Artist description If rhythm and praise music is a new term to you, you are in for a treat. Rhythm and praise is the unique sound emanating from the Crossway Worship Band from Memphis, Tennessee—the buckle of the Bible belt, home of the blues and birthplace of rock and soul, with all its dynamic undercurrents and overtones. A diverse and powerful 15-member-band, CWB’s musical influences flavor their sound for alternative, country, pop, Christian and urban audiences with a unity and spirit that brings dominations and races together to worship God on common ground. An immensely talented and exceptionally polished team, CWB writes, performs, engineers, and produces their own music in their own studio on their on label, Save Your Soul Records. Their extensive and inclusive collection of material includes one-hundred-twenty original tunes and three hundred popular positive and inspirational songs. CWB’s CD’s rival the best compilation CD’s, yet all the cuts come from one band. Each song is musically memorable and a stimulating personal worship expression not simply heard, but experienced within. As a performing band, CWB’s popularity stems from their passionate and energized delivery and their great instincts for the mood and demands of their audience. CWB is also noted for their ability to adapt themselves to their surroundings having the flexibility to peel away to a five-piece or ten-piece band depending on available space and the power of sound called for by the occasion. With ten lead-quality vocalists, CWB’s harmonies have an incredible richness, depth, and texture. Their raw energy, spontaneous adlib and sometimes-playful lyrics, endear CWB to young audiences. CWB’s success story is further enhanced by the band’s professional approach to marketing. Maximizing Internet technology for promotion, web design and booking, CWB is a pioneer in steaming music and in aggressive and creative distribution, accounting for their impressive number of Internet sales and chart position. But, it’s the souls they reach that they count. “We are desperate to place our music in the hands of the people who aren’t looking for it, yet are longing for a way to communicate with God without words, “says Holly Simmers, a CWB vocalist and songwriter. “The Internet has played a vital role in expanding our audience at a phenomenal rate. While protecting our music with the latest technologies, we can stream it free to people around the world on demand. They listen anytime as much as the want and they see other news and upcoming events (and sponsor banners!) every time they return. As with radio play in local and national levels, once a song gets a hold of them, they eventually order it online. We have gained direct access to new fans, churches, distributors, magazines, and radio stations, from America and Canada to Africa and Asia, from the UK to India and Japan, from Costa Rica to Mexico. We also give our positive message music as gifts to people in missions, shelters, hospitals, and prisons to bring them hope and thanksgiving. Our CD’s are available in the numerous online stores, in local restaurants, coffee shops, and gas stations, as well as brick and mortar bookstores. “We want to be radical with all we do, “Simmers continues. “Our CD’s and concerts are reaching people in the streets—the unchurched—and bringing them into the presence of God through worship they can relate to, maybe for the first time—music that has found them right where they are outside church walls, outside Christian bookstores. That’s not to say we don’t want the contemporary praise and worship fans. We do. We hope they find our music fresh and invigorating and that it inspires them in a new and creative direction they may not have searched out otherwise.” --Rose Phillips, Phillips Entertainment / Phillips Memphis

Music Style Spiritual, Christian Praise Worship, Country Gospel, Christian Rock, Gospel, R&B, Soul

Musical Influences Vineyard, Kevin Prosch, Petra, Russ Taff, Phil Collins, Beatles, Crosby Stills and Nash, Gatlin Brothers, Matthew Ward, Heart, Eagles, Chicago, Bob Dillon, Rush, Yes, Guess Who, Carl Tuttle, Zepplin, Boxcar Willie, WC Handy, Elvis, Fleetwood Mac

Similar Artists Mercy Me, Caedman's Call, Vineyard, Sonicflood

Artist History Doug, Mike and Bill Simmers were "Daybreak" in the early CCM days. Opening for Petra, Russ Taff, DeGarmo & Key, David & the Giants. Doug led worship at a Vineyard Conference in Anaheim 1992. Vince Leffler has extensive recording, performance, and production work with various Christian and secular mainstream artists over the past 15 years. Other strong singer/songwriters in this group, Holly Simmers, Keith Turbett, Chuck Ludwigsen, Stormie Williams, Bubby Walker, Isaac Thomas, Jacquelin Simmers.

Group Members Doug Simmers, Vince Leffler, Holly Simmers, Cynthia Hunt, Mike Simmers, Bill Simmers, Isaac Thomas, Jimmy Enright, Stephen Walker, Chuck Ludwigsen, Keith Turbett, Stormie Williams, Jacquelin Simmers, Tom Browning.

Instruments Guitars, Bass, Drums, Keys, Piano, Hammond, Percussion, Harmonica, Congas

Albums On Bended Knee; Amazed; All Day Long

Press Reviews All three CDs are available at Amazon.com, PlanetWisdom.com, CDBaby.com, CDStreet.com, IndieHeaven.com, worshipcds.com, and Memphis area retailers like Family Christian Stores, Cat's Music, Pop Tunes, and Turtles Music!

Additional Info Listen Live Sundays 10:30AM www.worshipservice.net

Location Memphis, TN - USA

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