Avalon

Avalon is a contemporary Christian vocal group from Nashville, United States. It forms in 1995 and remains active, with a line-up that includes Michael Passons, Jody McBrayer, Melissa Greene, Greg Long, Amy Richardson and Janna Long.

Overview

The group is known for tight vocal harmonies and a Christian pop sound within contemporary Christian music. It records as a vocal quartet, although its membership changes over time. Over the course of its career, it achieves multiple RIAA Gold albums, sells 4 million copies and scores 22 number-one Christian hits.

Formation and line-up changes

Avalon is formed in 1995 by Grant Cunningham, an A&R director at Sparrow Records, who is looking for a vocal group that can combine harmony singing with a Christian message. Michael Passons is the first singer to draw Cunningham’s attention. Janna Long, formerly Janna Potter, also joins early on after Cunningham hears her sing at a Truth concert. Rikk Kittleman and Tabitha Fair are both part of the group briefly, but each leaves after a short time, with Fair taking a solo deal and Kittleman leaving for other opportunities.

Jody McBrayer joins after Long recommends him. Nikki Hassman Anders then becomes the fourth vocalist and records the albums Avalon and A Maze of Grace before leaving in 1998 for a solo career. Cherie Paliotta Adams replaces her and records In A Different Light, Joy: A Christmas Collection, Oxygen and the remix set O2: Avalon Remixed. She later leaves for a solo ministry focused on single women.

Melissa Greene joins in September 2002. Michael Passons leaves in 2003 after the greatest-hits release and is replaced by Greg Long, who is Janna Long’s husband. Jody McBrayer later departs because of a heart condition, and Jeremi Richardson joins in late 2007. Melissa Greene leaves in 2009 and is replaced by Amy Richardson.

Albums and singles

The group’s releases include the debut album Avalon, A Maze of Grace, In A Different Light, Joy: A Christmas Collection, Oxygen, Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon, The Creed, Stand, Faith: A Hymns Collection, Another Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics, Avalon: The Greatest Hits and Reborn.

Notable singles and tracks include “Everything to Me”, “New Day”, “All”, “You Were There”, “I Wanna Be With You”, “Love Won’t Leave You”, “Orphans of God”, “Somehow You Are”, “God Is In Control”, “Another Time, Another Place”, “Thy Word”, “In Christ Alone”, “Still My God” and “Arise”. “Still My God” becomes the group’s first number-one single since “New Day”, and “Arise” becomes its 22nd career number-one radio hit.

Chart success and label history

Several of Avalon’s songs reach high positions on Christian radio and Billboard Christian charts. “All” reaches number two on the Adult Contemporary Christian Songs chart, “You Were There” reaches number two on the Inspirational chart, “Love Won’t Leave You” reaches the Top 20 on Billboard Hot Christian Songs and Hot Christian Adult Contemporary, and “Orphans of God” reaches the Top 5 of Radio & Records’ Inspo chart.

The group spends much of its career on Sparrow Records under EMI Christian Music Group, then moves to E1 Music for Reborn. A later greatest-hits album is issued by EMI CMG and includes material from earlier hits collections as well as updated radio versions of later songs.

Tours and collaborations

Avalon tours with Michael English, the Daniel Doss Band and Cadia on the We Will Stand Tour, and later co-headlines with Selah. The group also records a duet version of “Another Time, Another Place” featuring Jody and Janna, and the 2002 solo work of Jody McBrayer includes a duet with Jadyn Strand Maria.

Line-up at a glance

The group’s membership history includes Michael Passons, Jody McBrayer, Melissa Greene, Greg Long, Amy Richardson and Janna Long, along with earlier members Nikki Hassman Anders and Cherie Paliotta Adams.