Grammys: Maverick City Music Make History As The First Christian Gospel Group To Perform In 20 Years
US worship group Maverick City Music made history at last night’s Grammy Awards as the first Christian gospel group to perform on the show in 20 years.
The group topped off the history-making performance of their hit song Jireh by winning their first Grammy. They received Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for their 2021 collaboration with Elevation Worship, titled Old Church Basement.
Maverick City Music was also the first group to be nominated in all four categories across both Christian and Gospel genres.
Since Maverick City Music formed in 2018, the group’s aim has been to end racial segregation in the “church music” industry – to “break the unspoken rules that exist in the CCM [Contemporary Christian Music] and Gospel World”, by being a “megaphone for a community of creatives that have been pushed to the margins of the industry of Church Music.”
In accepting the Grammy award on behalf of the group, lead singer Chandler Moore referred to this intention, saying “This group was created for those who were marginalised, unheard and rejected in this space, to be heard and have a space.”
Chris Brown from Elevation Worship drew attention to the humble roots of the album, created when the artists got together at a “writing camp”.
“I will never forget that little basement where this beautifully wild season between our two groups began,” said Brown in his acceptance speech. “It’s been the most beautiful thing watching our two ministries create something together that we could have never created separately.”
Maverick City Music echoed these sentiments, sharing on Twitter how God had multiplied the impact of the song Jireh.
Reminiscing on this moment, in this room, writing “Jireh” not knowing the impact this song would have. It blows us away to see how much God has used this song to bless and minister to so many. Just want to encourage you to take what you have and trust God to multiply it. pic.twitter.com/BqH9GM78py — Maverick City Music (@MavCityMusic) March 29, 2022
The group today announced the release of a new EP featuring various performances of Jireh.
Speaking about the group’s future after their Grammy win, co-founder of Maverick City Music Tony Brown, said: “Maverick City Music started with a dream to make the most segregated hour in America, Sunday mornings, an ancient pastime. Breaking barriers by being nominated in every inspirational Grammy category is only the beginning. The empowerment of every unlikely voice is what’s next for Maverick City.”
