From the first gospel piano chords of “All My Hope,” from Crowder’s 2016 album American Prodigal, we were hooked. The tune is unlike most modern Christian songs, which often attempt to set a peaceful atmosphere or infuse pop elements into the Christian themes. It is in this song’s simplicity of arrangement and earnestness of the lyrics that its true value is found.
The gentle chord progression on solo piano allows Crowder and Tauren Wells, who is featured on the track, to really exhibit their excellent vocals. The two men have very different styles: Crowder has a raw voice with a twinge of desperation, while Wells’ R&B melisma is smooth as molasses on silk. Still, the two meld excellently when they sing in harmony.
In an interview with The Morning Call, Crowder spoke about the high regard in which he holds Wells’ talent:
“His personality is what floored me on the front end. Just a super-sweet human. And then when you hear him sing, you’re like, ‘I quit!’ [Laughs] Just to hear this guy … the guy is unbelievable. You know, and about the time we were recording his portion on the record, I was, like, ‘Hey man, I’ll be in Nashville such-and-such date. Can you get up there?’ He was, like, ‘Yeah, I have a break on the Mariah Carey/Lionel Richie tour, I can probably pop in there and record something for you.'”
Crowder was the lead singer of the now-defunct David Crowder Band. He went solo in 2012 and has since written two full-length studio albums, both of which have reached #1 on the US Christian music charts.
Tauren Wells is an American Christian singer/song-writer who was the front man of Royal Tailor. In 2014, Wells along with his wife, launched the Prisma Worship Arts School, a private music academy with multiple locations in the Houston area.
In the below interview, Crowder talks about his inspiration for “All My Hope”:
And today we celebrate...