Third Day

Southern Rock
Marietta, Georgia, USA

Third Day was a Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia in 1991. The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee (both of whom were the only constant members) and Billy Wilkins. Drummer David Carr was the last band member to quit, prior to the band’s farewell tour in May and June 2018. The band's name is a reference to the biblical accounts of the resurrection of Jesus on the third day following his crucifixion. The band was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on September 19, 2009. They have sold over 7 million albums in the United States and had 28 number one Christian album chart radio hits. Their fans are known as “Gomers” after a song on their second album about Gomer.

In 1991, high-schoolers Mac Powell and Mark Lee formed Third Day as a Christian music group with pianist Billy Wilkins and guitarist August McCoy. McCoy left the following year to pursue tertiary education. At a 1992 event at Lee's Church, Third Day performed alongside a band called the Bullard Family Singers, which featured David Carr and Tai Anderson. Third Day invited Carr and Anderson to join them shortly after.

In 1993, the band started playing more frequently in the Atlanta region in order to make money to record an album. Wilkins left the group in order to pursue his teaching career. Third Day recorded at Furies Studios in Atlanta and with the production help of Carr, Long Time Forgotten was released in 1994, producing and selling 2,000 copies. In 1995, the band started looking for a second guitarist. After hearing Brad Avery play with singer Chris Carder, Avery was asked to audition. After playing “Consuming Fire” during the first rehearsal, Avery was officially asked to join the band.

The band's second album, Contagious, was self-financed for $3,000 and recorded at Furies Studios. 1,000 CDs and cassette copies of the demo were released. While playing in Marietta, at the Strand Theatre, the owners offered the band a contract to sign with new independent record label Gray Dot Records. The band released the album Third Day, which sold 20,000 copies. Shortly after, Reunion Records bought out their Gray Dot contract and signed the band to a multi-album deal.

Reunion Records released the now official version of Third Day, which has sold over 300,000 copies and was well received by critics. The album also yielded their only mainstream rock radio hit in the U.S., “Nothing at All,” which peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard rock charts. Later in 1995, Christian music headliner Newsboys asked Third Day to open for them at five West Coast shows. The band also launched their own 65-city tour with All Star United and Seven Day Jesus opening for them.

In 1996, the band was nominated for a Dove Award in the category of New Artist of the Year and their video for “Consuming Fire” directed by Chris Metzler and Jeff Springer won a Billboard Music Award in the category of Best Christian Video. The video was shot on location in Bombay Beach, California and other places around the Salton Sea. This experience and discovering Leonard Knight's Salvation Mountain nearby later inspired the album artwork for the band's album Revelation.

In 1997, the band started working on their second album, Conspiracy No. 5. The album was produced by Sam Taylor, who had previously worked with King's X and other Christian bands. The album was nominated for a Grammy and won Dove Awards for Rock Album of the Year and Rock Song of the Year (“Alien”). The following year, the band toured around the United States, both alone and again opening for Newsboys. Also in 1998, the band recorded a cover of Michael W. Smith's “Agnus Dei” for his Dove Award-winning compilation project Exodus.

In 1998, the band started working on Time with Monroe Jones as the producer. Time was nominated for a Grammy Award and won another Dove Award for the band. Some of the songs that were recorded for possible inclusion in the album, but left out during production, are on the EP Southern Tracks. During the band's live shows they included a significant portion of worship music, prompting the band to release an album made up exclusively of worship songs. The subsequent album Offerings: A Worship Album took about a week to record. In 2000, to support both Time and Offerings, Third Day went on tour alongside Jennifer Knapp. Later in the same year, the band collaborated on the project City on a Hill: Songs of Worship and Praise with FFH, Caedmon's Call, SonicFlood, Jars of Clay, and others.

(…To Be Continued…)

1993 Independent

1. Praise Song. Op. 1 (2:31)
2. Livin' For Jesus (2:34)
3. Jesus Said So (2:41)
4. Forgotten Friend (3:16)
5. Heaven (2:48)
6. Deny the Truth (2:33)
7. Did Ya' Mean it (3:08)
8. For Such a Long Time (4:17)
9. Praise Song (Reprise) (1:23)

1994 Independent

1. Holy Spirit (2:24)
2. Mama (3:49)
3. Contagious (2:23)
4. Thief (4:20)
5. Simply Amazin' (3:03)
6. Praise Song (Opus 2) (2:17)
7. Did Ya Mean It (Remix) (4:26)
8. Sometimes (Blues Song) (4:26)
9. Livin' for Jesus (2:17)
10. Faith, Hope and Love (4:14)
11. Love Song (3:54)

1995 Gray Dot Records (GDR 9501CD)

Mac Powell – Acoustic guitar, lead and backing vocals
Brad Avery – Lead guitar, additional backing vocals
Mark Lee – Acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Tai Anderson – Bass guitar, additional backing vocals
David Carr – Drums, percussion

Bob Lehman – Acoustic guitar on “Love Song” and “Take My Life”
Kenny Hutson – Dobro, mandolin
David Mardis – Lap steel guitar
Rich Mullins – Hammered dulcimer
Alexis Mears – Strings
Chad Merritt – Strings
Kristie Vanderpoel – Strings
Chris Carder – Additional backing vocals
Alfreda Gerald – Additional backing vocals
Phil Jones – Additional backing vocals
Choir on “Thief” – Jill Bullard, Chris Carder, David Carr, Melissa Chandler, Jennifer DeSilets, Jane Jones, Kristine McGuire, Dina Vanderpoel, and Steve Winkler

1. Consuming Fire (4:10)
2. Forever (3:45)
3. Holy Spirit (2:22)
4. Take My Life (2:16)
5. Did You Mean It (4:11)
6. Mama (3:50)
7. Thief (4:24)
8. Blackbird (4:03)
9. Livin' for Jesus (2:15)
10. Love Song (3:50)

1996 Reunion Records (701 0117 721)

Mac Powell – Acoustic guitar, lead and backing vocals
Brad Avery – Lead guitar, additional backing vocals
Mark Lee – Acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Tai Anderson – Bass guitar, additional backing vocals
David Carr – Drums, percussion

Bob Lehman – Acoustic guitar on “Love Song” and “Take My Life”
Kenny Hutson – Dobro, mandolin
David Mardis – Lap steel guitar
Rich Mullins – Hammered dulcimer
Matt Still – Hammond B3 organ on “Praise Song”
Alexis Mears – Strings
Chad Merritt – Strings
Kristie Vanderpoel – Strings
Chris Carder – Additional backing vocals
Alfreda Gerald – Additional backing vocals
Phil Jones – Additional backing vocals
Choir on “Thief” – Jill Bullard, Chris Carder, David Carr, Melissa Chandler, Jennifer DeSilets, Jane Jones, Kristine McGuire, Dina Vanderpoel, and Steve Winkler

1. Nothing at All (5:13)
2. Forever (3:48)
3. Mama (3:52)
4. Love Song (3:53)
5. Blackbird (4:03)
6. Thief (4:24)
7. Consuming Fire (4:09)
8. Did You Mean It (4:11)
9. Holy Spirit (2:22)
10. Livin' for Jesus (2:18)
11. Take My Life (2:16)
12. Praise Song (3:02)

1997 Reunion Records (CD10006)

Mac Powell – Acoustic guitar, lead vocals
Brad Avery – Lead guitar, vocals
Mark Lee – Rhythm guitar, lap steel guitar, mandolin, vocals
Tai Anderson – Bass guitar, vocals
David Carr – Drums, loops, vocals

Max Dyer – Cello on “How's Your Head,” “I Deserve?,” “Have Mercy,” and “More to This”
Ray Dillard – Percussion
Riki Michele – Vocals on “I Deserve?”
Sam Taylor – Keyboards on “Peace,” organ on “Who I Am” and “Gomer's Theme,” electric piano and 12-string acoustic guitar on “Your Love Endures”

1. Peace (3:29)
2. You Make Me Mad (4:01)
3. How's Your Head (3:46)
4. Alien (4:33)
5. I Deserve? (5:20)
6. Have Mercy (2:56)
7. My Hope is You (4:20)
8. More to This (4:13)
9. This Song Was Meant for You (4:21)
10. Who I Am (3:55)
11. Give Me a Reason (3:40)
12. Gomer's Theme (5:05)
13. Your Love Endures (7:37)

This single to the song “Alien” had “You Are Not Alone” as the B-side.

1999 Essential Records (ER10528)

Mac Powell – Acoustic guitar, lead and backing vocals
Brad Avery – Guitar
Mark Lee – Guitar
Tai Anderson – Bass
David Carr – Drums, percussion

1. I've Always Loved You (4:27)
2. Believe (3:03)
3. Took My Place (2:14)
4. Never Bow Down (3:29)
5. Your Love Oh Lord (Psalm 36) (3:56)
6. Don't Say Goodbye (4:35)
7. What Good (3:52)
8. Can't Take the Pain (4:50)
9. Sky Falls Down (3:49)
10. Give (8:15)

(…To Be Continued…)