David Durham is an American singer, songwriter, and pastor of Christian worship music in French, based in Nashville. A former backup vocalist for Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, he became a missionary in Europe for about twelve years and writes songs now sung in many French-speaking churches, including Je sais and Mon ancre et ma voile.
David Durham began his career as a backup vocalist in the United States, alongside well-known Christian artists such as Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. This time in the studios and on the stages of American contemporary christian music gave him a solid musical foundation, before he took a different path: he left as a missionary to Europe, where he would spend about twelve years learning French and serving in French-speaking churches.
It is from this dual heritage, American by training and French-speaking by service, that his work as a songwriter was born. His songs are included in the collection J'aime l'Éternel, widely used in French-speaking evangelical churches, and he recorded the album Je sais in Nashville, where he sings his own compositions in a pop, rock, and ballad style. He has also collaborated with François and Christine Reymond and the missionary organization Jeunesse en Mission on the Face à Face album series.
- Origin
- United States, now based in Nashville, Tennessee
- Style
- French-language worship and praise, pop, rock, and ballad
- Active since
- missionary in Europe from the 1990s, album Je sais recorded in Nashville in 2003
- Good to know
- former backup vocalist for Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, songs featured in the collection J'aime l'Éternel
How did David Durham get started?
Before writing songs in French, David Durham cut his teeth as a backup vocalist in the American contemporary christian music scene, in particular alongside Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. This studio and stage experience gave him solid foundations in singing and songwriting, in a world already oriented toward worship.
The turning point in his journey was his departure as a missionary to Europe, where he would live for about twelve years. There he immersed himself in the French language and French-speaking churches, to the point of becoming one of the most widely sung American songwriters in that repertoire, with songs included in the collection J'aime l'Éternel.
What makes David Durham distinctive?
What sets David Durham apart is this bridge between two worlds: the polished production of American christian music, which he experienced as a backup vocalist, and a careful attention to a language that is not his own. His songs keep a structure and instrumentation close to American pop-rock, while being written directly to be sung in French-speaking congregations, without going through translation.
His album Je sais, recorded in Nashville, illustrates this approach: twelve personal compositions in which he addresses his faith and his journey as a missionary, in a style that ranges from pop to rock to ballad. His collaboration with François and Christine Reymond and the missionary organization Jeunesse en Mission, on the Face à Face series, confirms his lasting place within French-speaking worship rather than a one-off appearance.
Where should you start to discover David Durham?
To discover David Durham, start with Je sais, the title track of his most recognizable album, recorded in Nashville. The song Mon ancre et ma voile, already known in churches even before this album came out, remains a good entry point into his songwriting, simple and centered on trust in God.
His YouTube channel brings together most of his compositions in audio form, including the compilation featuring L'heure est venue and Peuples de la terre. Part of his repertoire is also available through the collection J'aime l'Éternel and JEM editions, where he is presented as one of the most sung songwriters in French-speaking worship.
songs
Je sais
The title track of the album recorded in Nashville, a declaration of trust in God at the heart of his journey as a missionary.
L'heure est venue
A worship song released in a compilation with Peuples de la terre on his official channel.
Peuples de la terre
One of David Durham's songs included in the collection J'aime l'Éternel, a universal call to praise God.
Discography
- 2015Face à Face : Prie
- 2010Face à Face
- 2010Face à Face : Premier amour
- 2010La création t'adore
- 2003Je sais
- Peuples de la terre
- Overshadowed
Read also
Frequently asked questions
Who is David Durham?
David Durham is an American singer and songwriter of Christian worship music in French, based in Nashville. A former backup vocalist for Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, he became a missionary in Europe for about twelve years and writes songs now sung in many French-speaking churches.
What is David Durham's best-known song?
Mon ancre et ma voile, already known in churches before the release of his album Je sais, is among his most widely sung songs. Je sais, the title track of that album recorded in Nashville, also remains one of his most recognizable compositions.
Where can you listen to David Durham's songs?
His YouTube channel brings together most of his compositions in audio form, including the album Je sais and a compilation with L'heure est venue and Peuples de la terre. Part of his repertoire is also distributed through the collection J'aime l'Éternel and JEM editions.
Was David Durham a missionary?
Yes. After starting out as a backup vocalist in the United States, David Durham left as a missionary to Europe, where he served for about twelve years in French-speaking churches, an experience that directly shaped his songwriting for worship in French.
Who has David Durham collaborated with?
David Durham has collaborated with François and Christine Reymond and the missionary organization Jeunesse en Mission on the Face à Face album series. His beginnings as a backup vocalist also brought him alongside American Christian artists such as Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.
Is David Durham an evangelical Christian?
Yes, David Durham is an evangelical pastor and missionary. His music is directly rooted in church worship, and his songs appear in the collection J'aime l'Éternel, used in many French-speaking evangelical congregations.