Big Tent Revival is a

Christian rock Christian rock is a form of rock music that features lyrics focusing on matters of Christian faith, often with an emphasis on Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. This music is typically performed by Christians, Christian individuals. The extent to whi ...

band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1991 by Steve Wiggins. They were signed to

Ardent Records Ardent Records is an American record label based in Memphis, which was founded by John Fry in 1959. Ardent of the 1960s and 1970s featured pop music acts and was distributed by Stax Records from 1972 until 1975. It is best remembered today for Bi ...

who had a distribution deal with

Forefront Records ForeFront Records is a contemporary Christian music and Christian rock record label founded in 1987 by Dan R. Brock, Eddie DeGarmo, Dana Key, and Ron W. Griffin. It was purchased by EMI in 1996 from Dan R. Brock and Eddie DeGarmo, and is a divis ...

. They disbanded in 2000 after having released five albums, had two releases after disbanding, and reformed in 2012 after a successful crowdfunding campaign for a new album. They are best known for their songs "Two Sets of Jones", "Choose Life", and "What Would Jesus Do?" and were featured at the Harvest Crusades.

Background

Steve Wiggins released a self-titled album on

Sparrow Records Sparrow Records is a Christian music record label and a division of Universal Music Group. History Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then artists and repertoire (A&R) director at Myrrh Records. Barry McGuire was the fi ...

in 1991. He subsequently formed Big Tent Revival. Wiggins released two additional solo albums after the group disbanded: ''Faith That Is Real'' (2002, Ardent/Chordant) and ''Aliyah'' (2010). He was also featured on six tracks of the 2007 Harvest Worship Band Release 'Praise Worthy' and four tracks of the 2010 Harvest Worship Band release, 'Enter In'. He also founded and ran the Living Room Study, a Bible study group, using a chapter-a-day approach to learning the bible that also incorporated weekly music and teaching events in public coffeehouses. Wiggins also writes songs for pastor

Greg Laurie Greg Laurie (born December 10, 1952) is an American evangelical pastor, evangelist, and Christian author who serves as the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, based in Riverside, California. He also is the founder of Harvest Crusa ...

, along with Hanz Ives and Bill Batstone. In 2014, Wiggins began working as the lead worship pastor for

Bellevue Baptist Church Bellevue Baptist Church is a Baptist megachurch in the Cordova area of Memphis, Tennessee, United States. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Bellevue was once the largest church in the Memphis area. Bellevue's goals are to "Lo ...

in Memphis, TN. In 2019, He founded and continues to ru
Groundworks Ministries
a non-profit company that shares the Gospel through daily devotionals. After leaving Bellevue in May 2021, Wiggins continues to share the Gospel through th
Groundworks Ministries Podcast
Guitarist Randy Williams now works as a marketing consultant after touring for six years as a guitarist for

Jeremy Camp Jeremy Thomas Camp (born January 12, 1978) is an American Contemporary Christian music, contemporary Christian singer and songwriter from Lafayette, Indiana. He has released eleven albums, four of them RIAA certification, RIAA-certified as Music ...

. Spence Smith works for Compassion International in Artist Relations and maintains the blog ''Spence Smith – Connecting People To Life''. The band released ''The Way Back Home'' on October 30, 2012, a project that was financed through KickStarter.

Band members

Current members

* Steve Wiggins (1991-2000, 2012–present) – vocals and guitar (has, since the band's breakup, produced at least one solo album) * Spence Smith (1991-2000, 2012–present) – drums * Randy Williams (1996-2000, 2012–present) – lead guitar * David Alan (1997-2000, 2012–present) – keyboards, B-3 * Steve Dale (1999-2000, 2012–present) – bass guitar

Former members

* David White (1993–94) – bass guitar * Mike Foster (1994–95) – bass guitar *

Brent Milligan Brent Milligan is an American record producer and session bass guitar player currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee. Background Brent Milligan was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and moved to Nashville after graduating from Louisiana State U ...

(1995–96) – bass guitar * Rick Heil (1996–98) – bass guitar

Discography

:With the exception of their 1993 release, each of BTR's albums has been nominated for a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

. The band has also been nominated for several

Dove Awards A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards ceremonies presented annually and have been held in Nashville, Tennessee excep ...

. * ''Steve Wiggins and Big Tent Revival'' (1993) * ''Big Tent Revival'' (1995) * ''Open All Nite'' (1996) * ''Amplifier'' (1998) * ''Choose Life'' (1999) * ''Big Tent Revival Live'' (2001) * ''Greatest Hits'' (2002) * ''The Way Back Home'' (2012)

References

External links

*
Secondary Website 2004–2011

Spence SmithRandy WilliamsDavid Alan
{{Authority control American Christian rock groups Musical groups established in 1991 1991 establishments in the United States