While some of the biggest names in popular music made headlines with new
blockbuster albums, Christian band DC Talk made some news of its own. By
premiering at No. 16 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart, DC Talk's Jesus Freak
joined new entries from the Beatles, Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen and Vince Gill
among the biggest selling records. For the Grammy-winning three man band, which has come up through what it's leader,
Toby McKeehan, calls the Christian "sub-culture", the album is a major breakthrough.
It also will help cement the impact Christian , now a $750 million a year business, is
having on the industry. Jesus Freak had the biggest first week sales for a Christian album ever with 85,000
sold. By comparison, the popular Michael W. Smith sold 51,000 when his album was
released in August, and Amy Grant, possibly the most visible Christian pop singer, sold
55,000 albums the week her House of Love premiered in 1994. "With those kinds of numbers," says Steve Wonsiewicz, music editor of Radio and
Records, "you can only guess the thing is really crossing over." The success may seem
rather sudden to some people," says McKeehan, "but to us it seems we've been
working very hard for a long time. DC Talk was formed in 1989, by McKeehan and Michael Tait in Washington D.C.,
and were soon joined by Kevin Smith from Grand Rapids, Mich. DC Talk was a
referance to the area, but their record label, ForeFront, suggested they counter "vulgar
stuff" out there by saying the DC stood for "decent Christian" Talk. "It was a timely
marketing push," says McKeehan. Jesus Freak plays off early 70's terminology," says McKeehan. "It seemed to be a
negative phrase then." The group turned to the dictionary to see just what freak meant.
The first two definitions were "strange, weird," says McKeehan. The third definition
and the one I cling to said: 'Freak: Noun. An ardent enthusiast.' So call me an ardent
enthusiast of Jesus. "We're artists and through our art we share our faith,"Says McKeehan, who lives with
his wife in Franklin, TN. "Sometimes, being labeled a Christian band, we consider that
a negative - not shrugging the name of Christ but because people tend to shut their ears
to it." He hopes the band will be heard worldwide and help bring pop music "out of the
darkness." Says McKeehan, "Just because Michael Stipe (of R.E.M.) speaks out
about environmental things, we don't call that an environmental band." Adds Wonsiewicz: "The time is right, especially in urban radio, for something with a
positive message."
Jesus Freak The Album is DC Talk's Fourth Effort
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