Christopher Dwayne Tomlin (born May 4, 1972) is an American contemporary Christian music artist, worship leader, and songwriter from Grand Saline, Texas, United States who has sold over 7 million records. He is a former staff member at Austin Stone Community Church and is signed to EMI's sixstepsrecords. Tomlin leads worship at many Passion events. Some of his most well-known songs are "How Great Is Our God", "Good Good Father", "Jesus Messiah", "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)", "Our God", which he co-wrote with Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves, and Jonas Myrin, and "Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)". He is currently a worship leader at Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia, with Louie Giglio, Kristian Stanfill, Christy Nockels, and Brett Younker. He was awarded Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2006, 2007 (along with Artist of the Year), and 2008 GMA Dove Awards, and a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2012. He is one of the members of CompassionArt, a charity founded by Martin Smith of the band Delirious? and Smith's wife, Anna, and is on the board of directors of CURE International, a nonprofit organization that provides medical care to children in the developing world. Tomlin's 2013 album Burning Lights debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming the fourth CCM album in history to do so.
Tomlin was born in Grand Saline, Texas in 1972 to Donna and Connie Tomlin. He has two younger brothers, Ryan and Cory. Tomlin was given his first guitar by his father, Connie, and learned how to play the guitar by playing along with Willie Nelson records. Tomlin wrote his first worship song at age fourteen. After graduating from Grand Saline High School in 1990, he entered college planning to study physical therapy. In the mid-1990s Tomlin was a worship leader at the Dawson McAllister Youth Conferences, as well as at various church camps in Texas. Tomlin attended Tyler Junior College and Texas A&M University. After college, Tomlin and the band developed while working with the Harvest Ministry at The Woodlands United Methodist Church in The Woodlands, Texas in the late 1990s. In 1997, youth speaker Louie Giglio asked if he would be interested in working with the Passion Conferences. Tomlin has been in that movement ever since.
His first nationally released solo project, titled The Noise We Make, was released in 2001, featuring the songs "Forever," "Be Glorified", and "Kindness", each of which made the top 200 in the CCLI 2005 top 500 worship songs. He released the live EP 545 in 2002, and the studio album Not to Us (2002). Although he is a solo artist, Tomlin uses a consistent band lineup. He writes many of his songs with the band members. The band consists of Daniel Carson (electric guitar, backing vocals), Matt Gilder (keyboards, piano], backing vocals), Travis Nunn (drums) and Matthew Melton (bass guitar, backing vocals). Tomlin plays guitar and piano. According to Christian Copyright Licensing International's list of the top 25 worship songs in the US in August 2007, Tomlin held five spots with songs he has either written, co-written or performed: "How Great Is Our God" (No. 1), "Forever" (No. 5), "Holy Is the Lord" (No. 7), "We Fall Down" (No. 12), and "Indescribable" (No. 22) (written by Laura Story). In 2008, Tomlin held 6 spots on 20 The Countdown Magazine's top 20 praise and worship songs: "We Fall Down" (No. 14), "Forever" (No. 10), "Holy is the Lord" (No. 8), "Indescribable" (No. 6), "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" (No. 3), and "How Great is our God" (No. 1).Tomlin has toured with contemporary Christian music artists, such as Delirious? during his first tour, and as a supporting act of Steven Curtis Chapman during his All Things New Tour. Tomlin has headlined several tours, such as the Chris Tomlin Indescribable Tour, which featured worship artist Matt Redman, and speaker Louie Giglio, and headlining the See the Morning Tour. From April to October 2007, Tomlin toured with Louie Giglio and Matt Redman on his "How Great Is Our God" tour. In 2008, Tomlin toured with Passion Conferences on its world tour. In early 2009, he was in the Hello Love tour with Israel Houghton and New Breed. In summer of 2010, he was in the "Hello Tonight" tour with TobyMac. Tomlin has been featured at conferences and music festivals. Among these, he played at Grand Saline's annual Salt Festival in Texas. Hillsong's 2007 conference, and the 2008 CompassionArt International Songwriting retreat, which was dedicated to writing songs whose revenue would support charities serving the poorest of the world's poor. Other prominent songwriters included were Matt Redman, Martin Smith, Stuart Garrard, and Steven Curtis Chapman. In 2009, Tomlin played at the Harvest Crusade at Anaheim Angels Stadium. On June 14, 2007, Tomlin's version of the song "Indescribable" was used as the official wake-up call for Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester on Space Shuttle mission STS-117. In May 2008, Tomlin announced a move from The Austin Stone Community Church, to start a new church with Louie Giglio in Atlanta, Georgia. The Passion City Church held its first service on February 15, 2009, and features Tomlin as one of its worship leaders. In 2009, Tomlin released a Christmas album, Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship. It includes three original Christmas songs and features duets with Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, and Audrey Assad. The album peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 list and at No. 1 for Holiday albums. According to Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI), in 2012 his songs were performed more than 3 million times in churches around the world. His 2013 album Burning Lights debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, only the fourth Christian album ever to open at No. 1. He was also pronounced the most sung songwriter in the world in 2013. Love Ran Red, released in late 2014, features "At the Cross (Love Ran Red)", "Greater", "Waterfall", and a reworking of "Jesus Loves Me". In 2015 he wrapped-up his Love Ran Red tour featuring Tenth Avenue North, as well as Rend Collective. Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship, a live Christmas album released on October 23, 2015, includes original songs and arrangements of traditional carols, performed by Tomlin and friends as well as fellow worship leaders including Lauren Daigle, Kristyn Getty and All Sons & Daughters. It was supported by the Adore Tour, launched in late November to December, with Crowder, and Lauren Daigle.
Tomlin married Lauren Bricken, on November 9, 2010. In May 2011, Tomlin announced that he and Lauren were expecting their first child. He announced on Twitter that the couple's daughter, Ashlyn Alexandra Tomlin, was born on September 22, 2011. The singer took to Twitter once again to introduce the couple's newest addition, a girl named Madison Amore Tomlin, born on October 7, 2014.
Studio albums Inside Your Love (1995) Authentic (1998) Too Much Free Time (1998) with Ross King The Noise We Make (2001) Not to Us (2002) Arriving (2004) See the Morning (2006) Hello Love (2008) Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship (2009) And If Our God Is for Us... (2010) Burning Lights (2013) Love Ran Red (2014) Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship (2015) Never Lose Sight (2016)
Throughout his career, Chris Tomlin has been nominated to 32 Dove Awards (6 of them, collaborative efforts) and won 19 of them. *Denotes a collaborative effort or a song contribution to a "Various artists" album. 1 The song was performed by Tomlin, but written and produced by Laura Story. 2 The song was performed by LaRue Howard, but written by Tomlin.
Tomlin was nominated for two 2009 Visionary Award: Male Entertainer of the Year and Song of the Year for "Jesus Messiah".
Chris Tomlin, The Way I Was Made: Words and Music for an Unusual Life, Multnomah, 2004. ISBN 978-1-59052-327-8
Chris Tomlin discography
Official website Article in Time Magazine
Amazing Love How Can It be
- Chris Tomlin
Holy Forever
- Chris Tomlin
Forever - Give Thanks to The Lord
- Chris Tomlin
I Stand Amazed - How Marvelous, How Wonderful
- Chris Tomlin
Lord I Need You
- Chris Tomlin
Noel
- Lauren Daigle - Chris Tomlin
We Fall Down - We Cry Holy is The Lamb
- Chris Tomlin
God Of Wonders
- Chris Tomlin
I Will Follow You - Where You Go I Go
- Chris Tomlin
Indescribable
- Chris Tomlin
Good Good Father
- Chris Tomlin
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
- Chris Tomlin
Here I Am To Worship
- Chris Tomlin
Our God
- Chris Tomlin
HOLY IS THe LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
- Chris Tomlin
Noel
- Chris Tomlin - Lauren Daigle
How Great is Our God
- Chris Tomlin
Brother Friend
- Chris Tomlin
Trust
- Chris Tomlin
O Church Arise (Arise, Shine)
- Chris Tomlin
Lovely
- Chris Tomlin
White Flag
- Chris Tomlin
Don't Ever Stop
- Chris Tomlin
Goodness Love and Mercy
- Chris Tomlin
Undignified
- Chris Tomlin
Great Is Your Faithfulness
- Chris Tomlin
Everlasting God
- Chris Tomlin
Is He Worthy?
- Chris Tomlin
Emmanuel
- Chris Tomlin
How Great Thou Art
- Tauren Wells - Chris Tomlin - Rascal Flatts
Party
- Chris Tomlin
Midnight Clear
- Chris Tomlin
How Sweet it is
- Chris Tomlin
O Worship The King
- Chris Tomlin
Impact
- Chris Tomlin
Wonderful Maker
- Chris Tomlin
I See You
- Chris Tomlin
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
- Chris Tomlin
Take My Life
- Chris Tomlin
Jesus
- Chris Tomlin
Give Us Clean Hands
- Chris Tomlin
Christmas Alleluia
- Chris Tomlin - Lauren Daigle
Satisfied
- Chris Tomlin
All Bow Down
- Chris Tomlin
At The Cross
- Chris Tomlin
Waterfall
- Chris Tomlin
Jesus my redeemer
- Chris Tomlin
Nobody Loves Me Like You
- Chris Tomlin
The Wonderful Cross - When i survey the wonderous cross
- Chris Tomlin
This Is Our God
- Chris Tomlin
Amazing Grace
- Chris Tomlin
As For Me
- Pat Barrett - Chris Tomlin
Beautiful One
- Chris Tomlin
Talk To Him
- Chris Tomlin - Russell Dickerson
No Turning Back
- Chris Tomlin
We Glorify Your Name
- Chris Tomlin
Angels We Have Heard On High
- Chris Tomlin
I See You
- Chris Tomlin - Brandon Lake
Be Glorified
- Chris Tomlin
Thank You Lord
- Chris Tomlin
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
- Chris Tomlin
It's Christmas (Medley)
- Chris Tomlin
Glorious
- Chris Tomlin
Joy To The World
- Chris Tomlin
O Come All Ye Faithful
- Chris Tomlin
Resurrection Power
- Chris Tomlin
Exalted (Yahweh)
- Chris Tomlin
The Cross, The Crown (No Love Greater)
- Chris Tomlin
Yahweh
- Chris Tomlin
Everything
- Chris Tomlin
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
- Chris Tomlin - Christy Nockels
Almighty
- Chris Tomlin
America
- Chris Tomlin
Your Grace Is Enough
- Chris Tomlin
Nobody Loves Me Like You
- Chris Tomlin
Reaching For You
- Chris Tomlin
All My Fountains
- Chris Tomlin
Unfailing Love
- Chris Tomlin
Chosen Generation
- Chris Tomlin
Enough
- Chris Tomlin
Crown Him
- Chris Tomlin
Let your mercy rain
- Chris Tomlin
How Great Is Our God
- Passion - Chris Tomlin
Every Perfect Gift comes from You
- Chris Tomlin
Christmas Day
- Chris Tomlin - We The Kingdom
Take My Life and Let it Be
- Chris Tomlin
Christmas Day
- Chris Tomlin - We The Kingdom
Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy)
- Chris Tomlin
Praise Him Forever
- Chris Tomlin
Salvation
- Chris Tomlin
Unchanging
- Chris Tomlin
How Can I Keep From Singing
- Chris Tomlin
Shepherd Boy
- Chris Tomlin
Holy Roar
- Chris Tomlin
Gifts From God
- Chris Tomlin
Emmanuel God With Us
- Chris Tomlin
Forever
- Chris Tomlin
Overflow
- Chris Tomlin
Lovely
- Chris Tomlin
The God I Know
- Chris Tomlin
Love People
- Chris Tomlin
Come To The Water
- Chris Tomlin
Kindness
- Chris Tomlin
Better Is One Day
- Chris Tomlin
The Cross Of Christ
- Chris Tomlin - Passion
His Name Is Wonderful
- Chris Tomlin
Good Good Father
- Chris Tomlin
Strongholds
- Chris Tomlin
Hallelujah
- Chris Tomlin
Fear Not
- Chris Tomlin
Crown Him
- Chris Tomlin - Matt Redman
I Lift My Hands
- Chris Tomlin
Jesus Messiah
- Chris Tomlin
Dance In The River
- Chris Tomlin
Precious Love
- Chris Tomlin
The Name Of Jesus
- Chris Tomlin
Joyous Light
- Chris Tomlin
I Will Rise
- Chris Tomlin
My Beloved
- Chris Tomlin
You're the One
- Chris Tomlin
How Great Thou Art (Until That Day)
- Matt Redman - Chris Tomlin - Hillary Scott - TAYA
Not To Us
- Chris Tomlin
Big Man
- Chris Tomlin
I Stand Amazed
- Chris Tomlin
He Shall Reign Forevermore
- Chris Tomlin
O Lord, You're Beautiful
- Chris Tomlin - Steffany Gretzinger
Need You Now
- Chris Tomlin
My Glorious
- Chris Tomlin
A Christmas Alleluia
- Chris Tomlin
The Saving One
- Chris Tomlin
Awesome Is The Lord Most High
- Chris Tomlin
You Do All Things Well
- Chris Tomlin
It's Christmas
- Chris Tomlin
Greater
- Chris Tomlin
I Will Follow
- Chris Tomlin
Grace Flows Down
- Chris Tomlin
Even So Come
- Chris Tomlin
Let It Be Jesus
- Chris Tomlin
Our God Reigns
- Chris Tomlin
Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)
- Chris Tomlin
Jesus Loves Me
- Chris Tomlin
Tin Roof
- Chris Tomlin - Blessing Offor
All The World Awaits (Hosanna)
- Chris Tomlin
Come Let Us Worship
- Chris Tomlin
Hope Of Israel
- Chris Tomlin
God Of This City
- Chris Tomlin
Be The Moon
- Chris Tomlin
Miracle Of Love
- Chris Tomlin
Faithful
- Chris Tomlin
Made To Worship
- Chris Tomlin
Mighty is The Power Of The Cross
- Chris Tomlin
Always
- Chris Tomlin
I Will Boast
- Chris Tomlin
The Table
- Chris Tomlin
Hidden Track
- Chris Tomlin
I Fell In Something
- Chris Tomlin
As For Me
- Chris Tomlin
King Of Glory
- Chris Tomlin
O Church Arise (Arise, Shine)
- Getty Music - Chris Tomlin
In The End
- Chris Tomlin
God Who Listens
- Chris Tomlin
Build My Life
- Chris Tomlin
Love Ran Red
- Chris Tomlin
Father of Lights
- Chris Tomlin
You Are My King
- Chris Tomlin
Good To Be Loved By You
- Chris Tomlin - Tyler Hubbard
Whom Shall I Fear
- Chris Tomlin
Together
- Chris Tomlin
Lion and the Lamb
- Chris Tomlin
Talk To Him
- Chris Tomlin
Perfect Light
- Chris Tomlin
Praise Is The Highway
- Chris Tomlin
The Answer
- Chris Tomlin
Raise Up the Crown (All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name)
- Chris Tomlin
The River
- Chris Tomlin
The Noise We Make
- Chris Tomlin
Winter Wonderland
- Chris Tomlin - Lynda Randle - Gaither Vocal Band
Majesty Of Heaven
- Chris Tomlin
Majesty
- Chris Tomlin
Joyous Light (Hail Gladdening Light Revised)
- Chris Tomlin
Chase Me Down
- Chris Tomlin
I Can Only Imagine
- Chris Tomlin
The Happy Song
- Chris Tomlin
Raise Up The Crown
- Chris Tomlin
Chase Me Down
- RaeLynn - Chris Tomlin
Exalted
- Chris Tomlin
Come Thou Fount
- Chris Tomlin
Noel
- Chris Tomlin
Good To Be Loved By You
- Chris Tomlin
One Light Town
- Chris Tomlin
Kyrie Eleison (Lord Have Mercy)
- Chris Tomlin
The King Will Ride Again
- Chris Tomlin
One True God
- Chris Tomlin
Romans 16:19
- Chris Tomlin
Yes And Amen
- Chris Tomlin
Rejoice
- Chris Tomlin
Come Home Running
- Chris Tomlin
Hymn of Joy
- Chris Tomlin
Tin Roof
- Chris Tomlin
Gloria
- Chris Tomlin
Where The Spirit of The Lord Is
- Chris Tomlin
With Me
- Chris Tomlin
Unchanging (Raise Up Holy Hands)
- Chris Tomlin
Resurrection Power
- Chris Tomlin
How Great Is Our God
- Chris Tomlin
The Way I Was Made
- Chris Tomlin
Famous One
- Chris Tomlin
The Cross, The Crown
- Chris Tomlin
Sing, Sing, Sing
- Chris Tomlin
Forever Home
- Chris Tomlin
Anymore
- Chris Tomlin
Over Me
- Chris Tomlin
Power
- Chris Tomlin
Here For You
- Chris Tomlin
Reaching For You
- Chris Tomlin - We The Kingdom
On Our Side
- Chris Tomlin
Countless Wonders
- Chris Tomlin
You Are My King (Amazing Love)
- Chris Tomlin
Awakening
- Chris Tomlin
Thank You Lord - Intro
- Chris Tomlin
How Great Is Our God - How Great Thou Art
- Chris Tomlin
Burning Lights
- Chris Tomlin
Little Drummer Boy
- Chris Tomlin
Who You Are To Me
- Chris Tomlin
History
- Chris Tomlin
YAHWEH (No One)
- Chris Tomlin
Light Of The World
- Chris Tomlin
Awesome Is the Lord
- Chris Tomlin
Happy Song
- Chris Tomlin
Friend of God
- Chris Tomlin
All To Us
- Chris Tomlin
The Wonderful Cross (With Matt Redman)
- Chris Tomlin
Lay Me Down
- Chris Tomlin
God Of Calvary
- Chris Tomlin
Sing
- Chris Tomlin
Love People
- Chris Tomlin - Jimmie Allen
Uncreated One
- Chris Tomlin
Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground)
- Chris Tomlin
Spirit Fall
- Chris Tomlin
All The Way My Savior Leads Me
- Chris Tomlin
Thank You God For Saving Me
- Chris Tomlin
My Deliverer
- Chris Tomlin
I Stand In Awe
- Chris Tomlin
Psalm 100
- Chris Tomlin
The Roar
- Chris Tomlin
In Love With You
- Chris Tomlin
All in All
- Chris Tomlin
First Love
- Chris Tomlin
O Holy Night
- Chris Tomlin
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
- Chris Tomlin
Once and For All
- Chris Tomlin
You Lifted Me Out
- Chris Tomlin
God And God Alone
- Chris Tomlin
Your Heart
- Chris Tomlin
Sovereign
- Chris Tomlin
God's Great Dance Floor
- Chris Tomlin
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
- Chris Tomlin
He Lives
- Chris Tomlin
Be A Light
- Chris Tomlin
I Believe In Jesus
- Chris Tomlin
Born That We May Have Life
- Chris Tomlin
Shout
- Chris Tomlin
Let God Arise
- Chris Tomlin
He Is Born - Reprise
- Chris Tomlin
Glory In The Highest
- Chris Tomlin
Foot In My Mouth
- Chris Tomlin
Winter Snow
- Chris Tomlin
My Soul Magnifies The Lord
- Chris Tomlin
Jesus, Son Of God
- Chris Tomlin
Impossible Things
- Chris Tomlin - Danny Gokey
Captured
- Chris Tomlin
Lamb Of God
- Chris Tomlin
Awake My Soul
- Chris Tomlin
Glory Be
- Chris Tomlin
The First Noel
- Chris Tomlin
Love
- Chris Tomlin
Heaven's Our Place
- Chris Tomlin
Home
- Chris Tomlin
God Almighty
- Chris Tomlin
Where The Streets Have No Name
- Chris Tomlin
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
- Chris Tomlin
Christmas Song
- Chris Tomlin
Crown Him - Majesty
- Chris Tomlin
Tell Me Who
- Chris Tomlin
Crown Him (Christmas)
- Chris Tomlin
What Child Is This?
- Chris Tomlin
Alle
- Chris Tomlin
Silent Night
- Chris Tomlin
Adore
- Chris Tomlin
Come Thou Fount (I Will Sing)
- Chris Tomlin
Boundary Lines
- Chris Tomlin
All Yours
- Chris Tomlin
All The World Awaits (Hosanna)
- Chris Tomlin
If The Devil Was A Man
- Chris Tomlin
No Chains On Me
- Chris Tomlin
The Only One
- Chris Tomlin
Everything That`s Beautiful
- Chris Tomlin
Great Forgiver
- Chris Tomlin
It Is Well
- Chris Tomlin
Jesus, This Is You
- Chris Tomlin
The Famous One
- Chris Tomlin
Praise The Father, Praise The Son
- Chris Tomlin
Fireblazin
- Chris Tomlin
A King Like This
- Chris Tomlin
Bethlehem
- Chris Tomlin
Midnight Clear (Love Song)
- Chris Tomlin
Shout To The Lord
- Chris Tomlin
You Are My Treasure
- Chris Tomlin
Forever Young
- Chris Tomlin
Shine Like Stars
- Chris Tomlin
Symphony
- Chris Tomlin
We Fall Down (My Jesus I Love Thee)
- Chris Tomlin
At The Cross (Love Ran Red)
- Chris Tomlin
Ephesians 1:20-23
- Chris Tomlin
After Your Heart
- Chris Tomlin