In the business of music, 15 years might as well be a lifetime; however, for four ordinary guys who couldn’t imagine anything better than singing about Jesus, the past 15 years have been more like a dream come to life. 4HIM has been about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through the powerful, incomparable medium of music since their beginnings singing with the well-known ensemble group, Truth.
From the four ordinary guys who formed while sitting down at McDonald’s to explore the idea of forming a four-man pop-gospel group, 4HIM presents ENCORE…FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, their final project as 4HIM, a collection of career favorites, as well as a solo song from each member.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to write the closing chapter to our story than to sing our way out,” 4HIM states, “We hope you hear our hearts in ENCORE and know how blessed we’ve been to be a part of your lives.”
Since their formation in 1989, their harmonic convergence—the likes of which hadn’t been heard in Christian music since the Imperials took audiences by storm in the late 1970s—blended the best of tradition from past decades in Christian music with modern pop sensibilities and no-holds-barred, real life lyrics. Christian radio ‘got it’ right of the box with the group’s first No. 1 single, “Where There Is Faith,” and audiences began to sit up and take notice of the fresh-faced foursome from down south.
4HIM managed to transcend any of those potential pratfalls, continuing to make music that not only met the needs of listeners but pushed the creative envelope as the mainstream pop music scene evolved into something a little less slick, less produced.
By the time 4HIM’s ‘best of’ album released in 2004, all four men were contemplating ‘where do we go from here?’ Not because they were drifting apart or because the opportunities were few and far between. No, call it sixth sense, the sense of discovery, of beginning to understand that there could be life beyond the ministry they’d devoted the biggest part of their adult lives to.
After much prayer, Andy Chrisman decided to pursue a lifelong passion as worship leader at a local church in Celebration, Florida. Mark Harris had begun writing new songs for a solo project. Marty and Kirk were also busy writing and doing production work on their own.
Each one, in his own time, began to feel the excitement of seeing new roads winding out before them. They began, one by one, to sense God saying “I am doing a new thing in you.” And so, with gratitude for all God has done over the past 15 years, they began to write the closing chapter in the story of 4HIM.
Taking a walk down memory lane, 4HIM recorded new versions of their biggest hits on the farewell project. Once again their longtime producer Michael Omartian produced the project, which features nine favorite 4HIM songs, in addition to a medley and one new track, “Unity (We Stand),” featuring guest vocalists Point of Grace and Jeromy Deibler of FFH. Four bonus solo songs from each band member will also be included.
“This project will hopefully capture the spirit of the songs and where we are now in 2005 musically, spiritually and thematically it will be a trip down memory lane with a new twist,” Mark Harris explains. “We wanted to do this last project as a gift to our loyal fans—to commemorate all the years of faithful support we have received from them.”
Throughout their time together, 4HIM has received much acclaim for their 11 hit albums including an RIAA Gold certified album (The Basics of Life), 24 No. 1 radio singles, eight Dove Awards including three “Group of the Year,” and a Grammy Award nomination as well as Alabama’s Music Hall of Fame for The Governor’s Achievement Award. In addition to their numerous tours across the nation, the group has also been featured performers with the Billy Graham and Louis Palau crusades.
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
2003 Dove Award nomination – Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year
1998 Dove Award - Group of the Year
Dove Award - Inspirational Song of the Year for “Center of the Mark”
1998 WOW! Inspirational Award nomination - Performing artist of the Year
1997 Grammy Award nomination - Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for The Message
1996 RIAA certified gold album for The Basics of Life
1996 CCM Magazine’s readers’ poll - Favorite Long Form Video for The Ride Comes Alive
1995 American Songwriter - Christian Artist of the Year
1995 Dove Award - Group of the Year
1994 CCM Magazine - Song of the Year for “For Future Generations”
1994 Dove Award - Group of the Year
Dove Award - Inspirational Album of the Year for The Season of Love
1993 Christian Booksellers Association Impact Award - Cassette Jacket Design for The Basics of Life
Christian Booksellers Association Impact Award - Total Promotional Campaign, Music for The Basics of Life
1993 Dove Award - Group of the Year
Dove Award - Inspirational Album of the Year for Generation to Generation
1992 Christian Research Report Reporter Poll - Best Group
1991 Christian Research Report Reporter Poll - Best Group
1991 Dove Award - Best New Artist
1990 Christian Research Report Reporter Poll - Best New Artist
VIDEOGRAPHY
1996 The Message in the Making
1995 The Ride Comes Alive
1993 The Basics of Life
1991 Face the Nation
DEVOTIONAL BOOK
1998 The Basics of Life
ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• A career total so far of 22 number one singles
• Partners in hunger relief with World Vision—featured performer on World Vision 2003 Spring Tour
• Nominated by Alabama’s Music’s Hall of Fame for The Governor’s Achievement Award
• 2002 “4Guys And A Fruitcake” Christmas tour with Chonda Pierce
• Featured performers with the Louis Palau crusade and the Billy Graham crusade
• Co-headlined a national tour with Point of Grace
• Co-headlined 1998 fall national tour with Jaci Velasquez and special guest Michelle Tumes
• Headlined 1998 Spring tour with special guest Big Tent Revival featuring Jeni Varnadeau
• Performed at “Sold Out 1998” Promise Keepers conference the day before the Super Bowl
• Co-host of the 1998 NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) Bobby Clampett/4HIM Pro-Am Classic Golf Tournament— | 
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Thanks for sharing. Blessings on your head from the Lord Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach.
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People
Charlotte, NC USA