// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Church of Rhythm drummer say? I'm beat.
Church of Rhythm | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1992–1999 |
| Labels | |
| Past members |
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Church of Rhythm was an American Christian pop band from Chicago, Illinois, active from 1992 until 1999.
History
[edit]During 1992, singer and guitarist Max Hsu, founder of Superchick, created the group in Willow Creek Community Church, with his friends Jason Gregory, Carlton Coleman, and Nathan Clair.[2][3] This initial lineup featured Gregory, Coleman, and Hsu singing, while Clair played keyboards.[4] During 1993, Church of Rhythm went to Milwaukee to release a demo tape, expecting to get signed to a record label, but success was limited. However, when Hsu released a music video for "Take Back the Beat", several labels were interested in the band.[2]
By late 1994, the band would be signed onto Reunion Records, who planned to debut them during the middle of 1995.[5] They would release their self-titled debut album during May 1995, which sold over 50,000 copies and peaked at number 40 on the US Top Christian Albums during August that year.[2][6] It was later rereleased on October the same year as Only the Funky: The Collective Remixes of Church of Rhythm, a remix consisting of dancehall versions of the album's songs.[4][2]
Clair and Coleman left the band by early 1996, citing personal reasons; Gregory exited soon after, in August that year.[7] They were replaced by Matt Miller on drums, Paul Shamoun as a vocalist and percussionist, Dave Ghazarian playing guitar, and Jerome Cunningham as a bassist.[4] Around that time, the band stopped using backing tracks, transitioning into a live band.[8] They released their second and final album. Not Perfect, in 1996,[8] promoting it by holding concerts throughout the United States.[9] The band eventually disbanded in 1999.[1]
Discography
[edit]- 1995: Church of Rhythm (Reunion)
- 1995: Only the Funky: The Collective Remixes of Church of Rhythm (Reunion)[4]
- 1996: Not Perfect (Pamplin)
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Church of Rhythm". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 Womer, Kelly (17 December 1995). "Church of Rhythm has method to its message". Chicago Tribune. p. Tempo Northwest 4. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
- ↑ Pinkston, Jeanette (5 March 2007). "Christian bands set to rock Youth 2007". United Methodist News. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - 1 2 3 4 Powell, Mark Allan (2003). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (2. print ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson. p. 174. ISBN 978-1-56563-679-8.
- ↑ "Artists & Music". Billboard. 1994-12-24. p. 21. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
- ↑ "Top Contemporary Christian". Billboard. 19 August 1995. p. 31.
- ↑ Assaf, Christopher T. (15 January 1998). "Spreading the word with song". Jacksonville Journal Courier. Associated Press. p. 12. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- 1 2 VanArendonk, Nancy (23 November 1996). "Church of Rhythm on being Not Perfect". Reporter-Times. p. 14. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
- ↑ Rogers, Rick (15 September 1996). "More Than 350 Entertainers Performing at Fair". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 29 July 2025.