Jason Gray (musician)

Jason Gray
Jason Gray in concert
Background information
Birth name	Jason Jeffrey Gay
Born	(1972-01-18) January 18, 1972 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Origin	Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Genres	Contemporary Christian
Occupation(s)	vocalist, singer, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1990–present
Labels	EMI CMG, Centricity
Website	www.jasongraymusic.com

Jason Jeffrey Gay (born January 18, 1972) is an American contemporary Christian singer-songwriter, who is better known by his stage name Jason Gray. He released a number of albums independently under his real name, Jason Gay. Since 2006, he is signed to Centricity Music releasing more albums with them under the name Jason Gray.

Career

He was born and raised in Southwestern Minnesota where he spent six years in youth ministry, before going into full-time music ministry in 1999 as an independent artist. He lives near the Twin Cities area. Gray has a speech disorder, as a person who stutters,^[1] his work emphasizes finding strength in weakness. He released four independent records before signing with Centricity Music in 2006. Centricity released his first major label record, "All the Lovely Losers" in 2007. ChristianityToday.com calls Gray one of "Christian music's best kept secrets."^[2][3]

Gray has collaborated with artists such as Sara Groves, Andrew Peterson, Joel Hanson (frontman for 90s Christian rock band PFR), Andy Gullahorn, Randall Goodgame, Jason Ingram, Thad Cockrell, Andy Osenga (of Caedmon's Call) and others. He has toured with Jeremy Camp, Sanctus Real, Matthew West, Shawn McDonald, downhere, Big Daddy Weave, The Afters, Mark Schultz and others.^[4]

Gray has won two ASCAP Performance Awards for "More Like Falling In Love" (2011) and "Good to Be Alive" (2012). He has shared the stage with many major artists such as Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman and Sanctus Real.^[5] His first No. 1 single, "Nothing Is Wasted", reached the top spot on the Soft AC Chart in May 2013 and remained there for nine weeks.^[6]

His release in 2012, was named Album of the Year by critics and garnered three Top 5 radio singles which included the "Nothing Is Wasted" single.^[7] Also in May 2013, he was honored at ASCAP's 35th Annual Christian Music Awards with the "Most Performed Song Award" for his song "Good to Be Alive" co-written with Brandon Heath and Jason Ingram. The song was a Top 5 single on Christian radio and was released on Gray's album A Way to See in the Dark.^[8]

On March 4, 2014 Gray released the album Love Will Have the Final Word, which speaks to the redeeming power of unfailing love, decisiveness, and closure.^[9] The lead single, "With Every Act of Love", helped mark the most successful launch in at radio in Centricity Music history with 39 adds its debut week ^[10] reached Billboard's Top Ten AC Indicator chart and Top 20 on the National Audience Chart and was a No.1 radio hit.^[11] In March 2014, Gray embarked on the K-LOVE Listener Appreciate Tour in support of his newest album.

On March 20, 2014, Gray joined The Bible: Son of God 2014 Tour along with artists such as Natalie Grant, Francesca Battistelli, Sidewalk Prophets, Chris August and Meredith Andrews.^[12] In February 2015, Gray went on the spring leg of the Beautiful Offerings Tour with Big Daddy Weave along with Citizen Way and Lauren Daigle.^[13]

His release, Love Will Have the Final Word: Post Script, was released June 9, 2015.^[14] It features remixes, over-cuts and demos from the previous album Love Will Have the Final Word and the new songs "Glow In the Dark" and "One Voice".^[15] Charisma magazine says, "Jason Gray has emerged as a songwriter of extraordinary depth, with a noteworthy ability to convey deep theological truths."^[16] His subsequent studio album, Where the Light Gets In, will be released on June 17, 2016, with Centricity Music.^[17]

Charity

Gray was honored as one of "Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans" in 2003 by the Minnesota Junior Chamber for his volunteerism, civic leadership, and humanitarian work with World Vision's "Hope Initiative", which addresses the needs of children orphaned by AIDS in Africa and other third-world countries. Gray has been to Africa in 2003 and 2006, and is known for his advocacy of AIDS orphans.^[18] His passion for understanding service to the poor as a form of worship is expressed in his song "Fade With Our Voices" from his 2009 release Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue. In 2010, Gray concluded the World Vision-sponsored tour "Make a Difference Tour 2010" with Third Day, Toby Mac, Michael W. Smith and Max Lucado.^[19]

Personal life

Jason Gray was born and raised in Minnesota. His mother used to make her living by performing in bar bands for a long time and touring. Gray lived in a broken family as disagreements between his parents lead to a bitter divorce and custody battle when Gray was just six. His mother remarried, but his step father became increasingly abusive and turned into drug dealing, and got involved in organized crime. They parted ways after he threatened his mother and her children after her conversion and her decision to quit singing in bars in favor of church music and revival recitals.^[20]

He was married to Taya^[3][21][22] and has three sons. Gray's album Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy features Gray's two older boys providing background vocals and hand-claps on the album, but it's Gray's youngest son, who actually takes the lead vocal.^[23] Due to irreconcilable differences, Gray divorced in January 2015.^[24]

Discography

Studio albums

Other albums and EPs

Singles

Appearances on other compilations

• 2007: "Mary Did You Know, Miriam" on compilation album Bethlehem Skyline
• 2010: "Love Has a Name" and "Do You Hear What I Hear" on compilation album Bethlehem Skyline Volume 2

References

External links

• Official website
• Centricity Music: Jason Gray page

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