Zach Williams

Zachary Stephen Williams (born June 27, 1978) is an American Christian rock singer-songwriter from Bono, Arkansas. From 2007 through 2012 he was lead vocalist and played acoustic guitar and harmonica for Zach Williams & The Reformation. He was also the lead singer of the Christian group Brothers of Grace, renamed as Zach Williams and the Brothers of Grace. In 2016, he went on to a solo career.

Beginnings

Zachary Stephen Williams was born in Pensacola, Florida, on June 27, 1978, but grew up in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Music career Zach Williams & The Reformation Williams was the lead singer in Zach Williams & The Reformation, an American rock band formed in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in 2007 by the group of Zach Williams (acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals), Red Dorton (bass guitar and vocals), Robby Rigsbee (slide guitar and rhythm guitar), Josh Copeland (lead guitar, rhythm guitar and vocals) and Evan Wilons (drums). The band took their name from the desire to reform or revitalize the southern rock sound. The band released two independent albums, Electric Revival in 2009 and A Southern Offering in 2011. In 2012, Williams disbanded The Reformation due to his newfound Christian beliefs.

The Brothers of Grace / Zach Williams and the Brothers of Grace After Zach Williams and The Reformation disbanded, Williams and guitarist Robby Rigsbee dedicated their lives to Christ and began playing music in their church, Central Baptist in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Church band the Brothers of Grace became Zach Williams and the Brothers of Grace. Shaun Kirby, who had previously been part of southern rock band Further Down with Rigsbee, was the drummer. The group also included Bruce Ford (bass) and Kevin Rouse (keyboard). They independently released an EP, Shine a Light, in 2014.

Solo career In 2016 Williams signed to Sony Music's Provident Label Group - Essential Records as a solo artist, four years after Zach Williams & The Reformation disbanded, and released his first solo single, "Chain Breaker", which reached No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs Chart and the Top 10 on Christian radio. Following the single, Williams released a five-song EP, Chain Breaker, with producers Jonathan Smith and Colby Wedgeworth. Williams also led worship at the Refuge Campus of Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where he was on staff from 2014 to 2017.

On December 14, 2016, Williams digitally released his full-length album, Chain Breaker, and announced a release date of January 27, 2017, for the CD.

On October 4, 2019, Williams released his second album, Rescue Story. It includes the single "There Was Jesus", with Dolly Parton.

On September 30, 2022, Williams released his third album, A Hundred Highways. It includes the single "Heart of God". His song "Up There, Down Here", from the same album, was covered by contestant Warren Peay on season 21 of American Idol.

Discography

Albums As Zach Williams & The Reformation Electric Revival (independent, 2009) A Southern Offering (independent, 2011)

Solo Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications US USChrist USFolk USRock Chain Breaker Released: December 14, 2016 Label: Essential Formats: DL, CD 174 2 4 28 RIAA: Gold I Don't Want Christmas to End Released: October 22, 2021 Label: Provident/Sony Format: CD, digital download 46 11

EPs As Zach Williams and the Brothers of Grace Shine a Light EP (2014)

Solo + List of EPs, with selected chart positions Title EP details Peak chart positionsUSUSChrist Chain Breaker Released: September 23, 2016 Label: Essential Formats: CD, digital download — 20 23 —Survivor: Live from Harding Prison Released: September 14, 2018 Label: Provident Format: Digital download — 26 —Survivor: Live from Harding Prison did not enter the Rock Albums chart, but peaked at No. 34 on the Rock Album Sales chart. USRock USChrist USChrist Airplay USChrist AC USChrist Digital 2016 "Chain Breaker" — 9 1 1 1 1 RIAA: Platinum Chain Breaker 2017 "Old Church Choir" — 7 1 1 1 1 RIAA: Platinum Zach Williams Top Christian Artist 2021 Zach Williams Top Christian Artist Rescue Story Top Christian Album "There Was Jesus" Top Christian Song

Grammy Awards Year Nominee/work Award Result 2017 "Chain Breaker" Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song 2018Chain Breaker Best Contemporary Christian Music Album 2019 Survivor: Live From Harding Prison Best Contemporary Christian Music Album 2020 "Rescue Story" Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song 2021 "There Was Jesus" Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

GMA Dove Awards

New Artist of the Year Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year

Song of the Year Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year Chain Breaker Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year

Zach Williams Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year Survivor: Live From Harding Prison Long Form Video of the Year

"Rescue Story" Song of the Year

Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year Artist of the Year

Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year Recorded Music Packaging of the Year

"There Was Jesus" Song of the Year

Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year Artist of the Year "Stand My Ground" Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "There Was Jesus" Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year 2022 Zach Williams Artist of the Year

We Love Awards Year Nominee / workCategoryResult 2025 "Jesus Loves" Song of the Year Contemporary Song of the Year "Still" Collaboration of the Year Was a joint win alongside Ryan Stevenson's "Eye of the Storm".