Jason Gray (musician)
| Jason Gray | |
|---|---|
 Jason Gray in concert | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jason Jeffrey Gay |
| Born |
January 18, 1972 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Origin | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Genres | Contemporary Christian |
| Occupation(s) | vocalist, singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels | EMI CMG, Centricity |
| Website |
www |
Jason Jeffrey Gay (born January 18, 1972) is an American contemporary Christian singer-songwriter, who is better known by his stage name Jason Gray. He released a number of albums independently under his real name Jason Gay. Since 2006, he is signed to Centricity Music releasing more albums with them under the name Jason Gray.
Career
He was born and raised in Southwestern Minnesota where he spent six years in youth ministry, before going into full-time music ministry in 1999 as an independent artist. He now lives near the Twin Cities area. Gray has a speech disorder, as a person who stutters,[1] his work emphasizes finding strength in weakness.[2]
Gray released four independent records before signing with Centricity Music in 2006. Centricity released his first major label record, "All The Lovely Losers" in 2007. Centricity Music ChristianityToday.com calls Gray one of "Christian music's best kept secrets."[3][4]
Gray has collaborated with artists such as Sara Groves, Andrew Peterson, Joel Hanson (frontman for 90s Christian rock band PFR), Andy Gullahorn, Randall Goodgame, Jason Ingram, Thad Cockrell, Andy Osenga (of Caedmon's Call) and others. He has toured with Jeremy Camp, Sanctus Real, Matthew West, Shawn McDonald, downhere, Big Daddy Weave, The Afters, Mark Schultz and others.[5]
Gray has won two ASCAP Performance Awards for "More Like Falling In Love" (2011) and "Good to Be Alive" (2012). He has shared the stage with many major artists such as Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman and Sanctus Real.[6] His first No. 1 single, "Nothing Is Wasted", reached the top spot on the Soft AC Chart in May 2013 and remained there for nine weeks.[7] His release in 2012, was named Album of the Year by critics and garnered three Top 5 radio singles which included the "Nothing Is Wasted" single.[8] Also in May 2013, he was honored at ASCAP's 35th Annual Christian Music Awards with the "Most Performed Song Award" for his song "Good to Be Alive" co-written with Brandon Heath and Jason Ingram. The song was a Top 5 single on Christian radio and was released on Gray's album A Way to See in the Dark.[9]
On March 4, 2014 Gray released the album Love Will Have the Final Word, which speaks to the redeeming power of unfailing love, decisiveness, and closure.[10] The lead single, "With Every Act of Love", helped mark the most successful launch in at radio in Centricity Music history with 39 adds its debut week [11] reached Billboard's Top Ten AC Indicator chart and Top 20 on the National Audience Chart and was a No.1 radio hit.[12] In March 2014, Gray embarked on the K-LOVE Listener Appreciate Tour in support of his newest album.
On March 20, 2014, Gray joined The Bible: Son of God 2014 Tour along with artists such as Natalie Grant, Francesca Battistelli, Sidewalk Prophets, Chris August and Meredith Andrews.[13] In February 2015, Gray went on the spring leg of the Beautiful Offerings Tour with Big Daddy Weave along with Citizen Way and Lauren Daigle.[14]
Jason's release, Love Will Have the Final Word: Post Script, was released June 9, 2015.[15] It features remixes, over-cuts and demos from the previous album Love Will Have the Final Word and the new songs "Glow In the Dark" and "One Voice".[16] Charisma magazine says, "Jason Gray has emerged as a songwriter of extraordinary depth, with a noteworthy ability to convey deep theological truths."[17] His subsequent studio album, Where the Light Gets In, will be released on June 17, 2016, with Centricity Music.[18]
Charity
Gray was honored as one of "Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans" in 2003 by the Minnesota Junior Chamber for his volunteerism, civic leadership, and humanitarian work with World Vision's "Hope Initiative", which addresses the needs of children orphaned by AIDS in Africa and other third-world countries. Gray has been to Africa in 2003 and 2006, and is known for his advocacy of AIDS orphans.[19] His passion for understanding service to the poor as a form of worship is expressed in his song "Fade With Our Voices" from his 2009 release Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue. In 2010, Gray concluded the World Vision-sponsored tour "Make a Difference Tour 2010" with Third Day, Toby Mac, Michael W. Smith and Max Lucado.[20]
Personal life
Jason Gray was born and raised in Minnesota. His mother used to make her living by performing in bar bands for a long time and touring. Gray lived in a broken family as disagreements between his parents lead to a bitter divorce and custody battle when Gray was just six. His mother remarried, but his step father became increasingly abusive and turned into drug dealing, and got involved in organized crime. They parted ways after he threatened his mother and her children after her conversion and her decision to quit singing in bars in favor of church music and revival recitals.[21]
Gray himself converted when he was 15. He learned to play the guitar after graduating from high school. He has a stutter, but his speech impediment does not affect him while he's singing. He claims he was greatly influenced by classical and folk music particularly lyric-driven singer-songwriters like Simon & Garfunkel, Gordon Lightfoot, Dan Fogleberg, Billy Joel, Duran Duran, U2, Peter Gabriel.[21]
He was married to Taya[4][22][23] and has three sons. Gray's album Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy features Gray's two older boys providing background vocals and hand-claps on the album, but it's Gray's youngest son, who actually takes the lead vocal.[24] Due to irreconcilable differences, Gray divorced on January, 16 2016.[25]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album Title | Peak position Billboard 200 | Peak position Christian Albums [26] | Peak position Heatseekers Albums [27] | Type of release | Record label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credited as Jason Gay | |||||||
| 1997 | The Singer & the Song | — | — | — | Studio album | Independent release | |
| 2001 | A Place Called Hope | — | — | — | Studio album | ||
| 2005 | The Better Part of Me | — | — | — | Studio album | Eight tracks of the album re-released with altered track-listing in 2007 as All the Lovely Losers | |
| Credited as Jason Gray | |||||||
| 2007 | All the Lovely Losers | — | 43 | — | Studio album | Centricity Music | First album as Jason Gray |
| 2009 | Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue | — | 29 | 16 | Studio album | Special two-disc edition titled Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue: Special Edition | |
| 2011 | A Way to See in the Dark | — | 15 | 20 | Studio album | Special two-disc edition titled A Way to See in the Dark: Special Edition | |
| 2012 | Christmas Stories: Repeat the Sounding Joy | — | — | 22 | Holiday album | ||
| 2014 | Love Will Have the Final Word | 141 | 11 | 2 | Studio album | ||
| 2015 | Love Will Have the Final Word Post Script | Studio album | Includes two new songs | ||||
Other albums and EPs
| Year | Album Title | Peak position Billboard 200 | Peak position Christian Albums [28] | Type of release | Record label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credited as Jason Gay | ||||||
| 1999 | Postcard | — | — | Maxi single | Independent release | Featuring pre-A Place Called Hope versions of *"A Little More Like Jesus" *"The Prodigal" |
| 2002 | Live Vol. 1: Hoping | — | — | Live album | ||
| Credited as Jason Gray | ||||||
| 2008 | Acoustic Storytime (Live Songs and Stories) | — | — | Live album | Centricity Music | |
| 2011 | Song Cycles: From Work Tapes to Remixes | — | — | Remix album | Remix project featuring Derek Webb | |
| 2013 | Nothing Is Wasted EP | — | — | EP | Contains the single "Nothing Is Wasted" | |
Singles
| Year | Single title | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Songs [29] | |||
| 2010 | "For the First Time Again" | 31 | Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue |
| "More Like Falling in Love" | 13 | ||
| "Do You Hear What I Hear?" | 43 | Bethlehem Skyline, Vol. 2 | |
| 2011 | "I Am New" | 16 | Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue |
| "Remind Me Who I Am" | 5 | A Way to See in the Dark | |
| 2012 | "Good to Be Alive" | 5 | |
| "Christmas Is Coming" | 20 | Christmas Stories: Repeat the Sounding Joy | |
| "Joy to the World" | 22 | ||
| 2013 | "Nothing Is Wasted" | 28 | Nothing Is Wasted EP |
| "With Every Act of Love" | 16 | Love Will Have the Final Word |
- Appearances on other compilations
- 2007: "Mary Did You Know, Miriam" on compilation album Bethlehem Skyline
- 2010: "Love Has a Name" and "Do You Hear What I Hear" on compilation album Bethlehem Skyline Volume 2
References
- ↑ last name of presenter. Mnsu.edu. Retrieved on May 3, 2012.
- ↑ Centricity Records
- ↑ "The Better Part of Me - reviewed by Russ Breimeier - Crosswalk.com". Christianitytoday.com. September 1, 2005. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
- 1 2 "Jason Gray signs with Centricity Records". Thechristianpulse.com. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ↑ Jason Gray – Music Archived April 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Jason Gray Breaks Record For Radio Adds With New Single “Nothing Is Wasted”". Path MEGAzine.
- ↑ Jason Gray Hits #1 with New Single. A Way to See In the Dark ChristianActivities.com (May 30, 2013). Retrieved on May 30, 2013.
- ↑ "A Way to See in the Dark by Jason Gray - CD Reviews And Information - NewReleaseToday". newreleasetoday.com.
- ↑ "Jason Gray receives ASCAP award for "Goo to Be Alive"". May 8, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
- ↑ http://www.newreleasetoday.com/artistdetail.php?artist_id=208=June 9, 2015
- ↑ "News & Updates". jasongraymusic.com. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Jason Gray". billboard.com. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
- ↑ "The Bible Son of God Tour 2014 [FULL SCHEDULE]". Music Times. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Spring Leg of the 2015 Beautiful Offerings Tour Announced!". Big Daddy Weave Official Website. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
- ↑ http://www.newreleasetoday.com/releasedate.php?release_date=2015-06-09|accessdate=June 16, 2015
- ↑ "Post Script". AllMusic. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ↑ Abraham, Felicia (March 1, 2014). Yoars, Marcus, ed. "Music: Love Will Have the Final Word - Jason Gray (Centricity Music)". Charisma. Vol. 39 no. 8 (Lake Mary, Florida: Stephen Strang and Joy Strang). p. 82. ISSN 0895-156X. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
- ↑ Cummings, Tony (April 8, 2016). "Jason Gray: The songsmith talks about Where The Light Gets In". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
- ↑ "Community of the Cros Ministries: Jason Gray returns to the Community Coffeehouse". Communityofthecrossministries.com. April 16, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ↑ Make a Difference Tour Website. Makeadifferencetour.com (April 16, 2012). Retrieved on May 3, 2012.
- 1 2 Tony Cummings (January 25, 2012). "Jason Gray: The thoughtful songsmith once referred to as The Stuttering Artist". CrossRhymes.co.uk. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Jason Gray - Who Brings the Change - "More Like Falling In Love" - Part 7". JesusFreakHideout. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ↑ "NewsReleaseTuesday: "More Like Falling In Love" by Jason Gray". Newreleasetuesday.com. June 1, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ↑ "Jason Gray To Release First Holiday Album - Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy". JesusFreakHideout.com. August 6, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ↑ "Sad News and The Path Forward". Jasongraymusic's Blog. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
- ↑ "Jason Gray in Billboard Christian Albums Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ↑ "Jason Gray in Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
- ↑ "Jason Gray in Billboard Christian Albums Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ↑ "Billboard.com: Jason Gray in Christian Sings Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
External links
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