Elias Elton Dummer (born March 3, 1983) is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and writer based in Tennessee. Elias was the principal songwriter, founding member, lead singer, and pianist in the contemporary Christian band the City Harmonic, from 2009 until 2017, and released his first solo music a decade since the creation of the band in 2019.
Early life and education Dummer was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. He attended Westmount High School.'ROCKINGHAM: The City Harmonic calls it quits with “Benediction Live”'. The Hamilton Spectator, June 21, 2017 by Graham Rockingham
Career Dummer started The City Harmonic with guitarist Aaron Powell, bassist Eric Fusilier, and drummer Joshua Vanderlaan in 2009 after they served together as the house worship band for an inter-denominational event for students focused on "worship and mission" called CrossCulture."The City Harmonic" AllMusic Biography by Mark Deming"INTERVIEW: The City Harmonic's Elias Dummer Discusses Their New Album 'Heart', Story of "City on a Hill" and Fall Tour". BreatheCast, Matt Lloyd, September 17, 2013 The band was then commissioned by the TrueCity movement of churches in Hamilton, Ontario. The band released an EP, Introducing the City Harmonic in 2010."Introducing the City Harmonic". AllMusic review by Jared Johnson
Dummer's hit song "Manifesto" became the walkup song for baseball player Seth Smith, and served as the theme song for 2011's National Day of Prayer, in addition to being performed live at Passion 2013 by Charlie Hall.
In 2015, Dummer co-produced We Are The City Harmonic, a documentary about the social impact of churches working together in Hamilton, with Jesse Hunt and Eric Fusilier.
The City Harmonic disbanded in 2017. Dummer and his family moved to Tennessee;"Elias Dummer Speaks About Life After the City Harmonic & His New Solo Album. Hallels, By Timothy Yap January 27, 2019 after first releasing a series of singles to streaming platforms beginning in November 2018, Dummer released his debut album as solo artist, The Work Vol. 1, on February 8, 2019; his debut single "Enough" received sufficient radio play to appear for 26 weeks on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart."‘Enough’ Is Not Enough — An Interview with Elias Dummer". CCM Magazine, Andrew Voigt In 2020, "Expectation" appeared on iTunes and Apple Music charts in more than 30 countries around the world.
Dummer released his sophomore album The Work, Vol. 2, in July, 2022, which was co-produced by Dummer and Brent Milligan and featured multiple collaborators including JJ Heller, Citizens, Land of Color, and Sandra McCracken. Production began in 2020, requiring them to accomplish certain elements remotely, including a choir crowd-sourced from singers across the world.
The album was included in multiple lists naming the best Christian music albums of 2022, including those from The Gospel Coalition, JesusWired, UTR Media.
As of September 2022, Dummer's songs have accumulated over 100 million streams.
Songwriting Dummer's career began as a songwriter, with songs like "Honestly" and "Do You Hear The Sound" released under Spring Hill Worship in 2005. With his band Elias, he wrote "Faithful Forever" winning a Covenant Award in 2008. In addition to his releases as a solo artist, Elias, and with The City Harmonic, Dummer has contributed to a number of projects for other artists. Dummer has written with Building 429, Newsong, Zealand Worship, Big Daddy Weave, Dan Bremnes, and Todd Smith.
Writing Dummer has contributed to Huffington Post and ChurchLeaders.com on faith and culture. In 2023, Dummer also co-founded and contributed to a research project called Worship Leader Research in conjunction with Baylor University, Belmont University, and Southern Wesleyan University. The findings of this research have been featured by Christianity Today, The Washington Post, Sing! — The Center for Congregational Song, The Roys Report, and The Holy Post.
Recognition As a solo artist and as the founding member of The City Harmonic, Dummer has received a Juno Award (and 2 additional nominations), 15 Covenant Awards (with 26 more nominations), and a Dove Awards nomination.
In September 2023, Dummer was featured in the Hearn Innovator Series at Baylor University.
Personal life Dummer and his wife Meaghan have five children and live in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada after living near Nashville for almost ten years.https://www.trevortalks.co/elias-dummer-podcast-interview-trevor-talks-2022/ Together with Travis Garner, they helped to plant The Village Nashville in 2016, a church in Nolensville, Tennessee."Q & A with Elias Dummer from The Village Church". Williamson Source, By Donna Vissman, February 7, 2016
Business In addition to music, Elias Dummer has multiple successful businesses, including Rockfirm Marketing, Crown & Press, and Square Foot Show.
Discography
As frontman in The City Harmonic
+YearAlbumPeak Chart PositionWeeks2011Introducing The City Harmonic (EP)26 Billboard Top Christian Albums182011I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home)34 Billboard Top Christian Albums22013Heart24 Billboard Top Christian Albums32015We Are40 Billboard Top Christian Albums2017Benediction (Live)
Singles with The City Harmonic +YearSinglePeak Chart PositionsWeeksAlbum2011"Manifesto" 24 Billboard Christian Songs 19 Billboard Hot Christian Songs 15 Billboard Christian Song Sales 20 30Introducing The City Harmonic2011"Mountaintop"28 Billboard Christian Songs4I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home)2011"I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home)"5 Billboard Hot Christian Songs16I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home)2012"Mountaintop"27 Billboard Hot Christian Songs12I Have A Dream (It Feels Like Home)2013"Holy (Wedding Day)"36 Billboard Hot Christian Songs8I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home)2014"Praise the Lord"46 Billboard Christian Airplay6Heart
Solo albums
The Work Vol. 1 (2019) February 8, 2019
YearAlbumPeak Chart PositionWeeks2019The Work Vol. 110 Billboard Heatseekers12022The Work Vol. 2
Singles as a Solo Artist Year Single Peak Chart Position Weeks Album 2019 "Enough" 25 Billboard Christian Airplay 26 The Work Vol. 12019"Enough"42 Billboard Hot Christian Songs7The Work Vol. 12022"The Gospel is Rest (feat. Land of Color)"The Work Vol. 22022"Kyrie Eleison (feat. Citizens)"The Work Vol. 22022"Carry (feat. JJ Heller)"The Work Vol. 22022"See Clearly" (feat. Sandra McCracken)The Work Vol. 22022"We're Here Because You're Here"The Work Vol. 22024"Manifesto"Manifesto
Awards
GMA Canada Covenant Awards +2023AwardResult2008Modern Worship Song of the Year: "Faithful Forever" 2019Breakthrough Artist of the Year2019Song of the Year 2019Male Vocalist of the Year 2019Artist of the Year 2019Praise & Worship Album of the Year 2019Album of the Year 2019Praise & Worship Song of the Year 2023Rock Artist of the Year Won2023Male Vocalist of the Year Won2023Artist of the Year Nominated2023Album of the Year Nominated
References
External links
True City movement