Caedmon's Call

CCM band Caedmon's Call fuse folk-rock with adult alternative rock influences. Cliff Young (vocals, rhythm guitar), Derek Webb (lead guitar, vocals), Danielle Glenn (vocals), Aric Nitzberg (bass), Todd Bragg (drums), Randy Holsapple (organ), and Garett Buell (percussion) formed the Houston, Texas-based band at Texas Christian University in the summer of 1992. The group originally included Aaron Tate, who left the band shortly after its formation, but he continued to write songs with Young. After spending some time playing locally, Caedmon's Call began touring college campuses across the South, steadily building up a dedicated following of young Gen-X singles.

Caedmon's Call self-released their first album in June of 1994. In August of 1995, they released their second record. Both independently released albums sold over 10,000 copies apiece, and were distributed in Canada and the U.K. as well as America. The two albums, plus their live shows, led Musician magazine to call Caedmon's Call one of the best unsigned bands in America. Such grassroots success attracted the attention of Warner Bros., which signed Caedmon's Call in 1996 and released their major-label debut, the Don McCollister-produced Caedmon's Call, in the spring of 1997. Long Line of Leavers was issued three years later, and despite a good reaction from their fan base, it signaled to the bandmembers that they desired more control over their sound.

The next year, In the Company of Angels: A Call to Worship was recorded by the band, and its success in the Christian market led to their highest sales yet. When the album was nominated for several Dove Awards, Caedmon's Call decided to continue to produce their own material and recorded Back Home in 2002. The following spring Back Home was released -- after which founding member Derek Webb departed the group to pursue a solo career -- and the band hit the road with Jars of Clay to promote the album. In 2004 the anthology Chronicles 1992-2004 arrived, as well as a new collection of songs called Share the Well. In the Company of Angels II: The World Will Sing was issued in March of 2006. The group's eighth and ninth studio albums, Overdressed (2007) and Raising Up the Dead (2010), found Caedmon's Call collaborating with former bandmember Webb. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi