Steven Curtis Chapman

With a skyscraper-sized stack of GRAMMY® and Dove Awards, and enough gold and platinum albums to pay off the national debt, Steven Curtis Chapman is a towering figure in Contemporary Christian Music. Fact is, no one can bang out a bold Christian rock anthem quite like him; the driving heartland rock and power-pop hooks of "The Great Adventure" unfurl like an electric carpet pointing towards the clouds. "Live Out Loud" jump-cuts from funky, Smash Mouth-meets-Sugar Ray verses to an all-guns-blazing sing-along chorus that makes a joyful noise unto the Lord. And he knows how to keep the flame set on simmer too — check out the slow-burning acoustic blues riffs and subtly swaying groove of the aptly named "Lord of the Dance" for proof.

Settle into Steven's softer side in Next Steps.

You'd best believe that Steven Curtis Chapman's songs of praise have got both sides of the whisper-to-a-scream spectrum down, and he works his ballads into our hearts with the ease of an expert cardiologist. The unassuming, folk-like acoustic guitar picking and simple, hymn-like melody of "I Will Be Here" bring a deep poignance to Chapman's devotional message. His poetic imagery and heavy, Heaven-and-Earth themes swoop in with deceptive subtlety over the gently loping, R&B-tinged rhythms of "Free." And just when you think you've got him pegged, Chapman gives his lyrical touch a twist on the crafty pop ballad "How Do I Love Her," where he petitions higher powers for romantic tips.

Chapman spices his spirituality with soul in Deep Cuts.

Here's where we dig beneath the surface of the Steven Curtis Chapman catalogue. It may surprise you to discover that beyond the roaring rockers and pretty pop ballads, this Kentucky boy's got a line on some serious blue-eyed soul. From the handclap-driven beat to the R&B-drenched vocals, it's not too tough to imagine the sparkling, soulful strains of "No Better Place" emerging from the mouths of Private Eyes-era Hall & Oates, for instance. And you wouldn't be out of place in picturing the smooth syncopation and husky croon of "Still Called Today" popping up just as easily on a Michael McDonald album as on Chapman's The Great Adventure. But the stylistic detours don't stop there, either — you can hear more than a little country influence seeping out of the chugging, twangy, Americana-flavored "That's Paradise."

From the '80s onward, no one has done as much for inspirational music as Steven Curtis Chapman, who managed to connect with audiences beyond the traditional Christian music crowd in a major way. Nearly every Christian pop and rock artist to come along in the last two decades owes something to Chapman's electrifying innovations. Whether he comes out of the gate bursting with explosive rock 'n' roll power or tapping into a tender vibe for a softer, sweeter sound, he knows how to simultaneously praise the Lord and catch the ears of his legions of fans. From the gargantuan guitar riffs of "See the Glory" to the synth-tinged update of the Proclaimers' '80s smash "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," this is the place to experience the full spectrum of Steven Curtis Chapman's sonic statements of the spirit.