Avalon, also known as Avalon Worship, is an American contemporary Christian vocal quartet from Nashville and was formed in 1995. The group has earned multiple RIAA-certified gold records. The group consists of Janna Long, Greg Long, and Jody McBrayer. The newest fourth member has yet to be revealed.
Group history
1995–97
Avalon was formed in 1995 in Nashville after Norman Miller of Proper Management took the idea of beginning a vocal group to Grant Cunningham, A&R Director at Sparrow Records. Cunningham attended an artist showcase in Nashville where he heard singer Michael Passons and made him the first Avalon member. Former Truth vocalist and South Carolina native Janna Potter (later Janna Long) became the group's second member.
Rikk Kittlemann and Tabitha Fair became part of the group, but each left after a short time. Long contacted McBrayer, her former Truth bandmate, who joined the group. Nikki Hassman (now Nikki Hassman-Anders) was also chosen. Hassman recorded two albums with Avalon, Avalon (1996) and A Maze of Grace (1997), before leaving in May 1998 to pursue a solo career with Sony Records.
1998–02
Cherie Paliotta (later Cherie Adams) replaced Hassman in the group. Adams recorded four albums with Avalon: In a Different Light (1999), Joy: A Christmas Collection (2000), Oxygen (2001), and a remix album, O2: Avalon Remixed (March 2002). She departed the group and was replaced by Melissa Greene, a former Truth member, in September 2002.
In September 2002, McBrayer released a solo album, This Is Who I Am, which included the Top 10 duet with Jadyn Maria "Never Alone (Nunca Solo)" and a No. 1 single "To Ever Live Without Me." Janna Long released a self-titled solo album in October 2002 which contained the No. 2 song "Greater Is He".
2003–06
On March 25, 2003, Avalon released a greatest hits record, Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon, which featured two new singles that became No. 1 hits; "Everything to Me" and "New Day". It was the last album to include Passons.
Passons revealed in an interview in 2020 that he was forced out of Avalon due to his sexual orientation as a gay man and refusal to continue attending conversion therapy. Although a member of the group when it fired Passons, Greene has supported Passons. Passons was replaced by Long's husband, Greg.
On February 24, 2004, Avalon released the studio album The Creed, from which three singles were released, "All", which reached No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary Christian Songs chart; "You Were There," a No. 2 Inspirational Charts hit; and "I Wanna Be With You".
On February 26, 2008, Avalon released its ninth album, Another Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics. After the album's release there was a tour, "The We Will Stand Tour", with Michael English, the Daniel Doss Band, and Cadia. The first single released from Another Time, Another Place was Avalon's cover of the Twila Paris song "God Is in Control." The second single, released on November 5, 2007, was a remake of the Sandi Patty/Wayne Watson song "Another Time, Another Place." On November 13, 2007, Avalon released Another Time, Another Place EP, a digital EP featuring three singles from the album, "God is in Control" and "Another Time, Another Place," and a cover of the Amy Grant song "Thy Word."
Jeremi Richardson joined Avalon in 2007 replacing McBrayer. Richardson had sung with the group Voices of Liberty at Walt Disney World. On November 11, 2007 at a show in Spring Arbor, Michigan, Greene announced that it was the first concert with Richardson officially being a member of the group. In 2008, EMI CMG released Avalon: The Greatest Hits. The album featured a new song from Avalon, "Still My God." On March 31, 2009, "Still My God" became Avalon's first No. 1 single since "New Day" was released in 2003, from Avalon's previous greatest hits album.
On May 15, 2009, Melissa Greene announced her resignation from Avalon upon accepting a position as pastor of Music and Arts at GracePointe Church in Nashville. Richardson's wife, Amy, replaced Greene on May 21, 2009. On May 19, 2009, Avalon recorded Reborn, its first studio album since Stand in 2006, on E1 Music, ending the group's affiliation with Sparrow Records. The first single, "Arise," was released to Christian radio in August 2009 and became Avalon's 22nd career No. 1 radio hit, topping Billboard<nowiki/>'s Soft AC/Inspirational chart.
2018–present: Called
On August 7, 2018, after a decade as members of Avalon, Jeremi and Amy Richardson stopped touring. Avalon announced on their Facebook page the return of Jody McBrayer and the addition of new member, Dani Rocca. On October 24, 2018, Avalon announced that they had signed as the flagship artist with Red Street Records, a new label launched by Rascal Flatts bassist Jay DeMarcus. On November 1, 2018, they sang their debut concert as Avalon in Jacksonville, Florida on the opening night of the Greatest Hits Tour, organized by Newsong.
Avalon released "Keeper of My Heart" on December 7, 2019, 10 years after Avalon's previous radio single. It was followed by a new album, Called, on February 14, 2020 and tour.
In 2022, the group rebranded under the name Avalon Worship and have released a self-titled album with this moniker.
Members
Current members
- Janna (Potter) Long (1995–present)
- Greg Long (2003–present)
- Jody McBrayer (1995–2007, 2018–present)
Former members
- Rikk Kittlemann (1995)
- Tabitha Fair (1995–1996)
- Nikki Hassman-Anders (1996–1998)
- Cherie (Paliotta) Adams (1998–2002)
- Michael Passons (1995–2003)
- Melissa Greene (2002–2009)
- Jeremi Richardson (2007–2018)
- Amy McBride-Richardson (2009–2018)
- Dani Rocca (2018–2025)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="3" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:11em;"| Certifications
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br />
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br />Christ.<br />
|
- Released: February 14, 2020
- Label: Red Street/The Fuel
- Format: CD, DL
| — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| Avalon Worship (Deluxe)
|
- Released September 30, 2022
- Label: Red Street/The Fuel
- Format: DL
| - || - || -
|
|}
Christmas albums
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Album details
! colspan="4" scope="col" | Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br />
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" !width="25"|US Insp.<br />
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br />Heat.<br />
|-
! scope="row"| Testify to Love: Live in Concert
|
- Released: November 18, 2003 (DVD); 2008 (CD)
- Label: Sparrow
- Format: CD, DVD
| — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| Avalon Live! A Hits Collection
|
- Released: February 26, 2008
- Label: Sparrow
- Format: DVD
| — || — || —
|}
Music videos
- 2000: "In Not Of" music video
- 2006: "In Christ Alone" music video; featured in Tribute to Ruth Graham
- 2019: "Keeper of My Heart" music video
Awards and nominations
{| class=wikitable
|-
!Year
!Awards
!Category
!Work
!Result
|-
| rowspan="6" |1998
| rowspan="2" |American Songwriter Professional Songwriter Awards
|Artist of the Year
|Avalon
|
|-
|Song of the Year
| rowspan="2" |"Testify to Love"
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |CRR (Christian Research Report)
|No. 1 AC Song of the Year
|
|-
|Group of the Year
| rowspan="2" |Avalon
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |GMA Dove Awards
|Best New Artist
|
|-
|Special Event Album of the Year
|God with Us
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |1999
|CRR (Christian Research Report)
|No. 1 AC Song of the Year
|"Reason Enough"
|
|-
| rowspan="6" |GMA Dove Awards
|Artist of the Year
| rowspan="2" |Avalon
|
|-
|Group of the Year
|
|-
|Long Form Music Video
|My Utmost for His Highest
|
|-
|Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
|A Maze of Grace
|
|-
|Inspirational Song of the Year
|"Adonai"
|
|-
|Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year
|"Testify to Love"
|
|-
| rowspan="6" |2000
|Christian Booksellers Association
|Top-Selling Christmas Recording
|Joy: A Christmas Collection
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |GMA Dove Awards
|Artist of the Year
| rowspan="2" |Avalon
|
|-
|Group of the Year
|
|-
|Song of the Year
| rowspan="2" |"Can't Live a Day"
|
|-
|Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year
|
|-
|Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
|In a Different Light
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |2001
| rowspan="3" |GMA Dove Awards
|Group of the Year
|Avalon
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |Special Event Album of the Year
|Child of the Promise
|
|-
|Music from and Inspired by Jesus: The Epic Mini-Series
|
|-
|43rd Annual Grammy Awards
|Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
|Joy: A Christmas Collection
|
|-
| rowspan="6" |2002
|CCM Reader's Choice Awards
| rowspan="2" |Group of the Year
| rowspan="2" |Avalon
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |GMA Dove Awards
|
|-
|Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
|Oxygen
|
|-
|Song of the Year
| rowspan="2" |"The Glory"
|
|-
|Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year
|
|-
|44th Annual Grammy Awards
|Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
|Oxygen
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2003
|American Music Awards (January)
|Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
| rowspan="2" |Avalon
|
|-
|CCM Reader's Choice Awards
|Group of the Year
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2004
|CCM Reader's Choice Awards
|Group of the Year
|Avalon
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |GMA Dove Awards
|Song of the Year
| rowspan="2" |"Everything to Me"
|
|-
|Inspirational Song of the Year
|
|-
|2005
|47th Annual Grammy Awards
|Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
|The Creed
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2007
| rowspan="2" |GMA Dove Awards
|Children's Album of the Year
|Sing Over Me
|
|-
|Inspirational Song of the Year
|"Orphans of God"
|
|-
|2008
|GMA Dove Awards
|Special Event Album
|Amazing Grace: Music Inspired by the Motion Picture
|
|}