LEGENDARY ROCK SINGER JOHN SCHLITT UNLEASHES THE GREATER CAUSE TODAY
The Greater Cause, the new CD from multiple Grammy and Dove Award-winning recording artist John Schlitt, is being released today through 4K Records and New Day Christian Distributors. Even before its official release, The Greater Cause, the first full-length CD since Schlitt’s 2008 critically-acclaimed release, The Grafting, has been garnering praise from the music industry and fans alike.
“…this is definitely the best of Schlitt’s solo albums, meaning Christian rock fans have great cause to be excited,” says Hardrock Haven.
“…undeniably a classic,” says Jesusfreakhideout.com.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for from Schlitt…and can be ranked up there with some of his best Petra work,” says The Front Row Report.
Just days before its official release, Schlitt previewed the new project at a CD Release Party in Indianapolis, which was held in conjunction with the Pethead Convention 3: Indy (PC3 Indy), a gathering of Petra fans. Schlitt’s supporters came to the intimate event to chat with the singer and hear him perform. Highlights of the party included Schlitt inviting his wife, Dorla, onstage as he sang “The Gift,” the tribute song written for her, and the audience singing along to “Hope That Saves The World,” the new single from The Greater Cause.
For street week, Schlitt is being interviewed and featured by numerous Christian and mainstream media and radio outlets, including NewReleaseTuesday.com, HearItFirst.com, Jesusfreakhideout.com, Hard Rock Haven, KYLT-Static Radio, KORB-Broken FM and more, with some special surprises in store for fans as the week progresses.
Schlitt’s signature vocals soar on the new CD, lauded as a return to the Gospel Music Hall of Famer’s rock roots. Driving guitars and thundering drums create an explosive sonic atmosphere packed with drive and intensity. Lyrically, The Greater Cause focuses on the relevance of faith in an increasingly secular world.
“Every song on the album has a message that is pertinent to what is happening in our daily lives,” Schlitt says. “How relevant are we, as Christians, in the world today? We need to use common sense and awaken to the fact that Jesus is Lord, no matter what those around us may say or do.”
Schlitt, named the best rock singer in Christian music history by GospelMusicChannel.com, stepped from behind the microphone to co-write seven of this project’s 11 tracks with such Christian music luminaries as Grammy, Emmy and Dove Award winner Andrew Ramsey (India.Arie, Jonny Lang and Mandisa) and Dan Needham, who has worked on more than 40 Dove and Grammy Award-winning projects with the likes of Michael McDonald, Amy Grant and Chris Tomlin; as well as Chris Rodriguez, Scott Faircloff and Gene Miller. Dove Award winner and 2008 BMI Songwriter of the Year Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, Amy Grant, David Crowder Band) and Dove Award winner Ian Eskelin (Francesca Battistelli, Hawk Nelson, Point of Grace) also contributed songs to the project.
“When I began to reach out to some of the most successful writers and musicians in contemporary Christian music and ask if they were interested in being a part of John’s project, there was a resounding ‘Yes!'” says producer Dan Needham. “I believe that is a testimony to John’s reputation among his peers and because of his legendary status in CCM history.”
On The Greater Cause, Schlitt’s vocals soar on the anthemic “Hope That Saves The World” and thunder on the blues-laden “Love Won’t Leave Me Alone,” but Schlitt also knows how to pull back to an intimate intensity on emotional ballads like “The Gift.”
Schlitt recorded The Greater Cause with capital raised through the innovative Kickstarter “crowd-funding” business model. An army of fans, dubbed the TGC Crew (The Greater Cause Crew) in honor of the CD title, contributed financially to make the album possible. In return, the TGC Crew members are receiving pre-release copies of the CD and a limited number of unique donor gifts, such as handmade commemorative plaques, studio session visits, vocal coaching and concert performances. The TGC Crew also has continuing access to a restricted website that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the recording of The Greater Cause, including photos, videos and a blog.
For more information about Schlitt or The Greater Cause, go to johnwschlitt.com.
Photo caption, top: Cover artwork for John Schlitt’s new CD, The Greater Cause on 4K Records
Photo caption, bottom: John Schlitt (Rachel Schlitt Photography photo)
About John Schlitt:
With more than three decades worth of water under the musical bridge, John Schlitt has enjoyed a stellar career as a solo artist, as the former lead singer for Grammy Award-winning Christian band Petra, one of the most successful Christian rock bands of all times, and as the former lead singer for popular ’70s mainstream rock band Head East. He has been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as the lead singer of Petra during the years when the band won 10 Dove Awards and four Grammy Awards. Schlitt was recently named the best rock singer in Christian music history by GospelMusicChannel.com. According to the website, Schlitt “remains one of the most distinctive and impactful men to ever stand behind a microphone.” Schlitt was also named Male Vocalist of the Year in About.com’s 2011 Readers’ Poll in a category that included Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp. Brandon Heath and Bebo Norman.
For more information on Schlitt, visit johnwschlitt.com or follow him on Twitter (@johnwschlitt) or Facebook (facebook.com/johnwschlitt).
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