Derek Webb

Derek Walsh Webb (born May 27, 1974) is an American singer-songwriter of independent and formerly Christian music who first entered the music industry as a member of the band Caedmon's Call, and later embarked on a successful solo career.

As a member of the Houston, Texas-based Caedmon's Call, Webb has seen career sales approaching 1 million records, along with 10 GMA Dove Award nominations and three Dove Award wins and six No. 1 Christian radio hits.

Webb graduated from Klein High School in Klein, Texas in 1992.

Before joining Caedmon's Call, he went to community college in Houston for half a semester, and shared an apartment with his older brother who was attending medical school.

Caedmon's Call then released Chronicles 1992–2004 (2004), a best-of collection of the band's work, which included work by Webb.

Caedmon's Call was formed in 1993 with four original members (three of whom still remain), Cliff Young, Danielle Glenn, Todd Bragg, and Aaron Tate.

Aaron Tate, however, never intended to tour with the band, and was included in a songwriting capacity only, sharing those duties with Derek Webb who also played lead guitar.

Webb's invitation to join Caedmon's Call came from Tate, who at the time was attending Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

Shortly afterward, Webb made the trip to Fort Worth and met future bandmate Cliff Young.

Webb says, "I essentially just joined that band immediately. And as soon as I joined the band, I quit college the same day."

As a result, for almost a full school year he pretended to go to class, with his family unaware he was actually pursuing the band in lieu of going to school.

In June 1994, the band released their first album, My Calm // Your Storm, originally a cassette-only demo recording.

It was re-printed twice the same year with different cover art each time.

In 1996 the band signed with now-defunct Christian label Warner Alliance, producing their self-titled release.

Peaking at 110 on the Billboard 200, the album went on to win the GMA 1998 Modern Rock Album of the Year.

After the collapse of Warner Alliance in 1998, Caedmon's Call signed to Essential Records, where they released 40 Acres (1999), Long Line of Leavers (2000), In the Company of Angels: A Call to Worship (2001), Back Home (2003).

All of these albums were moderately successful, peaking at 61, 58, 72, and 66 respectively on the Billboard 200.

Notably, Webb did not provide any songwriting for In the Company of Angels or Back Home, despite having been a primary songwriter for the band prior to their release.

During this time period, Webb also contributed to City on a Hill: Songs of Worship and Praise (2000) and City on a Hill: Sing Alleluia (2002), both as a member of Caedmon's Call and as a solo artist, which respectively garnered the GMA 2001 & 2003 Special Event Album of the Year awards.

In 2001, Webb left the band to pursue his solo career, although he continued to contribute to their next album Back Home.

Webb has considered himself a solo act since 2001, but admits his continued collaboration with the band can make it seem like he never left, saying "Caedmon's Call, as it turns out, is very much like hotel california: you can check out anytime you’d like, but you can never really leave."

In 2003, Webb left Caedmon's Call to pursue a solo career.

Since his departure, he has released seven studio albums (including one instrumental), a live album, two compilation albums, two covers projects, two DVDs, and two EPs (with his then-wife, Sandra McCracken).

While these have been less commercially successful than his work with Caedmon's Call, Webb has had more of a free hand to shape his work to his vision.

Webb's mother, a gifted classically trained pianist, encouraged his musical interests at a very young age.

Music came naturally to him, and he began to play the guitar at six years old.

Concerning his musical training, Webb explains that he got his ear for music from his mother, but not the ability to read music, and that he "took one [guitar] lesson and then just taught myself out of the book."

While in high school, he became known for his skill on the guitar.

He toured with a band, though it broke up in his junior year following a serious car accident returning from playing a show at Baylor University.

His first solo album, She Must and Shall Go Free (2003) caused controversy when some Christian retailers refused to stock the album for its use of "strong" language.

One of the songs that was the basis for controversy was "Wedding Dress" where Webb compares Christians who seek fulfillment in things outside of Christ to a person committing adultery.

An introspective tune, Webb writes that "I am a whore I do confess / I put you on just like a wedding dress".

Another song that generated controversy was "Saint and Sinner" where Webb wrote "I used to be a damned mess but now I look just fine, 'Cause you dressed me up and we drank the finest wine".

The word 'damned' was removed from the final version of the album, at the request of two major Christian retailers.

Following the release of She Must and Shall Go Free, Webb embarked on a national tour in which he played living room concerts.

This provided the opportunity to have greater interaction with his listeners.

He went on to release a live album in 2004 from tour: The House Show.

In 2007, Caedmon's Call signed onto INO Records, and Webb was featured as singer and songwriter on the album, Overdressed.

On May 22, 2007, it was announced that Webb had again worked with Caedmon's Call, writing and recording for their album, entitled Overdressed, and would be joining the band on their subsequent tour.

He continued to be involved with the band as producer on the 2011 album Raising Up the Dead.