374:, featured a more original approach, with the band going to a rehearsal hall and working out all the material for three weeks before even going into the studio, and having Bannister help find the best songs, and pull the most out of each member both musically and vocally. "Freedom" has been hailed as one of White Heart's best ever. Songs like "The River Will Flow", "Let The Kingdom Come", "Over Me", "Bye Bye Babylon", and "Sing Your Freedom" would become live fan favorites for years to come. But stability remained elusive. The band reached the end of its contract with Sparrow Records and Brown Bannister. Also, Chris McHugh,
313:, dancing around on the stage and "karaoke" singing along to the song "Every Time You Go Away", which the sound company used to sonically tune the room each night during soundcheck. A few weeks later, Florian came up to Smiley and asked if he could audition for the lead vocalist position, and he was later chosen as Douglas' replacement. He became a core member of the band and continued through the rest of White Heart's discography.
499:, in 1997 using studio musician friends. It received critical praise for its depth and musical maturity. After its release, Smiley, Gersmehl and Florian entered what they called "a dormant or eternal sabbatical stage". They have not officially broken Whiteheart up, but each of them is working on separate personal projects as well as Smiley producing full-time. Florian issued a statement in 1999 regarding the future of the band.
330:, was released with their first major headlining tour and had major support from Sparrow Records and Billy Ray Hearn, who had personally come out to meet and hopefully sign the band. He hired Smiley as the producer for the record. It continues to be one of the band's most successful selling albums with three No. 1 songs, and breaking all previous album sales. The album was ranked at number 74 from
465:
in 1995 and stylized their name as "Whiteheart". The album had mixed reviews from the
Christian market, but was quite successful on the Christian radio charts and yielded several No. 1 singles in the Christian Radio Market: "Inside" and "Even the Hardest Heart" were both No. 1 songs. This album was
514:
In July 2013 the band announced their first full concert since 1998 would be at
Easterfest in Toowoomba, Australia on April 19, 2014. A limited reunion US tour was announced for late 2014. The tour was postponed to early 2015. Several venues were selected and tickets were sold, however, on January
266:
for the next two years, building their fan base, with Scott
Douglas as Green's replacement as lead vocalist. Green continued to sing background vocals on Vital Signs, and they had their first No. 1 single, We Are His Hands, with Douglas singing the lead, and Smiley and Green singing the harmonies.
510:
and Gordon
Kennedy reunited to perform "Over Me" and "Sing Your Freedom". According to Florian, it was the first time in 17 years that particular combination of musicians had performed together, although Knox had never actually been in the band at the same time as Sims or Kennedy.
249:
Whiteheart was pursued by every major
Christian label until Chris Christian heard their demo and signed them to Home Sweet Home Records and gave them their first record deal. By the time they released their third album, they were selling in excess of 250,000 albums. After their
400:, in 1990. "Desert Rose", "Independence Day", and "Powerhouse" were No. 1 songs, and "Desert Rose" became one of their biggest anthems and career songs to date. Nemer left soon after and the band brought back former drummer Chris McHugh to do the drumming for
522:
on June 29, 2019, at the New Hope
Community Church in Brentwood, Tennessee. Scott Bernard, who joined White Heart for the Australian Easterfest concert in 2014, handled Smiley's original album guitar parts. The album's producer,
226:'s group. The first two albums were produced by Smiley and Huff, the two friends who formed the group and were listening to groups like Toto, Boz Scaggs, Journey, and Steely Dan at the time. The original lineup consisted of
872:
Thirty-two-year old Scott
Douglas Mathiesen (he shortened his name to "Scott Douglas" for the stage) was convicted in March 1986 on three counts of aggravated sexual assault (so-called because minors were
482:.This record marked an edgier sound and was also the band's launch through the newly created and now-defunct Warner Christian Distribution. The band's lineup continued to be a revolving door.
289:. Later, in 1985, David Huff left the band to pursue other interests as well, including touring with Michael W. Smith. Eventually, he would join his brother Dann to form the hard rock band
434:
release, this period was the most rewarding and captivating time of their touring career. Anthony Sallee left the band and John Thorn was hired to replace him for the
Highlands Tour.
1373:
417:
in 1992 produced by Smiley and
Gersmehl. They also brought back Brown Bannister as a production adviser for the project and announced Jon Knox as their new drummer.
276:, in 1984. Douglas was with the band for two years before being charged with aggravated sexual battery on June 30, 1985. He was sentenced to prison in March 1986.
727:
861:
1368:
993:
205:
Smiley started his own label, Cul-de-Sac
Records. Gersmehl continues to write music and has released solo efforts. Florian is a real estate agent in the
394:(guitars), Anthony Sallee (bass), and Mark Nemer (drums) to fill the spots. With these pieces in place, the band released one of its best-known albums,
1378:
1363:
187:
band which formed in 1982. White Heart's discography includes thirteen albums, the most recent of which was released in 1997. Original members
1119:
1324:
443:
515:
13, 2015, the band announced the tour would have to be canceled due to circumstances beyond their control, and all tickets were refunded.
493:
The remaining core members (Smiley, Gersmehl, Florian) regrouped to consider the band's future. They released their final Curb album,
934:
905:
301:
With Douglas gone, the remaining band members began to audition singers. In 1985, they were surprised when they saw and heard their
1033:
518:
Florian, Gershmehl, Kennedy, McHugh and Sims performed a benefit concert in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the release of
361:, recording out at the Bennett House in Franklin, TN. Because of the fractured approach to having each member producing songs for
1233:
751:
272:
279:
Dann Huff left the band shortly after to pursue his dream of being a studio musician, and recommended his high school friend,
1305:
1273:
823:
791:
495:
396:
950:
422:
540:
223:
180:
45:
1265:
1241:
783:
759:
370:
285:
1249:
767:
326:
1297:
815:
461:
340:
The band kept on touring and recording. Gary Lunn left the band to become a studio musician and was replaced with
1160:
1112:
626:
375:
280:
132:
976:
866:
387:
86:
254:
debut album was released in 1982, the band suffered its first lineup change. Green left the band, saying that
1342:
1281:
799:
736:
402:
76:
1085:
605:
243:
140:
1139:
1105:
587:
235:
158:
1257:
1225:
775:
743:
503:
349:
263:
251:
206:
459:, as the label's first foray into the Christian Music contemporary rock market. The band released
897:
890:
365:, Smiley suggested getting an outside presence that every member would respect and respond to.
1289:
930:
901:
841:
807:
447:, which included two new songs each and marked the end of the band's contract with Star Song.
1010:
1089:
1011:"Finding a reason to rock - ABC Southern Queensland - Australian Broadcasting Corporation"
997:
524:
354:
81:
426:
in 1993, which also received critical and commercial praise. Touring non-stop from the
50:
551:. White Heart was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame on November 6, 2010.
1357:
1191:
926:
569:
302:
231:
192:
110:
1186:
1178:
1173:
1152:
665:
635:
578:
560:
544:
528:
483:
456:
391:
332:
314:
310:
290:
227:
199:
188:
128:
124:
118:
114:
91:
583:(1986–1997) (the band intentionally misspelled his name differently on each album)
954:
357:
coming on as producer for their next album. Bannister was known for working with
548:
475:
471:
259:
1168:
644:
479:
341:
255:
146:
1144:
596:
467:
358:
239:
136:
1199:
674:
539:
Although White Heart is considered one of the premier bands to ever play
507:
487:
407:
184:
152:
837:
318:
195:
worked with a continually changing cast of bandmates. In 1985, former
1059:
980:
862:"White Heart: The achievements and disasters of the American rockers"
306:
196:
543:, and despite the many No. 1 hits and albums, they have never won a
502:
On August 25, 2006, White Heart received a Soul2Soul Honor award in
209:, area and also continues to sing for various recording projects.
353:
was released in 1987, White Heart made an important change with
1101:
222:
White Heart formed in 1982 with two of its members coming from
1097:
725:
563:– guitars, keyboards, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals
1081:
378:, and Tommy Sims left the band to become studio musicians.
896:. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. p.
647:– bass, keyboards, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals
506:. Billy Smiley, Rick Florian, Mark Gersmehl, Tommy Sims,
338:
CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.
572:– keyboards, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals
406:, with the exception of one song on which they used
1335:
1316:
1217:
470:, whose production and engineering credits include
437:In 1994, the band released two compilation albums:
104:
100:
69:
59:
38:
30:
23:
889:
629:– guitars, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals
230:(guitar, keyboards, and occasional lead vocals),
1060:"30th Anniv Concert of White Heart's "Freedom""
238:(lead vocals), Gary Lunn (bass), and brothers
1113:
953:. Whiteheart. January 3, 2002. Archived from
283:as his replacement for the WhiteHeart album,
258:was not his style. They went on to tour with
16:American contemporary Christian/pop-rock band
8:
892:Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music
466:notably produced and mixed by the legendary
455:White Heart signed with a mainstream label,
531:of MercyMe acted as emcee for the evening.
246:(guitars/vocals & drums respectively).
1120:
1106:
1098:
923:The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music
20:
1374:1982 establishments in the United States
883:
881:
234:(keyboards and occasional lead vocals),
853:
420:White Heart followed this success with
7:
1325:Nothing But the Best: Radio Classics
608:– drums, percussion, backing vocals
444:Nothing But the Best: Radio Classics
270:The band released its second album,
490:all left to pursue other projects.
439:Nothing But the Best: Rock Classics
1369:Musical groups established in 1982
979:. www.jon-knox.com. Archived from
14:
1032:Sarachik, Justin (June 6, 2013).
527:, was also present, and vocalist
1379:20th-century American guitarists
1082:The Christian Music Hall of Fame
1009:Gunders, Peter (March 2, 2014).
951:"Letter from Whiteheart - 10/99"
653:Mark Nemer – drums, percussion
317:was also picked up to fill the
1364:American Christian rock groups
590:– lead vocals, backing vocals
1:
713:Scott Bernard - Lead Guitar
620:Scott Douglas – lead vocals
541:contemporary Christian music
324:White Heart's 1986 release,
181:contemporary Christian music
46:Contemporary Christian music
1080:As noted on the website of
921:Granger, Thom, ed. (2001).
888:Powell, Mark Allan (2002).
386:White Heart signed on with
1395:
1088:December 25, 2009, at the
734:
1135:
1040:. The Christian Post, Inc
368:The band's album, 1989's
1250:Don't Wait for the Movie
768:Don't Wait for the Movie
327:Don't Wait for the Movie
202:became the lead singer.
737:White Heart discography
599:– lead vocals, guitars
983:on September 27, 2007.
695:Barry Graul – guitars
659:Anthony Sallee – bass
996:July 8, 2011, at the
929:. pp. 208, 209.
336:from their 2001 book
677:– drums, percussion
638:– drums, percussion
1258:Emergency Broadcast
870:(6). June 1, 1991.
776:Emergency Broadcast
689:Kevin Mills – bass
504:New Albany, Indiana
363:Emergency Broadcast
350:Emergency Broadcast
264:Farrell and Farrell
207:Franklin, Tennessee
1317:Compilation albums
1038:The Christian Post
977:"www.jon-knox.com"
683:John Thorn – bass
413:The band released
179:, was an American
1351:
1350:
716:
710:
707:Mark Hill – bass
704:
701:Mike Mead– drums
698:
692:
686:
680:
671:
662:
656:
650:
641:
640:(1986–1989, 1992)
632:
623:
617:
614:Gary Lunn – bass
611:
602:
593:
584:
575:
566:
486:, John Thorn and
388:Star Song Records
382:The Star Song era
297:The Sparrow years
175:, also listed as
170:
169:
1386:
1122:
1115:
1108:
1099:
1092:
1078:
1072:
1071:
1069:
1067:
1056:
1050:
1049:
1047:
1045:
1029:
1023:
1022:
1020:
1018:
1006:
1000:
991:
985:
984:
973:
967:
966:
964:
962:
947:
941:
940:
918:
912:
911:
895:
885:
876:
875:
858:
714:
708:
702:
696:
690:
684:
678:
669:
660:
654:
648:
639:
630:
621:
615:
609:
600:
591:
582:
573:
564:
107:
62:
21:
1394:
1393:
1389:
1388:
1387:
1385:
1384:
1383:
1354:
1353:
1352:
1347:
1331:
1312:
1282:Tales of Wonder
1213:
1131:
1126:
1096:
1095:
1090:Wayback Machine
1079:
1075:
1065:
1063:
1058:
1057:
1053:
1043:
1041:
1031:
1030:
1026:
1016:
1014:
1008:
1007:
1003:
998:Wayback Machine
992:
988:
975:
974:
970:
960:
958:
957:on June 5, 2012
949:
948:
944:
937:
920:
919:
915:
908:
887:
886:
879:
860:
859:
855:
850:
834:
800:Tales of Wonder
739:
733:
728:
726:
723:
557:
537:
525:Brown Bannister
453:
415:Tales of Wonder
403:Tales of Wonder
384:
355:Brown Bannister
299:
220:
215:
165:
163:
161:
157:
155:
151:
149:
145:
143:
139:
135:
131:
127:
123:
121:
117:
113:
105:
96:
77:Home Sweet Home
60:
55:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1392:
1390:
1382:
1381:
1376:
1371:
1366:
1356:
1355:
1349:
1348:
1346:
1345:
1339:
1337:
1333:
1332:
1330:
1329:
1320:
1318:
1314:
1313:
1311:
1310:
1302:
1294:
1286:
1278:
1270:
1262:
1254:
1246:
1238:
1230:
1221:
1219:
1215:
1214:
1212:
1211:
1208:
1205:
1202:
1197:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1183:Anthony Sallee
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1163:
1161:Gordon Kennedy
1158:
1155:
1150:
1147:
1142:
1136:
1133:
1132:
1127:
1125:
1124:
1117:
1110:
1102:
1094:
1093:
1073:
1062:. July 6, 2019
1051:
1024:
1001:
986:
968:
942:
935:
913:
906:
877:
852:
851:
849:
846:
845:
844:
833:
832:External links
830:
829:
828:
820:
812:
804:
796:
788:
780:
772:
764:
756:
748:
735:Main article:
732:
729:
724:
722:
719:
718:
717:
711:
705:
699:
693:
687:
681:
672:
663:
657:
651:
642:
633:
627:Gordon Kennedy
624:
618:
612:
603:
594:
585:
581:– lead vocals
576:
567:
556:
553:
536:
533:
452:
451:The Curb years
449:
383:
380:
376:Gordon Kennedy
298:
295:
281:Gordon Kennedy
219:
216:
214:
211:
168:
167:
133:Gordon Kennedy
122:Anthony Sallee
108:
102:
101:
98:
97:
95:
94:
89:
84:
79:
73:
71:
67:
66:
63:
57:
56:
54:
53:
51:Christian rock
48:
42:
40:
36:
35:
32:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1391:
1380:
1377:
1375:
1372:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1362:
1361:
1359:
1344:
1341:
1340:
1338:
1334:
1327:
1326:
1322:
1321:
1319:
1315:
1308:
1307:
1303:
1300:
1299:
1295:
1292:
1291:
1287:
1284:
1283:
1279:
1276:
1275:
1271:
1268:
1267:
1263:
1260:
1259:
1255:
1252:
1251:
1247:
1244:
1243:
1239:
1236:
1235:
1231:
1228:
1227:
1223:
1222:
1220:
1218:Studio albums
1216:
1210:Scott Bernard
1209:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1195:
1193:
1192:Mark Gersmehl
1190:
1188:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:Scott Douglas
1156:
1154:
1151:
1148:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1138:
1137:
1134:
1130:
1123:
1118:
1116:
1111:
1109:
1104:
1103:
1100:
1091:
1087:
1083:
1077:
1074:
1061:
1055:
1052:
1039:
1035:
1028:
1025:
1012:
1005:
1002:
999:
995:
990:
987:
982:
978:
972:
969:
956:
952:
946:
943:
938:
936:0-7369-0281-3
932:
928:
927:Harvest House
924:
917:
914:
909:
907:1-56563-679-1
903:
899:
894:
893:
884:
882:
878:
874:
869:
868:
867:Cross Rhythms
863:
857:
854:
847:
843:
839:
836:
835:
831:
826:
825:
821:
818:
817:
813:
810:
809:
805:
802:
801:
797:
794:
793:
789:
786:
785:
781:
778:
777:
773:
770:
769:
765:
762:
761:
757:
754:
753:
749:
746:
745:
741:
740:
738:
730:
720:
712:
706:
700:
694:
688:
682:
676:
673:
667:
664:
658:
652:
646:
643:
637:
634:
628:
625:
619:
613:
607:
604:
598:
595:
589:
586:
580:
577:
571:
570:Mark Gersmehl
568:
562:
559:
558:
554:
552:
550:
546:
542:
534:
532:
530:
526:
521:
516:
512:
509:
505:
500:
498:
497:
491:
489:
485:
481:
477:
473:
469:
464:
463:
458:
450:
448:
446:
445:
440:
435:
433:
429:
425:
424:
418:
416:
411:
409:
405:
404:
399:
398:
393:
389:
381:
379:
377:
373:
372:
366:
364:
360:
356:
352:
351:
345:
343:
339:
335:
334:
329:
328:
322:
320:
316:
312:
308:
304:
303:stage manager
296:
294:
292:
288:
287:
282:
277:
275:
274:
268:
265:
261:
257:
253:
247:
245:
241:
237:
233:
232:Mark Gersmehl
229:
225:
217:
212:
210:
208:
203:
201:
198:
194:
193:Mark Gersmehl
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
166:Scott Bernard
162:Scott Douglas
160:
154:
148:
142:
138:
134:
130:
126:
120:
116:
112:
111:Mark Gersmehl
109:
103:
99:
93:
90:
88:
85:
83:
80:
78:
75:
74:
72:
68:
64:
58:
52:
49:
47:
44:
43:
41:
37:
34:United States
33:
29:
22:
19:
1323:
1304:
1296:
1288:
1280:
1272:
1264:
1256:
1248:
1240:
1232:
1224:
1187:Brian Wooten
1179:Chris McHugh
1174:Rick Florian
1153:Billy Smiley
1128:
1076:
1064:. Retrieved
1054:
1042:. Retrieved
1037:
1027:
1015:. Retrieved
1013:. Abc.net.au
1004:
989:
981:the original
971:
959:. Retrieved
955:the original
945:
922:
916:
891:
871:
865:
856:
822:
814:
806:
798:
790:
782:
774:
766:
758:
750:
742:
666:Brian Wooten
636:Chris McHugh
579:Rick Florian
561:Billy Smiley
555:Band members
538:
529:Bart Millard
519:
517:
513:
501:
494:
492:
484:Brian Wooten
460:
457:Curb Records
454:
442:
438:
436:
431:
430:through the
427:
421:
419:
414:
412:
401:
395:
392:Brian Wooten
390:, and hired
385:
369:
367:
362:
348:
346:
337:
333:CCM Magazine
331:
325:
323:
315:Chris McHugh
311:Rick Florian
300:
284:
278:
271:
269:
248:
228:Billy Smiley
224:Bill Gaither
221:
204:
200:Rick Florian
189:Billy Smiley
176:
172:
171:
129:Chris McHugh
125:Brian Wooten
119:Rick Florian
115:Billy Smiley
106:Past members
61:Years active
18:
1343:Discography
1234:Vital Signs
1226:White Heart
1207:Kevin Mills
1140:Steve Green
1129:White Heart
838:White Heart
752:Vital Signs
744:White Heart
731:Discography
691:(1995–1996)
685:(1993–1995)
679:(1991–1996)
670:(1990–1995)
661:(1990–1993)
649:(1986–1989)
631:(1985–1989)
622:(1984–1985)
616:(1982–1986)
610:(1982–1985)
601:(1982–1984)
592:(1982–1983)
588:Steve Green
574:(1982–1997)
565:(1982–1997)
476:David Bowie
472:The Beatles
273:Vital Signs
260:David Meece
252:self-titled
236:Steve Green
173:White Heart
164:Kevin Mills
159:Steve Green
25:White Heart
1358:Categories
1306:Redemption
1274:Powerhouse
1204:John Thorn
1196:Mark Nemer
1169:Tommy Sims
1149:David Huff
1034:"Reporter"
873:involved).
848:References
824:Redemption
792:Powerhouse
668:– guitars
645:Tommy Sims
606:David Huff
549:Dove Award
496:Redemption
480:Supertramp
397:Powerhouse
342:Tommy Sims
244:David Huff
177:Whiteheart
156:John Thorn
150:Mark Nemer
147:Tommy Sims
141:David Huff
1290:Highlands
1165:Gary Lunn
1145:Dann Huff
1066:March 15,
1017:April 17,
808:Highlands
597:Dann Huff
468:Ken Scott
432:Highlands
423:Highlands
359:Amy Grant
218:Formation
144:Gary Lunn
137:Dann Huff
87:Star Song
65:1982–1997
1200:Jon Knox
1086:Archived
994:Archived
961:July 26,
721:Timeline
675:Jon Knox
508:Jon Knox
488:Jon Knox
408:Jon Knox
185:pop-rock
153:Jon Knox
1336:Related
1266:Freedom
1242:Hotline
1044:July 1,
784:Freedom
760:Hotline
520:Freedom
428:Freedom
371:Freedom
319:drummer
286:Hotline
213:History
82:Sparrow
1328:(1994)
1309:(1997)
1301:(1995)
1298:Inside
1293:(1993)
1285:(1992)
1277:(1990)
1269:(1989)
1261:(1987)
1253:(1986)
1245:(1985)
1237:(1984)
1229:(1982)
933:
904:
827:(1997)
819:(1995)
816:Inside
811:(1993)
803:(1992)
795:(1990)
787:(1989)
779:(1987)
771:(1986)
763:(1985)
755:(1984)
747:(1982)
715:(2014)
709:(1996)
703:(1996)
697:(1996)
655:(1990)
545:Grammy
535:Honors
462:Inside
347:After
321:seat.
307:roadie
197:roadie
70:Labels
39:Genres
31:Origin
291:Giant
1068:2021
1046:2019
1019:2014
963:2012
931:ISBN
902:ISBN
898:1034
842:IMDb
478:and
441:and
305:and
262:and
256:rock
242:and
240:Dann
191:and
183:and
92:Curb
1084:.
840:at
547:or
1360::
1036:.
925:.
900:.
880:^
864:.
474:,
410:.
344:.
309:,
293:.
1121:e
1114:t
1107:v
1070:.
1048:.
1021:.
965:.
939:.
910:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.