As one of the premier songwriters and worship leaders of today, Jeff Deyo hasmade a significant mark on the Christian music landscape. As the voice behind classic worship songs like “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever,� “In the Secret� and “My Refuge,� which he recorded with the original Dove Award-winning group Sonicflood, Deyo has helped invigorate the heart of worship for a whole new generation. In his role as Sonicflood’s lead singer, primary songwriter and coproducer, Deyo saw the band’s gold-certified, self-titled debut (1999) and its Grammy-nominated follow-up, Sonicpraise (2001), reach combined sales of over one million albums.
Deyo followed that success with the release of his debut solo album, Saturate, in early 2002. The critically-acclaimed project garnered him a 2003 Dove Award nomination for New Artist of the Year, while the single “More Love, More Power"landed at No. 1 on R&R’s Christian pop radio chart.
The early success in Deyo’s career, which came with its own set of obstacles, didnot steer him from his original calling and vision. “The Lord has really shown me that I shouldn’t put too much trust or hope in the things that man says,� Deyoa dmits. “I had to decide that I was going to focus solely on the Lord’s voice. I’m just blessed to be a part of this industry, and I’m grateful to be able to do what God has called me to do.� Jeff is now joined by his new band, Charlie Goddard on guitar, Jeremy McCoy on bass, Fred Williams on keys and Nate Winters ondrums.
Further cementing Deyo’s place as a modern worship pioneer, his newest albumon Gotee Records, LIGHT, ushers in a brand new crop of original songs written entirely by Deyo and his band. Songs like “As I Lift You Up,� “I Love You,� “Take Me to You� and the album’s title cut, “Ray of Light,� represent the musical diversity and lyrical maturity that have continued to cause listeners to gravitate toward Deyo’s dynamic choruses and emotion-packed vocals.
Co-produced by Deyo, Bryan Lenox and Otto Price, LIGHT’s stand-out tracksinclude the album’s first single, “Bless the Lord,� featuring a guest performance by worship artist Rita Springer. Other highlights include “We Come to Your Throne with Weeping,� a duet with Third Day’s Mac Powell and a collaboration with artist Natalie Grant on “Keep My Heart.� The album also features a bonus live version of the Deyo-penned congregational favorite, “These Hands.�
The new album’s title comes straight from the lyrics to “Ray of Light,� the project’sdriving opener. You have become my ray of light / When I knew my sun was fading / You are the source of all my soul / You’re the pure fire penetrating.
“There are two main descriptions of light used in the scriptures,� Deyo explains."There’s the idea of God’s people being the salt and light of the world, as well as that of Jesus Christ himself being the Light in the darkness. There’s a passage in Revelation that I often read from stage that says when we get to heaven, we won’t have any need for the sun or moon because God, Himself, will be our light.
“I pray that as people worship God and use this record to draw closer to Him, the light of God the truth of God will illuminate inside of them, allowing His piercing ray to cut through untruth, weird doctrine, denominations, disobedience, selfishness, or whatever might be keeping them from truly knowing and loving God.�
Following appearances at numerous worship events, including his innovative Pure Worship tour last year, Deyo will lead worship at conferences all over the world in 2004, including YC2004, Canada’s largest youth conference, expecting16,000 kids in attendance.
It is the live events that seem to fuel Deyo’s passion and that facilitate a God-sized collision of his music and ministry. “I love meeting people and being able to pour into their lives,� Deyo says. “I want God to be moving in a way that is supernatural and bigger than man. Worship is not a new thing. Worship existed before Adam was created. Worship is a lifestyle it’s obedience, it’s loving your wife; it’s obeying your parents. Modern worship music is defined by songs that continue to bring a freshness to honoring and exalting our Creator that isrelevant to our time.�
Relevance is a key ingredient in Jeff Deyo’s music, and this passionate musical pioneer continues to light the way for a new generation of worshipers, helping them find a radiant connection in their ongoing pursuit of God.
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