Uptown Praise Band

Artist Information

Biography

Uptown Praise Band is a worship band dedicated to leading their church congregation in praise and worship every Sunday and Wedensday in Grand Rapids, Michigan. "His Name is Jesus" and "Will You Chase Me" are brand new orginal songs written by Chris Nunez with lead vocals performed by Joyce Humphrey. Our goals are souls. Our desire is to reach the lost with our music and lead them to the Church for healing, restoration and revival.

Joyce Humphrey
Worship Leader and lead vocalist. Joyce has over 15 years of experience leading worship services for full gospel high energy church services in Michigan.

Chris Nunez
Songwriter/Guitarist/Producer, entrepreneur and computer programmer. Has over 20 years of experience playing and recording all types of music in Hollywood, Las Vegas and now serves faithfully in his hometown church in Grand Rapids Michigan. Chris also owns and operates SpiritFilled Productions and SpiritFilledRadio.com and works full time as Director of Digital Printing for Grandville Printing Company.

Other dedicated musicians and singers include, Roy Wallace & Robert Williamdyke on Drums, Rebecca Start on Keyboards, Angel Berrios on Congas, Chris Nunez on electric and acoustic guitar and Pete Kittle on bass guitar. A full vocal choir singing three and four part harmonies include Ileisha Berrios, Molly Perez, Jontel Miller, Isabel Galarza, Mary Hughes, Courtney Burrows, Matt Strickland and a host of others rotating in and out every week.

100% of all music sales and donations go directly to support our Church. All donations greater than $5.00 will receive a copy of our latest CD recording in the mail. All donations are tax deductible.

Uptown Church
1470 Lake Dr, Grand Rapids, MI 49506.

For more info email us at info@uptownpraiseband.com

Instrumentation

Joyce Humphrey - Lead Vocals
Chris Nunez - Acoustic & Electric Guitar
Roy Wallace - Drummer
Rebecca Start - Piano/Keyboard

Discography

1) 2010 Worship Collection (5 songs). Available on iTunes and CDbaby.com.
2) Testimonials (9 songs). Available on iTunes and CDbaby.com

All songs are managed and distributed under our own indie label called SpiritFilled Productions. Chris Nunez copyright owner ASCAP 3107701

Official Website

http://www.uptownpraiseband.com

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• Last.fm
• Reverbnation

Audio

• I Am Healed Now (nashville)
  Listen  
• His Name is Jesus (nashville)
  Listen  
• We Love You (nashville)
  Listen  
• Will You Chase Me
  Listen  
• Thirteen (Nashville)
  Listen  
• Because You Made Me
  Listen  
• Beautiful Word
  Listen  

Lyrics

• His Name Is Jesus
• Will You Chase Me
• Thirteen
• We Love You
• Because You Made Me

Video

wwjc-part1-small

Photo Gallery

Press

• Uptown Praise Band moves outside walls of Eastown church for public performances [+ Show ]
  

  GRAND RAPIDS -- Chris Nunez felt compelled to do more with his musical gifts. So he led the prais...GRAND RAPIDS -- Chris Nunez felt compelled to do more with his musical gifts.
  
  So he led the praise music band from his Uptown Church on Lake Drive SE to complete a new CD and to perform regular gigs throughout West Michigan.
  
  "I really felt a push to get outside the four walls of the church and use our talents," said Nunez, 51, who has been part of the Uptown Praise Band for five years. It was only last December that the group took its talents on the road.
  
  Nunez is a songwriter, producer and guitarist for the ensemble. He wrote all nine of the songs on their new CD, "Testimonials."
  
  "We have a diverse group of people -- a rock drummer, a classically-trained keyboardist and a conga player," said Nunez, whose own background is in blues and jazz.
  
  Lead singer Joyce Humphrey has been singing at the church for 15 years.
  
  Nunez is a California native who took accordion lessons in his youth before getting into guitar and performing in various teen garage bands and writing original songs.
  
  "I did a lot of recording back in my younger days -- when they were still using two-inch (recording tape) in the studios," he recalled. He also dabbled in production at a Los Angeles record label.
  
  With wife Tracey and their two kids, Nunez moved to West Michigan in 2004 and found a musical outlet at the Uptown church.
  
  IF YOU GO
  Uptown Praise Band
  
  When: 8 p.m. Friday
  Where: Common Ground, 6333 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
  Admission: Free
  More info: 656-1130, commongroundmi.com
  
  
  The new CD features jazz strains in songs such as "His Name Is Jesus" and "We Love You," a rock ballad titled "Because You Made Me," and a country-rocker "I'm Healed Now."
  
  A tune called "Beautiful World" turned into a great funk groove, according to Nunez.
  
  The album was recorded and produced both in Nashville at Creative Soul and in Grand Rapids at Sound Post Studio.
  
  In August, the band scored a finalist slot at the Unity Christian Music Festival's regional talent contest in Muskegon. The ensemble debuted its CD and performed in front of hundreds of new faces.
  
  "I think that our live sound is more energetic and a little more Latin thanks to our conga player (Angel Berrios), who really brings that out," Nunez said.
  
  Performing two days a week at the church plus a weekly rehearsal, the Uptown Praise Band had fashioned a tight sound that includes as many as five background vocalists. Rebecca Start plays keys and drummer is Robert Williamdyke.
  
  Humphrey said performing throughout the community has been satisfying.
  
  "This is a real commitment, but it's something I've been called to do, so it's a priority," she said. "It's different than just singing inside the church, but it's been very good."
  
  The Uptown Praise Band is a regular performer at the new Common Ground in the former Parable-Kregels store on Kalamazoo Ave. SE. The retail/music venue celebrates its grand opening with Friday evening's concert and music all day on Saturday.
  
  E-mail Weekend: weekend@grpress.com
  

• Live on-air band interview WWJC Radio [+ Show ]
  

  Joyce, Chris, Pete and Robert were interviewed by DJ Ted Elm of WWJC 850AM of Duluth MN on the stati...Joyce, Chris, Pete and Robert were interviewed by DJ Ted Elm of WWJC 850AM of Duluth MN on the stations Northland program. The station played three of the bands songs as they discussed the songs, the band members backgrounds and the ministry of Uptown Praise Band!

• Uptown Praise Band selected to open main worship stage at Big Ticket Festival [+ Show ]
  

  Uptown Praise Band selected to open main worship stage at Big Ticket Festival with other major Chris...Uptown Praise Band selected to open main worship stage at Big Ticket Festival with other major Christian artists Toby Mac, Skillet, Newsboys and others
  
  Uptown Praise Band was selected by Free Spirit Ministries to open the main worship stage on June 24, 2011 at their annual mega Christian Music Festival. The festival is expected to draw over 20,000 and will feature over 100 bands on 7 stages over three days June 23-25 at Ionia State Fairgrounds, Ionia MI. Major Christian artists will include Toby Mac, Skillet, Newboys, Sanctus Real, 33 Miles, Leeland, Building 429, Phillips, Craig, and Dean, Sidewalk Prophets, Natalie Grant, The Afters, Chris Sligh, KJ-52, Me In Motion, Chris August, Icris, Kerrie Roberts, Matt Maher, Pocket Full of Rocks, Stellar Kart, Tye Tribbett, Heather Williams, Remedy Drive, Sargent Avenue and others.
  
  The band will be playing "Because You Made Me" a radio ready Christian rock ballad released by its own independent label SpiritFilled Productions. The song is an uplifting ballad about hope and faith with crystal clear vocals, beautiful soaring harmonies and strong lyrics and musical dynamics. The song is part the bands debut "Testimonials" album, available on iTunes.com, cdbaby.com and Amazon for $8.99. It is also available at over 300 Christian book stores across the country via the myMEDIA BurnBar platform.
  
  Uptown Praise Band is #1 on ReverbNation’s Christian/Gospel local charts and is hovering at the #350 spot on their National Christian/Gospel charts. In August, the band was selected to play A-stage at 2010 Unity Music Festival in Muskegon (that drew over 50,000!) and recently was chosen as a top ten finalist in Best of the Blessed competition, broadcast live on TBN TV during the 2010 Christian Music Awards hosted at Trinity Music City in Nashville, TN.
  
  Uptown Praise Band is a church band dedicated to leading their church congregation in worship every Sunday and Wednesday at inner city church Uptown Church, 1470 Lake Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 The bands desire is to reach the lost with their music and lead them to the church for healing, restoration and revival. http://www.uptownpraiseband.com
  
  For more information contact:
  Chris E. Nunez, 616-308-9334
  Christian Songwriter/Producer/Artist
  SpiritFilled Productions
  9311 Clear Meadow Dr, Ada, MI 49301
  chris@spiritfilledproductions.com
  http://www.spiritfilledproductions.com
  

Setlist

Catalog of 10 original songs can be performed with 10 piece band or as an acoustic guitar and singer 2 piece band. The entire church band includes a lead singer and a four piece backing vocal team, drums, congas, guitar, and keyboard player. We also have over 100 contemporary Christian songs in our repretoir. We are availablle any day but Sundays for Youth groups, festivals, speaker sessions, etc...

Basic Requirements

Calendar