Bart Millard

• Genre: CCM
• Hometown: Greenville
• Bart Millard Website

About

After his freshman year in college, Bart Millard moved from his hometown of Greenville, Tex., to Lakeland, Fla., to join a youth group praise band. When he and his keyboardist friend Jim Bryson decided to commit to music ministry, they joined forces with guitarist Mike Scheuchzer and MercyMe was born. That was in Oklahoma City, Okla., in 1994. There would still be seven years, two more band members, several indie projects and moving the whole band to Nashville then back home to Texas before MercyMe would approach becoming a household name with the crossover hit "I Can Only Imagine." A few more albums and nonstop accolades followed, but it was the arrival of his son Sam that inspired Millard's first solo effort -- a collection of rockabilly hymns. Millard wanted the hymns that he was raised on to come alive for his son's generation. Although he released the CD amidst an onslaught of similar collections, it was clear that Millard's hymns were a cut above the rest because of his eccentric and eclectic interpretations ranging from folk-rock to Memphis soul.. Despite the success, the musician has given no indication as to what musical direction he would pursue on a sophomore solo disc, or even if there would be one.

- Amy Bartlett