David Wallace Crowder (born November 29, 1971), known professionally by his mononymous stage name Crowder since 2012, is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and author. He was the lead singer in the Christian rock and worship band David Crowder*Band from 1996 to 2012, before he started his solo career on sixstepsrecords and Sparrow Records labels.
He released his first solo album, Neon Steeple, on May 27, 2014. Crowder released his first solo single off the album, "I Am", on November 25, 2013, which rose to the No. 3 position on the Christian Songs chart. American Prodigal, Crowder's second solo album, was released on September 23, 2016 and his third, I Know a Ghost, on November 9, 2018. His fourth solo album, Milk & Honey, released on June 11, 2021.
Crowder, with a trademark appearance comparitive to members of the ZZ Top band, is a recipient of five Grammy nominations and winner of 13 Dove Awards .
Early life and education
David Wallace Crowder was born on November 29, 1971, in Texarkana, Texas. His parents are Marian and Dan Crowder, the owner of the Dan Crowder insurance agency, who were involved in all his extra curricular activities Following high school, he went to college at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. His ministry started during his time at Baylor with the goal of helping to create a church experience for Christians to attend, since he found that most of his peers at Baylor weren't attending a church even though they were attending a Christian university. "My junior year of college, at Baylor University, a friend of mine started a church and asked me to help with the music. I got into this because I wanted to be useful. It's that simple. I do not think of myself as an artist or musician, I think of myself as useful and helpful."
Career David Crowder* Band (1996–2012)
Crowder was the lead vocalist of the David Crowder Band from 1996 until the group disbanded in 2012. At that time, Crowder started his solo career on the Sparrow Records imprint, sixstepsrecords. During the band's time together they released sixteen singles through six studio albums, two live albums, four Extended Plays (EPs) and one compilation album. David Crowder Band (stylized as David Crowder*Band and The David Crowder*Band) was a six-piece Christian rock and modern worship band from Waco, Texas. Their final album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts. They disbanded in 2012, with David Crowder pursuing a solo career under the name Crowder and the rest of the band, except for Mike Hogan, forming The Digital Age. David Crowder*BandBackground informationOriginWaco, Texas, U.S.Genres Christian rock electronic rock worship bluegrass alternative rock folk rockYears active1996–2012Labelssixstepsrecords, Sparrow, EMI, Capitol CMGPast membersDavid Crowder Jack Parker, Jeremy "B-Wack" Bush, Mike Dodson, Mike Hogan, Mark Waldrop, Jason Solley, Taylor Johnson
Solo career (2013-present) Crowder released his debut solo studio album on May 27, 2014, Neon Steeple. The lead single, "I Am", released on November 25, 2013, charted at No, 3 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart. "Come As You Are" achieved a Grammy nomination in 2015 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.
His second solo album, American Prodigal, was released September 23, 2016. The first single, "Run Devil Run", was released on June 18, 2016. "Forgiven" was the second single released.
On September 19, 2018, Crowder announced a third solo album and released the first two singles, "Red Letters" and "Wildfire". The album, I Know a Ghost, was released on November 9, 2018.
Crowder's fourth studio album, titled Milk & Honey, was released on June 11, 2021. The album was supported with the three singles "Good God Almighty", "In the House", and "God Really Loves Us". The album features appearances from Hulvey, Dante Bowe and Maverick City Music.
Beginning in January 2024, Crowder began touring in Jam Nation's Winter Jam Tour with Christian artists CAIN, Katy Nichole, and Newsong.
Crowder announced his new album The Exile on April 5, 2024, after dropping a new single "[DASH]" featuring TobyMac. The album was released on May 31, 2024.
Books David Crowder has written two books: David Crowder, Praise Habit: Finding God in Sunsets and Sushi, NavPress, 2005. David Crowder with Mike Hogan, Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, but Nobody Wants to Die or (The Eschatology of Bluegrass), Relevant Books, 2006.
Discography
Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUSUSChrist.UKC&GNeon Steeple Released: May 27, 2014 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl 9 1 4 RIAA: GoldAmerican Prodigal Released: September 23, 2016 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl, cassette 12 1 6 I Know a Ghost Released: November 9, 2018 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl, cassette 43 2 — Milk & Honey Released: June 11, 2021 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download 59 1 10 The Exile Released: May 31, 2024 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download 102 1 —Return Released: TBA Label: TBA Formats: TBA TBA TBA — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
Other albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positionsUSUSChrist.USRockUSFolkiTunes Session Released: November 13, 2012 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: Digital download 172 9 50 9Milk & Cookies: A Merry Crowder Christmas Released: October 21, 2022 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download — 29 — —
EPs + List of EPs, with selected chart positions Title EP details Peak chart positionsUSChristUSRockNeon Porch Extravaganza Released: October 30, 2015 Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords Formats: CD, digital download 11 39
Singles As a lead artist + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US Bub. USChrist USChrist Air. USChrist AC US ChristDigital "I Am" 2013 — 3 2 6 3 Neon Steeple "Come As You Are" 2014 — 3 1 6 5 RIAA: Platinum "Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains)" 2015 — 11 14 15 11 "Run Devil Run" 2016 — 22 26 — 6 American Prodigal "My Victory" — 12 7 12 10 "Forgiven" 2017 — 10 8 10 10 "Back to the Garden" — 45 — — — "All My Hope" — 3 1 2 1 RIAA: Gold "Red Letters" / "Wildfire" 2018 — 9 8 11 5RIAA: Gold I Know a Ghost — 43 — — — "Let It Rain (Is There Anybody)"(featuring Mandisa) 2019 — 10 6 6 13 "I'm Leaning on You" 2020 — 19 15 16 — "Night Like This" — 47 — — — "Good God Almighty" 2021 17 1 1 1 1 RIAA: Gold Milk & Honey "In the House" 19 1 1 1 19 "O Holy Night" — — 46 — — "God Really Loves Us" 2022 — 3 3 4 — Milk & Honey"Grave Robber"(original or with Zach Williams)2023—8112 The Exile"— [Dash]"(featuring TobyMac)2024—36——— "The Rock" 2025 — 6 — — 1 rowspan="3" "It Really Is Amazing Grace" 2026 — 14 9 6 1"Never Gonna Die (July!)" 2026 — — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
As a featured artist + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Album USChrist "Testify" 2019 46 Mood // Doom "Home" — Never Fold "My Jesus" 2021 — My Jesus "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
Promotional singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Album USChrist. US Christ.Digital "He Is" 2021 30 11 Milk & Honey "Milk & Honey" 37 — "The Anchor" — — "Even in Exile" 2024 — — The Exile "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
Other charted songs Title YearPeak chart positions Album USChrist USChrist Air. USChrist AC US ChristDigital "This I Know" 2013 — — — 14 Neon Steeple "My Beloved" 2014 — — — 25"Somebody Prayed"(original or with Dylan Scott) 2024 7 3 3 9 The Exile"Still" 2025 19 4 3 —
Music videos Title Year Album Source "Come As You Are" 2014 Neon Steeple Watch "Run Devil Run" 2016 American Prodigal Watch "Forgiven"2017 Watch "Back to the Garden" Watch "Prove It featuring KB" Watch "All My Hope (featuring Tauren Wells)" non-album single Watch
Awards GMA Dove Awards
! scope="row" rowspan="5" | 2015 | "Come As You Are" | Song of the Year
| "Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains)" | Rock/Contemporary Song of the Year
| "Come As You Are" | Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year
| rowspan="2" | Neon Steeple | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
| Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
! scope="row" rowspan="4" | 2017 | "Run Devil Run" | Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
| rowspan="2" | American Prodigal | Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year
| Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
| Run Devil Run | Short Form Video of the Year
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2018 | rowspan="2" | "All My Hope" | Song of the Year
| Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
! scope="row" rowspan="4" | 2019 | "Red Letters" | Song of the Year
| "Wildfire" | Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
| I Know a Ghost | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
| Red Letters | Short Form Video of the Year
! scope="row" | 2021 | rowspan="2" | "Good God Almighty" | Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
! scope="row" rowspan="4" | 2022 | Song of the Year
| "Higher Power" | Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
| rowspan="2" | Milk & Honey | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
| Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
! scope="row" | 2025 | "Somebody Prayed" | Short Form Video of the Year (Concept)
We Love Awards Year Nominee / workCategoryResult 2025 "Still" Collaboration of the Year
Notes
See also David Crowder Band discography
References
External links
Official Facebook