Derek Webb Has Actually Played His Concerts In The Living Rooms Of Fans

DEREK WEBB

Here's the Trick to watch videos

Derek Webb, born May 27, 1974 in Memphis, Tennessee, is an American singer-songwriter who first entered the music industry as a member of the band Caedmon's Call.

Later he embarked on a successful solo career.

As a member of the Houston, Texas-based Caedmon’s Call, Webb has seen career sales approaching 1 million records,

along with 10 GMA Dove Award nominations and three Dove Award wins and six #1 Christian radio hits.

In 2003, Derek Walsh Webb left Caedmon's Call to pursue a solo career. Since his departure, he has released four studio albums as well as a live album and a DVD.

While these have been less commercially successful than his work with Caedmon's Call, Webb has had more of a free hand to shape his work to be exactly how he wants it.

On May 22, 2007, it was announced that Derek Webb had re-joined Caedmon's Call, writing and recording for their upcoming album, entitled Overdressed, and would be joining the band on their subsequent tour.

Webb currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, fellow singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken.

He is also a member of the Square Peg Alliance, a group of 9 musicians and friends who have banded together for the purpose of cross-promotion.

Derek Webb graduated from Klein High School in Klein, TX in 1992. He was active in Young Life and spent a month working at Young Life's Frontier Ranch in 1999.

Caedmon's Call was formed in 1993 with four original members (three of whom still remain), Cliff Young, Danielle Glenn, Todd Bragg, and Aaron Tate. Aaron Tate, however, never intended to tour with the band, and was included in a songwriting capacity only, sharing those duties with Derek Webb who also played lead guitar.

In June 1994, the band released their first album, My Calm // Your Storm, originally a cassette-only demo recording. It was re-printed twice the same year with different cover art each time. In 1996 the band signed with now-defunct Christian label Warner Alliance, producing their self-titled release. Peaking at 110 on the Billboard 200, the album went on to win the GMA 1998 Modern Rock Album of the Year.

After the collapse of Warner Alliance in 1998, Caedmon's Call signed to Essential Records, where they released 40 Acres (1999), Long Line of Leavers (2000), In the Company of Angels: A Call to Worship (2001), Back Home (2003). All of these albums were moderately successful, peaking at 61, 58, 72, and 66 respectively on the Billboard 200.

Notably, Webb did not provide any songwriting for In the Company of Angels or Back Home, despite having been a primary songwriter for the band prior to their release. During this time period, Webb also contributed to City on a Hill: Songs of Worship and Praise (2000) and City on a Hill: Sing Alleluia (2002) , both as a member of Caedmon's Call and as a solo artist, which respectively garnered the GMA 2001 & 2003 Special Event Album of the Year awards.

In 2003, after the successful release of Back Home, Webb left the band to pursue his solo career. The following year, Caedmon's Call released Chronicles 1992-2004 (2004), a best-of collection of the band's work, which included work by Webb. Most recently, Caedmon's Call has signed onto INO Records, allowing Webb to rejoin the band for their newly-released album Overdressed.

His first solo album, She Must and Shall Go Free (2003) is notable for causing controversy in Contemporary Christian Music circles; some Christian retailers refused to stock the album for its use of "strong" language.

One of the songs that was the basis for controversy was Wedding Dress where Derek Webb compares Christians who seek fulfillment in things outside of Christ to a person committing adultery. An introspective tune, Webb writes that "I am a whore I do confess / I put you on just like a wedding dress".

Another song that generated controversy was Saint and Sinner.

Webb wrote "I used to be a damned mess but now I look just fine, 'Cause you dressed me up and we drank the finest wine.'

The word 'damned' was removed from the final version of the album, at the request of two major Christian retailers.

Following the release of She Must and Shall Go Free, Derek Webb embarked on a national tour in which he actually played his concerts in the living rooms of fans.

This provided the opportunity to have greater interaction with his listeners. He went on to release a live album from his "House Tour", entitled The House Show (2004).

His second solo studio record, I See Things Upside Down (2004), generated mixed reviews. All marketing to the typical Christian music stations used by his first solo album and his albums with Caedmon's Call was stopped, though the album still has explicitly Christian lyrics.

In comparison to Webb's previous work, this album has what's been referred to as an "experimental" style to it, and has been compared to the music of Wilco in that respect. Webb has stated that the album "was doing away with people's expectations in order to free me up to do what I wanted." Following the release of I See Things Upside Down, Webb released a live concert DVD, How to Kill and Be Killed (2005).

His third studio album, titled Mockingbird (2005), was released on December 26, 2005. The album touches on subjects such as politics, social justice, and war. Webb has stated that he tackled these subjects to stimulate discussion and engage people to bring about changes in what he sees as some of the greatest problems the world is facing today.

In order to broaden this discussion to people less inclined to purchase his album, beginning September 1, 2006, Webb offered Mockingbird for free on the website Free Derek Webb (no longer exists), where it was available for download until December 8, 2006. Over 80,000 free copies of the album were downloaded during this time.

On January 30th, 2007, Derek Webb released two albums, each containing the same ten songs from earlier in his solo career, included pieces from each of his three solo studio albums.

One Zero (Acoustic), contains acoustic reinterpretations of the songs, and is available in stores only. One Zero (Remix) makes use of the original recording sessions for each of the songs, but has been remixed by engineer Will Hunt. This more experimental record is available only online.

Webb's newest project, The Ringing Bell was released on May 1st, 2007. Before the release date, it was available for pre-order at TheRingingBell.com in a deluxe edition which included a 96-page graphic novel inspired by the album. Those who pre-ordered the deluxe edition of the album were also able to immediately download it in its entirety.

As of May 2007, in response to the success of the free distribution of Mockingbird, derek Webb has teamed up with music industry veterans Mark Nicholas, David McCollum and Brannon McAllister to form NoiseTrade.com. The site will allow users to download music for free from independent artists who use the service.

While on tour supporting Mockingbird, Webb noticed that attendance at his shows had increased dramatically after he had made Mockingbird available for free online.

He explains that for a niche artist, the value of word-of-mouth recommendations greatly exceeds that of the money earned from online music sales, even noting that he sold more albums after it had been made available for free.

The site will provide a market for an ostensibly mutually agreeable "trade:" the consumer will get music for free, in exchange for making "noise" about the artist by sending emails to friends to let them know about the music.

The consumers may also use the site to find new and different kinds of music at no cost, utilizing user recommendations and forums to learn of new artists. The artists will also be able to use the ZIP code information collected to help book shows in areas with larger numbers of fans and potential fans.

Derek Webb is involved in the non-profit organization To Write Love on Her Arms.

Derek has officially endorsed Ron Paul's candidacy for United States president.

(all links open in a separate window)

	The House Show CD By Derek Webb / Provident Music Distribution
A powerful mix of raw acoustic performance and gripping testimony from Derek Webb! Includes "Faith My Eyes," "Nobody Loves Me," "This World," "Every Grain of Sand," "I Repent," and more.

Stockholm Syndrome CD
By Derek-Webb / Provident Music Distribution

Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter/social activist Derek Webb has been igniting honest dialogue and turning perceptions upside down for some time. A founding member of the popular band Caedmon's Call, he's a rare artist that can marry the good news of the Gospel with the dirt of real life. Derek Webb is at it again - stepping on toes and challenging the church on tough realities including poverty, war, and racism on his new release, Stockholm Syndrome - a work Webb describes as his most important record yet.

The Ringing Bell CD
By Derek Webb / Ino Records/m2.0 Communication

The sixth solo release from Derek Webb continues his trademark bold expressions of faith and candid discussions of what it means to be a follower of Christ in the context of today's church and society. Sonically, Webb cranks it up a notch from the simple acoustic arrangements of 2005's Mockingbird, opting for a more rock and roll influenced sound. The Ringing Bell includes "The End," "Can't Be Without You," "A Savior on Capitol Hill," and more.

One Zero CD
By Derek Webb / Provident Music Distribution

After 4 critically acclaimed recordings and the recent groundbreaking digital initiative, Derek Webb captures the mind and imagination of progressive Christian consumers with new interpretations of his favorite songs.One Zero packages ten fresh, unheard acoustic recordings of the songs that have become fan favorites in a Derek Webb performance. This collection connects fans of music to a provocative artist discussing issues untouched by most communicators today.

	Mockingbird CD By Provident Music Distribution
Known for his excellent musicianship and challenging lyrics, singer/songwriter Derek Webb returns with his fourth solo release. Mockingbird features ten new songs including "A New Law," "Rich Young Ruler," "In God We Trust," and more.

	I See Things Upside Down CD By Provident Music Distribution
I See Things Upside Down explores the topic of value and what things look like, but not from the most obvious angle. Webb's straightforward and honest lyrics speak of Biblical truths, not worldly ones. His third solo album includes "I Want A Broken Heart", "The Strong, The Tempted, & The Weak", "Reputation", and more.

	She Must and Shall Go Free CD By Provident Music Distribution
Derek Webb's first solo release after Caedmon's Call is a collection acoustic, bluesy folk originals with thought provoking lyrics and challenging themes. Includes "Nobody Loves Me," "Saint and Sinner," "The Church," and more.

	Feedback CD By Derek-Webb / INO Records
The ever challenging and thought-provoking Derek Webb puts down his megaphone to focus on the Savior with his exceptional 2011 release, Feedback. Segmented into three three-song movements, this powerful collection includes "Our Father in Heaven," "Your Kingdom Come," "Amen," and more.