Crowder, whose real name is David Crowder, is an American Christian singer and multi-instrumentalist born in 1971. After leading the David Crowder Band for sixteen years in Waco, Texas, he has pursued a solo career since 2012, earning a Grammy Award nomination for his song Come As You Are.
David Wallace Crowder was born on November 29, 1971 in Texarkana, Texas. While studying at Baylor University in Waco, he began leading worship for a young church, University Baptist Church, founded in 1995 with pastor Chris Seay. That experience gave rise to his first songs, Pour Over Me (1996) and then All I Can Say (1999), which spread well beyond his own congregation. In 2002, the David Crowder Band signed with Sixsteps and Sparrow Records: the band enjoyed ten years together and won fourteen Dove Awards before disbanding in 2012.
Under the stage name Crowder, he began a solo career marked by a hybrid style, blending bluegrass, gospel, and electronic sounds. His first album, Neon Steeple (2014), earned him a Grammy Award nomination for Come As You Are. American Prodigal (2016), I Know a Ghost (2018), Milk & Honey (2021), and then The Exile (2024) followed, carried by Grave Robber, a song inspired by the raising of Lazarus. In recent years, Crowder has also released several duets, notably with Zach Williams on STILL and with country singer Dylan Scott on Somebody Prayed.
- Origin
- Waco, Texas, USA
- Style
- Bluegrass, gospel, and electronic worship
- Active since
- 1996, solo since 2012
- Good to know
- Former leader of the David Crowder Band, a fourteen time Dove Award winner, now a solo artist under the name Crowder.
How did Crowder get started?
It all began at Baylor University in Waco, where a young David Crowder realized that a large share of students didn't attend any church. Together with pastor Chris Seay, he helped found University Baptist Church in 1995 and became its worship leader. His early compositions, written for that emerging community, quickly reached beyond the local setting and gave rise to the David Crowder Band, which signed with Sixsteps and Sparrow Records in 2002 for a decade long career crowned by fourteen Dove Awards.
What makes Crowder distinctive?
Few worship artists commit so openly to blending bluegrass, traditional gospel, and electronic production. Crowder also brings a sense of humor and a stage theatricality rarely seen in the genre, without ever losing theological depth: his most striking songs, like Grave Robber, draw on powerful biblical images, here the raising of Lazarus, to speak of life's victory over death.
Where should you start with Crowder?
Come As You Are, a single from his first solo album Neon Steeple (2014), remains the best entry point for understanding his style. Good God Almighty, from Milk & Honey (2021), and Grave Robber, from The Exile (2024), show how his songwriting has evolved toward more rock leaning sounds. His recent duets, STILL with Zach Williams and Somebody Prayed with Dylan Scott, are also great starting points for discovering his ability to collaborate beyond the world of worship music alone.
songs
Grave Robber
The flagship song of the album The Exile (2024), inspired by the raising of Lazarus: one of Crowder's biggest radio hits, number one on the Christian Airplay charts.
Somebody Prayed (ft. Dylan Scott)
A duet with country singer Dylan Scott, a tribute to the faithful prayer of a loved one that shaped an entire life.
STILL (avec Zach Williams)
A duet with Zach Williams about the peace God gives in the middle of the storm.
Discography
- 2024The Exile
- 2021Milk & Honey
- 2018I Know a Ghost
- 2016American Prodigal
- 2014Neon Steeple· first solo album, featuring Come As You Are
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Crowder?
Crowder, whose real name is David Crowder, is an American Christian singer born in 1971, former leader of the David Crowder Band and a solo artist since 2012.
Is Crowder Christian?
Yes, Crowder is an evangelical worship artist. He started out as worship leader at University Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, before his recording career.
What is Crowder's most famous song?
Come As You Are, released in 2014, remains his most recognized song, earning a Grammy Award nomination. Grave Robber (2024) is his biggest recent radio hit.
Why isn't Crowder called the David Crowder Band anymore?
The David Crowder Band disbanded in 2012 after ten years together and fourteen Dove Awards. David Crowder then continued as a solo artist under the stage name Crowder.
Has Crowder won a Grammy Award?
Crowder has been nominated for Grammy Awards, notably for Come As You Are in 2015, but has not won the award to date.
Where can you listen to Crowder?
Crowder's songs are available on streaming platforms and on his official YouTube channel.