80s Inspirational Christian Music
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timeline of events in ‘80s Christian music history.  Items auto rotate unless a frame is clicked:
1980
• Zondervan acquires Benson Music for $3.6 million.

• The New Benson Company is formed by Zondervan along with Paragon Associates, Inc.

• Bob MacKenzie of Paragon is named president of the New Benson Company.

Sources:
—The House of Zondervan: Celebrating 75 Years by James E. Raurk, Copyright Zondervan 1981, 2006
—Billboard Sept 27, 1980, Oct 19, 1985
1980
• Ralph Carmichael  buys Word’s half of Light/Lexicon from ABC.

• Tempo Records of Kansas City closes it’s doors in Mission, KS because of financial problems
(Billboard Sept 27, 1980).
1981
• Brentwood Music  is founded by Jim Van Hook with $500.

• Home Sweet Home Records is founded by Chris Christian in Nashville, Tennessee, and later moves to Dallas.
1982
• Sony and Philips finalize the compact disc.

• Compact Discs go on sale in Europe and Japan.
1982
• Reunion Records is founded.

• Amy Grant marries Gary Chapman.

• Light Records was sold by Ralph Carmichael to John Ward, an Orange County, CA developer, with Carmichael remaining as President
(Billboard Oct 2, 1982).
1982
Keith Green  dies in a plane crash.
Keith Green
1983
• Compact Discs go on sale in the U.S.

• Amy Grant’s Age To Age becomes first gold album on a Christian label by a solo artist.
1984
• Bob MacKenzie and Bill Gaither end their business partnership with the sale of Paragon's 49% interest in Benson to Zondervan, but they remain very close friends.

• Stryper‘s debut album, The Yellow and Black Attack ,  is the first Christian metal album.
Stryper
1984
• Urgent Records is founded in Los Angeles with only one artist: Phillip Sandifer. (In 1988, the label moved to Austin, Texas.)

1985
• Amy Grant has CCM’s first secular crossover hit with Find A Way.
1985
• John W. Peterson, composer of of more than 1,000 Christian songs and some 35 cantatas with over 9 million copies sold, is inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
John W Peterson
1986
• Jarrell McCracken  departs Word after the ABC merger with Capital Cities.
1987
• U2’s The Joshua Tree album wins a Grammy.
The Joshua Tree - U2
1988
• CDs outsell vinyl LP records for the first time.

• Zondervan Publishing House is purchased by Harper & Row for $56.7 million.

• Word moves from Waco to Dallas.
1988
• Leslie Phillips leaves Christian music after a concert that didn’t go well, and changes her name to Sam Phillips.
Leslie Phillips
• some 80s Christian albums


• some 80s Christian artists & songs
• FRIEND OF THE FATHER
• SOMEONE WHO CAN
Carol Lawrence
• JUST IN TIME
 Gordon Jensen
• FROM THE START
Diane Hull
• BOUNDLESS LOVE
Farrell & Farrell
• I CAN SEE HEAVEN
Terri Gibbs
• YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO LOVE ME
• LOVE SONG FOR NUMBER 2
Mickey & Becki Moore
• THE HEART OF THE MATTER
Debby Boone
• LATELY
• I MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THERE
Morris Chapman
• I LOVE YOU MORE EVERYDAY
• ONE DAY AT A TIME
Cristy Lane
• I’LL FLY AWAY
• HEAVENLY SUNSHINE
Rick Powell Orchestra
• YOUR KINDNESS
• STRENGTH OF MY LIFE
Leslie Phillips
• SOMEWHERE IT’S SNOWING
 Stephanie Boosahda
• PRAISE THE LORD
The Imperials
• WE NEED THE LORD
Karla Worley
• LET YOUR LOVE FLOW THROUGH ME
• NO REGRETS
Rodger Strader
• ONLY ONE LIFE
The Parschauer Sisters
• FRIENDS
Michael W. Smith
• OH SO WONDERFUL
Dana
• MY LITTLE TUNE
• I AM WILLING LORD
• LORD YOU’VE GIVEN ME SO MUCH
Joni Eareckson Tada
• GIVE YOUR HEART A HOME
• HE’S ALIVE
• GOT TO TELL SOMEBODY
Don Francisco
• KEEPIN’ MY EYES ON YOU
• THE WARRIOR IS A CHILD
Twila Paris
• HE WILL CARRY YOU
• KEEP THE SON IN YOUR EYES
Scott Wesley Brown
• THERE IS A SAVIOR
• MORNING LIKE THIS
• FACE TO FAITH
• VIA DOLOROSA
Sandi Patty
• BECAUSE HE LIVES
• ROCK OF AGES MEDLEY
Don Marsh Orchestra
• JESUS IN YOUR HEART
Connie Scott
• ONE MORE SONG FOR YOU
• MAJESTY
 Carmichael Strings
• JESUS NEVER FAILS
• GENTLE HANDS
 Truth
• RISE AGAIN
• I SAW THE LORD
Dallas Holm
• SING YOUR PRAISE TO THE LORD
• ANGELS
Amy Grant
• TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND
Wayne Watson
• THE WEDDING DAY
• THE ARMY OF THE LORD
• GOD STILL MOVES
• CIRCLE OF TWO
• TURN YOUR HEART TOWARD HOME
Steve & Annie Chapman
• SOLDIER OF THE LIGHT
Andrus, Blackwood & Co.
• PEOPLE NEED THE LORD
• BROKEN AND SPILLED OUT
Steve Green
• CAN YOU REACH MY FRIEND
Debby Boone
• WE WILL STAND
Russ Taff
• CARRY ME
• MY GOD
Christine Wyrtzen