Keith & Kristyn Getty

Keith & Kristyn Getty are a Northern Irish Christian duo, best known for writing many popular modern hymns with veteran English songwriter and worship leader Stuart Townend. Due to the success of "In Christ Alone", the duo has spearheaded the modern hymn genre. Other popular hymns include "The Power of the Cross", "The Lord Is My Salvation", "By Faith", and "Speak O Lord". The duo's hymns top CCLI rankings, national "most-loved" and "most-sung" lists, and are estimated to be sung by 100 million people in churches around the world each year.[1] Many modern hymnals include their music, and his songs have also been covered by many musicians across the contemporary Christian, contemporary worship, and gospel genres, including Owl City, Newsboys, MercyMe, Natalie Grant, and Passion.[2] The couple has also appeared on national television (CBS, PBS, BBC), most notably on Public Television in 2015 with their Christmas Music special, Joy—An Irish Christmas.[3] They have appeared at numerous events and tours internationally with the recurring Hymns for the Christian Life and Irish Christmas tours. They also have performed at venues as diverse as London's Royal Albert Hall, Ryman Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.[4]

Keith & Kristyn Getty
OriginNorthern Ireland
GenresContemporary worship music
Years active2004–present
LabelsGetty Music
Associated acts
Websitehttps://www.gettymusic.com/
Members

Members

Keith Getty
Main article: Keith Getty
Keith Getty

Julian Keith Getty OBE (born (1974-12-16) 16 December 1974) was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland to Helen Getty (née Irwin) and John Getty. He is the eldest of four children.

Getty learned to play classical guitar at age 11; at 12 years old he began playing the flute. During school, Getty was influenced by classical music, Irish music, and church music of all kinds. He studied music at St Chad's College,[5] at the Canford Summer School of Music, and the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts.[6]

"In Christ Alone" song
Main article: In Christ Alone

In 2001, Getty and Stuart Townend wrote the song "In Christ Alone" with the purpose of creating a modern hymn that would explain the life of Christ.[7] They released it on the Kingsway album New Irish Hymns, featuring vocalists Máire Brennan, Margaret Becker, and Joanne Hogg. The song gained popularity, and by 2005 it was named by a BBC Songs of Praise survey as the 9th best loved hymn of all time, and in their 2010 survey was named 2nd best hymn of all time.[8] It hit number one on the United Kingdom CCLI charts by 2006, and in January 2009, it was still number one in the UK, number two in Australia, number seven in Canada, and number 15 in the United States.[9] The British Hymn Society nominated "In Christ Alone" as one of the top 5 hymns of all time, and BBC One's "Songs of Praise" nominated "In Christ Alone" as one of the top 10 hymns in 2012.[10]

Kristyn Getty

Kristyn Elizabeth Rebekah Getty (née Lennox, born (1980-05-22) 22 May 1980) was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She is the daughter of Gilbert Lennox, an elder of the non-denominational Glenabbey Church Glengormley on the outskirts of Belfast, and she is the niece of the mathematician John Lennox.

Kristyn began singing as a teenager in her family's church in Northern Ireland. She studied English Literature at Queen's University of Belfast (1998–2001).

Personal life

The couple met in 2002 after John Lennox introduced the two to each other. After dating for two years, the couple married on 16 June 2004 in Armagh. They have had four children: Eliza Joy in 2011,[11] Charlotte Juliana in 2013, Grace Alexandra in 2015,[12] and Tahlia Lennox in 2018.[13]

Keith & Kristyn also sponsor a compassion child, and in 2009 they travelled to Ecuador and met their sponsored child.[14]

Getty and his wife live between Portstewart, Northern Ireland and Nashville, Tennessee with their four daughters.

Career

The duo has pioneered the modern hymn genre and has written a catalog of songs that teach Christian doctrine by crossing the genres of traditional and classical composition with contemporary and globally-accessible melodies. Many of their modern hymns are rooted in the traditions of old Celtic and English hymns.

In Christ Alone album

The duo's debut release was In Christ Alone, released in 2006. This record was a collection of Getty's best known ten hymns remade with Kristyn as the vocalist.

After a total distribution of approximately 200,000 units, In Christ Alone was nominated for a Dove Award in 2007. "The Risen Christ", a choral collection based on the album, was also nominated for a Dove Award in 2009.[15]

This project was the basis for introducing Getty's wider catalog to the United States. Appearances included working with Billy Graham Evangelical Association on two festivals with Franklin Graham,[16] appearances at Royal Albert Hall, Pentagon, National Prayer Breakfast Media Dinner as well as two top ten inspirational Christian radio hits ("Higher Throne" and "Power of the Cross").

Awaken the Dawn album

In 2008, Awaken the Dawn was the duo's second album.[17] The album was nominated in the 41st GMA Dove Awards for "Praise and Worship Album of the Year". Awaken the Dawn introduced a more "worship band" approach as Getty and Kristyn began to tour and present their music to an American audience. The album also collaborated with Grammy Award winning producer Phil Naish, the string arrangements of Rob Mathes (music producer of Kennedy Center Honors and Sting) and Nashville rhythm musicians. As a result of a total distribution of approximately 110,000 units, Awaken the Dawn was nominated for a Dove Award in 2009.

Hymns for the Christian Life album

In 2012, The Getty's released Hymns for the Christian Life, a collection of music that most strongly represented the Getty's move to Nashville, Tennessee.[18] The album is deeply personal, both in terms of writing more hymns on how the gospel speaks to the issues of everyday life and moving away to a more acoustic musical style that blends the two cultures they live—Irish and American folk music.

The album was produced by Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars, Switchfoot) and Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band). The album featured special guests including Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs and Máire Brennan.[19]

In 2014, The Greengrass Sessions EP was released as a supplement containing additional songs used on the Hymns for the Christian Life tour. This was a limited edition EP that contained recordings of the live tour band.

The Gospel Coalition Live album

In the spring of 2013, the National Conference of The Gospel Coalition was held in Orlando, Florida, and was attended by more than 5,000 people from more than 40 countries and 49 of the United States. Keith and Kristyn Getty led the music at this event with traditional and modern hymns, including several selections from the Getty's well-known catalog. This became a live album, as well as a printed songbook.[20]

The album was produced by Ed Cash, and features 13 previously-released songs.

Joy—An Irish Christmas album

The Gettys were invited to appear at The Cove[21] and create Christmas music for an evening with George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows. Billy Graham was a speaker during the first evening of their performances. In 2011, Keith and Kristyn Getty released Joy: An Irish Christmas. The album was dedicated to their daughter, Eliza Joy, born that year.[22]

This album developed into a touring Christmas show, which has matured each year, presenting opportunities for performances at many of Americas leading concert halls. "Irish Christmas" has an annual Carnegie Hall sell out show, and was presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.[23] Its popularity has led to numerous broadcasts, including on American Public Television through Detroit PBS. Coinciding with the tour, American Public Television stations aired Joy-An Irish Christmas nationally during the holiday season including broadcasts in at least 55 major U.S. television markets and to some 45+ million households. The 60-minute TV special, presented by Detroit Public Television, was taped in 2014 in the historic Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee. The concert was also released as a live album.

Facing a Task Unfinished Album and Global Hymn Sing

In 2016, Keith and Kristyn Getty began work on their new album Facing a Task Unfinished. The album's title track is the hymn "Facing a Task Unfinished", which Keith & Kristyn were invited to re-write by OMF International from the original by Frank Houghton in 1931.[24] On 21 February 2016, the Gettys led a global hymn-sing of the song, in which an estimated 1.1 million people sang the hymn in 100 countries.[25] The album was recorded in Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. The album also features special guests Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Fernando Ortega, John Patitucci, and Chris Tomlin.[26] The album was scheduled to release June 2016.

His Mercy is More album

On 10 May 2019, Keith and Kristyn Getty announced via their Facebook page an album named after the Christian worship hymn His Mercy Is More.[27] The album features Getty Music partners Matt Papa and Matt Boswell and was released in August 2019.

Artistry and influence

The Gettys has been influenced by the work of musicians such as Irish traditional musicians, George Gershwin and Johann Sebastian Bach. Their hymns have developed a particular poetic and musical style that unites people of diverse traditions and generations, choosing influences of folk and classical music as well as of contemporary songwriting and standard hymnody.

In reference to his song writing and musical performance, Keith Getty wrote in 2015: "I do not pretend to be qualified to write a theological treatise on this particular subject. Congregational singing is a holy act, and as I organize my thoughts, I hear my old pastor, Alistair Begg, reminding me that in our song worship, we have to be spiritually alive..."[28]

When touring, Getty sometimes leads discussions on worship with local pastors, worship leaders, and other church musicians.[29]

Tours

The duo has performed at venues including the Ryman Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, the Pentagon, the Grand Ole Opry, and more. The Gettys have also performed for former United States President George W. Bush, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, and Vice President Mike Pence.

Joy—An Irish Christmas

In 2010, Tom Bledsoe invited Keith and Kristyn Getty to join a special Christmas celebration in with George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows. The event included Billy Graham as the headlining speaker. The Gettys prepared thirty minutes of music from their album Joy: An Irish Christmas for the first evening. Their segment was expanded to a fuller evening of music subsequently presented to a number of churches that year.[30]

By 2011, Joy—An Irish Christmas was developed into a full-length album and a monthlong concert tour.[31] Their first tour included 18 performances with several sold-out shows, including a concert at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tennessee.[32]

The tour returned in December 2012, with more than 30,000 people and over 18 performances. The Gettys performed at several concert hall venues including Atlanta's Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, which sold out.[33]

Irish Christmas took a hiatus in 2013 as Keith and Kristyn awaited the birth of their second daughter. The tour returned to North America in 2014. There were an estimated 50,000 people who attended the 18 performances. The tour featured stops at notable venues including Winspear Opera House in Dallas, Texas and Connor Palace Theater in Cleveland, Ohio. The 2014 tour culminated in a Carnegie Hall sell out with Ricky Skaggs as a special guest.[34]

2015's Joy—An Irish Christmas Tour took place in over 20 cities across the southeastern United States, including sold-out concerts at Carnegie Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center, The Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and The Kimmel Center. The Gettys were joined by guest artists John Patitucci and Sally Lloyd-Jones in New York, as well as Buddy Greene and Ricky Skaggs at The Fox Theatre and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, with astronaut Butch Wilmore as a special guest at the tour's final stop in Nashville.

Hymns for the Christian Life American & Celtic Tours

The duo along with others toured the UK in 2012 during their The Northern Celtic Islands Tour.[35] Over the course of three weeks, they appeared in ten concert halls, including the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Waterfront Hall, and Glasgow SECC Arena. Several of the performances were sold out weeks prior to the concert. Guest performers included Stuart Townend, New Scottish Choir and Orchestra, Jonathan Rea, New Irish Arts, and Dr. Noël Tredinnick.

In 2013, Keith and Kristyn embarked on the Hymns for the Christian Life Tour throughout North America.[36] More than 40,000 people on a 22-city trek attended the tour. The Gettys performed at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, TX and Hamilton Place Theatre in Hamilton, Ontario. They also made appearances at several churches including David Jeremiah's Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego, California, and Charles Stanley's First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Twelve cities on the tour were first-time appearances including the Getty's sold-out premiere performance in New York City.

Television appearances

The Getty's Joy—An Irish Christmas music special was featured on Public Television across America November and December 2015, as well as on BBC One Northern Ireland in December 2015.

The Gettys were featured as a cover story on CBS Sunday Morning for their Easter 2015 (5 April) broadcast. CBS released this statement, "For the segment, which is titled In The Spirit, the Gettys were interviewed in their Nashville home by CBS News correspondent Tracy Smith and recorded while performing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on St. Patrick's Day." CBS News reporter Tracy Smith focused on the backstory behind the popular hymn "In Christ Alone", which was originally written back in 2001 by Getty and Stuart Townend.[37] In addition, Keith and Kristyn have made frequent appearances on BBC's Songs of Praise special.

Awards and honours

The song, "In Christ Alone" was number one on the CCLI UK charts by the year 2006, and was the number two song on the BBC charts in 2010. In Australia, it was the number two song in 2009. The British Hymn Society named "In Christ Alone" as one of the top 5 Hymns of All Time.

The album, "Awaken the Dawn" was nominated for a Dove award in 2008. "Hymns for the Christian Life" was also nominated for a Dove award in 2013.

Discography

As Keith Getty & Kristyn Lennox

As Keith & Kristyn Getty
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gollark: You're still conferenced with the POTUS you know.

References
  1. Keith Getty: Why the Irish Hymn-writing Tradition Inspires me Archived 1 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine at CCIL for Churches; published 2015; retrieved 30 September 2015
  2. Keith Getty on What Makes ‘In Christ Alone’ Accepted and Contested at The Gospel Coalition; by Collin Hansen; published 9 December 2013; retrieved 30 September 2015
  3. 'Joy: An Irish Christmas' With Keith And Kristyn Getty at PBA.org; published 2015; retrieved 2016
  4. "Playbill". Playbill: 15–16. 17 December 2014.
  5. "The Queen's Birthday Honours 2017". Durham University Alumni. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  7. "Keith Getty" (Artist Biography), worshiptogether.com, accessed 2004.
  8. BBC Songs of Praise data; article no longer accessible
  9. Previously reported data from CCLI.com
  11. "Blog - Truth For Life with Alistair Begg". Blog.truthforlife.org. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  12. "Keith and Kristyn Getty Welcome Baby Grace - Homecoming Magazine". Homecomingmagazine.com. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  13. "Keith and Kristyn Getty". Facebook.com. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  14. Keith and Kristyn Getty travel to Ecuador with Compassion at Christian Media Corporation; published 28 October 2009; retrieved 16 October 2015
  15. Keith and Kristyn Getty return to Irish roots with new release at Christian Media Corporation; published 5 August 2009; retrieved 9 October 2015
  16. at Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; published 8 September 2006; retrieved 9 October 2015
  17. "AWAKEN THE DAWN Choral Collection - ClearCall Music". Clearcallmusic.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  18. Keith and Kristyn Getty Share Hymns for the Christian Life at CBN Music; by Hannah Goodwyn; retrieved 9 October 2015
  20. Zork, Nicholas (5 March 2014). "Speaking Beyond a Single Moment: An Interview with Keith Getty". Curator Magazine. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  21. Who’s writing the new Christmas carols? at World News Group; by Warren Cole Smith; published 20 December 2014; retrieved 9 October 2015
  22. One on One with Keith Getty at Family Christian; by John van der Veen; published 11 March 2013; retrieved 9 October 2015
  23. Getty Music presents: Keith & Kristyn Getty and Friends: Joy - An Irish Christmas at Kennedy Center; published 2015; retrieved 9 October 2015
  24. KeithandKristyn Getty (2 February 2016), Facing a Task Unfinished - Story Behind the Song, retrieved 31 May 2016
  25. "Gettymusic - Online music resources for the church". gettymusic.com. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  26. "Gettymusic - Online music resources for the church". Gettymusic.com. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  27. "Keith and Kristyn Getty". Facebook.com. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  28. Keith Getty (May 2015). "Five Ways To Improve Congregational Singing". evangelicalmagazine.com.
  29. "CBMC World Convention 2014 - Speakers". Worldcon14.cbmc.com.
  30. "Franklin Graham Festival in Charleston Draws 34,197". Billygraham.org.
  31. Keith & Kristyn Getty Announce "Joy - An Irish Christmas" Tour at The Christian Beat; by Herb Longs; published 10 September 2015; retrieved 16 October 2015
  33. "Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta, GA - Kraftwerk, The Temptations, Black Violin". Atlanta-theater.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  35. Gettys announce Celtic Islands tour at Christian Media Corporation; published 27 April 2012; retrieved 16 October 2015
  36. Arts Around Town: The Gettys on tour lead worship through their art of hymn writing at WFMZ-TV; by Susan Kalan; published 24 October 2013; retrieved 16 October 2015
  37. In praise of hymns at CBS News; published 5 April 2015; retrieved 9 October 2015


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