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Home: H
: Hillsong United : Biography
Biography (courtesy
of CMSpin.com)
Hillsong United is an Australian Christian rock and worship
band. They started as the youth ministry band from Hillsong
Church in Australia. Their music is praise and worship with
a contemporary style that is a mix of contemporary Christian
music and mainstream rock. The band was formerly named "United
Live" and was led by Reuben Morgan and Marty Sampson.
United Live made its first album on 1999 when worship pastor,
Darlene Zschech suggested to Reuben that they make an album.
(This has been mentioned by Reuben in the United We Stand
DVD in the documentary section) Following the advice, Reuben
and Marty led the team to make their very first album, Everyday.
From there they made 3 more albums with Reuben. They changed
the band name from "United Live" to Hillsong United
after Reuben's departure in 2002. Joel Houston, the son of
the church's senior pastor, replaced Reuben, and stepped up
to lead the group together with Marty. The band has toured
in a number of countries, and their 2006 release United We
Stand was the best selling album of 2006 in Canada at Christian
retail stores.
Other members of Hillsong United include Jonathon
Douglass (J.D.), Jadwin Gillies, Annie Garratt, Bec Gillies,
Michelle Fragar who is the daughter of Russell Fragar who
is also associated with Hillsong. Michael Guy Chislett plays
guitar for Hillsong United and Matthew Tennikoff plays bass
guitar. Popular New Zealand artist Brooke Fraser also makes
contributions to the Hillsong United albums, (2005-present)
most recently in All of the Above with the song "Hosanna"
among others. There are many drummers that play for United
including Rolf Wam Fjell who is the main drummer for Hillsong
Music and Matt Crocker who also is a writer for the band.
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