Jars World : Bios : Tim's views
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Mixing of Clay
as told by Tim
I am sure that what the Jars of Clay has gone through these last several, has sure surprised both them and their friends and family. It their thru their love of music that God brought them together. I am totally sure that is what all God ordained and that he gets all of the glory out if it. And it is God who has used their love of music that keeps them to together for these past several years
The band started back in back in late 1993 or early 1994. The original four all, CCM majors, had all met at Greenville College in the state of Illinois. Dan Haseltine and Charlie Lowell had meet because of a Toad the Wetsprocket T-shirt. They soon realized that they had common interests. Form there Matt Brownleewe and Stephen Mason joined. The band now formed use Charlie’s to take their name from the Bible verse 2nd Corinthians 4:7. The verse goes like this, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us". With in the months that followed they wrote a few songs for class credits, and then took those songs and along with writing a few more created Frail. Frail was a just for fun project. They had made it to see if they could do it. And just for fun they sent it in to the GMA band competition. The Gospel Music Association band competition is event that is held every year. And out of some 200 plus bands they were chosen to compete in the finals. And out of 10 bands they won the easily won the competition.
Winning the competition sparked the all sorts of Labels contacting them. Matt had decided that he wanted to finish college and marry his girlfriend so, when the rest of the band decided to move to Nashville and pursue the band thing, they needed a guitar player. Charlie remembered a friend from childhood who played guitar. His name even happened to be Matt. So after Matt prayed about it he decided to join the rest of the group and down to Nashville.
Eventually has Jars decided to choose Essential Records as their label. They felt Essential would give them the freedom they needed. As several months of reworking some of their old songs while writing some new songs their self-titled Jars of Clay was ready. And on May 1st, 1995 truly the music world, as we know it changed forever. Though the first few months where slow the Jars really became big when Flood hit the secular airwaves?? And on September 4th, 1996 they Jars celebrated a sale of 1 million albums. Months later they celebrated the sale of two million albums.
By the time 1997 the world was ready for a news Jars album. So to say that were now under great pressure to out do themselves was not over exaggerating the truth. The guys took a totally different approach to the new album. They hired a producer, went with a much richer sound and for the most part drop the drum loops everyone had known form their previous work. The even did some of the recording in England. Over a year after Jars of Clay had went double platinum the Jars followed with their second album Much Afraid on, September 16th, 1997. While it was not as hugely popular as their debuted, it did go platinum. It showed the world that they were not one hit wonders.
After the release of their second album the Jars toured a bunch in various cities and parts of the world. An in the mist of the touring released few solo songs for some complications CD’s. One such song was a remake the late Rich Mullins "If I Stand" for the Rich Mullin tribute album.
After another 2-year period it was now time for a new Jars album in 1999. Following the same formula they hired a producer. But this time instead of a rich full sound, they went with a raw organic sound. Initially before the album was even finish they had already had the cover pick out. By the time it was finish they even had the album name and cover matching. On November 11th, 1999 If I Left the Zoo was released. Only after a few weeks of it’s release it is selling well.
And so their story continues . . . . .
I am sure that what the Jars of Clay has gone through these last several, has sure surprised both them and their friends and family. It their thru their love of music that God brought them together. I am totally sure that is what all God ordained and that he gets all of the glory out if it. And it is God who has used their love of music that keeps them to together for these past several years
The band started back in back in late 1993 or early 1994. The original four all, CCM majors, had all met at Greenville College in the state of Illinois. Dan Haseltine and Charlie Lowell had meet because of a Toad the Wetsprocket T-shirt. They soon realized that they had common interests. Form there Matt Brownleewe and Stephen Mason joined. The band now formed use Charlie’s to take their name from the Bible verse 2nd Corinthians 4:7. The verse goes like this, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us". With in the months that followed they wrote a few songs for class credits, and then took those songs and along with writing a few more created Frail. Frail was a just for fun project. They had made it to see if they could do it. And just for fun they sent it in to the GMA band competition. The Gospel Music Association band competition is event that is held every year. And out of some 200 plus bands they were chosen to compete in the finals. And out of 10 bands they won the easily won the competition.
Winning the competition sparked the all sorts of Labels contacting them. Matt had decided that he wanted to finish college and marry his girlfriend so, when the rest of the band decided to move to Nashville and pursue the band thing, they needed a guitar player. Charlie remembered a friend from childhood who played guitar. His name even happened to be Matt. So after Matt prayed about it he decided to join the rest of the group and down to Nashville.
Eventually has Jars decided to choose Essential Records as their label. They felt Essential would give them the freedom they needed. As several months of reworking some of their old songs while writing some new songs their self-titled Jars of Clay was ready. And on May 1st, 1995 truly the music world, as we know it changed forever. Though the first few months where slow the Jars really became big when Flood hit the secular airwaves?? And on September 4th, 1996 they Jars celebrated a sale of 1 million albums. Months later they celebrated the sale of two million albums.
By the time 1997 the world was ready for a news Jars album. So to say that were now under great pressure to out do themselves was not over exaggerating the truth. The guys took a totally different approach to the new album. They hired a producer, went with a much richer sound and for the most part drop the drum loops everyone had known form their previous work. The even did some of the recording in England. Over a year after Jars of Clay had went double platinum the Jars followed with their second album Much Afraid on, September 16th, 1997. While it was not as hugely popular as their debuted, it did go platinum. It showed the world that they were not one hit wonders.
After the release of their second album the Jars toured a bunch in various cities and parts of the world. An in the mist of the touring released few solo songs for some complications CD’s. One such song was a remake the late Rich Mullins "If I Stand" for the Rich Mullin tribute album.
After another 2-year period it was now time for a new Jars album in 1999. Following the same formula they hired a producer. But this time instead of a rich full sound, they went with a raw organic sound. Initially before the album was even finish they had already had the cover pick out. By the time it was finish they even had the album name and cover matching. On November 11th, 1999 If I Left the Zoo was released. Only after a few weeks of it’s release it is selling well.
And so their story continues . . . . .
