Anointed

Anointed is a Contemporary Christian music Quartet consisting of siblings Steve Crawford and Da'dra Crawford-Greathouse, along with Nissi Walls-Allen and Mary Tiller-Woods. Their musical style includes elements of R&B, Pop, Rock, Funk, and Piano ballads. The group has won seven Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards and three Grammy Award nominations.^[1][2] The group has also been featured on several Christian compilation albums such as Real Life Music, 1996 and WOW The 90s.

History

Anointed was formed in 1988, by Nee-C Walls, Mary Tiller, Da'dra Crawford and Steve Crawford.^[3] They were all still in high school at that time. Their debut, Spiritual Love Affair, was released in 1993 on Brainstorm Records, and distributed by Myrrh Records, a subsidiary of Word.^[4]

1995 The Call

In 1995 Anointed released their second album, "The Call". This album would go on to become their best selling album to date, and to this day it is one of the best selling and popular contemporary Christian albums of the 90's, but controversy came with it. "The Call" won three Dove Awards, a Stellar award and a Grammy nomination. In January 1996, fans began to see only three members of the group making concert appearances. Mary Tiller had left the group in January 1996. The group released "Under the Influence" in October 1996, without Tiller.

After the release of the group's fourth album in 1999, an extended tour followed. Nee-C Walls left the group in 2000 for other pursuits. Both Da'dra and Steve were physically exhausted and uncertain as to their next move. .^[4] The duo then enrolled in a two-year ministerial program at their church for spiritual enrichment and a deeper knowledge of the Bible.^[4] In 2001, the duo felt refreshed in body and spirit and decided to continue their musical career, although Steve says that it was never their intention to be a duet.

2000s

"If We Pray" was released early fall 2001, but because of health reasons and under promoting by the group and their record label, the album failed to gather the attention that the previous Anointed releases had. In 2002, Anointed and Word Records parted ways.^[4] Following this, the band was signed on to the Sony Urban label and Now Is The Time was released on 5 April 2005.^[5] Plans for the original group to reunite are uncertain.

Present

Steve and Da'dra are currently a part of the Praise and Worship Team at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. Mary Tiller and Nee-c Walls continue to produce and write music for artists out of Nashville, Tennessee including Cece Winans, Natalie Grant and others. There are rumors of all four member reuniting for the next album but this information has not been confirmed by the group.

Albums

• Spiritual Love Affair (1993), Sony Music/Epic Records/Word Records - Debut Studio Album
• The Call (1995), Sony Music/Epic Records/Myrrh Records - Studio Album
• Under The Influence (1996), Sony Music/Epic Records/Myrrh Records - Studio Album
• Anointed (1999), Myrrh Records/Word Records - Studio Album
• If We Pray (2001), Word Records - Studio Album
• The Best Of Anointed (2003), Word Records - Compilation album of 12 songs from previous releases
• Now Is The Time (2005), Sony Urban Gospel - Studio Album
• New album scheduled to be released 2009-2010, Sony Music/Columbia Records - Studio Album

Special releases

• It's in God's Hands Now (1994), Sony BMG - single
• Under the Influence (1996), Sony BMG - single
• Gonna Lift Your Name (2004), Sony Music/Columbia Records - single

Video

• The Call Music Video
• It's in God's Hands Now Music Video
• Under The Influence Music Video
• Mercy Alive With Brian Duncan Live in Concert Video
• One Voice With Brian Duncan And Crystal Lewis Live in Concert Video
• 30 Years of the Dove Awards "Best Performances" With Micheal W. Smith, Born Again Church Chior and Larnell Harris Live in Concert Video

Other contributions

• Beautiful, special contribution to a Left Behind soundtrack^[6]
• Second Chances, song featured on the soundtrack of the VeggieTales Jonah film^[6]
• Waiting In The Wings (1996), Myrrh Records - song from Under The Influence featured on the compilation album Real Life Music^[3]
• The Word (1998), Myrrh Records - featured on the compilation album Songs From The Book^[3]
• United We Stand Duet with Brian Duncan (1994), Myrrh Records - featured on the compilation album Unforgettable Duets Vol 1^[3]
• One Voice (1998), Myrrh Records - featured on the compilation album Songs From The Book^[3]
• The Word Was Made Flesh (1996), Myrrh Records - featured on the compilation album Emanuel^[3]
• Never Be Another (2000), Sony Records - featured on the album Cool By George Duke^[3]
• The Covenant(1994), Myrrh Records - featured on the compilation album My Utmost For his Highest^[3]
• Crown Him With Many Crowns(1994), Sparrow Records - featured on the album I'll Lead You Home by Micheal W. Smith^[3]
• Joyfull, Joyfull Duet With Micheal W. Smith(1994), Myrrh Records - featured on the compilation album My Utmost For his Highest^[3]
• Send Out A Prayer (1997), - featured on the compilation album Keep The Faith Collection "Power Of Prayer"^[3]

Awards

Dove Awards

• 1996 Dove Awards - Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year (formerly Contemporary Black Gospel), The Call
• 1996 Dove Awards - Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year (formerly Contemporary Black Gospel), The Call (Album The Call)
• 1996 Dove Awards - Urban Recorded Song of the Year, It's In God's Hands Now (Album The Call)
• 1997 Dove Awards - Urban Recorded Song of the Year, Under the Influence (Album Under the Influence)
• 1998 Dove Awards - Special Event Album of the Year, God With Us: A Celebration of Christmas Carols and Classics (Compilation album won with Michael W. Smith, Twila Paris, Sandi Patty, Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Willis, Steve Green, Cheri Keaggy, Avalon, Out of the Grey, Ray Boltz, Clay Crosse, CeCe Winans, Larnelle Harris; Norman Miller; Sparrow)
• 2000 Dove Awards - Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year (formerly Contemporary Black Gospel), Anointed
• 2000 Dove Awards - Urban Recorded Song of the Year, Anything Is Possible (Album Anointed)
• 2006 Nomination Dove Awards - Urban Contemporary Album of the Year, Now Is The Time
• 2006 Nomination Dove Awards - Urban Recorded Song of the Year, Gonna Lift Your Name (Album Now Is The Time)

Other awards

• 1994 Stellar Awards - Best New Artist , Spiritual Love Affair
• 1996 Stellar Awards - Album of the Year , The Call
• 1996 Nomination Grammy Awards - Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year The Call
• 1998 Nomination Grammy Awards - Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year Under Ther Influence
• 2000 Nomination Grammy Awards - Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year Anointed

References

External links

• Official Website
• Mary Tiller's Official Website