Geoff Moore
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| Geoff Moore | |
|---|---|
Geoff Moore performing at Easterfest 2008.
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| Background information | |
| Born | February 21, 1961 |
| Origin | Flint, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | CCM, Christian rock, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer - songwriter |
| Instruments | vocals |
| Website | geoffmoore |
Geoff Moore (born February 21, 1961 in Flint, Michigan[1]) is a contemporary Christian music artist and songwriter. He started recording as a solo artist in 1984. In 1987, he formed Geoff Moore and the Distance, who released eight albums and broke up in 1998, with Moore continuing as a solo artist.
Contents
Early years
Moore was born in Michigan in 1961. His father played baseball for the Toledo Mud Hens, and later ran a steel fabrication plant.[1] He attended Holly Area Schools at Patterson Elementary, Holly, MI through grade six and then started attending Brandon Schools in Ortonville, MI. He began singing while he was at Taylor University living in Wengatz Hall. At the time that he became a classmate to White Heart's future lead singer, Rick Florian, when he stood in for the lead singer of his roommate's band. He graduated from Taylor in 1983.[2] Newly married, he moved to Nashville soon after college.[citation needed] He was able to break into the music industry with the assistance of Michael W. Smith, when the two met in the clothing store where Moore worked.[1] He signed a publishing contract with Paragon Music, a company specialising in writing songs for others, and sang on demo recordings for extra money.[1] While with Paragon he wrote songs for fellow Christian singer and songwriter, Steven Curtis Chapman.[1] Since that time they've co-written several songs together, including the title track on Chapman's 1992 Dove Award and Grammy winning release The Great Adventure.
During the mid-1980s, Moore recorded three albums released on the Power Discs label, including Where are the Other Nine?, Over the Edge and The Distance. When he was signed to Sparrow Records in 1987, he put together a backing band called "The Distance" to continue with his career. Moore is best friends with Steven Curtis Chapman. Both Moore and Chapman have adopted daughters from China.
Geoff Moore and the Distance
| Geoff Moore and the Distance | |
|---|---|
| Genres | CCM. rock, pop |
| Years active | 1987–1998 |
| Labels | Sparrow, ForeFront, Chordant |
| Associated acts | Geoff Moore |
In 1988, Geoff Moore and the Distance released their first official album together, entitled A Place to Stand. They also recorded Foundations in 1989 for Sparrow Records. After a while, they jumped to Forefront Records and recorded Pure and Simple in 1990.
They followed in 1992 with A Friend Like U. This album would garner them their first real US Christian radio exposure with its title song. This started their most prolific period with the Grammy winning albums Ev-O-Lu-Tion in 1993 and Homerun in 1995. This album produced US Christian radio hits like "EvolutionRedefined", "Life Together" and "Home Run". The video for "Home Run" featured former Major League All Star pitcher Tim Burke. They were nominated for four Grammys.
In 1995, Benson released a compilation of hits from Moore's first solo albums titled The Beginning Years. The following year the band released a compilation of hits from Moore and the Distance. One CD of the latter contained a live performance from Rome, Georgia, also recorded for Z Music Television. In 1996 Geoff Moore and the Distance recorded Life Together. In 1997, the band released Threads, featuring a cover of The Who's "I'm Free" as its lead single. However, the following year, Moore decided to break up the band and continue solo.[1]
The Distance members were:
- Roscoe Meek - guitars (1990–1995)
- Guy Platter - guitars (1993)
- Dale Oliver - guitars (1987–1989)
- Lang Bliss - drums (1987–1989)
- Arlin Troyer - bass guitar (1987–1990)
- Geof Barkley - keyboards, vocals (1988–1998)
- Gary Mullett - bass guitar (1990–1998)
- Greg Herrington - drums (1990–1994)
- Chuck Conner - drums (1995–1998)
- Joel McCreight - guitars (1996–1998)
Solo again
In 1999, Moore released his eponymous solo album. He followed it in 2002 with A Beautiful Sound.
Moore has returned to live in his native state, where he enjoys hunting, fishing, and other outdoor pursuits. He and his wife Jan have been married for 22 years, and have two sons and two adopted daughters.
Near the end of 2005 he released two new studio albums independently. Called Every Single One Part One and Part Two, the albums are a combination of original songs and re-recorded classics from the now out of print Forefront albums with The Distance.
Moore's project Speak to Me, released on April 3, 2007 on Rocketown Records label was nominated for a Dove Award for Inspirational Album of the Year.[3]
Discography
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- Solo (early)
- Where are the Other Nine? (Power Discs, 1984)
- Over the Edge (Power Discs, 1986)
- The Distance (Power Discs, 1987)
- Geoff Moore and the Distance
- A Place To Stand (Sparrow Records, 1988)
- Jingle Bell Rock (1988) (Single on "Christmas" collection; Sparrow Records)
- Foundations (Sparrow, 1989)
- Pure & Simple (ForeFront Records, 1990)
- A Friend Like You (ForeFront, 1992)
- Evolution (ForeFront, 1993)
- Home Run (ForeFront, 1995)
- Threads (Chordant Records, 1997)
- Solo (later)
- Geoff Moore (ForeFront Records, 1999)
- A Beautiful Sound (Forefront, 2002)
- Every Single One Part I (Self-released, 2005)
- Every Single One Part II (Self-released, 2005)
- Speak to Me (Rocketown Records, 2007)
- Saying Grace (2011)
- Compilations
- All the Good Music (compilation 1984-87) (Benson Records, 1988)
- Familiar Stranger: the Early Works of Geoff Moore (1995)
- The Early Years (compilation 1988-1992) (ForeFront, 1995)
- Greatest Hits (double-disc set, including a live disc) (ForeFront, 1996)
- Very Best Of (ForeFront/EMI, 2006)
References
External links
- Articles with hCards
- Articles with unsourced statements from April 2007
- Pages using Template:Infobox musical artist with unknown parameters
- Articles using small message boxes
- Official website not in Wikidata
- 1961 births
- Living people
- American performers of Christian music
- Musicians from Flint, Michigan
- Taylor University alumni
