30 Top CCM Artists Come Together to Record "We Will Stand" Live

By Timothy Yap Aug 12, 2015 06:28 AM EDT

Coming to DVD and CD on September 25 is the live recording of a once-in-a-lifetime concert event to celebrate 40 years of CCM. The project, titled We Will Stand and dubbed "the greatest night in the history of contemporary Christian music" by its executive producer, Stan Moser, featured performances by Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Sandi Patty, Steven Curtis Chapman, Russ Taff, 4Him, Wayne Watson, Laura Story, Nicole C. Mullen, Michael English, Newsboys, The Imperials, Don Francisco, Phillips Craig & Dean, Dallas Holm, Jaci Velasquez, Larnelle Harris, Evie (Tornquist), Steve Green and more.

Backed by vocals from First Call (Marty McCall, Mel Tunney and Bonnie Keen) and many of Nashville's finest musicians, these iconic CCM artists delivered many of the most popular CCM hits from the '70s to today's Top 10. A worldwide online audience joined the celebration via a LIVE stream which was viewed in more than 150 nations.

"All of us had a relationship before music came along. Making music was just the framework in which we enjoyed our friendships," said Amy Grant in a backstage interview, speaking with longtime friends/managers/collaborators Brown Bannister, Dan Harrell and Michael Blanton. "...our connection was always that we were trying to articulate our journey of faith through music or through songwriting or production."

And honestly, the coolest part of all is seeing people all these years down the road, and their lives have been through good and bad: divorces, sickness, children. And, you know, we're all a little worse for the wear, but everybody said, 'Man, wasn't God faithful through all that? Don't you just see a different view of mercy'...it's just made this whole experience like 'ah, it was a story worth telling all along.'"

Those in the auditorium would agree these were stories worth telling. The attendees beamed with nostalgia and cheered and sang along for several hours, enjoying the catalog of award-winning, contemporary Christian classics.

Sandi Patty and Larnelle Harris gave a riveting performance of their #1 hit "I've Just Seen Jesus." The Imperials (with Russ Taff) brought the audience to its feet with"Trumpet of Jesus." Green showcased his timeless vocal talent with "People Need the Lord," while Smith brought smiles to the crowd and the entire artist cast with his treasured"Friends."

The late Andraé Crouch was honored by a performance of his 1971 tune "My Tribute," and the Newsboys gave a rousing performance of "God's Not Dead," the title song from the largest grossing Christian movie to date. Roma Downey, actress and co-producer of TV's The Bible series, served as a special guest for the evening; and GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Michael Omartian served as music director.The entire cast of artists filled the stage to sing along with the Newsboys on their declaration song "We Believe"; and as the night came to a close, Taff invited the audience to "take somebody's hand on either side of you" as he led all of the artists in singing "We Will Stand."

This special, multi-artist concert experience will be available at retail stores and via download as two-CD and two-DVD collections on September 25. At just over two hours in length, the DVDs also capture some of the stories behind the music through interviews with Grant, Smith, Patty, Bill Gaither and others. Stories like these have resonated over the years in the hearts of countless listeners, creating what became contemporary Christian music (CCM), a genre known for heartfelt lyrics that address "real life" and creatively articulate the power of the Gospel through song.

"Sometimes it takes a while for the artists to catch up with the lyrics," said Gaither. "It's something to sing some of these truths when you're 25, 26, 27; but after you've had a child or two, and after you've lost some loved ones...at 40 and 45 and 50 and 60 and maybe older, not all of a sudden, but gradually, these lyrics start catching up-or maybe I should say, our lives start catching up with the lyrics, and we realize this is life stuff, and it's very important."

The We Will Stand CD and DVD collections will be airing as part of a TV special slated for PBS, Dish TV, DirecTV, AT&T U-verse, GaitherTV, TBN, RFD, FamilyNet, CTN, GMC, GMTN, Guardian, Liberty, TCT and TLN. It will air in Canada on Vision TV, CTS, The Miracle Channel and Hope TV. The products will be exclusively distributed by Capitol Christian Distribution and will be available throughout general market stores and the Christian marketplace in addition to online retailers including iTunes, Amazon andwww.gaither.com.

For further information regarding We Will Stand, please visit http://ccmunited.com/ orwww.facebook.com/ccmunited.

CD TRACK LISTING

1. Sing Your Praise to the Lord - Amy Grant
2. The Great Adventure - Steven Curtis Chapman
3. How Majestic Is Your Name - Sandi Patty
4. Great Is the Lord - Michael W. Smith
5. A Love Song - Love Song with Phil Keaggy
6. Trumpet of Jesus - Imperials
7. Praise The Lord - Imperials with Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith
8. I Am - Mark Schultz
9. You Are God Alone - Phillips, Craig & Dean
10. On My Knees - Jaci Velasquez
11. Future Generations - 4Him
12. Basics of Life - 4Him
13. Watercolor Ponies - Wayne Watson
14. Redeemer - Nicole C. Mullen
15. My Tribute - Evie
16. How Beautiful - Evie
17. People Need the Lord - Steve Green
18. Mary, Did You Know? - Michael English
19. Another Time Another Place - Sandi Patty, Wayne Watson
20. Amen - Larnelle Harris
21. I've Just Seen Jesus - Larnelle Harris, Sandi Patty
22. We Shall Behold Him - Sandi Patty
23. Undivided - First Call
24. Blessings - Laura Story
25. I Am on the Rock - Petra
26. Rise Again - Dallas Holm, Steven Curtis Chapman
27. He's Alive - Don Francisco
28. We Are the Reason - David Meece
29. How Great Is Our God - Mark Harris
30. In Christ Alone - Steve Green
31. Give Thanks - Don Moen
32. Indescribable - Laura Story
33. God of Wonders - Travis Cottrell
34. Revelation Song - Phillips, Craig & Dean
35. Free to Be Me - Francesca Battistelli
36. I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman
37. God's Not Dead - Newsboys
38. Thy Word - Amy Grant
39. El Shaddai - Amy Grant, Sandi Patty
40. Breathe - Michael W. Smith
41. For the Sake of the Call - Steven Curtis Chapman
42. We Believe - Newsboys
43. Friends - Michael W. Smith
44. We Will Stand - Russ Taff
45. Awesome God - CCM United DVD TRACK LISTING
1. Sing Your Praise to the Lord - Amy Grant
2. Trumpet of Jesus - Imperials
3. How Majestic Is Your Name - Sandi Patty
4. Great Is the Lord - Michael W. Smith
5. A Love Song - Love Song with Phil Keaggy
6. Praise the Lord - Imperials with Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith
7. You Are God Alone - Phillips, Craig & Dean
8. On My Knees - Jaci Velasquez
9. Future Generations - 4Him
10. Basics of Life - 4Him
11. Watercolor Ponies - Wayne Watson
12. Redeemer - Nicole C. Mullen
13. My Tribute - Evie
14. People Need the Lord - Steve Green
15. Mary, Did You Know? - Michael English
16. Another Time Another Place - Sandi Patty, Wayne Watson
17. Amen - Larnelle Harris
18. I've Just Seen Jesus - Larnelle Harris, Sandi Patty
19. We Shall Behold Him - Sandi Patty
20. Undivided - First Call
21. Blessings - Laura Story
22. He's Alive - Don Francisco
23. We Are the Reason - David Meece
24. How Great Is Our God - Mark Harris
25. In Christ Alone - Steve Green
26. Give Thanks - Don Moen
27. Indescribable - Laura Story
28. God of Wonders - Travis Cottrell
29. Revelation Song - Phillips, Craig & Dean
30. Free to Be Me - Francesca Battistelli
31. I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman
32. God's Not Dead - Newsboys
33. Thy Word - Amy Grant
34. El Shaddai - Amy Grant, Sandi Patty
35. Breathe - Michael W. Smith
36. For the Sake of the Call - Steven Curtis Chapman
37. We Believe - Newsboys
38. Friends - Michael W. Smith
39. We Will Stand - Russ Taff
40. Awesome God - CCM United