Steve Green

Steve Green (born August 1, 1956) is an American contemporary Christian music singer.

Early life Green was born in Portland, Oregon, to Charles and Jo Green, who were Baptist missionaries. He spent much of his early life in Argentina and later attended Phoenix Christian High School along with two of his six siblings. He graduated from Phoenix Christian High School in 1974 and, at age 18, enrolled at Grand Canyon University. His intended major was pre-law, but a professor recognized his musical talent and encouraged him to develop it.

Career After two years at the university, Green left to travel the world with the band Truth. After a two-year stint with Truth (1976–1978), Green married Marijean McCarty, a former member of Truth. They moved to Alexandria, Indiana, to sing backup for the Bill Gaither Trio. In 1980, Green joined Gary McSpadden, Lee Young and Bill Gaither to form the Gaither Vocal Band. Green sang tenor for their first two albums, The New Gaither Vocal Band and Passin' the Faith Along. In 1982, Steve and Gaither's musicians formed the Christian rock band White Heart. Green sang lead for White Heart as they recorded their debut self-titled album (which sold nearly 70,000 copies). In 1983, Steve left White Heart, feeling that his place was not in a rock band. He signed a solo contract with Sparrow Records, and released his self-titled debut album in 1984. In the same year, he established Steve Green Ministries.

Green's breakout year came in 1985 with the release of He Holds the Keys, which earned him the Dove Award for Male Vocalist of the Year in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) category. The following year, 1986, saw the release of two recordings, For God And God Alone and a worship/hymns album titled A Mighty Fortress. In early 1988, he released an album dedicated to his parents, called Find Us Faithful. Green was involved with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association from the mid-1980s onward. He was one of the first artists to be involved with Promise Keepers, performing at their inaugural event at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado, in July 1993 before 50,000 men. His song "Answer the Call" was inspired by the event, and another song, "O Men of God Arise", embodies the Promise Keepers message. Green recorded The Mission in 1989 and We Believe in 1991. He released an album of hymns in 1992. His 1994 album Where Mercy Begins featured more of a pop sound.

In 2005 Green released a new album, Somewhere Between, which leaned toward an art song style. The album featured fewer declarative answers than Green's past work, and instead explored questions of pain, doubt and loss that life inevitably rains down on both the just and the unjust. Green co-wrote half of the songs on the album. In 2007 Green released his last non-compilation album under the Sparrow label, Always: Songs of Worship. In 2010, Green released Love Will Find a Way, his first release through Steve Green Ministries. The album featured David Phelps and Wes Hampton on the track "God is Love". In 2012, Green released two albums, Rest in the Wonder and Christmas. Green stated, "Rest in the Wonder is a declaration of absolute trust in God, fiercely holding to what we know for certain and reverently worshiping the One whose ways are higher than our ways and whose thoughts are higher than our thoughts."

Green released two more albums in 2014, Hide the Word: Bible Songs for Kids and Hymns. Regarding his Hymns project, Green said, "In every age, the church has lifted her voice to express praise and adoration, but the church has also used singing to refute dangerous heresy and remind one another of the foundational Biblical truths."

Green released another English album, Hold Fast, in 2018. Of this album Green says, “I don’t think it’s like anything I’ve done.” It features the reading of one Psalm, the singing of full portions of multiple Psalms, an organ and orchestra, and several songs written by Green himself.

Green has been nominated for a Grammy Award four times. He has also won seven Dove Awards and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2017. His website states he has sold over three million albums.

Personal life Steve Green married Marijean McCarty, a former member of the Christian ensemble Truth, in 1976. They have two children, Summer (Mark) and Josiah (Jamie-Lee), and six grandchildren. 2011: A Man Like Me – Wes Hampton; duet on "It Is Well with My Soul" 2012: Larnelle: Live In Nashville!; Three Tenors: "Kings of the Earth" and "It Is Well" with Larnelle Harris and Steve Amerson 2014: Out on a Limb – Wes Hampton; trio with Hampton and David Phelps on "Echo of You" 2015: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs – Michael O'Brien; duet with Michael O'Brien on "For All the Saints" 2015: Free – Paul Turner; duet with Paul Turner on "Jesus My Strength"

Video 1986: God and God Alone VHS: Live In Concert 1991: Hide 'Em In Your Heart: 13 Bible Memory Music Videos for Children of All Ages 1992: Hymns: A Portrait of Christ (Sparrow) 1992: What My Parents Did Right 1994: Live! The Young Messiah 1996: Live Worship – Promise Keepers VHS – Promise Keepers "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" 1998: The Faithful 2002: Steve Green: Life Story – The Journey to a Life Message 2008: A Journey of Faith (Live) 2009: Gaither Vocal Band Reunion Vol 1 and 2 2012: Larnelle: Live In Nashville! DVD; Three Tenors – "Kings of the Earth" and "It Is Well" with Larnelle Harris and Steve Amerson 2016: Saviour: The Story of God's Passion for His People (Recorded live at Gateway Church)