Brenton Gifford Brown is a dual South African and American Christian musician and worship leader. The title track "Everlasting God" on his solo album, Everlasting God was given an award at the ASCAP awards ceremony in 2008. Brenton Brown co-wrote "Soul on Fire", released by Third Day was nominated for a Grammy award after spending 11 weeks at No. 1 on the Christian Airplay charts. In 2019 Brown's song, "You Know My Name", co-written with Tasha Cobbs Leonard, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Gospel chart and was nominated for a Stellar Award.
Early life
He left South Africa for Oxford, England in his early twenties on a Rhodes Scholarship. While studying politics, philosophy and theology he joined Vineyard Music, serving as worship pastor at the Oxford Vineyard, UK, and eventually as coordinator of the Vineyard Worship Development Team. His songs, "Lord Reign in Me", "All Who Are Thirsty", "Humble King", "Hallelujah " and "Holy", were recorded on the popular Vineyard UK projects during this time.
Music career
Brown's music career began with the release of Vineyard UK worship records' Come Now Is the Time, Hungry, Surrender and Holy. In 2006, he released his first solo album, Everlasting God released on Survivor Records in the UK and rest of the world, and with Sparrow Records in the United States and Canada. The title track, "Everlasting God", received an award at the ASCAP awards ceremony in London on 15 October 2008. The song, written by Brenton Brown and Ken Riley, was honoured as one of the most performed songs in the US, during 2007, across all genres. This is the first time that a Christian song has been recognised at this major music awards ceremony. "Everlasting God" has been recorded by other artists, including Lincoln Brewster, Jeremy Camp, and most notably by Chris Tomlin on his 2006 album, See the Morning. Brown has appeared on numerous live and compilation albums, including events such as Hope 2008 and. He released his second solo album, Because of Your Love, in 2008. After moving to California, Brown joined with bass player Daniel Ornellas and drummer Aaron Sterling to record side projectCloser To Human under the band name Dreamseed. In 2009, Brown was signed to Kingsway Communications and released the EP Introducing Brenton Brown, in October 2009. Followed in 2010 with full-length album, Adoration, which contained many of the songs from his independent release "Because of Your Love" plus the new song "A Thousand Stars". Later in 2010, Brown released his first album of all new material on Kingsway: Our God Is Near. He released his first live solo record, God My Rock, in 2012. The record was recorded at a Dare2share event in Dayton, Ohio and featured six new songs as well as some of Brown's songs including "Hosanna " and "Everlasting God". It was released by Integrity Music. Brenton is a co-writer on Third Day's single "Soul on Fire", the title of their 2015 tour. The song spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on Christian Hit Radio. This song was nominated for a Grammy award 2016 in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song category. Most recently the song “Lion and the Lamb”, co-written with Leeland Mooring and Brian Johnson was featured on Bethel Music’s “Have it all”.
Worship songs
Brown is best known for his congregational worship songs. Beginning with Vineyard Music UK in the 1990s Brown co-wrote and recorded "All Who are Thirsty", "Lord Reign in Me", "Humble King", "Hallelujah " and "Holy". In the 2000s, recording as a Kingsway artist, Brown co-penned and recorded "Hosanna ", "Everlasting God", "Because of Your Love" and "God My Rock". Most recently, Brown's song "Soul on Fire", has been recorded by Third Day, featuring All Sons & Daughters. Bethel Music has also released the song "Lion and the Lamb", featuring Leeland Mooring and Brian Johnson on the Bethel album "Have it All".
