After graduating from the University of Miami with a degree in jazz performance, CCM singer Erin O'Donnell and her songwriter/bassist husband Brad began entertaining the idea of pursuing a recording contract but had no idea where to begin. While participating in an online Christian music chat group, they came across the e-mail address of Cadence Communications label exec Randy Spencer; contact was made, and soon O'Donnell was signed to the company, issuing her debut album A Scrapbook of Sorts in 1996. Scratching the Surface followed two years later and a third effort No Place So Far was issued in early 2001. Since that time, O'Donnell has released several more albums, including an independent release in 2006, titled No Better Place.