Jars of Clay

News Update: Dan Haseltine, lead singer of Jars Of Clay, underwent a procedure to correct a coronary issue after experiencing a cardiac event on Wednesday, July 25th. He is doing well and recovering, but please pray for him and the band.

Propelled by its initial success of mainstream and Christian music hit "Flood," Jars of Clay self-titled debut album introduced a unique sound that hadn't yet been replicated. In addition to "Flood," the band's legendary album produced other favorites including "Love Song for a Savior," "Liquid," and "Like a Child." It wasn’t long before the band’s unique approach spurred on a slew of imitators, who with varying degrees of success, attempted to recreate the band’s stripped-down pop sound.

The guys in Jars of Clay never really aspired to be professional recording artists. Dan Haseltine (lead vocals), Stephen Mason (guitar, vocals), Charlie Lowell (keyboards, percussion) and Matt Odmark (guitar) met during their time at Greenville College, and simply liked playing and making music for the sheer fun of it.

Thanks to the success of “Flood,” Jars of Clay established their credibility in multiple genres of music. After touring with fellow Christian pop/rockers Pray For Rain (PFR), Jars of Clay would eventually share a bill with musical legends including Sting and Matchbox Twenty.

Two years later after the larger-than-life success of its debut, Jars of Clay’s highly anticipated second album, Much Afraid, arrived. Earning the band its first Grammy Award, the project was praised by both fans and critics, thanks to catchy singles like “Crazy Times,” “Five Candles (You Were There)” and “Fade to Gray.”

More recently, Jars of Clay has taken a more experimental approach to making albums. Whether it’s the whimsical pop/rock of 1999’s If I Left the Zoo, the way they reinvented classic hymns with 2005’s Redemption Songs or the underground feel of The Long Fall Back to Earth, creativity and coherent thoughts on faith have always peacefully co-existed. The band's newest album The Shelter (October 2010), is designed to remind listeners of the importance of trusting God and that only He can save us from sin. You can find the band on the road in the beginning of 2011 touring with MercyMe, Matt Maher, and The Afters for the Rock & Worship Road Show.

Also committed to being champions for the poorest of the poor, Jars of Clay has also launched several humanitarian initiatives including Blood:Water Mission which empowers communities to work together against the HIV and water crises in Africa.

Jars of Clay is currently in the studio working on the their next album, set to be released in 2013.