Artist description NIV Bible verses adapted into popular music. Free sheet-music at our homepage.

Music Style late 60's-early 70's rock

Musical Influences Beatles, Elton John, Neil Young, Cat Stevens

Similar Artists The Grateful Dead, The Buffalo Springfield

Artist History In 1996, Lionel De Leon began writing songs from the NIV Bible. The following year he recruited Skip, Fletcher and Raymond (with Tom Alderman) and began recording the music.

Group Members Skip, Fletcher, Lionel, Dan and Raymond

Instruments guitar-keyboard, bass, drums

Albums Prisoners of Hope (Dec. '97) It Is Written (Jan. '98) Holy Bible (July '98) Where Is Your Faith? (Nov '99) Burnt Offering (July '01)

Press Reviews "Sounding genuinely retro, Messenger emulates 60's/70's guitar rock from psychedelic to blues to pop and R&B while hinting at early Jesus music of that era, rough edges intact. The sung text is often accented with groovy guitar-hero solos (as on "Solomon's Wives')." -Jerry Chamberlain, CCM magazine (April 2000) --------------------------------------------------------- "Bass guitarist Fletcher Perkins sings lead vocals on "Job's Blues" with lyrics from the Book of Job (Job 3:1-13). The intensity works well as Job cries out in pain, cursing the day he was born. It's a definite departure from the repetitive praise choruses heard in most churches." -Jennifer Bauman, Special to The Orange County Register (Mar. 18, 2000) ---------------------------------------------------------------- "If the band's goal is to get listeners to read their Bible, then they succeeded with me. As each song began, I found myself turning to the text referenced in the title just to make sure the song was staying true to the Scriptures, and they always did. Listening to these tunes is not only a great way to help youngsters remember their text, but adults as well." ---D-Money, Eternal Praise Entertainment News (June 2000

Additional Info Free sheet-music of every song is available at our homepage.

Location Garden Grove, California - USA

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