministry's October conference Encounterfest, and albums released in the first quarter of the following year. The 2007 album All of the Above was the first album to be fully studio recorded.[5] The band has toured in a number of countries, leading worship in various places and has a international influence.[6][7][8] The official UNITED logo was designed by Luke Munns in 2002 for To the Ends of the Earth (album).[9]

In 2014, they won five Dove Awards.[10] The band was nominated for the second year at American Music Award in 2015.[11] The same year, they won a Billboard Music Award in the category Top Christian Artist.[12][13]

Members

Current

The members of the band as of 2014 were:[14][15]

Former

Former members of the band are:[16][17]

Discography

  1. One (EP) (1998)
  2. Everyday (1999)
  3. Best Friend (2000)
  4. King of Majesty (2001)
  5. To the Ends of the Earth (2002)
  6. More Than Life (2004)
  7. Look to You (2005)
  8. United We Stand (2006)
  9. Unidos Permanecemos (2007)
  10. All of the Above (2007)
  11. In a Valley by the Sea (EP) (2007)
  12. The I Heart Revolution. Part I: With Hearts as One (2008)
  13. Across the Earth (2009)
  14. Aftermath (2011)
  15. Live in Miami (2012)
  16. Zion (2013)
  17. Oceans (EP) (2013)
  18. Zion Acoustic Sessions (2013)
  19. The White Album (Remix Project) (2014)
  20. Empires (2015)

Videography

A documentary, Hillsong: Let Hope Rise, directed by Michael John Warren, chronicles the rise of the band,[23] was originally supposed be released by Warner Bros. during the 2015 Easter weekend.[24] As Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros. were unable to close a deal, the film was pulled out from Warner Bros's schedule.[25] In March 2015, Relativity Media obtained the distribution rights and the film shifted to a 29 May release.[26] In April, Relativity moved the film to 30 September 2015.[27] However, Relativity Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July and let go of the rights to the producers.[28][29] The film is set to be released in September 2016.[30]

Achievements

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS Albums Chart
[31]		 NZ Albums Chart
[32]		 US Billboard 200
[33][34][35]		 US Christian Albums
[36][37]		 US
Digital Albums
[38][39]
All of the Above 6 13 60 1 60
[a_CROSS // the_EARTH]
  • Released: 9 May 2009 (AUS)
  • Genre: Contemporary Christian
  • Label: Hillsong Music Australia
 22 21 21 1 56
Aftermath
  • Released: 15 February 2011
  • Genre: Contemporary Christian
  • Label: Hillsong Music Australia, EMI
 4 12 17 1 5
Zion
  • Released: 22 February 2013 (AUS)
  • Genre: Contemporary Christian
  • Label: Hillsong Music Australia, EMI
 1 8 5 1 4
Empires
  • Released: 22 May 2015 (AUS)
  • Genre: Contemporary Christian
  • Label: Hillsong Music Australia, Sony
 1 7 5 1 2
List of songs, with selected chart positions
Year Song Peak positions Certifications Sales
US Hot Christian Songs[40] US Christian Airplay[41] US Christian Digital Songs[42] US Christian Streaming[43] US Billboard Hot 100
[44]
2011 "Bones" – – 35 – –
"Like an Avalanche" 40 – 40 – –
"Search My Heart" 20 – 17 – –
"Lead Me to the Cross" – – 48 16 –
2013 "Scandal of Grace" 25 – 21 – –
"From the Inside Out" – – – 23 –
"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" 1 1 1 1 83
"Relentless" 27 – 45 – –
2014 "Love Is War" 38 – 50 – –
2015 "Touch the Sky" 5 6 1 9 –
"Prince of Peace" 26 – 15 – –
"Heart Like Heaven" 26 – 31 – –
"Even When It Hurts (Praise Song)" 29 – 36 – –
"Here Now (Madness)" 32 – – – –
"Say the Word" 34 – – – –
"Captain" 38 – – – –
"Rule" 40 – – – –
"Empires" 41 – – – –
"When I Lost My Heart to You (Hallelujah)" 43 – – – –
"Street Called Mercy" 45 – – – –
"Closer Than You Know" 47 – – – –

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cherese Jackson. "Hillsong United Led GMA Dove Awards With Five Wins [Video]". Guardian Liberty Voice. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  2. ↑ "Hillsong United 'Zion' Album Review". BREATHEcast. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Album of the week: Hillsong United". USA TODAY. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  4. ↑ Cortney O'Brien. "Hillsong United: How a Church Band Became a Worldwide Phenom". townhall.com. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "Hillsong United Announce New Record 'The White Album [the remix project]' is Coming Soon". BREATHEcast. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Megachurch With a Beat Lures a Young Flock". The New York Times. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "Australia's Hillsong Church Has Astonishingly Powerful Global Influence". The Huffington Post. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  8. ↑ Tom Wagner, Anna Nekola "Congregational Music-Making and Community in a Mediated Age", Ashgate Publishing, 2015, page 170
  9. ↑ "UNITED logo". The Lakehaus Studios. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "Hillsong UNITED top winner at Dove Awards". Mail Online. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "Hillsong United Reacts to American Music Award Nomination for second Year". Christian Post. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "The Year in Christian & Gospel 2015: Hillsong United & Tasha Cobbs Triumph". Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  13. ↑ "Hillsong UNITED Wins Top Christian Artist at Billboard Music Awards 2015". BREATHEcast. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  14. ↑ "Meet the Band - Hillsong Movie". Hillsong: Let Hope Rise Official Website. Where Feet May Fail, LLC. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  15. ↑ Empires album booklet. "Hillsong United is Joel Houston, Jad Gillies, Matt Crocker, Jonathon "JD" Douglass, Taya Smith, Michael Guy Chislett, Simon Kobler, Dylan Thomas, Ben Tennikoff, Adam Crosariol"
  16. ↑ Live in Miami album booklet. "Hillsong United is Matt Crocker, Adam Crosariol, Jonathon Douglass, Jad Gillies, Joel Houston, Peter James, Timon Klein, Simon Kobler, Hayley Law, Jill McCloghry, Dylan Thomas."
  17. ↑ Zion album booklet. "Hillsong United is Joel Houston, Jad Gillies, Matt Crocker, Jonathon Douglass, Timon Klein, SImon Kobler, Dylan Thomas, Peter James, Adam Crosariol."
  18. 1 2 3 4 Yap, Timothy (26 December 2012). "Hillsong United 'Zion' Album Review". BreatheCast. Retrieved 5 January 2016. Gone are previous United leaders such as Marty Sampson, Annie [Garratt], Brooke Fraser, Hayley Law, Jill McCloghry and Sam Knock. Rather, leads this time are handled mainly by Matt Crocker, Joel Houston, Jad Gillies, Jonathon Douglass, Dave Ware and newcomer Taya Smith.
  19. ↑ "Luke Munns". Discogs. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  20. ↑ "Former Member Of Attributed Artist". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  21. ↑ "Annie Garratt". Hillsong.com. Retrieved 5 January 2016. Originally traveling as part of UNITED, she is now one of Hillsong’s Creative Pastors...
  22. ↑ Matt Conner, relevantmagazine.com, Hillsong United, USA, September–October 2013
  23. ↑ "Hillsong: Let Hope Rise: Plot Summary". IMDb. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  24. ↑ McNary, Dave (1 July 2014). "Hillsong Christian Music Documentary Picked Up for Worldwide Release by Warner Bros.". Variety. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  25. ↑ McNary, Dave (14 January 2015). "Hillsong Christian Music Documentary Pulled From Warner Bros. Schedule". Variety. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  26. ↑ Mike Fleming Jr (4 March 2015). "Relativity To Release Faith-Based Film ‘Hillsong–Let Hope Rise’". Deadline.com. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  27. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (1 April 2015). "‘Transporter Refueled’ & ‘Hillsong – Let Hope Rise’ Moved: See You In September". Deadline.com. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  28. ↑ Rainey, James; Lang, Brent. "Relativity Media Files Bankruptcy; Film and TV Units for Sale". Variety. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  29. ↑ Lang, Brent (30 July 2015). "Relativity Lets Rights to ‘Hillsong – Let Hope Rise’ Revert to Producers (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  30. ↑ Sarachik, Justin (5 August 2015). "Hillsong UNITED Movie 'Let Hope Rise' Experiences Another Setback; Production Company Announces Backruptcy [sic]". Breathecast. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  31. ↑ "Hillsong". australian-charts.com.
  32. ↑ "Hillsong". charts.org.
  33. ↑ "Hillsong Album Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  34. ↑ "Hillsong United Album Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  35. ↑ "United". Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  36. ↑ "Hillsong Album Chart History: Billboard Christian Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  37. ↑ "United". Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  38. ↑ "Hillsong Album Chart History: Digital Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  39. ↑ "United". Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  40. ↑ "Hillsong United - Chart history | Billboard". billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  41. ↑ "Hillsong United - Chart history | Billboard". billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  42. ↑ "Hillsong United - Chart history | Billboard". billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  43. ↑ "Hillsong United - Chart history | Billboard". billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  44. ↑ "Hillsong Album Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  45. ↑ "American single certifications – Hillsong United – Oceans". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  46. ↑ Paul Grein (21 November 2014). "Taylor Swift Replaces Herself At #1 on the Hot 100". Yahoo! Music.

External links

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