Music
Press
White House, TN, January 16, 2008 --(PR.com)-- IndieHeaven.com, the leading organization supporting Independent artists in Christian music, is pleased to announce that Bill Petty has been nominated as Contemporary Artist of the Year in the 3rd annual Momentum Awards. Bill’s song, “You Can Always Come Home” from his debut project, "Wonder", is also nominated as Song of the Year. These prestigious awards will be presented at the upcoming IndieHeaven CIA Summit 2008 conference on March 29 in Franklin, Tennessee.
IndieHeaven founder and CIA Summit director Keith Mohr states, "It's important to recognize and applaud the efforts made in recent years by artists who are independent. By providing them the recognition they have earned, we hope to increase their platform and awareness. There are many independent artists who are doing an incredible job with their music and most importantly their mission. We look forward to the awards being a part of our annual artist’s conference."
Bill delivers messages of faith and inspiration through a wide range of musical styles, held together by an underlying acoustic groove. From Praise & Worship to Contemporary, from Blues to a taste of Southern Gospel, the music of "Wonder" draws hearts to celebration, reflection and worship. Blessed as husband to Cinda, and father to Eve and William, Bill can be found at NorthPointe Church in White House, TN where he serves as Worship Pastor, leading the Awakening worship experience each Sunday morning.
The Momentum Awards take into consideration votes cast online by fans of each nominee. The five nominees with highest number of votes in each category will move on to the final round in February. Votes must be cast no later than January 31. To register your vote for Bill as the Contemporary Artist of the Year in this year’s Momentum Awards, please visit http://www.indieheaven.com/momentum_awards.php. While there, be sure to cast votes in each of the categories and check out the latest in Christian music.
For more information about the Christian Independent Alliance Summit, visit www.ciasummit.com.
- PR.COM
Where do I start? Bill Petty and the name of the CD project is called "Wonder". I enjoyed the entire album. Every single one of the 10 tracks displayed some very intense, God inspired, songwriting skills. Wonder revels in the awesome love of God and our utter unworthiness for a single bit of it. Yet, in the entire project, Bill Petty shows the unfathomable Love of God, through His Son, Jesus, that we can be made worthy of it all. "Wonder" is a perfect title.
Even though the entire CD is a blessing to listen to, there were a few tracks that absolutely floored me. "I Am Here" is one of a couple that stands out.
On my screen-saver, I have this reminder from Isaiah Chapter 30:15 God tells us;
"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength".
Petty writes:
"In the stillness I pray, Let me follow Thy way and this humble heart be Yours.
Let Your spirit shine through in all that I do, in Thy love my faith is sure."
It is truly that simple. There is no complicated hoops to jump through for our salvation. But the children of Israel did not listen then, why do we not listen now! Pray that the Lord open your heart, know Him in your heart, not just in your head. Praise His Holy Name!
I think my favorite track is "You can Always Come". It is a very complicated message from Jesus to YOU! "Hey, it's me, I hope you get this message....the pain you feel's not letting go. Just in case your listening, I love you. So, when your ready...You can always come home." We do not ever think of the hurt we cause Jesus when we disobey or sin. It is so hard to imagine what He feels like when we turn away from Him. Petty not only provides a biting perspective, but it a conviction many of us do not want to hear.
There is nothing that God can not forgive. Don't you wish you had a loving father like that here in this life? The thing we need to know is that we DO. Jesus is alive! He is inviting you to come follow Him. His assurance of peace and safety is unfailing. If you listen to "You Can Always Come" and not be convicted of God's love for you -- then I really don't know what else I can say to you.
The other tracks are wonderful, inspirational and as in "I've Been Redeemed", actually fun to listen to. 'Redeemed' is a down home Gospel song that sounds like it came straight from a Gaither Brother's tour.
I promise you will enjoy "Wonder". Bill Petty supplies 10 cuts that are true to the title of the project.
- Michael Hughes, Christian Mix Inet
Discography
Debut CD - Wonder - September 2007.
Bill Petty Named Male Vocalist of the Year in 2008 Momentum Awards
http://www.pr.com/press-release/70789
Singles including "Lift The Name" and "In You" spinning on 50+ terrestrial stations as well as internationally via Internet radio.
Full tracks from Wonder can be heard on Indieheaven.com (www.indieheaven.com/artists/billpetty), as well as DigStation, iTunes and MP3.com.
Singles from Wonder are already drawing radio attention across the US. The most requested single to date is "You Can Always Come Home", a single that speaks to the heart of those whose relationship with Christ is not what it once was....or what it could be.
"In You" also finding a place in contemporary rotation.
Photos
Bio
2009 Winner Vox Populi Award: 8th Annual Independent Music Awards. Original Song, "In You", selected in Contemporary Christian Song category.
2008 Christian Independent Alliance Male Vocalist of the Year
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE GROOVE!...
…that place in music where the experience moves beyond simply hearing and into feeling. That’s where the Bill Petty and his music find their home…in the “groove”.
Bill sees music as he sees the Word of God. When you open yourself up and allow the rhythm and feeling behind the words to move you, to speak to you personally….it becomes much more than just words on a page or chords on a chart. You don’t just hear it, you FEEL it. It becomes part of you. “Carry the Word of God in your heart like a song…” Which songs live in your heart? The songs that meet you where you are and in who you are. They establish themselves through the groove that they create.
Bill’s ministry in music reaches deep into this concept on stage and in person...whether in a performance, leading worship at The Pointe or in his personal relationship with family or friends. It’s all about the groove!
Looking back on his life, Bill acknowledges that both music and ministry were always at the very core of the man that God had designed him to be.Born and raised in the suburbs of Nashville,TN, Bill was surrounded by music of every shape and style from the beginning. His father, Bill Sr., put a guitar in Bill’s hands at an early age, and his mother, Jane, has a remarkable voice that rings of the early women of country music.
With influences founded through years of performance and writing in most every genre of music, his strongest slant was toward those that are most often identified with their “groove”…blues, R&B, funk.
A hint of ministry direction revealed itself in 1986 as Bill headed to Belmont College. He played in numerous bands in and around Nashville, and in the first Belmont Baptist Student Union band. His first real “Christian” concert experience was also this year - Michael W. Smith at Belmont Baptist. “The Spirit of God filled that place as my heart swelled in a way I’d never experienced before. I still remember the feeling of holding up my hands in praise for the first time. I can see now that this night was only a foreshadowing of things to come….things I could not even imagine.”
This was also the year Bill began dating his beautiful wife. “Cinda is my foundation and my inspiration. She is kind and caring and has supported my music and my calling without fail. She is a beautiful woman, an excellent mother and my very best friend”
In 1999, at age 31, Bill gave his heart to Christ during a Sunday morning service at White House General Baptist Church, where he soon moved into ministry, serving as Music Director for seven years. It was during this time that he came to discover something much greater than the music itself -- a passion for serving God and a desire to speak to the hearts of others through music and ministry.
In 2007, Bill joined pastor Todd Bush in founding The Pointe (NorthPointe Church) in White House, TN, serving as Pastor of Worship & Creative Arts and seeking to fulfill the vision that God continues to reveal in his life.
In September 2007, Bill accomplished yet another “new thing” (Is 43:18) that God was preparing in his life through the release of his debut CD, “Wonder”, a collection of ten original songs that draws upon on a vast range of influences -- blues, funk, country, rock, Southern Gospel, Contemporary, P&W -- woven together with an underlying acoustic groove. “Wonder” draws hearts to worship, celebration and reflection, as each song presents a unique message and experience to listeners.
Sites:
http://www.indieheaven.com/artists/billpetty
http://www.myspace.com/billpettywonder
http://www.shoutlife/billpetty
http://www.churchatnorthpointe.com
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