Christian music has grown over the past years. During the late 70's you could go down to your local Christian bookstore and the music department consisted of one small wall or table. The 80's brought growth to the industry, and the 90's brought an explosion of artists offering music from a variety of styles. The year 2000 will be remembered for the introduction of the first "Boy Band" to the Christian music industry - meet Plus One.
Plus One has hit the Christian Market like a storm with the introduction of their debut album, The Promise, in late May. The album broke sales records for a new artist as the group sold more than 19,000 copies of the album during its first week in stores. With such strong sales, the album came in at #76 on the Billboard 200 charts. The first single, Written on My Heart, is currently #1 on both the Adult Contemporary and Christian Hit Radio charts and is the top selling album in Christian retail.
So what is Plus One all about you ask? That is exactly the question I had as I was preparing for this interview. First of all, let me begin by explaining that I am not a big fan of bands like N'Sync or the Backstreet Boys. I don't mind the music, but some of their lyrics and dance moves are something that I can do without. Needless to say, I was a bit skeptical of a Christian "Boy Band". Could a Christian "Boy Band" be much different from it's secular counterparts?
The easiest way to answer my questions was to experience the music of Plus One up close and in person. The group was appearing in Seattle, Washington for a promotional concert so I hopped in the car for a three-hour drive to the show. With the help of the group's publicist I was scheduled to meet with the guys for a pre-show interview.
I arrived at the venue for the evening, Overlake Christian Church, ready to meet up with the guys from Plus One. The group is behind schedule, which tends to be typical for the concert business. When they arrive on site they are rushed to the stage for a rehearsal. This provides an excellent opportunity for me to see the guys in action.
As I watched the group run through their songs for the next hour or so I was pleased to see a group of guys with hearts for the Lord. Absent were the sexually laced lyrics and dance moves of secular boy bands. Plus One seemed to be in this for the right reasons!
My observations were confirmed as I met up with the guys just before they went on stage for the evening's show.
Many of you may be wondering just how Plus One got their start. It all started a couple of years ago as the brainchild of manager Mitchell Solarek who teamed up with record producer Barry Landis. Together the duo held auditions and formed Christian music's first boy band. That was just the start as the group was shopped to different record companies. In the end the group landed in the hands of David Foster of 143 records. I guess you could say in the very capable hands of Mr. Foster, who is a 14-time Grammy winner, working with artists like Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, Celine Dion and Toni Braxton.
I asked the guys to share with me where they thought they would be down the road with David Foster's help. "All ready we see big doors opening. We sang for Vice-President Al Gore, Laker's games and hockey games. He opened so many doors even before our album came out. You can't even tell what the future is going to be with David. He has the hook ups for sure!"
So guys, tell me your stories of how you became a member of Plus One.
Nate Cole: " I was just finishing up my junior year, I sang at a competition at Estes Park, Colorado. That is where I met our manager Mitchell Solarek. He gave me he card and told me to call him. I was in the dark about what he was planning on doing. I kept in touch with him and auditioned a week before my high school graduation. Then I had to decide, 'do I go to college, or should I do this group thing?' I really needed to hear from God because this was a big deal! I decided to go for it and my whole family felt the release for me to do that.
Jeremy Mhire: "I was on a vocal music scholarship to Southwest Missouri State. I got a call from a road manager for Greg Long, who is managed by Mitchell, our manager. He called me about two days before the audition and told me what it was about. He didn't have a lot of details and I didn't really know who he was, so I said no at first. I tried to go back to sleep after the call and I started thinking about it and that led to calling him back and giving it a shot. So I flew out to San Francisco for the audition. As I found out more about the vision of the group I really felt more comfortable."
Gabe Combs: " One of the guys that was going to be judging the vocal performances at the audition was working with my sister-in-law. He told her about the group and she told him about me. He called me up and told me about the vision of the group. He then told me that I had to send in a picture and tape that day. I looked around and all I could find was my prom picture. I found a tape of me singing in youth group, just messing around. I mailed it in and thought there was no way they were going to call me back. But like a week later they called and invited me to audition."
Jason Perry: "I found out about the group through Nate's second cousin, his name is Rich Wilkerson and he is an evangelist. He came to my father's church and preached one morning and I sang. He came to me after the service and told me about this group that his little cousin was in. He told me all about it. He made some calls that day and the manager called me the next day and asked me to fly out the next Thursday. That day I met the guys and everything clicked and went really well."
Nathan Walters: "I was living in Nashville at the time of the audition. Mitchell called me up and told me about the group. I told him I didn't know if I was real interested. He invited me to audition, but I would need to fly out that day, in two hours. I told him no, but thanks. A week went by, but I was praying 'Lord, if this is your will, the doors will open up again.' Mitchell called me up a week later and asked me to audition there in Nashville.
Time for our interview is running out and the guys need to get ready to go on stage. So I asked the guys one last question. How do you feel about being compared to groups like N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys." We told ourselves that we are not a boy band. But we are five guys, we look like a boy band, we sound like a boy band . . . darn it, we are a boy band. I think that our message will definitely separate us. Our name, Plus One, means you always have a plus one - it is all of us plus one. As long as we have our plus one with us we can do anything and we can always turn to Him. Our album has that message over and over again that God is with us. That is what the promise means."
So there you have it. Christian Music's first boy band. If you like the sounds of the Back Street Boys or N'Sync, you will definitely like what you hear from Plus One. Watch for them at a Christian festival this summer or on tour this fall with Jaci Velasquez.
You can visit them on the web at www.plusoneonline.com.
