Christian Music - Reviews, News, Interviews

Get guidance on Bible study from C.S. Lewis - Free Course!

Christmas Celebration Tour

  • Updated Feb 01, 2002
Christmas Celebration Tour

Crosswalk.com co-sponsors "Christmas Celebration" Tour featuring Twila Paris, Crystal Lewis, Avalon, Anointed & Nichole Nordeman

The "Christmas Celebration" Tour, co-sponsored by World Vision and Crosswalk.com, is slated to be an exhilarating holiday evening featuring five of the most accomplished contemporary Christian artists singing their most loved carols as well as their signature songs. The same producers that brought together The Young Messiah Tour have united Twila Paris, Crystal Lewis, Avalon, Anointed and Nichole Nordeman for a festive and inspiring twelve-city tour beginning on November 27 and closing December 12, a perfect holiday event for the whole family. Backed by a full band, the entourage is currently scheduled to perform in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Louisiana and Virginia.

"For the first time on stage together, Christmas Celebration will feature some of the most outstanding Christian artists of our time," said Norman Miller, tour producer. "The tour will combine the excitement of the holiday season with some of the most gifted artists singing their best-loved songs. Together with a full band, you're guaranteed a night to remember for a very long time to come."

Twila Paris  {{Twila Paris}} is known as a modern-day hymn writer with songs printed in hymnals around the world. She is also the acting national spokesperson for World Vision, one of the world's largest hunger relief organizations. Paris' long list of accolades includes receiving the Female Vocalist of the Year Dove Award, for three consecutive years, from the Gospel Music Association (GMA). Now with an amazing 28 # 1 radio singles in contemporary Christian music, Paris has released ==Perennial==: Songs For The Seasons Of Life, on Sparrow Records. Inspired by familiar hymns and their resurgence in today's contemporary worship, the new album was produced by Brown Bannister and arranged by Tom Howard. The album has already produced two No. 1 songs, including chart-topping "My Lips Will Praise You."

Crystal Lewis{{Crystal Lewis}} was named the 1998 Female Vocalist of the Year. A remarkably gifted vocalist, she recently released her critically acclaimed recording, ==Gold==, marking her second recording for Myrrh Records and her 15th solo project. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Christian sales chart and held that prestigious position for over a month. Her first two radio singles from the new album, "Not The Same" and "Lord I Believe In You," also shot to the No. 1 position on the Adult Contemporary (AC) charts. Renowned artist {{Kirk Franklin}} recently selected Lewis to sing on his new album, The Nu Nation Project, which shipped platinum (one million units) to retail outlets. Lewis, along with guest vocalists R. Kelly, Bono (U2), and Mary J. Blige, is featured on Franklin's debut single and video, "Lean On Me." The video is already airing on VH-1, MTV, BET, and has also been featured on Entertainment Tonight. Lewis received an impressive five nominations in the GMA's 1998 Dove Awards, receiving awards for both Female Vocalist of the Year and Spanish Language Album of the Year for La Belleza de la Cruz. Four of Lewis' solo releases have been recorded entirely in Spanish. Her last album, ==Beauty For Ashes==, has sold over 300,000 copies and has delivered three #1 radio hits, including #1 Song of the Year in 1997, "People Get Ready...Jesus Is Comin'." This classic anthem has also been twice nominated for Song of the Year at the Dove Awards.

Avalon  {{Avalon}} has firmly established themselves as one of the top modern-pop vocal groups in America. The past two years have found them performing live in front of more than 700,000 people, together with some of the biggest names in Christian music, including {{Steven Curtis Chapman}}, {{Michael W. Smith}}, and {{Sandi Patty}}. Avalon was recently honored by the GMA with the 1998 Dove Award for New Artist of the Year...an honor previously bestowed upon artists such as {{Be Be & Ce Ce Winans}}, {{Take 6}}, {{4Him}}, {{Point of Grace}} and {{Jars of Clay}}. The group has captured seven consecutive #1 radio hits, including the song "Testify To Love," which was the first No. 1 from their current chart-topping ==A Maze of Grace== project. The song went on to hold at #1 for six consecutive weeks, becoming the longest-running # 1 song of the 1990s on The CCM Update AC chart. Because of their broad-based success in a relatively short period of time, Avalon has been featured three times on the cable news channel, CNN, delivering their message through music to millions of people around the world. Their infectious, upbeat, Euro-pop sound features four of the most versatile and passionate voices in all of Christian music.

AnnointedWith numerous Grammy and Dove awards and nominations, {{Anointed}}, in just four short years, has risen from virtual anonymity to one of Christian music's best-known vocal groups. With the release of their second Myrrh recording ==Under the Influence==, this Columbus, Ohio, based group - comprised of siblings Steve Crawford and Da'dra Crawford and their friend Denise "Nee-C" Walls - has received acclaim in Christian and mainstream markets alike. In 1996, Anointed was honored with GMA Dove Awards for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year, Urban Recorded Song of the Year and Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year. The mainstream music industry also put its stamp of approval on the fledgling group with a Stellar Award for Best Performance by a Group or Duo, Contemporary; a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album; and a Nashville Music Award nomination for Best Rhythm and Blues Album. The Epic remix of their single, "It's in God's Hand Now," from their debut album, The Call, made its way onto the Billboard urban charts, and the song's video appeared on BET and VH-1.

NordemanRelative newcomer and Star Song recording artist {{Nichole Nordeman}} first gained recognition as the winner of the national title in the artist/songwriter category of the GMA's Academy of Gospel Music Arts competition. Nordeman almost did not enter the contest because, as a waitress, the $200 registration fee was steep. Borrowing the money to enter the event contest, Nordeman soon caught the attention of Christian music executives and landed her first recording contract. Her remarkable debut, ==Wide Eyed==, produced by Mark Hammond, features a piano-based instrumentation with a lyrical depth born out of personal experience. Debuting at No. 10 on the Christian sales charts, Wide Eyed has already garnered its first No. 1 radio single, "To Know You," on the Christian Adult Contemporary charts.

Christmas Tour
Sponsors of the 1998 Christmas Celebration Tour are both World Vision and Crosswalk.com.

World Vision, the largest privately funded humanitarian agency in the U.S., is an international Christian relief and development organization working in 101 countries through more than 4,000 projects.

Crosswalk.com is one of the most popular Christian sites on the Internet providing news and lifestyle information, interaction and services to the Christian and family-friendly communities. They are also home to the #1 Christian music web site complete with feature stories on top artists, up-to-date music news, in-depth album information with audio clips and reviews, six live Internet radio streams, and links with nearly 60 official artist sites including The Christmas Celebration Tour.

For more information on Christmas Celebration Tour dates in your area, click here or visit Crosswalk Events.