Steve Green (born August 1, 1956) is a Contemporary Christian music singer notable for his vocal range (tenor) and flexible solo style. Over his 35 year career, Green has been honored as a four-time Grammy Award nominee, seven-time Dove Award winner. He has had 13 No. 1 songs, and has sold over three million albums.
Green was born in Portland, Oregon to missionary parents, Charles and Jo Green. He is one of six siblings who spent much of his early life in Argentina though like two of his siblings he attended Phoenix Christian High School in the early 1970s when his family was in the U.S. and graduated from there in 1974. He studied music at Grand Canyon University, then left to travel with the group Truth. After his two-year stint with Truth, Steve and Marijean were married and moved to Alexandria, Indiana to sing backup for the Bill Gaither Trio. In 1980 the Gaither Vocal Band was formed and Steve sang tenor for the first two recordings. In 1982, Steve and Gaither's musicians formed the Christian rock band White Heart, but a difference in ministry vision accompanied by a confrontation with his brother, Randy, led to a spiritual renewal in Steve's life in 1983. He signed a solo contract with Sparrow Records, and his self-titled debut album appeared in 1984. In the same year, he established Steve Green Ministries.
His break out year came in 1985 with the release of He Holds the Keys, which earned Green the Dove Award for Male Vocalist of the Year in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) category. The following year, 1986, saw the release of two recordings, God And God Alone and a worship/hymns album entitled A Mighty Fortress. In early 1988, he released an album dedicated to his parents called Find Us Faithful. As the 1980s came to an end, many of Green's songs became recognized standards including "People Need The Lord" and "Broken And Spilled Out". He was often considered the male version of Sandi Patty, using many of the same songwriters and styles as well as the traditional ending the song on a (literal) high note. Green also contributed background vocals to Patty's 1986 hit, "Let There Be Praise."
Green was involved with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association from the mid-1980s onward. Green was one of the first artists to be involved with Promise Keepers, performing at their inaugural event at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado in July 1993 before 50,000 men. His song "Answer The Call" was inspired by the event and another song, "O Men of God Arise," embodies the Promise Keepers' message.
Green recorded The Mission in 1989 and continued his success with We Believe in 1991. As the early 1990s direction of Christian music changed to a more rock oriented format, Green returned to traditional roots by releasing an album of hymns in 1992. Yet Green switched styles toward a more "pop" flavor on his 1994 "Where Mercy Begins" album. He also received the first of two career boosts due to outside events.
On September 8, 1994, USAir Flight 427 crashed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, killing all 132 persons on board. One passenger was an up-and-coming Christian singer named Kirk Lynn, who had just re-recorded Green's "As We Sail To Heaven's Shore" from the 1988 Find Us Faithful album. Only a rough cut played at the memorial service for the passengers. Grieving family members were told of Green's original, which boosted album sales for the older recording.
Green's style change continued on his 1996 recording, The Letter. He was also instrumental in attempting to set up an accountability group for fellow Christian artists and friends.
Green changed focus again in 1998 by declaring he would only record songs that honor the Lord - songs that he could be satisfied with should it be his last recording. That coincided with a controversial ruling by the Gospel Music Association known as the "Definition of Gospel Music" that erupted with major disqualifications at the ensuing year's Dove Awards over songs that did not honor the Lord. That year saw the release of The Faithful and 2000 saw the release of a devotional song album entitled Morning Light. Two years later Green released Woven In Time and again found himself receiving a career boost.
Green was a personal friend of Space Shuttle Columbia commander Rick Husband, who was killed along with six others in the February 2003 disintegration during reentry. Green was interviewed by CNN and his song "God Of Wonders" got a boost from the unexpected publicity. He released another album in 2005.
Green's sister is married to Dr. Mark Bailey, president of the evangelical Dallas Theological Seminary, and he helped the seminary celebrate its eightieth anniversary in April 2004. He has also written a thirty day devotional titled, "The Power of the Cross" and has recorded numerous children's videos and songs.
His bilingual abilities have seen the release of six Spanish CDs in the United States.
He is married to Marijean Green, whose own vocal qualities complimented her husband's on the song "Household of Faith" on the God And God Alone album and subsequent appearances. The song has become a staple among Christian wedding duets. They have two children, Summer (born 1981) and Josiah (born 1985).
Green has expanded his musical ministry to include videos and James Dobson's Focus on the Family.
