Youth Choir

Youth Choir Later Known As The Choir Was Originally Formed In The Early 1980s By Derri Daugherty And Steve Hindalong. Daniel Amos Bass Guitarist Tim Chandler Introduced Hindalong To Daugherty Who Was The Band's Roadie And Sound Man. Hindalong And Daugherty Quickly Became Friends And Youth Choir Was Part Of The Calvary Chapel Christian Punk And Alternative Music Scene Which Also Included The Bands Undercover Crumbächer Altar Boys And 4-4-1. The Band's First Official Recording Was The Track "It's So Wonderful" Released In 1983 On The Compilation Album What's Shakin' Which Also Included Early Work From Undercover Altar Boys And The Lifters. This Song Was One Of The Few Times That Lead Singer Derri Daugherty Wrote Both Lyrics And Music As The Band Developed The Majority Of The Choir's Lyrical Output Would Come From Drummer/percussionist Steve Hindalong. As Youth Choir They Released Their Debut Album Voices In Shadows In 1984 With Mike Saurerbrey On Bass Their First EP Shades Of Gray Followed A Year Later When Dan Michaels Joined The Band. The Choir Made A High-Profile Move To Myrrh Records In 1986 With Their Next Release Diamonds And Rain. Dropping The "Youth" From Their Moniker They Would Be Known As The Choir From That Point Forward. This Was Followed By Three More Albums For Myrrh Which Featured Musical Contributions From An Array Of Christian Performers Including Charlie Peacock Mark Heard Steve Griffith Of Vector And Gene Eugene And Riki Michele From Adam Again. The Choir's Lineup Also Changed. Tim Chandler Was The Primary Bass Player Until 1989's Wide-Eyed Wonder As Robin Spurs Replaced Him On That Album And Tour But She Left The Band During The Recording Of 1990's Circle Slide. Mike Sauerbrey Returned To The Band Briefly For These Recording Sessions. Chandler Would Rejoin The Lineup For The Independently-Released Kissers And Killers. Spurs Would Not Play With The Band Again Until 2017 When She Performed On The Wide-Eyed Wonder Reunion Tour. The Choir Toured Extensively During This Time Notably As The First Band On Stage At The Inaugural Cornerstone Festival In Chicago In 1984. They Also Performed At The Greenbelt Festival In England In 1986 And Opened For Russ Taff On His Nationwide Tour In 1989. References To The Band's Tour Experiences Would Remain An Ongoing Source Of Lyrical Inspiration. During Their Southern California Period The Choir's Music Was Described By The Los Angeles Times As "magical Songs That Combine Strains Of Murky Psychedelia With Pure Pop." Billboard Praised The Band For Its "dark Poetic Leanings Effects-Laden Guitars And Strong Melodic Hooks". Hindalong's Lyrics Became Known For Their Vulnerability And Honesty Particularly About The Challenges Inherent In Romantic Relationships And The Simple Joys Of Family Life. read less