Behind Every Great Artist...
By Deborah Evans Price, senior music editor, gmclife.com
Jason Ingram took home his fourth consecutive Christian Songwriter of the Year honor at SESAC’s annual awards dinner honoring the top Christian songwriters and publishers. The event was hosted by SESAC’s John Mullins and Tim Fink at Nashville’s popular Loveless Barn on February 16. Peertunes Ltd./Grange Hill Music/Windsor Way Music were named SESAC’s 2009 Christian Publishers of the Year.
“I am just so humbled,” Ingram told gmclife.com after accepting his award. “I look around the room here tonight and there are just so many great songs represented and so much great talent, I still kind of pinch myself...I don’t deserve it, but God has been really kind to me. I love writing songs and this is kind of like icing on the cake.”
One of the Christian music industry’s most prolific songwriters and producers, Ingram has written or co-written such hits as Tenth Avenue North’s “Hold My Heart” and “By Your Side,” Aaron Shust’s “To God Alone,” Rush of Fools’ “Lose it All” and “Can’t Take That Away” by Mikeschair.
In 2010, Ingram looks to have another banner year as he’s produced upcoming albums for Meredith Andrews and Tenth Avenue North and penned what looks to be the next hit for Natalie Grant. “I’m so jazzed on what’s coming out. Meredith has a new record that I’m so fired up about; and Tenth Avenue North, we’ve finished their record and I’m just blown away by this band and their record. Natalie Grant has a single out, a song called “The Greatness of Our God,” and I can’t wait for people to get this song and for the church to get this song.”
Ingram will continue to flex his muscle as a songwriter with a special new project, releasing later this spring. “One of my greatest passions is songs for the church and this year I’ll get to deliver some songs to the church with a new project called One Sonic Society,” he says of the collective he’s formed with former Delirious members Stu G. and Jon Thatcher and acclaimed drummer/songwriter Paul Mabury. “I just pinch myself that I get to make music with those guys.”
During the SESAC event, Ingram and Tenth Avenue North lead vocalist Mike Donehey delivered a stirring performance of Tenth’s hit “By Your Side.” Afterward they were each presented a special plaque honoring their achievements in Billboard magazine. Ingram was Billboard’s 2009 Songwriter of the Year and Tenth Avenue North topped the list of artists dominating the Hot Christian Songs chart.
“Being out on the road, we’ve heard these crazy stories about how our songs have impacted people,” Donehey tells gmclife.com. “When a song hits someone in the center of their heart, it’s something you can’t formulate. You can’t figure out how to do it. It just happens by the grace of God.”
Tenth Avenue North was named New Artist of the Year at last year’s Dove Awards and has enjoyed tremendous success at Christian radio. “I attribute it to the crazy reality that God can redeem something as arbitrary as a three-minute song and break through all the walls that hours on a counseling couch can’t touch,” says Donehey. “It’s humbling to be part of something so amazing.”
SESAC’s annual Christian Awards honored more 25 songs that were among the most played Christian songs of the year. Steve Taylor, Ian Eskelin, Brian White, Cary Barlowe and Sarah Reeves were among the SESAC writers who received awards at the event.
“A friend told me what you don’t celebrate you lose,” Ingram says, “and I thought if you don’t take moments to celebrate and thank God for what he’s done, you do lose those, so this is huge. It would be the fool who says ‘I got this because of what I do’ or ‘I got this because I work hard.’ I am good at what I do and I do work hard but there’s nothing good that I’ve received that’s not from the hand of my God. Nothing! It’s God’s great kindness and I’m so grateful.”
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About the Writer
Deborah Evans Price has covered Christian/Gospel music for Billboard magazine since 1994. She also contributes regularly to Country Weekly, CMA Close Up, Devo’Zine, Christian Single, HomeLife, BMI Music World, and other publications.
A Nashville resident since 1983, Deborah has held editorial posts at Radio & Records, Country News, American Songwriter and Billboard. Amy Grant, Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley, Charlie Daniels, 3 Doors Down, Third Day, Don Henley, Bon Jovi, Chris Rice, Sandra Bullock, Mercy Me, Alan Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood and Steven Curtis Chapman are among her many interviews. Additionally, she's a sought-after music industry analyst who has been interviewed on CNN, MSNBC, TNN, The Today Show, and ABC PrimeTime Live, among other outlets.
Deborah is a member of the Gospel Music Association's board of directors and a graduate of Leadership Music. She resides south of Nashville with her husband, Gary, and son Trey.
