Trey Pearson | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | Ohio, United States |
Genres | Contemporary Christian music, pop, rock |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Website | www |
Trey Pearson is an American singer-songwriter. He founded the American Christian rock band Everyday Sunday in 1997 in Columbus, Ohio. He currently resides in Columbus and produces independent pop music as a solo artist.
Everyday Sunday (1997–2014)
Pearson established Everyday Sunday in 1997 and was the lead singer. The band saw a number of changes in its set-up,[1] with major members including Pearson on lead vocals, Jesse Counts and Aaron Eikenberry on guitars, Brandon Eikenberry on bass, and Kevin Cramblet on drums. Over time, many other musicians were in the line-up, including Dan Hunter (bass), Chris Hines (drums), Jason Siemer (guitar), and Andrew Martin (guitar). Other members included Wade James, Tyler Craft, Chris Saiben, Nick Spencer, Micah Kuiper, Jon-Paul Kauffman, and Collin Wilbrandt.
The band released two albums on Flicker Records: Stand Up and Anthems for the Imperfect. Wake Up! Wake Up! were released May 22, 2007 through Inpop Records, followed by Best Night of Our Lives (2009), also on Inpop. The band released an EP independently in 2013 titled A New Beginning. After the break-up of the band, Pearson continued creating music as a solo artist.
Solo Career (Love Is Love, 2015–current)
On November 17, 2017, Pearson released his first solo EP Love is Love. Three singles from the EP were released in the preceding months: "Silver Horizon" (with a music video), "Love is Love," and "The Good Grief."[2] In 2019, he returned to contemporary Christian music and Christian media with a single titled "Hey Jesus," expressing his Love of Christ and confronting issues facing Christianity, homosexuality, and sexual orientation.[3]
Personal life
Pearson was married and had two children. The couple separated after seven-and-a-half years of marriage.[4]
After struggling for almost two decades with his sexuality, Pearson publicly announced that he is gay in an interview with Ohio-based (614) Magazine in May 2016.[5][6][4][7][8]
In summer 2016, Pearson was interviewed on The View[9] about his acceptance of himself as a gay man. Pearson was featured in a promotional video by a Human Rights Campaign titled "HRC Celebrates National Coming Out Day 2016".[10]
In September 2016, Pearson was scheduled to perform at Joshua Fest, a Christian music festival. Pearson had announced his pleasure at being "the first openly gay artist to ever play a major Christian music festival." However, multiple staff members threatened to walk out if Pearson remained on the festival lineup. The owner of the festival said, "I was hurt. I felt like I was powerless in the situation—like I was just punched in the gut, I was forced to let down a friend, someone that I really wanted to just love and support, the way Jesus tells us to." Pearson still performed with Five Iron Frenzy but did not headline with Everyday Sunday to avoid the dispute.[11]
Discography
Albums (Everyday Sunday)
- 1996: Stand Up (independent)
- 2001: Sleeper (independent)
- 2002: Stand Up (re-released by Flicker Records)
- 2004: Anthems for the Imperfect (Flicker Records)
- 2006: Wake Up! Wake Up! (Inpop Records)
- 2009: Best Night of Our Lives (Inpop Records)
- 2013: A New Beginning (EP) (independent)
Singles
- 2017: "Silver Horizon"
- 2017: "Love Is Love"
- 2019: "Hey Jesus"
Albums (Trey Pearson)
- 2017: Love Is Love (EP)
References
- ↑ Everyday Sunday Biography at AllMusic.com, accessed June 3, 2016.
- ↑ Reynolds, Daniel (November 17, 2017). "Exclusive: In 'Love Is Love,' Trey Pearson Finds His Gay Community". advocate.com. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ↑ Stroop, Chrissy (August 21, 2019). "'Hey Jesus, Do You Love Me the Same?': Out Christian Rock Star Trey Pearson on Closeted Industry Figures, His Evolving Faith, and Brand New Video". Religion Dispatches. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- 1 2 Zauzmer, Julie (May 31, 2016). "'I never wanted to be gay': Christian musician comes out, in moving letter to fans". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
As Trey Pearson toured all 50 states as a Christian rock star, he shared some of his truth – his faith in the Gospel – but not all of it.
Pearson never told anyone – his fans, his conservative Christian family, his wife – that he was gay. Until now. - ↑ Tharrett, Matthew (May 31, 2016). "Trey Pearson, Lead Singer of Christian Rock Band Everyday Sunday, Comes Out As Gay". Logo. Viacom International Inc. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
The lead singer of popular Christian rock band Everyday Sunday has come out as gay in an interview with the Ohio-based entertainment magazine (614), and published an open letter to fans explaining his decision to live openly and how it relates to his faith.
- ↑ Merritt, Jonathan (May 31, 2016). "Christian rock star comes out as gay. Here's the letter he wrote to the world". Religion News Service. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
Trey Pearson, 35, was overcome with emotion halfway into our first interview, and it is easy to understand why. For the past 15 years, he's been the lead singer of the popular Christian rock band Everyday Sunday. But he decided to put his career on the line this week and acknowledge to his fans that he is gay.
- ↑ Ennis, Dawn (June 1, 2016). "Christian rocker Trey Pearson comes out in letter to fans". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
He's sung Gospel rock on stage all across the country, but Trey Pearson has never told the truth about his sexuality – until now. Pearson revealed he is gay in a letter to his fans on his website, according to the Independent.
- ↑ Zauzmer, Julie (June 1, 2016). "Christian musician Trey Pearson comes out in moving letter to fans". The Independent. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
As Trey Pearson toured all 50 states as a Christian rock star, he shared some of his truth – his faith in the Gospel – but not all of it.
Pearson never told anyone – his fans, his conservative Christian family, his wife – that he was gay. Until now. - ↑ "Video: 'The View' Exclusive: Christian Rocker Trey Pearson on Coming Out, New Relationship With Religion". ABC News. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
- ↑ Human Rights Campaign video: "HRC Celebrates National Coming Out Day 2016"
- ↑ Clark, Heather (September 16, 2016). "Joshua Fest Owner Says Staff Who Threatened Walkout Over 'Gay Christian Rocker' Need More Jesus". Christian News Network. Retrieved December 29, 2016.