Jason Gray (musician)

Jason Jeffrey Gay (born January 18, 1972) is an American contemporary Christian singer-songwriter, who is better known by his stage name Jason Gray. He released a number of albums independently under his real name, Jason Gay. Since 2006, he is signed to Centricity Music releasing more albums with them under the name Jason Gray.

Jason Gray
Jason Gray in concert
Background information
Birth nameJason Jeffrey Gay
Born (1972-01-18) January 18, 1972
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
OriginMinneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
GenresContemporary Christian
Occupation(s)vocalist, singer, songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals
Years active1990–present
LabelsEMI CMG, Centricity
Websitewww.jasongraymusic.com

Career

He was born and raised in Southwestern Minnesota where he spent six years in youth ministry, before going into full-time music ministry in 1999 as an independent artist. He lives near the Twin Cities area. Gray has a speech disorder, as a person who stutters,[1] his work emphasizes finding strength in weakness. He released four independent records before signing with Centricity Music in 2006. Centricity released his first major label record, "All the Lovely Losers" in 2007. ChristianityToday.com calls Gray one of "Christian music's best kept secrets."[2][3]

Gray has collaborated with artists such as Sara Groves, Andrew Peterson, Joel Hanson (frontman for 90s Christian rock band PFR), Andy Gullahorn, Randall Goodgame, Jason Ingram, Thad Cockrell, Andy Osenga (of Caedmon's Call) and others. He has toured with Jeremy Camp, Sanctus Real, Matthew West, Shawn McDonald, downhere, Big Daddy Weave, The Afters, Mark Schultz and others.[4]

Gray has won two ASCAP Performance Awards for "More Like Falling in Love" (2011) and "Good to Be Alive" (2012). He has shared the stage with many major artists such as Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman and Sanctus Real.[5] His first No. 1 single, "Nothing Is Wasted", reached the top spot on the Soft AC Chart in May 2013 and remained there for nine weeks.[6]

His release in 2012, was named Album of the Year by critics and garnered three Top 5 radio singles which included the "Nothing Is Wasted" single.[7] Also in May 2013, he was honored at ASCAP's 35th Annual Christian Music Awards with the "Most Performed Song Award" for his song "Good to Be Alive" co-written with Brandon Heath and Jason Ingram. The song was a Top 5 single on Christian radio and was released on Gray's album A Way to See in the Dark.[8]

On March 4, 2014 Gray released the album Love Will Have the Final Word, which speaks to the redeeming power of unfailing love, decisiveness, and closure.[9] The lead single, "With Every Act of Love", helped mark the most successful launch in at radio in Centricity Music history with 39 adds its debut week[10] reached Billboard's Top Ten AC Indicator chart and Top 20 on the National Audience Chart and was a No.1 radio hit.[11] In March 2014, Gray embarked on the K-LOVE Listener Appreciate Tour in support of his newest album.

On March 20, 2014, Gray joined The Bible: Son of God 2014 Tour along with artists such as Natalie Grant, Francesca Battistelli, Sidewalk Prophets, Chris August and Meredith Andrews.[12] In February 2015, Gray went on the spring leg of the Beautiful Offerings Tour with Big Daddy Weave along with Citizen Way and Lauren Daigle.[13]

His release, Love Will Have the Final Word: Post Script, was released June 9, 2015.[14] It features remixes, over-cuts and demos from the previous album Love Will Have the Final Word and the new songs "Glow in the Dark" and "One Voice".[15] Charisma magazine says, "Jason Gray has emerged as a songwriter of extraordinary depth, with a noteworthy ability to convey deep theological truths."[16] His subsequent studio album, Where the Light Gets In, will be released on June 17, 2016, with Centricity Music.[17]

Charity

Gray was honored as one of "Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans" in 2003 by the Minnesota Junior Chamber for his volunteerism, civic leadership, and humanitarian work with World Vision's "Hope Initiative", which addresses the needs of children orphaned by AIDS in Africa and other third-world countries. Gray has been to Africa in 2003 and 2006, and is known for his advocacy of AIDS orphans.[18] His passion for understanding service to the poor as a form of worship is expressed in his song "Fade With Our Voices" from his 2009 release Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue. In 2010, Gray concluded the World Vision-sponsored tour "Make a Difference Tour 2010" with Third Day, Toby Mac, Michael W. Smith and Max Lucado.[19]

Personal life

Jason Gray was born and raised in Minnesota. His mother used to make her living by performing in bar bands. Gray lived in a broken family as disagreements between his parents led to a bitter divorce and custody battle when Gray was just six. His mother remarried, but his stepfather became increasingly abusive and turned to drug dealing, and got involved in organized crime. They parted ways after he threatened his mother and her children after her conversion and her decision to quit singing in bars in favor of church music and revival recitals.[20]

He was married to Taya[3][21][22] and has three sons. Gray's album Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy features Gray's two older boys providing background vocals and hand-claps, while Gray's youngest son takes the lead vocal on the "Christmas for Jesus".[23] Due to irreconcilable differences, Gray divorced in January 2015.[24]

Discography

As Jason Gay
  • The Singer & the Song (1997, independent)
  • A Place Called Hope (2001, independent)
  • The Better Part of Me (2005, independent) [Eight tracks were re-released with an altered track listing
    in 2007 as All the Lovely Losers]

As Jason Gray
List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales and certifications
Title Album details Peak positions
US
[25]		 US Christ.
[26]		 US Heat.
[27]
All The Lovely Losers —43—
Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue
  • Release date: September 1, 2009
  • Label: Centricity
 —2916
A Way to See in the Dark
  • Release date: September 13, 2011
  • Label: Centricity
 —1520
Christmas Stories: Repeat the Sounding Joy
  • Release date: October 9, 2012
  • Label: Centricity
 ——22
Love Will Have the Final Word
  • Release date: March 4, 2014
  • Label: Centricity
 141112
Where the Light Gets In
  • Release date: June 17, 2016
  • Label: Centricity
 1665—
Order, Disorder, Reorder[28]
  • Release date: October 23, 2020
  • Label: Centricity
 to be released

Other albums and EPs
YearAlbum TitlePeak
position
Billboard 200		Peak
position
Christian
Albums
[29]		Type of releaseRecord labelNotes
Credited as Jason Gay
1999Postcard——Maxi singleIndependent releaseFeaturing pre-A Place Called Hope versions of
*"A Little More Like Jesus"
*"The Prodigal"
2002Live Vol. 1: Hoping——Live album
Credited as Jason Gray
2008Acoustic Storytime (Live Songs and Stories)——Live albumCentricity Music
2011Song Cycles: From Work Tapes to Remixes——Remix albumRemix project featuring Derek Webb
2013Nothing Is Wasted EP——EPContains the single
"Nothing Is Wasted"
2017The Acoustic Sessions EP——
2018The Kipper Gray Sessions EP[30]——Five songs recorded with his son, Kipper
2019Order——First in a series of three 5-song EPs: Order (EP), Disorder (EP), and Reorder (EP)[31]

Singles
Year Single title Peak positions Album
US
Christ.
[32]		 US
Christ.
Airplay
[33]		 US
Christ.
Digital
[34]
2010 "For the First Time Again" 31 — Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue
"More Like Falling in Love" 13 5
"Do You Hear What I Hear?" 43 — Bethlehem Skyline, Vol. 2
(various artists compilation)
2011 "I Am New" 16 46 Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue
"Remind Me Who I Am" 5 4 A Way to See in the Dark
2012 "Good to Be Alive" 5 22
"Christmas Is Coming" 20 — Christmas Stories: Repeat
the Sounding Joy
"Joy to the World" 22 —
2013 "Nothing Is Wasted" 28 — Nothing Is Wasted (EP)
"With Every Act of Love" 16 10 40 Love Will Have the Final Word
2014 "Laugh Out Loud" — 39 —
2015 "Glow in the Dark" 19 19 46 Where the Light Gets In
2016 "Sparrows" 15 16 21
2017 "I Will Rise Again" 40 31 —
"Learning" 45 28 —
2019 "I'm Gonna Let It Go" 14 12 19 Order, Disorder, Reorder[35]
"Order Disorder Reorder"[36] — — —
2020 "Remind Me You're Here" 45 47 —
"Glory Days" — — —

Appearances on other compilations

  • 2007: "Mary Did You Know, Miriam" on compilation album Bethlehem Skyline
  • 2010: "Love Has a Name" and "Do You Hear What I Hear" on compilation album Bethlehem Skyline Volume 2

References
  1. last name of presenter. Mnsu.edu. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  2. "The Better Part of Me – reviewed by Russ Breimeier". Christianitytoday.com. September 1, 2005. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  3. "Jason Gray signs with Centricity Records". Thechristianpulse.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  4. "Music". ChristianityToday.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2007.
  5. "Jason Gray Breaks Record For Radio Adds With New Single 'Nothing Is Wasted'". Path MEGAzine.
  6. Jason Gray Hits #1 with New Single. A Way to See in the Dark ChristianActivities.com (May 30, 2013). Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  7. "A Way to See in the Dark by Jason Gray – CD Reviews And Information". newreleasetoday.com.
  8. "Jason Gray receives ASCAP award for 'Goo to Be Alive'". May 8, 2013. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  9. "Jason Gray Artist Profile | Biography and Discography". Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  10. "News & Updates". jasongraymusic.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  11. "Jason Gray". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  12. "The Bible Son of God Tour 2014 [FULL SCHEDULE]". Music Times. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  13. "Spring Leg of the 2015 Beautiful Offerings Tour Announced!". Big Daddy Weave Official Website. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  14. "New Christian Music Releases for June 09, 2015". Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  15. "Post Script". AllMusic. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  16. Abraham, Felicia (March 1, 2014). Yoars, Marcus (ed.). "Music: Love Will Have the Final Word – Jason Gray (Centricity Music)". Charisma. Vol. 39 no. 8. Lake Mary, Florida: Stephen Strang and Joy Strang. p. 82. ISSN 0895-156X. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  17. Cummings, Tony (April 8, 2016). "Jason Gray: The songsmith talks about Where The Light Gets In". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  18. "Community of the Cros Ministries: Jason Gray returns to the Community Coffeehouse". Communityofthecrossministries.com. April 16, 2011. Archived from the original on October 18, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  19. Make a Difference Tour Website Archived October 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Makeadifferencetour.com (April 16, 2012). Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  20. Tony Cummings (January 25, 2012). "Jason Gray: The thoughtful songsmith once referred to as The Stuttering Artist". CrossRhymes.co.uk. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  21. "Jason Gray – Who Brings the Change – "More Like Falling in Love" – Part 7". JesusFreakHideout. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  22. "NewsReleaseTuesday: "More Like Falling In Love" by Jason Gray". Newreleasetuesday.com. June 1, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  23. "Jason Gray To Release First Holiday Album – Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy". JesusFreakHideout.com. August 6, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  24. "Sad News and The Path Forward". Jasongraymusic's Blog. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  25. "Jason Gray Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  26. "Jason Gray Chart History: Top Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  27. "Jason Gray Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  28. "Order, Disorder, Reorder - Jason Gray | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". Retrieved December 9, 2020 – via www.allmusic.com.
  29. "Jason Gray in Billboard Christian Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  30. "Jason Gray Releases New EP 'The Kipper Gray Sessions'". Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  31. "Jason Gray to Unveil New Album in Three Parts: 'Order,' 'Disorder,' 'Reorder'". Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  32. "Jason Gray Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  33. "Jason Gray Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  34. "Jason Gray Chart History (Christian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  35. "Order, Disorder, Reorder by Jason Gray". Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  36. "Jason Gray Releases New Song 'Order Disorder Reorder'". Retrieved June 20, 2019.


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