Clay Crosse

Clay Crosse
Birth name Walter Clayton Crossnoe
Born (1967-02-11) February 11, 1967
Origin Memphis, Tennessee
Genres Contemporary Christian, inspirational
Instruments Voice
Years active 1994–present
Labels Reunion

Clay Crosse (born Walter Clayton Crossnoe, February 11, 1967) is a contemporary Christian music artist. He has won four GMA Dove Awards, and is probably best known for the single "I Surrender All."

Music career

Clay Crosse grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. He became a Christian at the age of 13.[1] He married his high school sweetheart, Renee. Initially, Clay worked as a courier for FedEx for six years.[2] Clay released his first album, My Place Is With You, in 1995. "I Surrender All" was the most successful single from the album.[1][2] With the success of his musical career, Clay quit his job.[2]

Crosse became known for singles such as "I Surrender All" and "My Place Is With You". He won the Dove Award for "Best New Artist of the Year" at the 25th GMA Dove Awards in 1994. Clay's music has a pop style. Eight songs from his first four albums became No. 1 singles.[3] During this period, his He Walked A Mile won the 1997 CCM Adult Contemporary Song of the Year. In 1998, his song "Sold Out Believer" reached No. 15 on the Christian music charts.[4] He also collaborated with Bob Carlisle and BeBe Winans on "I Will Follow Christ".

Following a personal struggle with pornography, Crosse lost his voice.[2] Reportedly, he was not sick but he was unable to sing. A vocal coach he hired to help him questioned him about his personal life. After praying with the coach one day, Crosse confessed his struggles to his wife.[2] It took one year for his relationship with his wife to improve. Later, Clay stated that he was able to sing, although not as well as before.[2] With the changes in his personal life, Clay released A Different Man in 1999. The songs "98", "Sinner's Prayer" and "Arms of Jesus" were written reflecting his personal struggles.[1] Touring with Jaci Velasquez, he spoke to teenagers on sexual abstinence before marriage.[5] The two singers worked in conjunction with the national student movement, True Love Waits to promote sexual purity.[6]

After the release of Christmas with Clay Crosse, Clay served as worship pastor for The Love of Christ (TLC) Community Church in Memphis under head pastor Dana Key (of the Christian Rock group DeGarmo and Key). During this time, the release of a live worship album was conceptualized. Clay signed a deal with the TAG Artist Group to release the CD and DVD Eternity with You: Live Worship.[7] The release of the CD and DVD coincided with the publication of his book, I Surrender All. In 2007, he released the single "Believe".[8]

Personal life

Crosse said that he has struggled with lust. This ultimately started eroding the foundations of his marriage.[9] Then in 1998, Crosse had a life-changing experience on a flight home from Seattle and this consequently led to the release of his next album A Different Man. Following this, his wife Renee began accompanying him on tours and the couple began sharing their experience of an improved marriage.

Clay and Renee Crosse also co-wrote a book with Mark Tabb titled, I Surrender All: Rebuilding a Marriage Broken by Pornography.[10]

Currently, Clay and Renee run the Holy Homes ministry.

Discography

Clay Crosse has released a total of six studio albums, two compilation albums and one live worship album.[11][12]

Albums

Singles

Awards

Clay Crosse has won four Dove Awards.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Clay Crosse Music page at Christianity Today
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 CBN.com: Clay and Renee Crosse - Keeping Secrets
  3. ↑ Clay Crosse BIO at ChristianMusic.com
  4. ↑ Mark Allan Powell (2002). "Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music". Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.
  5. ↑ FEATURE: Living Proof - Teens
  6. ↑ About True Love Waits
  7. ↑ About.com: Clay Crosse Signs Deal With TAG Artist Group
  8. ↑ Rolling Stone: Clay Crosse - Believe
  9. ↑ http://www.holyhomes.org/secondary.aspx?topic=porn&item=Porn/Our%20Story.xml
  10. ↑ Amazon.ca - I Surrender All: Rebuilding a Marriage Broken by Pornography
  11. ↑ Clay Crosse Discography at Billboard.com
  12. ↑ Vh1.com : Clay Crosse albums
  13. ↑ Clay Crosse Discography at Yahoo! Music
  14. ↑ GMA Dove Awards History - Search page

External links

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