# Avalon (American group)

Avalon Worship, originally known as Avalon, is an American contemporary Christian vocal quartet from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 1995. The group has earned multiple RIAA-certified gold records. The group consists of Janna Long, Greg Long, Jody McBrayer, and Dani Rocca.

## Group history
### 1995–97

Avalon was formed in 1995 in Nashville after Norman Miller of Proper Management took the idea of a vocal group to Grant Cunningham, A&R Director at Sparrow Records. Cunningham attended an artist showcase in Nashville where he heard singer Michael Passons and made Passons the first Avalon member. Former Truth vocalist and South Carolina native Janna Potter (later Janna Long) became the group's second member.
Rikk Kittlemann and Tabitha Fair became part of the group, but each left after a short time. Long contacted McBrayer, her former Truth bandmate, who became a member of the group. Nikki Hassman-Anders was the fourth founding vocalist of Avalon. Hassman recorded two albums with Avalon, Avalon (1996) and A Maze of Grace (1997), before leaving in May 1998 to pursue a solo career with Sony Records.

### 1998–02

Cherie Paliotta (later Cherie Adams) replaced Hassman in the group. Adams recorded four albums with Avalon: In a Different Light (1999), Joy: A Christmas Collection (2000), Oxygen (2001), and a remix album, O2: Avalon Remixed (March 2002).
Adams departed the group and was replaced by former Truth member Melissa Greene in September 2002.
In September 2002, McBrayer released a solo album, This Is Who I Am, that included the Top 10 duet with Jadyn Maria "Never Alone (Nunca Solo)" and a No. 1 single "To Ever Live Without Me." Long released a self-titled solo album in October 2002 which contained the No. 2 song "Greater Is He".

### 2003–06

On March 25, 2003, Avalon released a greatest hits record, Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon, which featured two new singles that became No. 1 hits; "Everything to Me" and "New Day". It was the last album to include Passons.
Passons revealed in an interview in 2020 that he was forced out of Avalon due to his sexual orientation as a gay man and refusal to continue attending reparative therapy. Although a member of the group when it fired Passons, Greene has supported Passons. Passons was replaced by Long's husband, Greg.
On February 24, 2004, Avalon released the studio album The Creed, from which three singles were released, "All", which reached No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary Christian Songs chart; "You Were There," a No. 2 Inspirational Charts hit; and "I Wanna Be With You".
Avalon's sixth studio album, Stand, was released on January 24, 2006. The single "Love Won't Leave You" peaked in the Top 20 of Billboard Hot Christian Songs and Hot Christian Adult Contemporary charts. The single, "Orphans of God" peaked in the Top 5 of Radio & Records' Inspo chart the week of August 11, 2006. "Somehow You Are" was released to radio in August 2006.
On October 17, 2006, Avalon released a hymns album Faith: A Hymns Collection.

### 2007–09

In 2007, McBrayer left Avalon the group after being diagnosed with a heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyoparthy.
On February 26, 2008, Avalon released its ninth album, Another Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics. A headlining "The We Will Stand Tour" followed the album's release, with Michael English, the Daniel Doss Band, and Cadia.
The first single released from Another Time, Another Place was Avalon's cover of the Twila Paris song "God Is in Control." The second single, released on November 5, 2007, was a remake of the Sandi Patty/Wayne Watson song "Another Time, Another Place." On November 13, 2007, Avalon released Another Time, Another Place EP, a digital EP featuring three singles from the album, "God is in Control" and "Another Time, Another Place," and a cover of the Amy Grant song "Thy Word."
Jeremi Richardson joined the group in 2007 to replace McBrayer. Richardson had sung with the group Voices of Liberty at Walt Disney World. On November 11, 2007, Greene announced at a show in Spring Arbor, Michigan, that it was the first concert with Richardson officially being a member of the group.
In 2008, EMI CMG released Avalon: The Greatest Hits. The album featured a new song from Avalon, "Still My God." On March 31, 2009, "Still My God" became Avalon's first No. 1 single since "New Day" was released in 2003, from Avalon's previous greatest hits album.
On May 15, 2009, Melissa Greene announced her resignation from Avalon upon accepting a position as Pastor of Music and Arts at GracePointe Church in Nashville.
Richardson's wife, Amy, replaced Greene on May 21, 2009.
On May 19, 2009, Avalon recorded Reborn, its first studio album since Stand in 2006, on E1 Music, ending the group's affiliation with Sparrow Records. The first single, "Arise," was released to Christian radio in August 2009 and became Avalon's 22nd career No. 1 radio hit, topping Billboard's Soft AC/Inspirational chart.

### 2018–present: Called

On August 7, 2018, after a decade as members of Avalon, Jeremi and Amy Richardson stopped touring. Avalon announced in their Facebook page the return of Jody McBrayer and the addition of new member, Dani Rocca. On October 24, 2018, Avalon announced that they had signed as the flagship artist with Red Street Records, a new label launched by Rascal Flatts bassist Jay DeMarcus. On November 1, 2018, they sang their debut concert as Avalon in Jacksonville, Florida on the opening night of the Greatest Hits Tour, organized by Newsong.
Avalon released "Keeper of My Heart" on December 7, 2019, 10 years after Avalon's previous radio single. It was followed by a new album, Called, on February 14, 2020 and tour.
In 2022, the group rebranded under the name Avalon Worship and have released their self-titled album under this moniker.

## Members
### Current members

* Janna (Potter) Long (1995–present)
* Greg Long (2003–present)
* Jody McBrayer (1995–2007, 2018–present)
* Dani Rocca (2018–present)

### Former members

* Rikk Kittlemann (1995)
* Tabitha Fair (1995–1996)
* Nikki Hassman-Anders (1996–1998)
* Cherie (Paliotta) Adams (1998–2002)
* Michael Passons (1995–2003)
* Melissa Greene (2002–2009)
* Jeremi Richardson (2007–2018)
* Amy McBride-Richardson (2009–2018)

### Timeline
## Discography
### Studio albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Title | Album details | US | US Christ. | US Heat. | Certifications |
| Avalon | Released: December 26, 1996 Label: Sparrow Format: CD, CS | — | 10 | 30 | |
| A Maze of Grace | Released: December 9, 1997 Label: Sparrow Format: CD | 153 | 6 | 8 | RIAA: Gold |
| In a Different Light | Released: March 23, 1999 Label: Sparrow Format: CD, CS | 81 | 2 | — | RIAA: Gold |
| Oxygen | Released: May 22, 2001 Label: Sparrow Format: CD, CS | 37 | 1 | — | |
| The Creed | Released: February 24, 2004 Label: Sparrow Format: CD, DL | 104 | 4 | — | |
| Stand | Released: January 24, 2006 Label: Sparrow Format: CD, DL | 160 | 7 | — | |
| Faith: A Hymns Collection | Released: October 17, 2006 Label: Sparrow Format: CD, DL | — | 25 | — | |
| Another Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics | Released: February 26, 2008 Label: Sparrow Format: CD, DL | — | 21 | — | |
| Reborn | Released: September 15, 2009 Label: E1 Format: CD, DL | — | 28 | — | |
| Called | Released: February 14, 2020 Label: Red Street/The Fuel Format: CD, DL | — | — | — | |
| Avalon Worship (Deluxe) | Released September 30, 2022 Label: Red Stret/The Fuel Format: DL | - | - | - | |

### Christmas albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | US | US Christ. | US Holiday | US Catalog |
| Joy: A Christmas Collection | Released: September 26, 2000 Label: Sparrow Format: CD | 115 | 3 | 13 | 9 |

### Compilation albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | US | US Christ. | US Dance |
| O2: Avalon Remixed | Released: March 26, 2002 Label: Sparrow Format: CD | — | 19 | 2 |
| Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon | Released: March 25, 2003 Label: Sparrow Format: CD | 112 | 9 | — |
| Avalon: The Greatest Hits | Released: February 10, 2009 Label: Sparrow Format: CD, DL | — | — | — |
| Number Ones | Released: August 28, 2012 Label: Sparrow Format: CD, DL | — | — | — |
| 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Avalon | Released: May 4, 2014 Label: Sparrow Format: CD, DL | — | — | — |

### Singles

| Year | Title | Peak positions | Peak positions | Peak positions | Album |
| Year | Title | US Christ. | US Christ. AC | US Insp. | Album |
| 1996 | "Give It Up" | — | 1 | — | Avalon |
| 1997 | "The Greatest Story" | — | 4 | — | Avalon |
| 1997 | "Picture Perfect World" | — | 1 | 1 | Avalon |
| 1997 | "This Love" | — | 1 | — | Avalon |
| 1997 | "Angels We Have Heard on High" | — | 34 | — | God with Us |
| 1998 | "Testify to Love" | — | 1 | — | A Maze of Grace |
| 1998 | "Adonai" | — | 1 | 1 | A Maze of Grace |
| 1998 | "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" | — | 1 | — | A Maze of Grace |
| 1998 | "Reason Enough" | — | 1 | — | A Maze of Grace |
| 1999 | "In Not Of" | — | 1 | — | In a Different Light |
| 1999 | "Take You at Your Word" | — | 1 | — | In a Different Light |
| 1999 | "Can't Live a Day" | — | 1 | 1 | In a Different Light |
| 2000 | "Always Have, Always Will" | — | 1 | — | In a Different Light |
| 2000 | "Fly to You" | — | 1 | — | Jesus: The Epic Mini Series |
| 2001 | "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" | — | 2 | — | Joy: A Christmas Collection |
| 2001 | "Light a Candle" | — | — | — | Joy: A Christmas Collection |
| 2001 | "We Are the Reason" | — | — | — | Joy: A Christmas Collection |
| 2001 | "Jesus, Born on This Day" | — | — | — | Joy: A Christmas Collection |
| 2001 | "The Glory" | — | 1 | — | Oxygen |
| 2001 | "Come and Fill My Heart" | — | — | 1 | Oxygen |
| 2001 | "Wonder Why" | — | 1 | — | Oxygen |
| 2002 | "I Don't Want to Go" | — | 1 | — | Oxygen |
| 2002 | "Undeniably You" | — | 1 | — | Oxygen |
| 2002 | "Undeniably You (Jeff Savage Mix)" | — | — | — | O2: Avalon Remixed |
| 2003 | "Everything to Me" | 3 | 1 | — | Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon |
| 2003 | "New Day" | 5 | 1 | — | Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon |
| 2004 | "All" | 8 | 2 | — | The Creed |
| 2004 | "You Were There" | 29 | — | 2 | The Creed |
| 2005 | "I Wanna Be with You" | 26 | — | — | The Creed |
| 2006 | "Love Won't Leave You" | 22 | — | — | Stand |
| 2006 | "Orphans of God" | — | — | 5 | Stand |
| 2006 | "Somehow You Are" | — | — | — | Stand |
| 2007 | "In Christ Alone" | — | — | — | Faith: A Hymns Collection |
| 2007 | "God Is in Control" | — | — | — | Another Time, Another Place |
| 2007 | "Another Time, Another Place" | — | — | — | Another Time, Another Place |
| 2008 | "We Will Stand" | — | — | — | Another Time, Another Place |
| 2009 | "Still My God" | — | 1 | — | Avalon: The Greatest Hits |
| 2009 | "Arise" | — | 1 | — | Reborn |
| 2009 | "Alive" | — | — | — | Reborn |
| 2019 | "Majesty" | — | — | — | non-album single |
| 2019 | "Keeper of My Heart" | 29 | — | — | Called |
| 2020 | "Closer" | — | 1 | — | Called |
| 2020 | "If Not for Jesus" | — | — | — | Called |
| 2020 | "Called" | — | — | — | Called |
| 2020 | "Only One" | — | — | — | Called |

### Live albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | US | US Christ. | US Heat. |
| Testify to Love: Live in Concert | Released: November 18, 2003 (DVD); 2008 (CD) Label: Sparrow Format: CD, DVD | — | — | — |
| Avalon Live! A Hits Collection | Released: February 26, 2008 Label: Sparrow Format: DVD | — | — | — |

### Music videos

* 2000: "In Not Of" music video
* 2006: "In Christ Alone" music video; featured in Tribute to Ruth Graham
* 2019: "Keeper of My Heart" music video

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Awards | Category | Work | Result |
| 1998 | American Songwriter Professional Songwriter Awards | Artist of the Year | Avalon | Won |
| 1998 | American Songwriter Professional Songwriter Awards | Song of the Year | "Testify to Love" | Won |
| 1998 | CRR (Christian Research Report) | No. 1 AC Song of the Year | "Testify to Love" | Won |
| 1998 | CRR (Christian Research Report) | Group of the Year | Avalon | Won |
| 1998 | GMA Dove Awards | Best New Artist | Avalon | Won |
| 1998 | GMA Dove Awards | Special Event Album of the Year | God with Us | Won |
| 1999 | CRR (Christian Research Report) | No. 1 AC Song of the Year | "Reason Enough" | Won |
| 1999 | GMA Dove Awards | Artist of the Year | Avalon | Nominated |
| 1999 | GMA Dove Awards | Group of the Year | Avalon | Nominated |
| 1999 | GMA Dove Awards | Long Form Music Video | My Utmost for His Highest | Won |
| 1999 | GMA Dove Awards | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year | A Maze of Grace | Nominated |
| 1999 | GMA Dove Awards | Inspirational Song of the Year | "Adonai" | Won |
| 1999 | GMA Dove Awards | Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year | "Testify to Love" | Won |
| 2000 | Christian Booksellers Association | Top-Selling Christmas Recording | Joy: A Christmas Collection | Won |
| 2000 | GMA Dove Awards | Artist of the Year | Avalon | Nominated |
| 2000 | GMA Dove Awards | Group of the Year | Avalon | Nominated |
| 2000 | GMA Dove Awards | Song of the Year | "Can't Live a Day" | Nominated |
| 2000 | GMA Dove Awards | Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year | "Can't Live a Day" | Nominated |
| 2000 | GMA Dove Awards | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year | In a Different Light | Nominated |
| 2001 | GMA Dove Awards | Group of the Year | Avalon | Nominated |
| 2001 | GMA Dove Awards | Special Event Album of the Year | Child of the Promise | Nominated |
| 2001 | GMA Dove Awards | Special Event Album of the Year | Music from and Inspired by Jesus: The Epic Mini-Series | Nominated |
| 2001 | 43rd Annual Grammy Awards | Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album | Joy: A Christmas Collection | Nominated |
| 2002 | CCM Reader's Choice Awards | Group of the Year | Avalon | Won |
| 2002 | GMA Dove Awards | Group of the Year | Avalon | Nominated |
| 2002 | GMA Dove Awards | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year | Oxygen | Nominated |
| 2002 | GMA Dove Awards | Song of the Year | "The Glory" | Nominated |
| 2002 | GMA Dove Awards | Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year | "The Glory" | Nominated |
| 2002 | 44th Annual Grammy Awards | Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album | Oxygen | Nominated |
| 2003 | American Music Awards (January) | Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist | Avalon | Won |
| 2003 | CCM Reader's Choice Awards | Group of the Year | Avalon | Won |
| 2004 | CCM Reader's Choice Awards | Group of the Year | Avalon | Won |
| 2004 | GMA Dove Awards | Song of the Year | "Everything to Me" | Nominated |
| 2004 | GMA Dove Awards | Inspirational Song of the Year | "Everything to Me" | Won |
| 2005 | 47th Annual Grammy Awards | Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album | The Creed | Nominated |
| 2007 | GMA Dove Awards | Children's Album of the Year | Sing Over Me | Nominated |
| 2007 | GMA Dove Awards | Inspirational Song of the Year | "Orphans of God" | Nominated |
| 2008 | GMA Dove Awards | Special Event Album | Amazing Grace: Music Inspired by the Motion Picture | Nominated |