After nabbing the No. 1 position on the iTunes ® Christian and Gospel Album chart and the No. 22 spot on the overall iTunes ® album chart upon its release, Fee’s Hope Rising streets today with the radio single “Glory to God Forever” mounting on the charts and media giving acclaim to the band’s latest efforts.
Below is just a sample of the media’s response to Hope Rising:
“Hope Rising is a definite necessity for any avid CCM or praise & worship fan. It once again shows us how powerfully talented the group is, which is no big surprise for existing Fee fans out there.” – GospelMusicChannel.com
“I can’t get enough of this album and every song is worshipful, totally catchy and instantly sing-able.” – ChristianMusicReview.org
“The sort of anthemic, powerful worship album that makes you want to jump up and kneel at the same time. “ – Group Magazine
“... a cut above much of what you'll find in an overcrowded worship music industry.” – JesusFreakHideout.com
5 out of 5 stars! “Their follow-up, Hope Rising, will make you forget the term, “sophomore slump.” Now that the worship music genre has established itself as its own entity, Fee has claimed a spot as front-runners and trendsetters.” – TheChristianManifesto.com
Fee’s current single “Glory to God Forever” is at the No. 21 spot at AC and is No. 8 on the Soft AC/Inspo charts. To watch the making of Hope Rising as well as hear more about new songs such as “Glory to God Forever,” visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ebQGURnNiE&feature=channel_page.
The Atlanta-based band is teaming up with multi-platinum and GRAMMY® nominated group MercyMe as well as newcomer Jonny Diaz as they visit auditoriums and churches across the country this month. All tour dates listed below.
Produced by Jason Hoard and lead singer Steve Fee, Fee’s newest release Hope Rising contains twelve original tracks. Though the band continued with their signature worship sound on the record, Hope Rising also includes statement songs that the band hopes will transcend one style of music.
From national worship conferences to local youth group meetings, Fee has brought a new level of abandon and talent to rock worship, gifting today’s church with riveting songs of praise. Known for amazing live performances and the No. 1 hit "All Because of Jesus" plus "Glorious One," and Christmas song “All Creation Sing (Joy To The World),” Fee continues to inspire the church musically with this all-new release of soon-to-be modern classics. The band has been associated with some of today’s most forthcoming faith-based events including Passion, 7:22 and Catalyst conferences. Fee released their debut INO project & GMA Dove nominated We Shine in September 2007. The band’s hit single “All Because of Jesus” also garnered the No. 10 spot on R&R’s AC Songs of the Year. Fee Front man Steve Fee was also selected to lead worship at the 92nd annual Indianapolis 500 chapel services in 2008, the biggest event of the Indy Car Series. Hailing from Atlanta, GA, Steve Fee, Matt Adkins, Heath Balltzglier and Brandon Coker still lead worship at the North Point Community Church.
Nashville, Tenn. Jul. 21, 2009…. After being released to iTunes ® earlier this morning, the newest single from Fee, “Glory to God Forever,” has shot to the No. 1 spot on iTunes ® Christian and Gospel Singles chart. “Glory to God Forever” is from Fee’s new album Hope Rising, due out on Oct. 6 on INO Records.
The first single is reflective of Fee’s knack for writing rousing songs of praise begging for a corporate worship setting. The song caught on long before its official release and is already being sung in churches across the country.
“It is a really simple song, but it is based on a massive concept,” says band front man Steve Fee. “The massive thought is that everything in our lives gives glory to God. It strikes the very core of why we were made. I believe this is a song that was already in us to say that God created us to give glory to Him.”
To hear Fee explain the story behind “Glory to God Forever,” visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-29pHKxVcZ8&feature=channel_page
In addition, the single is currently building momentum at Christian radio with recent adds from top stations such as KHZR/St. Louis, KOXJ/Tulsa, WCSG/Grand Rapids and KBIQ/Colorado Springs among others.
Produced by Jason Hoard and lead singer Steve Fee, the Atlanta-based foursome’s newest release Hope Rising contains twelve original tracks. Though the band continued with their signature worship sound on the record, Hope Rising also includes statement songs that the band hopes will transcend one style of music.
From national worship conferences to local youth group meetings, Fee has brought a new level of abandon and talent to rock worship, gifting today’s church with riveting songs of praise. Known for amazing live performances and the No. 1 hit "All Because of Jesus" plus "Glorious One," and Christmas song “All Creation Sing (Joy To The World),” Fee continues to inspire the church musically with this all-new release of soon-to-be modern classics. The band has been associated with some of today’s most forthcoming faith-based events including Passion, 7:22 and Catalyst conferences. Fee released their debut INO project & GMA Dove nominated We Shine in September 2007. The band’s hit single “All Because of Jesus” also garnered the No. 10 spot on R&R’s AC Songs of the Year. Fee Front man Steve Fee was also selected to lead worship at the 92nd annual Indianapolis 500 chapel services in 2008, the biggest event of the Indy Car Series. Hailing from Atlanta, GA, Steve Fee, Matt Adkins, Heath Balltzglier and Brandon Coker still lead worship at the North Point Community Church.
EMI Christian Music Group,
Provident Music Group and Word Entertainment have long collaborated in the
marketing and distribution of WOW compilation projects. This Wednesday,
the collective staff of the three companies, along with students from Belmont
University, banded together to package a record number 427,000 meals for the
non-profit hunger-relief organization, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC).
The number of meals packaged at this event is enough to feed 1,169
children for one year. The more than 1,500 volunteers worked in shifts that
started at 10:00 AM and ran through 8:00 PM, packaging specially formulated
meals in assembly-line fashion. Each FMSC meal provides the key nutrients
a child needs to survive and thrive. Laura Nielsen, Offsite Operations Manager
for Feed My Starving Children, shared, “The ‘WOW Shares’ event was an incredible
success. Not only did we pack a record-breaking amount of meals in one
day, but we also helped changed the world for so many kids in Thailand.” Over
the lunch break, Brandon Heath (Reunion Records/Provident Music Group),
Francesca Battistelli (Fervent Records/Word Entertainment) and Josh Wilson
(Sparrow/EMI CMG Label Group) performed a concert for volunteers that numbered
in excess of 1,500. Lunch was generously donated for volunteers by
Sodexo, Belmont’s food services provider.
Seattle, WA...November 19, 2008...Taco Bell®'s inaugural "Best of the Beat" winners were announced today as part of the leading Mexican-style quick service restaurant's Feed the Beat program. Tooth & Nail Records' Thousand Foot Krutch was one of the three winners announced today along with the bands Hit the Lights and Fireflight. Already privy to $500 in Taco Bell® Bucks for free Fourthmeal, the late night meal between dinner and breakfast, these bands will work with Taco Bell to identify and hire a well-known producer to record a single for them and then receive help in promotion by Taco Bell in the Spring of 2009.
"When we entered this contest we never thought we'd wind up being one of the winning bands," said Trevor McNevan, lead singer. "A huge THANK YOU to the fans who voted and voted and voted, we're humbled by your show of support. We want to thank Taco Bell for doing something like this to raise awareness of the great bands out there hitting the road to share their music with people."
The "Best of the Beat" winners can thank the legions of devoted fans who voted this October and November on Taco Bell's Virtual Music Festival Web site (www.feedthebeat.com). One hundred Feed the Beat bands showcased their music, photos, bios and tour schedules on the site, vying for the chance to become "Best of the Beat." More than 180,000 votes were cast over the past six weeks and Thousand Foot Krutch was one of the three bands that outlasted the competition to win the bracket-style contest. In its third year, Feed the Beat provided $500 in Taco Bell® Bucks to all participating bands. The singles will then be promoted on www.feedthebeat.com and through in-store efforts in the Spring of 2009, as the Web site address will be featured on Taco Bell's iconic Sauce Packet, which reaches more than 208 million people each month.
Sparrow Records artist, Robbie Seay Band will head out on the remaining dates of its popular 2008 “Hope, Coffee, and Melody” Tour next month. Also continuing on the ticket is author Chris Seay.
The fall “Hope, Coffee, and Melody” tour kicked off Sept. 10 at The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson, Texas. Missing several early dates due to Hurricane Ike, the tour picked up full swing again in October and will wrap Nov. 14 in Irving, Texas.
“We’re eager to get back on the road with Chris Seay in a few weeks,” says Robbie Seay. “We hope folks will join us not only for a concert but also for an evening of story and coffee …of hope and a reminder that God is calling us to something bigger ourselves.”
Chris Seay is a church planter, pastor, president of Ecclesia Bible Society, and internationally acclaimed speaker. He is a key contributing writer for The Voice Bible translation which officially launches later this month with the release of The Voice New Testament. The Voice™ translation provides a true interpretation of the biblical text while including historical and cultural expansions of the story. With additional background on setting and characters, the project’s narrative screenplay-like format is ideal for group studies and dramatizations, and the inserted devotional commentary helps readers truly understand the context of the biblical story. For more information on The Voice™ New Testament and to download a free copy of The Gospel of John presented in The Voice™ Bible translation, visit http://www.hearthevoice.com. Chris Seay’s previous books include The Gospel Reloaded, co-authored with Greg Garrett, The Gospel According to Tony Soprano, and Faith of My Fathers.
Known for its alternative worship style that features raw, insightful lyrics coupled with an equally edgy and engaging sound, the Houston-based Robbie Seay Band comprises Robbie Seay, Ryan Owens, Taylor Johnson, Michael Lisenbe, and Tyler Halford. Having recorded four successful independent projects, the band signed with EMI CMG imprint Sparrow Records in 2005 and released two critically acclaimed albums, Better Days (2005) and Give Yourself Away (2007). The band’s music has received high profile television placement in promotions for FOX’s “American Idol,” as well as CW programs “One Tree Hill” and “Life Is Wild.” At radio, the band’s Christian AC single “Song of Hope” climbed to No. 6 and remained on the charts for an entire year from 2007-2008. Robbie Seay Band’s current single, “New Day,” is currently vying for adds at AC radio. When not on the road, the Robbie Seay Band leads worship at Ecclesia Church, a Houston-based community of faith that seeks to embrace culture through practical love. For more information, visit www.robbieseayband.com or www.myspace.com/robbieseayband.
“HOPE, COFFEE AND MELODY” TOUR NOVEMBER 2008
DATE CITY
11/5 Dallas, TX
11/6 Abilene, TX
11/8 Phoenix, AZ
11/9 San Diego, CA
11/10 Los Angeles, CA
11/11 Santa Cruz, CA
11/12 Whittier, CA
11/13 Los Vegas, CA
11/14 Irving, TX
*dates subject to change
(Nashville, Tenn.) Sept. 5, 2008 – The Hands & Feet Project, a children’s village in Jacmel, Haiti that was started by GRAMMY-winning band Audio Adrenaline in 2004, has suffered severe damage from the latest hurricane to hit the area. To make a donation online to help Hands & Feet Project, go to www.handsandfeetproject.org. Contributions via mail can be sent to Gustav Relief, c/o Hands & Feet Project, PO Box 682105, Franklin, TN 37068.
Following the destruction from hurricane Fay, hurricane Gustav buried the village in several feet of rock that came tumbling down the mountain during the storm. Although the overwhelming process of restoration has begun, tropical storm Hanna that hit this week again devastated the village and relegated the children and staff, 48 people in all, to live in one second-story room.
“We are in need of much prayer and financial support right now,” says Drex Stuart, a lifetime missionary who has previously served in Haiti and heads up the Hands & Feet Project with his wife, Jo. “Thank God all of our children and staff are safe. However, we have had major damage to our property, even worse than when [tropical storm] Noel hit last November.
“With our property completely buried in approximately four to five feet of mountain rock, we are doing the best we can to begin the clean-up process,” continues Drex. “Much of our supplies, food, clothes, diapers, formula, etc., have been destroyed and two of the houses where the kids lived were flooded with four feet of water and are currently unlivable. All 36 kids are living in the main house with the nannies.”
After Gustav hit Haiti, Audio Adrenaline frontman Mark Stuart and his father, Drex, who happened to be on a break in the US, flew into Haiti with a civil engineer to assess the damage and come up with a plan to protect the village. Following the assessment, the cleanup process began, but after four days of clearing rock and piling them up to make an earthen dam that would eventually be a 12-15 foot high concrete retaining wall with re-enforced steel for protection, tropical storm Hanna came through this week and washed all the progress away.
“Our property is about 50 feet wide, but we are also going to help our neighbors finish their walls, because otherwise ours will be ineffective,” says Joel Griffith, Hands & Feet project managing director based in Franklin, TN. “In total we will build a 200-foot retaining wall covering a Christian school that has 850 kids, the homes and property of five neighboring families representing 50 people and our property housing 36 orphans and 12 staff.”
“We had major damage to two of our children's houses and we lost most of our property walls, the foundation for our new cafeteria/kitchen. With the retaining wall and purchasing a backhoe to keep it up, we are looking at an estimated immediate need of $100,000- $150,000,” continues Griffith. “Although at this time we cannot handle supplies because of shipping costs, we are asking for monetary donations through our website, www.handsandfeetproject.org.”
As hurricanes Ike and Josephina threaten Haiti yet again, Mark Stuart also urges people to help: “Pray for Haiti, it’s a country that is often overlooked by the news channels when hurricanes happen because there are really no tourist areas. No reason to really pay attention, but it’s a place that really could use our help.”
For more information about this story, including photos, video storm footage, a video plea from Mark Stuart and more, go to www.handsandfeetproject.org.
The Hands & Feet Project, a 501c3 non-profit organization, is a children’s village in Haiti started in 2004 by Audio Adrenaline. It welcomed its first child in 2005 and currently has 36 children ranging in age from 2 months to 9 years old. The goal of the Hands & Feet Project is to provide a caring and loving environment for orphaned children in Haiti. The need is great and Hands & Feet Project is committed to saving the lives of orphaned children, giving them life more abundantly with a home, food, education, love and acceptance.
“I’ve been using Steve’s worship music with my students for years. I love how his songs create an atmosphere of freedom where people can connect with God through worship. And this record is the best yet!”
-- Mark Hall, Casting Crowns
“Steve Fee has a unique voice in the world of worship, effectively leading a new generation to live in a Story so much bigger than their own. Birthing anthems for the church and songs for the culture, Steve continues to merge lyrics anchored in truth with a musicality that is current and fresh. We’ve shared so much of the journey together over the last decade and I’m excited to see how God will use Fee’s debut release ‘We Shine’ for His fame throughout the earth.
‘We Shine’ is one of the best worship projects of the year.”
--- Louie Giglio, Visionary Architect/Director/Passion Conferences
Releasing two independent projects and traveling with the Passion Conferences as a Worship Leader isn’t ‘normal’ behavior for an unsigned artist, but that’s exactly how Steve Fee and band has made a name for themselves since 2001. Now, Steve Fee, Matt Adkins, Heath Balltzglier, and Brandon Coker (known as Fee) have a deal at INO Records to release We Shine September 25.
Band leader Steve Fee says, “I feel like this is so much about timing, God’s timing. I have talked to a whole lot of people over the years, yet I was content doing my own thing. But we believe there is a message here that is so good and timely that we want everybody who can hear it to hear it. I have realized that INO is a team of passionate people who have the ability to get this record to people, at the right time and in the right way.”
With We Shine, Fee delivers a 12-track set of powerful worship songs that echo victory in Christ in every lyric. The band melds celebratory and significant lyrics to its energetic, relevant rock. The tone of We Shine is set through the spirited album opener “All Because of Jesus” and first radio single “Glorious One”. The title cut is a raucous jumper and a shouting experience, while “Grace Will Be My Song” and “Beautiful the Blood” escalate with powerful confessions to a Savior who calls his people to freedom in him.
“Fee has done an amazing job of building and participating in the ‘worship community,’ says Jeff Moseley, president of INO Records. “As an independent artist he has accomplished some things that any major label artist would dream of. We are happy to partner with him at this place and see how far we can take this music. We believe there are no boundaries and that the songs and artistry will make a way.”
For more information on Fee and to watch for upcoming tour dates, go to www.stevefee.com
(Nashville, Tenn.) July 26, 2007 – The Hands & Feet Project is now the home of 18-day-old Christela Belle, an unwanted newborn baby girl thrown down a 28-foot outhouse hole by her 15-year-old mother and left for dead shortly after she was born on Sunday, July 8, 2007. Rescued by a teenage boy, Toussaint, who attempted to retrieve her before calling police, Christela has now been placed in the protection of the Hands & Feet Project, a children’s village in Cyvadier (Jacmel), Haiti.
Rescuer Toussaint knew the mother had always denied being pregnant so when he noticed her leaving the school in Jacmel with a smaller stomach and blood on her legs, he followed the trail of blood to the outhouses behind the school. After hearing the baby, he notified police and attempted to lasso a rope around the baby below to pull her out.
The police and American UN soldier Darry “DJ” Williams arrived on the scene at a set of newly constructed outhouses, where Williams observed Toussaint desperately chipping away at the concrete toilet. “Toussaint told me that the mother had dropped the newborn in the pit because she didn’t want it. I could see that the baby was moving and knew that time was of the essence,” said Williams.
Williams notified the Sri Lankan Army, serving on behalf of the United Nations (UN) in Haiti, who arrived and quickly worked, breaking up the concrete two stalls down and lowering a soldier into the pit. The soldier wrapped the baby in a towel and secured it to a rope, which was then pulled out of the hole.
The umbilical cord and placenta were intact and a Sri Lankan medic raced the baby to an ambulance. The first hospital was poorly staffed, so Williams contacted an American friend, Drex Stuart of the Hands & Feet Project. “I told the medics to follow me to a private hospital near my house, and I called Drex who operates the Hands & Feet Project. I know that he recently had a set of twins in the private hospital and I asked him to call and notify them of our situation.”
Stuart and co-worker, Michelle Meece, arrived at the hospital with Dr. Jolicouer, offering to take the baby in at the Hands & Feet Project, as well as to cover all medical expenses. The doctor advised that the baby looked fine on the outside without any bruises or marks, and no broken bones.
“I knew this child would be fine,” said Williams. “After being dropped 30-feet into a pit and left for dead, and there were no bruises, no signs of trauma, and she was resting? I knew I had witnessed a miracle. Everyone involved knew it.”
The Justice of the Peace gave the Hands & Feet Project full rights to the baby. “She is now ours,” says Stuart. “A policeman from the station, no doubt a believer, gave us the baby’s first name. He said that Christ must have been there for her, so the three words for ‘Christ was there’ [in Creole] would be Christela. Her last name is in honor of Audio Adrenaline’s song ‘Beautiful.’ This word translates to Belle.”
“Christela is definitely a miracle child and was God’s chosen vessel to bridge the gap between the UN, police and the community. I am honored to have been a witness to this miracle. I am also humbled to have been asked by Drex to be her godfather,” said Williams.
“I am so amazed by the story of these rescuers,” says Mark Stuart, Drex Stuart’s son and frontman for the GRAMMY award winning rock band, Audio Adrenaline. “In Haiti, children are often abandoned and orphaned, and to see the teamwork between the police and the UN soldiers on behalf of this one baby, it is a would-be tragedy turned to joy.”
“Without programs like the Hands and Feet Project, many children like Christela would have little hope at all,” Mark says. “Not only was this project on hand to help Christela in the early moments of her life, but it will be there for her and other orphaned children in the days and years ahead. We are hoping to help raise a generation in Haiti that will change their country so we can be out of a job and orphanages can be empty.”
“Keep praying that we will be here and ready to take children that no one wants or can take care of! Don’t forget to pray for the mother, too,” says Drex.
Christela’s birth mother is a juvenile from Marbial, a small village in the countryside, about 45 minutes from Jacmel. She was put out of her parents’ home when she became pregnant and she moved to Jacmel. A judge did sentence her to jail. Medically she is doing well.
For more information about this story, including photos, video of the rescue and more, go to www.handsandfeetproject.org
