Bob Bennett
Bob Bennett live in Ft. Worth, TX. 2007.
Bob Bennett live in Ft. Worth, TX. 2007.
Background information
Born (1955-03-21) March 21, 1955
Downey, California, U.S.
GenresCCM
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, composer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1979–present
LabelsMaranatha!, Priority Star Song, Urgent, Covenant Artists, Signpost
Websitebob-bennett.com

Bob Bennett (born March 21, 1955)[1] is an American contemporary Christian music singer, guitarist and songwriter from Downey, California. Bennett is known for his distinctive baritone voice, Christian lyrics and folk-inspired guitar playing.

Career

Bennett was born in Downey, California. He picked up his first guitar at age nine and formed a rock 'n' roll band in high school. In the late seventies he converted to Christianity and his songwriting began to reflect his newfound faith.[1]

His career was launched with the release of his 1979 folk-style debut recording First Things First. Three years later, Matters of the Heart, a recording CCM Magazine selected as 1982's "Album of the Year", and later ranked it 25th on its list of contemporary Christian albums of all time.[2] Soon after the release of his next recording, Non-Fiction, he served as opening act on Amy Grant's Unguarded tour. Lord of the Past: A Compilation followed, which peaked at 30th position on Billboard magazine's Top Contemporary Christian chart in 1990.[3] The album's title song reached number one on the Christian radio charts in early 1990. This was followed by Bennett's second number one song: "Yours Alone".

Later in 1990 Bob joined Michael Card on his The Way of Wisdom tour, performing in front of sold-out audiences across the country. Bob credits his tour with Michael Card as being the only reason he had a career in 1990 and 1991.[4] Songs from Bright Avenue was released in 1991, a collection of songs he wrote while struggling with the dissolution of his marriage. Bob's most recent solo CD is Christmastide, released in 2009. The project, Jesus Music Again, a collaboration with Bill Batstone and Alex MacDougall, was released in 2011.[5]

Bob plays a Kevin Ryan guitar.[6]

Bob is currently signed with Signpost Communications.

Discography

Solo releases

Songs in other projects

  • "Place I Am Bound" — track 2 on Fast Folk FF708 Vol. 9 No. November 8, 1993, Los Angeles Revisited (still available from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings)
  • "Beautiful, Scandalous Night" — track 3 on At the Foot of the Cross: Vol. 1: Clouds, Rain, Fire
  • "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name", "Born to Die", "In the Bleak Midwinter" — tracks on Christmas in Our Time (Urgent!, 2004)
  • "Strange Joy" — track 3 on Music of Proclaim!, volume 3: There Is a Way
  • "Hand of Kindness", "Unto the Least of These", "Our Codependent Love", and "Defiant Lamb" — tracks 3, 5, 8 and 11, respectively, on Return of the Killer B's (Live from Memphis)

Collaborations and other credits

  • background vocals on Billy Crockett's albums: Any Starlight Night (Urgent Records, 1994) & Watermarks (Walking Angel Records, 1998)
  • Six String Prayers, John Standefer (guitar) & Bob Bennett (vocals) (2007)
  • co-wrote "Broken Beauty" with Jon Buller on his album: Light Up The Sky (Signpost, 2009)
  • Songs for Israel with Phil Keaggy, Randy Stonehill, and Buck Storm (Candlelight Records 2010)
  • Jesus Music Again, Bill Batstone (guitars, bass, vocals), Bob Bennett (guitars, vocals), Alex MacDougall (percussion, drums) (2011,review[7])

Awards and recognition

CCM Magazine named Matters of the Heart "Album of the Year - 1982", and among the Top 25 CCM Albums of all time. The magazine also ranked Lord of the Past among the top 100 CCM Albums of all time.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bob Bennett's personal biography on his website". bob-bennett.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2002. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  2. ↑ "CCM Magazine's "25 Best Contemporary Christian Albums of All Time" - How many of these albums have you heard?". List Challenges. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  3. ↑ Bob Bennett at Allmusic
  4. ↑ "Recording "Small Graces"". museweb.com. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Bob Bennett: then & now". 2018. Archived from the original on April 12, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  6. ↑ The View from Here liner notes.
  7. ↑ Urbanski, Dave (2011). "(Review) Jesus Music Again". Christianity Today. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
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