Sandra McCracken
{{Short description|American musical artist (born 1977)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sandra McCracken
| background = solo_singer
| image = Sandra McCracken.jpg
| caption = Sandra McCracken performing in 2018
| landscape = yes
| birth_name = Sandra Marie McCracken
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|06|16}}
| origin = St. Louis, Missouri, United States
| genre = Americana, folk, gospel music
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
| years_active = 1999–present
| label = Shell, Towhee, Integrity Music
| associated_acts = Derek Webb, Caedmon's Call, Indelible Grace
| website = {{URL|sandramccracken.com}}
}}
Sandra Marie McCracken{{cite web|title=Almighty God Work ID: 886831052 ISWC: T9140398330|url=https://www.ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx|publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|author=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|author-link=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|accessdate=April 19, 2015|archive-date=March 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306032310/https://www.ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx|url-status=live}} Work ID: 886831052 ISWC: T9140398330 (born June 16, 1977) is an independent singer-songwriter. She currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. Drawing from folk, gospel, and hymn traditions, her music often weaves together storytelling and scripture.{{Cite web|url=https://rochellenews-leader.com/article/nashvilles-mccracken-to-perform-at-church|title=Nashville's McCracken to perform at church|website=Rochelle News-Leader|date=February 16, 2019 |access-date=April 2, 2019|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402194147/https://rochellenews-leader.com/article/nashvilles-mccracken-to-perform-at-church|url-status=live}} McCracken is a founding member of the Indelible Grace artist collective based in Nashville.{{cite web|url=http://hymnbook.igracemusic.com/people/sandra-mccracken|title=Sandra McCracken – Indelible Grace Hymnbook|website=hymnbook.igracemusic.com|accessdate=April 2, 2019|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402222212/https://hymnbook.igracemusic.com/people/sandra-mccracken|url-status=live}}{{primary source inline|date=April 2019}} She won the 2023 GMA Dove Award for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year for her album Light in the Canyon.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/10/20/dove-awards-2023-full-list-of-winners-in-nashville/71221488007/|title=2023 Dove Awards: See the full list winners|website=tennessean.com|accessdate=October 20, 2023}}
Background
As a singer-songwriter, McCracken has penned and co-written songs for Caedmon's Call (on albums In the Company of Angels, Back Home, and Overdressed) as well as for Derek Webb's solo release, She Must and Shall Go Free, BiFrost Arts recordings, All Sons & Daughters, Audrey Assad and others. McCracken has recorded fifteen studio albums of her own.
File:Derek Webb And Sandra McCracken at The Grey Eagle.jpg performing at the Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC on November 6, 2007.]]
McCracken grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and attended Westminster Christian Academy. As a child, McCracken would harmonize in the church choir, accompany groups on the piano, sing solos in church, and write new hymns for her congregation to sing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/sandra-mccracken-gods-highway-sep-9/|title=Sandra McCracken – 'God's Highway,' Sep. 9|last=News|first=C. C. M.|date=August 25, 2016|website=CCM Magazine|access-date=April 2, 2019}}
Professional career
McCracken began her musical career shortly after graduating from Belmont University in 1999. She independently released two albums, The Crucible and Gypsy Flat Road in 2000, and 2001 respectively.
In late 2003, McCracken recorded Best Laid Plans with engineer, Ray Kennedy (Twang Trust) and producer, Peter Collins.[http://sandramccracken.com/index.htm?id=5771&inc=7&album_id=701 Best Laid Plans.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312034733/http://sandramccracken.com/index.htm?id=5771&inc=7&album_id=701 |date=March 12, 2007 }} [http://www.sandramccracken.com Sandra McCracken.com.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402184715/http://www.sandramccracken.com/ |date=April 2, 2019 }}. Retrieved January 22, 2007 In mid-2004, McCracken signed the album to Shell Records in London, headed by Dave Robinson. Shell released the album in the UK, followed by two radio singles, "Last Goodbye" and "No More Tears", which received significant airplay and attention across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.[http://www.musicomh.com/albums2/sandra-mccracken.htm Best Laid Plans] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060911230213/http://www.musicomh.com/albums2/sandra-mccracken.htm |date=September 11, 2006 }}. [http://www.musicomh.com MusicOMH.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606012204/http://www.musicomh.com/ |date=June 6, 2013 }}. Retrieved January 22, 2007.
In 2005, McCracken released The Builder and the Architect, an album of hymns.{{cite web |title=Sandra McCracken: A live experience blending worship and performance |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Sandra_McCracken_A_live_experience_blending_worship_and_performance/60976/p1/ |publisher=Cross Rhythms |author=Tony Cummings |date=August 29, 2017 |accessdate=November 12, 2019 |archive-date=November 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112072444/http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Sandra_McCracken_A_live_experience_blending_worship_and_performance/60976/p1/ |url-status=live }} The same team that worked on Best Laid Plans came together again in February 2006 to record album number five, Gravity / Love which was released in September 2006.{{Citation needed|date=May 2014}} In 2010, McCracken released In Feast or Fallow, another album of hymns, recorded at her home studio in East Nashville.Liner Notes, In Feast or Fallow{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Feast-Fallow-Sandra-McCracken/dp/B003KWCL9S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425251720&sr=8-1&keywords=in+feast+or+fallow|title=Amazon.com: Sandra McCracken: In Feast Or Fallow: Music|website=Amazon |accessdate=March 2, 2015}}
In addition to her solo recordings, she co-founded the children's music collective, Rain for Roots, in 2012, with fellow singer-songwriters Ellie Holcomb, Katy Bowser, and Flo Paris. This collective has released four albums, Big Stories for Little Ones—with lyrics written by British author Sally Lloyd-Jones—The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like This, Waiting Songs, and All Creatures.
Desire Like Dynamite, released in February 2013,{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Desire-Like-Dynamite-Sandra-McCracken/dp/B00AYEFBE2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425251875&sr=8-1&keywords=desire+like+dynamite|title=Amazon.com: Desire Like Dynamite: Sandra McCracken: MP3 Downloads|website=Amazon |accessdate=March 2, 2015}} explores deeper dimensions of sound and grace.{{Cite news|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/february-web-only/desire-like-dynamite.html|title=McCracken, Sandra|work=ChristianityToday.com|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326225928/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/february-web-only/desire-like-dynamite.html|url-status=live}}
file:SandraMcCracken July2015.jpg
In 2015, McCracken's Psalms album was released without a label, and it charted No. 18 on the Billboard Americana/Folk charts.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/sandra-mccracken|title=Sandra McCracken Psalms Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 2, 2019|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404033532/https://www.billboard.com/music/sandra-mccracken|url-status=live}} This critically acclaimed release marked a shift in McCracken's music as she began writing songs for people to sing together. After releasing Psalms, McCracken toured and co-wrote significantly with the Grammy-winning Christian duo All Sons & Daughters.
In 2016, she released God's Highway and it placed No. 49 in the Billboard Heatseekers Chart upon release.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/6539675/sandra-mccracken/chart|title=Sandra McCracken – Chart history – Billboard|magazine=Billboard |accessdate=March 27, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326140015/http://www.billboard.com/artist/6539675/sandra-mccracken/chart|url-status=live}} It went on to reach No. 20 on the Billboard Americana/Folk charts.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/sandra-mccracken|title=Sandra McCracken God's Highway Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 2, 2019|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404033532/https://www.billboard.com/music/sandra-mccracken|url-status=live}}
In 2017 she began writing a column on spirituality and creativity for Christianity Today.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/sandra-mccracken-releases-new-album-patient-kingdom/|title=StackPath|website=www.ccmmagazine.com|date=October 12, 2020 |accessdate=January 11, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://worshipleader.com/culture/music-review-patient-kingdom-by-sandra-mccracken/|title=Music Review | "Patient Kingdom" By Sandra McCracken|date=October 22, 2020|accessdate=January 11, 2022}} The same year, McCracken published the Steadfast podcast. In 2020, McCracken released Patient Kingdom. The following year, she published the second season of the Steadfast podcast, with the theme of patience.{{Cite web|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/steadfast/sandra-mccracken-steadfast-podcast-sneak-peek.html|title=Steadfast Podcast: Sneak Peek|website=ChristianityToday.com|accessdate=January 11, 2022}}
In 2022, McCracken released two solo albums, Carry Each Other and Light in the Canyon. Carry Each Other (February) is an album of covers, including One by U2, Everybody Hurts by R.E.M., and others. Light in the Canyon (July) contains many songs she has released on previous albums, with a jazz twist.
Later in the year, she released an EP, titled November Songs, with a band project called Shadowlands. Shadowlands is composed of Luke Laird, Brett Taylor, and Sandra McCracken. The songs of the EP were written in the November of 2021, and released in September of 2022.
McCracken lists her musical influences as Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty{{cite web|url=https://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/sandra-mccracken-gods-highway-sep-9/|title=Sandra McCracken – 'God's Highway,' Sep. 9|first=C. C. M.|last=News|date=August 25, 2016|website=CCM Magazine|accessdate=April 2, 2019|archive-date=November 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119223530/https://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/sandra-mccracken-gods-highway-sep-9/|url-status=live}} and Johnny Cash.Davis, Cara. [http://www.radiantmag.com/article.php?id=107 Sandra McCracken: No Shortcuts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008153938/http://www.radiantmag.com/article.php?id=107 |date=October 8, 2007 }}. [http://www.radiantmag.com Radiant Magazine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825195946/http://www.radiantmag.com/ |date=August 25, 2006 }}. Retrieved January 22, 2007. Her songs have been recorded by All Sons & Daughters, Audrey Assad, Bifrost Arts, Caedmon's Call and others,{{Cite web|url=http://www.sandramccracken.com/welcome|title=Welcome|website=Sandra McCracken|access-date=April 2, 2019|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402195942/http://www.sandramccracken.com/welcome|url-status=live}}{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2019|reason=No author to this article.}} and her music has been featured on ABC's Grey's Anatomy.{{Citation|title="Grey's Anatomy" Lay Your Hands on Me (TV Episode 2008) – IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1002870/soundtrack|access-date=April 2, 2019|archive-date=June 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615222031/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1002870/soundtrack|url-status=live}}{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2019|reason=IMDB is user-generated data at this level.}}
Personal life
On April 17, 2014, McCracken and her then-husband, fellow singer-songwriter Derek Webb, announced that their marriage was coming to an end after thirteen years due to Webb's extramarital affair.{{cite web |title=DEREK WEBB |url=http://derekwebb.tumblr.com/post/83007023236/sad-news-from-derek-and-sandra |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220010619/http://derekwebb.tumblr.com/post/83007023236/sad-news-from-derek-and-sandra |archive-date=February 20, 2015 |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |work=tumblr.com}}{{cite web |date=May 11, 2014 |title=Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken's Divorce Announcement Rocks Christian Music Community |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/11/derek-webb-sandra-mccracken-divorce_n_5266964.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220013203/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/11/derek-webb-sandra-mccracken-divorce_n_5266964.html |archive-date=February 20, 2015 |accessdate=March 2, 2015 |work=HuffPost}} McCracken married Tim Nicholson, director of music at Covenant Presbyterian Church, in 2018.{{Cite news |date=2023-04-09 |title=Nashville, Battered and Mourning, Pauses for Easter (Published 2023) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/09/us/nashville-easter.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241122062533/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/09/us/nashville-easter.html |archive-date=2024-11-22 |access-date=2024-12-24 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Sandra McCracken |url=https://www.integritymusic.com/sandra-mccracken |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=Integrity Music |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Timothy Nicholson and Sandra McCracken on Honeyfund.com |url=https://www.honeyfund.com/wedding/SandraandTim |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=Honeyfund}}
Discography
Studio albums
- 2000 – The Crucible
- 2001 – Gypsy Flat Road
- 2004 – Best Laid Plans
- 2005 – The Builder and the Architect
- 2006 – Gravity / Love
- 2008 – Ampersand EP (with Derek Webb)
- 2008 – Red Balloon
- 2010 – In Feast or Fallow
- 2011 – TN EP (with Derek Webb)
- 2013 – Desire Like Dynamite{{cite web|first=Oscar|last=Hyde|title=Review: Desire Like Dynamite – Sandra McCracken|publisher=Cross Rhythms|date=January 2, 2014|accessdate=December 23, 2015|url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Sandra_McCracken/Desire_Like_Dynamite/136836/|archive-date=December 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223190333/http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Sandra_McCracken/Desire_Like_Dynamite/136836/|url-status=live}}
- 2015 – Psalms{{cite web|first=Joy|last=Attmore|title=Review: Psalms: Sandra McCracken|publisher=Cross Rhythms|date=December 22, 2015|accessdate=December 23, 2015|url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Sandra_McCracken/Psalms/159332/|archive-date=December 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223190112/http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Sandra_McCracken/Psalms/159332/|url-status=live}}
- 2016 – God's Highway
- 2018 – Songs from the Valley
- 2019 – Christmas
- 2020 – Patient Kingdom{{cite web|url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2020/10/09.NewAlbumfromSandraMcCrackenPatientKingdomDebutsToday.asp|title=New Album from Sandra MCracken, 'Patient Kingdom,' Debuts Today|accessdate=October 12, 2020|archive-date=October 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011113318/https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2020/10/09.NewAlbumfromSandraMcCrackenPatientKingdomDebutsToday.asp|url-status=live}}
- 2022 – Carry Each Other (covers){{Cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1EZ6j67S9TkHoPcHczSSTS|title=Carry Each Other|date=February 11, 2022|accessdate=February 16, 2022|via=open.spotify.com}}
- 2022 – Light in the Canyon[https://open.spotify.com/album/7uUef7LNBuXSPmdLYMr5Hb?si=6c0JFOtwQha2V1pOvQSBcA [28
] ]
Live albums
- 2009 – Live Under Lights and Wires
- 2017 – Steadfast Live
With Rain for Roots
- 2012 – Big Stories for Little Ones (with Ellie Holcomb, Katy Bowser, Flo Paris, words by Sally Lloyd-Jones)
- 2014 – The Kingdom of Heaven is Like This (with Ellie Holcomb, Katy Bowser, Flo Paris)
- 2015 – Waiting Songs (with Katy Bowser, Flo Paris, and others)
- 2020 – All Creatures (with Katy Bowser, Flo Paris, and others)
With Shadowlands
- 2022 – November Songs (with Luke Laird and Brett Taylor)
With Paper Horses
- 2024 – Paper Horses (EP) (with Jess Ray, Taylor Leonhardt, and Leslie Jordan)
Notes and references
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.sandramccracken.com}}
- [http://www.squarepegalliance.com SquarePegAlliance.com]
- [http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sister-talk/2013/05/18/sandra-mccrackens-folk-gospel-music Sandra McCracken Interview & Music]
{{Authority control}}
{{Sandra McCracken |state=expanded}}
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Category:Singer-songwriters from Missouri
Category:American performers of Christian music