CONSOLIDATED STICKY: Contemporary Catholic Music

[MooCowSteph]

Although Christian and not specifically Catholic, I love all of Randy Travis’s gospel CDs (I LOVE country) and I also really like Casting Crowns

[Marie]

Originally Posted by Faithful 2 Rome

I LOVE music, but really cant get into Christian themed music as a regular listening thing. I have a fondness for the old gospel stuff.. I, John, Swing Low Sweet Chariot... many are protestant but they are uplifting Christian tunes. Elvis Presley has some awesome gospel music... I'd highly recomend that....in fact thats the only time he ever won a grammy was for his faith music.. too bad the old boy didnt live it. R.I.P Elvis

Anyway... though Elvis wasnt a Catholic, there is a song he covers that is VERY CATHOLIC and beautiful... The Rosary Song..

Oh Blessed Mother, we pray to thee.. thanks for the miracle of your Rosary..only you can hold back your holy sons hand, long enough for the whole world to understand....... and so it goes... then it goes into the actual Hail Mary.. GREAT SONG!

I have that one by Elvis...It is really quite good. Makes me chuckle though. He goofs up one word in the Hail Mary, but what the heck...he was trying it out in a jam session as a favor to a friend of his who wrote it. Too bad he never recorded it for real. It's a keeper. I have the whole set of some of his non-published songs.

[JoaoMachado]

Originally Posted by Lola

I'm probably the different one I enjoy listening to Catholic music in Spanish.
Like Guillermo Vallencia who has Salsa and Merengue styles.
Mario Alberto has Pop and Ballads and Hannany B. who has an amazing voice for singing Ballads.

Your Friend in Christ,
Lola

I am Portugese, but one of my favorite artists is Connie Salazar, the album I have is in both English and Spanish. Favorite is "Pescador de Hombres"
Journey Of Faith

Joao

[Authorkat]

Phil Keaggy is one of my favorite Catholic artists. He sounds a lot like Paul McCartney. Renee Bondi, Tony Melendez (the one who plays guitar with his feet), and Tom Booth are some other good Catholic artists. The Michael O'Brien who made "The Original Sounds of Medjugorje" (not to be confused with the other Christian singer by the same name) has an awesome voice. He sings traditional Catholic songs on the cd mentioned. He has used his talent to answer Our Lady's call.

As for other Christian musicians, the group New Song is one of my favorites. They have upbeat and encouraging music. "Red Letter Day" reminds us all to put God's Word in our heart everyday.

Chris Rice is another awesome singer. He reminds me of James Taylor.

Last but not least, I like that Elvis song too.

[Edwin1961]

Looking over the messages, so far, I have some comments...

If you hadn't heard of Catholic Rap, the most successful artist is Fr. Stan Fortuna. As for other Catholic rap artists, I don't know of any others off hand.

As for Catholic Country music, this goes for the Randy Travis fan, try Denis Grady, Katrina Rae, Mark Mallett.

As for traditiona liturgical music, I am Byzantine Catholic and we chant EVERYTHING, and it really make the Liturgy an experience to put 'heaven on earth'. The readings are chanted also to protect the reading from lecture/priest bias. The only thing not chanted is the Homily and the prayer before Communion.

There is another Catholic Music Website that I found very interesting and suits all musical styles: www.sacredheartradio.net I have learned A LOT going on this site, especailly about all the Catholic Concerts that are touring throughout the entire world.

[JRS0410]

Originally Posted by Authorkat

Phil Keaggy is one of my favorite Catholic artists.

When did Phil Keaggy become Catholic?

[JRS0410]

Nevermind, I found an article. He was raised Catholic, but is now Protestant:

Phil Keaggy - A phenomenal Catholic guitarist and songwriter! "When speaking about his Catholic roots, he refers fondly to his devoutlyRoman Catholic mother. "She was very spiritual and I was, in many ways, the prodigal son. When she died, I became a Christian in another church, The Assemblies of God. However, I don't think I would have done that if it weren't for her love and example." In our consversations, it is also obviosthat Phil Keaggy is very well read in the lives of the Saints and has takeninspiration from them in his lyrics. As to his views on the role of Mary in thechurch, he states, "I really believe that Mary is the Mother of God and thatthis is scriptural". A recent album, "True Believer", has a song called OnThat Day, which reflects his beliefs on Mary. Whenever he speaks of theCatholic Church, he does so with warmth and respect. "Many of the mostspiritual people that I know are Catholic. They are people that seem toexude the Spirit of God." His recent collaboration with Michael Card andJohn Michael Talbot on Card's ecumenical album, "Brother to Brother" istestament to his feelings towards Catholics."

http://www.corruptchristianmusic.com...hilkeaggy.html

[Authorkat]

Originally Posted by JRS0410

Nevermind, I found an article. He was raised Catholic, but is now Protestant:



http://www.corruptchristianmusic.com...hilkeaggy.html

I went to the link on your post. Maybe I'm wrong, but I got the impression that that was a Protestant site which was putting Phil Keaggy down for being Catholic. It seemed like they were stressing his Catholic connections as a negative thing. I didn't see anything about him becoming Protestant. I saw Phil on EWTN maybe three years ago, and he was definitely Catholic then. I haven't heard anything about him becoming Protestant. Any others out there have information on this?

[shrn]

Hi this is Gary G. at www.shradio.com Catholic music is exploding all over the world from Jane Chifley in Australia to Roberto Bignoli in Italy. And the U.S. Has some great artists as weel like The band Rise ,,www.risefan.com,,,these for guys met in RCIA class in LA after the Easter Vigil they discovered they all played the right instruments to create a band...David Vogel david1.net who started The festival for life tour www.festivalforlife.com..and just recieved an Apostolic Blessing from the Pope. So many great artists but because they focus on the Catholic church they get very little if any air play on the protestant stations... Our Catholic brothers and sisters running Catholic radio stations should consider helping these musicians out?

And lastly did you know there are Awards for Catholic music? Check out www.ucmva.com

God Bless and if you ever have a question regarding Catholic music please drop me a line at ggersin@aol.com


Gary G.

[ridesawhitehors]

Originally Posted by Authorkat

I went to the link on your post. Maybe I'm wrong, but I got the impression that that was a Protestant site which was putting Phil Keaggy down for being Catholic. It seemed like they were stressing his Catholic connections as a negative thing. I didn't see anything about him becoming Protestant. I saw Phil on EWTN maybe three years ago, and he was definitely Catholic then. I haven't heard anything about him becoming Protestant. Any others out there have information on this?

I'm confused too ~
I thought Keaggy was a protestant who became catholic, or was a revert.
Nonetheless ~ incredible musician! Love him!

[jhnsn]

DONNA CORI GIBSON She's the BEST
My kids and I can never get enough!. We espescially love her song
"When We Lift Up our Hearts".
I can't recommend her "Our Catholic Faith" CD enough!
She also explains the faith in between songs.

http://www.donnacorigibson.com/

[Veronica Anne]

Originally Posted by MParedon

The Pope's CD 'Abba Pater,' it is absolutely wonderful. Sooome of the world music could've been orchastrated a smidge better, but hearing the Pope pray, sing, talk, chant...all of it just inspires me more than anything.

You've heard that one too?? I thought I was the only person who'd ever heard it.

Usually it's played on the radio in the wee hours of the morning when I'm trying to fall asleep... and I force myself to stay awake to listen to it just because it's on!

Such peace comes over me...

our Pope surely has a charism for spreading the Faith! I can picture all the saints and angels in Heaven around while he's singing it.

Can't wait to get to Heaven, if I do wind up there! (trying NOT to be presumptive!)

[Veronica Anne]

Originally Posted by Wolseley

So true. Another of my pet peeves is "Here I am, Lord; is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night....", which is almost identical in tune to "Here's the story, of a man named Brady; who was busy with three boys of his own...."

Hmmm... this "Here I am Lord, is it I, Lord?" has me in TEARS every time!!

They play it at the Catechetical Ministry Masses... or did, when I was working as a catechist those years.

I guess ya just have to be in the "space" to apply it to particular scenes in your own life going on... relating to the words.

Especially when I'm in a quandary about what it is that God wants me to do... or to physically be... in my life to do His work.

Especially when I don't think that I want to go where it is that I *think* he wants me to go.

Besides, it's a very slow tune. I don't hear the Brady Bunch song, at all for this.

[Veronica Anne]

Gotta be Jesse Manibusan!

Of course, I'm biased. I met him in the mid-80's when he did music on Young, Single Catholic retreats I was taking in California. Since then, he broke into it 100% professionally. Now he has performed all over the world.

http://www.jessemanibusan.com/

http://www.ocp.org/en/people/11416.php

Oregon Catholic Press sells a few of his CD's. You can get other of his CD's from him directly, I think.

Last I saw of him personally was when he came to Oregon to perform at Eucharist 2000. The energy was so high that a young priest who had just given a 10-minute talk about The Call jumped into the crowd that had early on left their seats and were all crowded at the base of the stage to body surf. The Bishop was on the back of the stage, enjoying every minute!

Last I actually SAW him perform was when I was watching EWTN television on the Web for the World Youth Day conference in Canada. There he was, standing and singing the theme song for that particular World Youth Day among a small group of other musicians who had been performing those days at the event.

If you ever get a chance to buy one of his CD's, you'll be so very glad that you did!

And, oh. yes... he DOES have a Catholic rap tune on one of them!

[cmom]

GLAD is a group that does a lot of acapella hymns..
http://glad-pro.com/albums.html