Login
Login

Sidewalk Prophets

{{Short description|American contemporary Christian band}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2018}}

{{More citations needed|date=December 2019}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Sidewalk Prophets

| image = Sidewalk Prophets 2013 Appleton.jpg

| landscape = yes

| caption = Sidewalk Prophets in 2013

| background = group_or_band

| origin = Anderson, Indiana, U.S.

| genre = Contemporary Christian music, pop rock, indie rock

| years_active = 2003-present{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/artists/SidewalkProphets.asp|title=Sidewalk Prophets|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|access-date=January 3, 2010}}

| label = Word

| website = {{URL|sidewalkprophets.com/}}

| current_members =

  • David Frey
  • Cal Joslin
  • Daniel Macal
  • Ben Young

| past_members =

  • Shaun Tomczak
  • Justin Nace
  • Ben McDonald
  • Chris Jordan
  • Chris Koboldt

}}

Sidewalk Prophets is an American contemporary Christian music band from Nashville. Their album These Simple Truths contained the single "The Words I Would Say" which is also featured on WOW Hits 2010 and WOW Hits 2011. The group won the 2010 GMA Dove Award for New Artist of the Year.

Sidewalk Prophets was currently composed by David Frey on lead vocals, Cal Joslin on bass & backing vocals & Daniel Macal on lead guitar & backing vocals

Background

The band was formed by lead singer Dave Frey and rhythm guitarist Ben McDonald when the two were attending Anderson University in Indiana. A demo they recorded was taken without their knowledge to a campus recording contest, which earned them a performance slot. That in turn, led to radio program directors and record labels, and a chance encounter with Audio Adrenaline's Will McGinnis gave Dave the chance to sing in front of 20,000. The group landed a deal with Word Records after meeting with a record label executive and a showcasing themselves at Lancaster Christian Academy in Smyrna, Tennessee.{{Cite web|url=https://theworldlink.com/lifestyles/go/sidewalk-prophets-coming-for-musical-ministry/article_e0823c4d-194f-5a02-8eeb-8a43695d172a.html|title=Sidewalk Prophets coming for musical ministry|website=The Coos Bay World|date=February 25, 2015 |language=en|access-date=2020-04-21}} It also features lead guitarist Shaun Tomczak, bassist Cal Joslin, and drummer Justin Nace. Tomczak left the band in January 2014 to spend time with his family, and Daniel Macal joined the band to take his place.{{cite web|url=http://www.sidewalkprophets.com/news/new-bus-cast-3182014-saying-goodbye-saying-hello-cruising-mom-road-again|title=News|website=www.sidewalkprophets.com|access-date=February 22, 2018}} Nace announced he was about to leave the band in 2015, then Ben Young joined the band and took his place. Other past members of the group are guitarist Chris Jordan and bassist Chris Koboldt.

They have toured with Jeremy Camp and Audio Adrenaline on the strength of independent albums, then rode the popularity of their first Word Records release, These Simple Truths, to a Dove Award for New Artist of the Year{{cite web|url=http://doveawards.com/awards/past-winners/|title=Past Winners {{!}} The 49th Annual GMA Dove Awards|website=doveawards.com|access-date=May 15, 2018}} and a nomination for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. "The Words I Would Say" reached No. 3, "You Can Have Me" entered the Top 20, a Christmas single, "Hope Was Born This Night", reached the Top 10, and "You Love Me Anyway" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Singles chart.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sidewalk-prophets/chart-history/cri/|title=Sidewalk Prophets Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 15, 2018}} The band has also toured in the Rock and Worship Roadshow with MercyMe and Francesca Battistelli among others,{{cite web|url=http://www.newreleasetoday.com/article.php?article_id=360|title=Rock & Worship Roadshow 2010|website=www.newreleasetoday.com|access-date=May 15, 2018}} and received another Dove nomination for Group of the Year in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/news/dove-award-2011-nominations.aspx?mobile=false&u=1|title=2011 Dove Award Nominations < Music News {{!}} CBN.com|website=www.cbn.com|access-date=May 15, 2018}}

Their next album, Live Like That was produced by Ian Eskelin who also produced "The Words I Would Say". The record is a tribute to the band's fans, some of whom were selected through a contest to sing background vocals.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} The band also solicited photos of people their fans admire and want to be like for use on the cover.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

In December 2017, they announced a 40-city tour the Something Different Tour (in 3D) for early 2018 with special guests Bonray.{{cite web|url=http://www.gospelmusic.org/sidewalk-prophets-announce-the-something-different-tour-in-3d-with-special-guest-bonray/|title=Sidewalk Prophets Announce The "Something Different Tour (in 3D)" With Special Guest Bonray|date=December 9, 2017|access-date=February 22, 2018}}

Discography

=Albums=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"| Title

! rowspan="2"| Album details

! style="width:3em;" colspan="3"| Chart positions

style="font-size:smaller;"

! style="width:45px;"| US
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sidewalk-prophets/chart-history/tlp/|title=Sidewalk Prophets Album & Song Chart History (Billboard 200)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 15, 2019}}

! style="width:45px;"| US
Christ.
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sidewalk-prophets/chart-history/ill/|title=Sidewalk Prophets Album & Song Chart History (Top Christian Albums)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 15, 2019}}

! style="width:45px;"| US
Heat.
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sidewalk-prophets/chart-history/tln/|title=Sidewalk Prophets Album & Song Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 15, 2019}}

scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| Sidewalk Prophets

|

| —

| —

| —

scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| These Simple Truths

|

  • Released: August 25, 2009
  • Label: Word

| —

| 15

| 5

scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| Live Like That

|

  • Released: March 27, 2012
  • Label: Word

| 83

| 3

| —

scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| Merry Christmas to You

|

  • Released: September 24, 2013
  • Label: Fervent

| 177

| 8

| —

scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| Something Different

|

  • Released: August 28, 2015
  • Label: Fervent/Word

| 144

| 4

| —

scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| The Things That Got Us Here

|

  • Released: July 3, 2020
  • Label: Curb/Word

| 176

| 2

| —

scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| Looking Up

|

  • Released: February 14, 2025
  • Label: Curb

|—

|—

|—

= EPs =

class="wikitable"

|+

!Title

!Details

You Love Me Anyway

|

  • Release Date: June 15, 2007
  • Label: Independent

= Singles =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Single

! style="width:3em;" colspan="4"| Chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Certifications

! rowspan="2"| Album

style="font-size:smaller;"

! style="width:45px;"| US
Christ.
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sidewalk-prophets/chart-history/ico/|title=Sidewalk Prophets Album & Song Chart History (Christian Songs)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 27, 2018}}

! style="width:45px;"| US
Christ
Air.
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sidewalk-prophets/chart-history/cri/|title=Sidewalk Prophets Album & Song Chart History (Christian Airplay)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 13, 2019}}

! style="width:45px;"| US
Christ
AC
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sidewalk-prophets/chart-history/ica/|title=Sidewalk Prophets Album & Song Chart History (Christian AC Songs)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 25, 2020}}

! style="width:45px;"| US
Christ
Digital
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sidewalk-prophets/chart-history/crt/|title=Sidewalk Prophets Album & Song Chart History (Christian Airplay)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 25, 2020}}

align="left"| 2009

| align="left"| "The Words I Would Say"

| colspan="2"|3

| 3

| 9

|

  • RIAA: Gold{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=single|title=The Words I Would Say|artist=Sidewalk Prophets}}

| rowspan="2"|These Simple Truths

style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| 2010

| align="left"| "You Can Have Me"

| colspan="2"|16

| 16

| 50

align="left"| "Hope Was Born This Night"

| colspan="2"| 8

| 4

| —

|

| Come Now Our King

style="text-align:left;"|2011

| align="left"| "You Love Me Anyway"

| colspan="2"| 1

| 1

| 11

|

  • RIAA: Gold{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=single|title=You Love Me Anyway|artist=Sidewalk Prophets}}

| These Simple Truths

style="text-align:left;"|2012

| align="left"| "Live Like That"

| colspan="2"| 2

| 2

| 4

|

  • RIAA: Gold{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=single|title=Live Like That|artist=Sidewalk Prophets}}

| rowspan="3"|Live Like That

style="text-align:left;"|2013

| align="left"| "Help Me Find It"

| colspan="2"| 2

| 2

| 12

|

rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"| 2014

| align="left"| "Keep Making Me"

| 7

| 4

| 4

| 9

|

align="left"| "Hope Can Change Everything"
{{small|(with Francesca Battistelli, Jeremy Camp,
Jamie Grace, Matt Maher, and Bart Millard)}}

| 14

| 21

| —

| 10

|

| {{non-album single}}

style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| 2015

|align="left"| "Save My Life"

| 17

| 12

| 11

| —

|

| Live Like That

align="left"| "Prodigal"

| 14

| 9

| 10

| 28

|

| rowspan="3"| Something Different

style="text-align:left;"| 2016

| align="left"| "To Live Is Christ"

| 26

| 18

| 27

| —

style="text-align:left;" | 2017

| align="left"| "Come To The Table"

| 11

| 4

| 5

| 12

style="text-align:left;" | 2019

| align="left"| "Smile"

| 21

| 16

| 13

| 22

|

| rowspan="3"| The Things That Got Us Here

style="text-align:left;" | 2020

| align="left"| "Chosen"

| 32

| 26

| 18

| —

|

style="text-align:left;" | 2021

| align="left"| "I Believe It Now"

| 35

| 25

| 24

| —

= Promotional singles =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Single

! style="width:3em;" colspan="1"| Chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Certifications

! rowspan="2"| Album

style="font-size:smaller;"

! style="width:45px;"| US
Christ.

rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;" | 2020

| align="left"| "Real to Me"

| —

|

| rowspan="3"| The Things That Got Us Here

align="left"| "Don't Sweat It"

| —

|

align="left"| "The Comment Section"

| —

|

= Other charted songs =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Song

! style="width:3em;" colspan="1"| Chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Certifications

! rowspan="2"| Album

style="font-size:smaller;"

! style="width:45px;"| US
Christ.

align="left"| 2010

| align="left"| "Hope Was Born This Night"

| 8

|

| Come Now Our King

style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| 2013

| align="left"| "Because It's Christmas"

| 6

|

| Merry Christmas to You

align="left"| "O Holy Night"

| 36

|

| rowspan="1"| non-album single

align="left"|2014

| align="left"| "What a Glorious Night"

| 6

|

| Merry Christmas to You

colspan="10" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart

Members

=Current members=

  • Dave Frey – lead vocals (2001–present)
  • Cal Joslin – bass, keyboards, double bass, backing vocals (2006–present)
  • Rains Wall – Drums (2018–present)
  • Blake Bratton – Keys (2018–present)

=Former members=

  • Ben McDonald – guitar, dulcimer, background vocals (2003–2021){{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
  • Dan Macal (Big Dan) – lead guitar (2014–2024)
  • Justin Nace – drums, percussion (2005–2015)
  • Shaun Tomczak – lead guitar, backing vocals (2010–2014)
  • Chris Jordan – lead guitar, backing vocals (2004–2008)
  • Chris Koboldt – guitar, backing vocals (2003–2004)

Awards and nominations

;GMA Dove Awards

class="wikitable"
style="width:60px;"| Year

! Award

! Result

rowspan="2"| 2010

|New Artist of the Year

|{{won}}

Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (These Simple Truths)

|{{nom}}

| 2011

|Group of the Year

|{{nom}}

|2013

|Song of the Year ("Live Like That")

|{{nom}}{{Cite web|url=http://doveawards.com/dove-awards-nominations-announced-today/|title=Dove Awards Nominations Announced Today | The 50th Annual GMA Dove Awards}}

Tours

File:Sidewalk Prophets.jpg

The Sidewalk Prophets have toured the United States and other countries with many famous acts including Jeremy Camp, Stellar Kart, and Audio Adrenaline{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/TheseSimpleTruths.asp|title=These Simple Truths review|last=Fryberger|first=Scott|date=August 22, 2009|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|access-date=January 3, 2010}} before being signed to Word Records and appeared on the 2010 and 2011 Winter Jam Tour Spectacular sharing the stage alongside Tenth Avenue North, Newsboys, and Third Day.

They also toured on the Rock and Worship Roadshow 2010 with MercyMe, Francesca Battistelli, David Crowder Band, Remedy Drive, Fee, and Family Force 5. In 2013, they toured along with TobyMac and Red in the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular.

The 2013 tour included many dates with Matthew West. The tour concluded on November 18, 2013. Also, on the tour was American Idol alum Jason Castro.

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website|http://www.sidewalkprophets.com}}

{{s-start}} {{s-ach|aw}}

{{succession box

| title = GMA's New Artist of the Year

| years = 2010

| before= Tenth Avenue North

| after = Chris August

}}

{{end}}

{{Sidewalk Prophets}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:American Christian rock groups

Category:Fervent Records artists

Category:Musical groups from Indiana

Category:Musical groups established in 2003

Category:Performers of contemporary Christian music

Category:Word Records artists