Crowder (musician)

David Wallace Crowder (born November 29, 1971),^[2] known professionally by his mononymous stage name Crowder since 2012, is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and author.^[3] He was the lead singer in the Christian rock and worship band David Crowder*Band from 1996 to 2012, before he started his solo career on sixstepsrecords and Sparrow Records labels.^[4]

Crowder
Crowder in 2018
Background information
Birth name	David Wallace Crowder[1]
Also known as	Crowder
Born	(1971-11-29) November 29, 1971 (age 53)[2] Texarkana, Texas, U.S.
Origin	Waco, Texas
Genres	Contemporary Christian music modern worship folktronica Christian rock
Occupation	Musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1996–present
Labels	sixsteps, Sparrow
Website	crowdermusic.com

He released his first solo album, Neon Steeple, on May 27, 2014.^[3] Crowder released his first solo single off the album, "I Am", on November 25, 2013, which rose to the No. 3 position on the Christian Songs chart.^[5] American Prodigal, Crowder's second solo album, was released on September 23, 2016 and his third, I Know a Ghost, on November 9, 2018. His fourth solo album, Milk & Honey, released on June 11, 2021.

Early life and education

David Wallace Crowder was born on November 29, 1971, in Texarkana, Texas.^[2] Following high school, he went to college at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.^[6] His ministry started during his time at Baylor with the goal of helping to creating a church experience for Christians to attend, since he found that most of his peers at Baylor weren't attending a church even though they were attending a Christian university. "My junior year of college, at Baylor University, a friend of mine started a church and asked me to help with the music. I got into this because I wanted to be useful. It's that simple. I do not think of myself as an artist or musician, I think of myself as useful and helpful."^[7]

Career

David Crowder* Band (1996–2012)

Crowder performing in 2009

Crowder was the lead vocalist of the David Crowder Band from 1996 until the group disbanded in 2012. At that time, Crowder started his solo career on the Sparrow Records imprint, sixstepsrecords. During the band's time together they released sixteen singles through six studio albums, two live albums, four Extended Plays (EPs) and one compilation album. David Crowder Band (stylized as David Crowder*Band and The David Crowder*Band) was a six-piece Christian rock and modern worship band from Waco, Texas. Their final album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts. They disbanded in 2012, with David Crowder pursuing a solo career under the name Crowder and the rest of the band, except for Mike Hogan, forming The Digital Age.

David Crowder*Band
Background information
Origin	Waco, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Christian rock electronic rock worship bluegrass alternative rock folk rock
Years active	1996–2012
Labels	sixstepsrecords, Sparrow, EMI, Capitol CMG
Past members	David Crowder Jack Parker Jeremy "B-Wack" Bush Mike D Hogan Mark Waldrop Jason Solley Taylor Johnson

Solo career (2013-present)

Crowder released his debut solo studio album on May 27, 2014, Neon Steeple. The lead single, "I Am", released on November 25, 2013, charted at No, 3 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart.^[5] "Come As You Are" achieved a Grammy nomination in 2015 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.^[8]

His second solo album, American Prodigal, was released September 23, 2016. The first single, "Run Devil Run", was released on June 18, 2016.^[9] "Forgiven" was the second single released.

On September 19, 2018, Crowder announced a third solo album and released the first two singles, "Red Letters" and "Wildfire". The album, I Know a Ghost, was released on November 9, 2018.^[10]

Crowder's fourth studio album, titled Milk & Honey, was released on June 11, 2021. The album was supported with the three singles "Good God Almighty", "In the House", and "God Really Loves Us". The album features appearances from Hulvey, Dante Bowe and Maverick City Music.^[11]

Beginning in January 2024, Crowder began touring in Jam Nation's Winter Jam Tour with Christian artists CAIN, Katy Nichole, and Newsong.^[12]

Crowder announced his new album The Exile on April 5, 2024, after dropping a new single "[DASH]" featuring TobyMac. The album was released on May 31, 2024.^[13]

Books

David Crowder has written two books:

• David Crowder, Praise Habit: Finding God in Sunsets and Sushi, NavPress, 2005.
• David Crowder with Mike Hogan, Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, but Nobody Wants to Die or (The Eschatology of Bluegrass), Relevant Books, 2006.

Discography

See also: David Crowder Band discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions			Certifications
		US [14]	US Christ. [15]	UK C&G [16]
Neon Steeple	Released: May 27, 2014 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl[17]	9	1	4	RIAA: Gold[18]
American Prodigal	Released: September 23, 2016 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl, cassette[17]	12	1	6
I Know a Ghost	Released: November 9, 2018 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl, cassette[17]	43	2	—
Milk & Honey	Released: June 11, 2021 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download[17]	59	1	10
The Exile	Released: May 31, 2024 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download	102	1	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Other albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US [14]	US Christ. [15]	US Rock [19]	US Folk [20]
iTunes Session	Released: November 13, 2012 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: Digital download	172	9	50	9
Milk & Cookies: A Merry Crowder Christmas	Released: October 21, 2022 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download	—	29	—	—

EPs

List of EPs, with selected chart positions

Title	EP details	Peak chart positions
		US Christ [15]	US Rock [19]
Neon Porch Extravaganza	Released: October 30, 2015 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download	11	39

Singles

As a lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions					Certifications	Album
		US Bub. [21]	US Christ [22]	US Christ Air. [23]	US Christ AC [24]	US Christ Digital [25]
"I Am"	2013	—	3	2	6	3		Neon Steeple
"Come As You Are"	2014	—	3	1	6	5	RIAA: Platinum[18]
"Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains)"	2015	—	11	14	15	11
"Run Devil Run"	2016	—	22	26	—	6		American Prodigal
"My Victory"		—	12	7	12	10
"Forgiven"	2017	—	10	8	10	10
"Back to the Garden"		—	45	—	—	—
"All My Hope" (featuring Tauren Wells)		—	3	1	2	1	RIAA: Gold[18]	Non-album single [A]
"Red Letters" / "Wildfire"	2018	—	9	8	11	5	RIAA: Gold[18]	I Know a Ghost
		—	43	—	—	—
"Let It Rain (Is There Anybody)" (featuring Mandisa)	2019	—	10	6	6	13
"I'm Leaning on You" (featuring Riley Clemmons)	2020	—	19	15	16	—
"Night Like This"		—	47	—	—	—
"Good God Almighty"	2021	17	1	1	1	1	RIAA: Gold[18]	Milk & Honey
"In the House"		19	1	1	1	19
"O Holy Night" (with Passion)		—	—	46	—	—		Non-album single
"God Really Loves Us" (with Dante Bowe featuring Maverick City Music)	2022	—	3	3	4	—		Milk & Honey
"Grave Robber" (original or with Zach Williams)	2023	—	8	1	1	2		The Exile
"— [Dash]" (featuring TobyMac)	2024	—	36	—	—	—
"The Rock" (with Forrest Frank)	2025	—[B]	6	—	—	1		Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

As a featured artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		US Christ [22]
"Testify" (Social Club Misfits featuring Crowder)	2019	46	Mood // Doom
"Home" (Tedashii featuring Crowder)		—	Never Fold
"My Jesus" (Anne Wilson featuring Crowder)	2021	—	My Jesus
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Promotional singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Album
		US Christ. [22]	US Christ. Digital [25]
"He Is"	2021	30	11	Milk & Honey
"Milk & Honey"		37	—
"The Anchor"		—	—
"Even in Exile"	2024	—	—	The Exile
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Other charted songs

Title	Year	Peak chart positions				Album
		US Christ [22]	US Christ Air. [23]	US Christ AC [24]	US Christ Digital [25]
"This I Know"	2013	—	—	—	14	Neon Steeple
"My Beloved"	2014	—	—	—	25
"Somebody Prayed" (original or with Dylan Scott)	2024	7	3	3	9	The Exile
"Still"	2025	26	7	6	—

Music videos

Title	Year	Album	Source
"Come As You Are"	2014	Neon Steeple	Watch
"Run Devil Run"	2016	American Prodigal	Watch
"Forgiven"	2017		Watch
"Back to the Garden"			Watch
"Prove It featuring KB"			Watch
"All My Hope (featuring Tauren Wells)"		non-album single	Watch

Awards

GMA Dove Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2015	"Come As You Are"	Song of the Year	Nominated
	"Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains)"	Rock/Contemporary Song of the Year	Nominated
	"Come As You Are"	Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year	Nominated
	Neon Steeple	Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year	Nominated
		Recorded Music Packaging of the Year	Won
2017	"Run Devil Run"	Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year	Nominated
	American Prodigal	Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year	Nominated
		Recorded Music Packaging of the Year	Nominated
	Run Devil Run	Short Form Video of the Year	Won
2018	"All My Hope"	Song of the Year	Nominated
		Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year	Nominated
2019	"Red Letters"	Song of the Year	Nominated
	"Wildfire"	Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year	Won
	I Know a Ghost	Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year	Nominated
	Red Letters	Short Form Video of the Year	Nominated
2021	"Good God Almighty"	Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year	Nominated
2022		Song of the Year	Nominated
	"Higher Power" (featuring Hulvey)	Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year	Won
	Milk & Honey	Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year	Nominated
		Recorded Music Packaging of the Year	Nominated
2025	"Somebody Prayed"	Short Form Video of the Year (Concept)	Pending

Notes

1. "All My Hope (featuring Tauren Wells)" is a non-album single. However, the original version of "All My Hope" did not feature Tauren Wells, and can be found on American Prodigal.
2. "The Rock" did not enter the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, but peaked at No. 4 on the Digital Song Sales

See also

• David Crowder Band discography