Continental Singers, Inc (also simply called, "The Continentals") was an
evangelical Christian
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of th ...
nonprofit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
based in
Ventura, California
Ventura, officially named San Buenaventura (Spanish for "Saint Bonaventure"), is a city in and the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States. It is a coastal city located northwest of Los Angeles. The population was 110,763 at the ...
. It was founded in 1967
with a mission to, "Advance the kingdom of
Jesus Christ
Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...
around the world through music missions, leadership development and performing arts' ministries." It dissolved in 2011.
The organization produced over 65 recorded music albums, including several
musicals
Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...
and well-known
worship songs. The albums and related merchandise were distributed by volunteers who were assembled into various groups to travel together and stage free live performances of selected works. A number of prominent
contemporary Christian performing artists were connected to the organization either as former group members or publicity namesakes, including
Sandi Patti,
Wayne Watson,
Amy Grant
Amy Lee Grant (born November 25, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She began her music career in contemporary Christian music (CCM) before crossing over to pop music in the mid-1980s. Grant has been referred to as "Honorific ...
,
Steve Taylor
Roland Stephen Taylor (born December 9, 1957) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, music executive, film maker, assistant professor, and actor. A figure in what has come to be known as Christian alternative rock, Taylor enjoyed ...
,
Chuck Bolte, and
One Bad Pig's Paul Q-Pek.
During its operation, the Continentals helped establish several sister organizations globally. These sister organizations operated independently of, though in close association with, the original Continental Singers organization. Some of them are still operating today, with support provided in part by the fundraising efforts of the organization's successor, the Continental Global Foundation.
The Continentals also partnered with other nonprofit organizations such as
Compassion International
Compassion International is an American child sponsorship and Christian humanitarian aid organization headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that aims to positively influence the long-term development of children globally who live in pover ...
and American Leprosy Missions. Groups informed audiences about the partner programs during performances and then solicited potential donors at informational booths after performances.
Touring Groups
Schedule
Historically, the Continentals had an average of a dozen groups assembled and actively traveling on separate tours at any given time,
with a higher percentage of groups assembled during the summer to coincide with increased availability from individuals interested in joining. Tour schedules were arranged so that each group presented a one- to two-hour performance of Continentals-produced content each evening. Tours stopped at a new venue every one to two days, which primarily consisted of
Protestant
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
churches in the United States or locally organized events such as
county fairs. Certain tours also included stops in one or two other countries or regions. On occasion, multiple groups coordinated their respective tour stops to come together to present a modified and/or combined performance.
Groups were generally identified by the
season
A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...
, year, and first letter of a memorable keyword associated with the tour (for example, "Fall 1992 Tour 'H'" for a group that toured throughout the
western United States
The Western United States (also called the American West, the Western States, the Far West, the Western territories, and the West) is List of regions of the United States, census regions United States Census Bureau.
As American settlement i ...
and
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...
).
Group Formation and Organization
Group members tended to be young adults or youth who committed to a five- to seven-week schedule, preceded by a one-week "rehearsal camp" focused on practicing the performance and making other tour preparations. Groups usually consisted of 15 to 20 volunteer singers, musicians, actors, and/or dancers; one or two
audio
Audio most commonly refers to sound, as it is transmitted in signal form. It may also refer to:
Sound
*Audio signal, an electrical representation of sound
*Audio frequency, a frequency in the audio spectrum
*Digital audio, representation of sound ...
and
lighting
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve practical or aesthetic effects. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources like lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight. ...
technicians; a bus driver; and three or four accompanying adult leaders who were responsible for day-to-day supervision and administrative tasks.
As the quantity of Continentals-produced music albums grew, it started categorizing its various repertoire into distinct sets, whereby several classifications of groups developed. Each classification performed a different, though sometimes overlapping, set of content with selections that were introduced or suspended on a staggered basis. Groups were classified according to members' ages and time commitment ability. By the time of the organization's dissolution, it had five major classifications.
Transportation/Travel, Room and Board
Generally, groups traveled together in a
tour bus
A tour bus service is an escorted tour (sometimes a package holiday) or bus service that takes visitors sightseeing, with routes around tourist attractions.
Information
Double-decker buses and open top buses are commonly used, for provid ...
, which also carried the audio-visual equipment and
stage equipment necessary for the performance. If a tour included stops in certain international locations, the group's travel might require a flight and performances using less equipment.
To better connect with audiences and reduce costs, group leaders would try to secure members with overnight rooming from families and individuals affiliated with the tour stop's local sponsor/venue. Two or more members were assigned to a "host home," and hosts were asked to provide their members/guests with breakfast and a
packed lunch
A packed lunch (also called pack lunch, sack lunch or brown-bag lunch in North America) is a lunch which is prepared before arriving at the place where it is to be eaten. Typically, it is prepared at home or at a hotel, or produced commerciall ...
the following morning.
Leadership Development
Because of the nature of the group composition and emphasis that performances should be professional quality, the Continentals actively sought to develop leadership traits and habits in its group members, particularly adult leaders designated as tour directors and assistant tour directors. Performances offered group leaders and other members opportunities to contribute to creative productions, perform and speak publicly, and solicit potential donors. Tours also required adult leaders to monitor the fulfillment of day-to-day plans, direct group activity, influence members' behavior and dynamics, steward the group's finances, and manage unforeseen problems while adhering to clear guidelines and limitations.
Accordingly, the organization inspired many group members to take paid and unpaid leadership positions with other organizations once returning home such as church music directors, community leaders, and
music industry
The music industry are individuals and organizations that earn money by Songwriter, writing songs and musical compositions, creating and selling Sound recording and reproduction, recorded music and sheet music, presenting live music, concerts, ...
contributors.
History
Roots
After graduating with a
bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...
from Northwestern College (now
University of Northwestern – St. Paul
The University of Northwestern – St. Paul (UNWSP) is a Private university, private Evangelical Christianity, evangelical Christian university in Roseville, Minnesota, United States.
History
The predecessor to the current university was fir ...
), Cameron Floria was asked to lead music for a chapter of
Youth for Christ
Youth For Christ (YFC) is a worldwide Christian movement working with young people, whose main purpose is evangelism among teenagers. It began informally in New York City in 1940, when Jack Wyrtzen held evangelical Protestant rallies for teenager ...
in
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, Michigan, Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County, Michigan, Eaton County and nort ...
, Floria's hometown. Then, in the autumn of 1962, he took a paid staff position as music director at Youth for Christ's chapter in
Portland, Oregon
Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...
.
During his work in
Portland
Portland most commonly refers to:
*Portland, Oregon, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon
*Portland, Maine, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine
*Isle of Portland, a tied island in the English Channel
Portland may also r ...
, Floria organized a five-week tour for the choir with a final stop at the choral competition at the
Winona Lake Bible Conference in the summer of 1963. The following autumn, he produced an album with the choir entitled ''Sing A Happy Song'' credited to, "Cam Floria and the Continentals" with 14 medleys of songs commonly sang at Youth for Christ chapter meetings nationally, which
Word Records
Word Records is a Christian faith-based entertainment company based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is owned by Curb Records, and is a part of Word Entertainment. It is distributed by Warner Records (the former Warner Bros. Records).
History
In ...
agreed to distribute. He produced three more albums in 1964 and 1965, took time to obtain his
master of music degree in
music education
Music education is a field of practice in which educators are trained for careers as primary education, elementary or secondary education, secondary music teachers, school or music conservatory ensemble directors. Music education is also a rese ...
from
Michigan State University
Michigan State University (Michigan State or MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State o ...
, and relocated to
southern California
Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...
to be closer to acquaintance and composer
Ralph Carmichael
Ralph Carmichael (May 27, 1927 – October 18, 2021) was an American composer and arranger of both secular pop music and contemporary Christian music. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of contemporary Christian music.
Early life and career
C ...
. Together, Floria and
Carmichael sought to start a traveling music ensemble fashioned after Thurlow Spurr's group The Spurrlows, with whom Floria had worked previously.
Growth
The Continentals filed its articles of incorporation in 1967, with Floria and
Carmichael listed as the board members.
From 1968 to 1971, the number of groups actively traveling increased from three to five, which started to include tour stops in other countries. The free performances were welcomed and well received at tour stop locations, and like-minded audience members sought to either join a Continentals group or start similar programs.
In the early 1970s, the Continentals collaborated with affiliated groups New Hope and Jeremiah People, to produce three musicals ''It's Getting Late,'' ''The Apostle'', and ''Share''. In 1983, Floria finished composing the musical ''Dreamer'' about the life of
Joseph
Joseph is a common male name, derived from the Hebrew (). "Joseph" is used, along with " Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the modern-day Nordic count ...
the
Israelite
Israelites were a Hebrew language, Hebrew-speaking ethnoreligious group, consisting of tribes that lived in Canaan during the Iron Age.
Modern scholarship describes the Israelites as emerging from indigenous Canaanites, Canaanite populations ...
patriarch, which the Continentals produced and for which it received a
Dove Award
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 exce ...
in 1984 from the
Gospel Music Association
The Gospel Music Association (GMA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of gospel music. As of 2011, there are about 4,000 members worldwide. The GMA's membership c ...
. Throughout this time, the Continentals continued to produce other music albums of individual
worship songs and
Christian music
Christian music is a genre of music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christianity, Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence and lament, and its f ...
.
In 1975, Floria started organizing an annual week-long conference called ''Seminar in the Rockies'' which consisted of workshops held by
Christian music
Christian music is a genre of music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christianity, Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence and lament, and its f ...
and other professionals. The conference was abundantly attended by both established and hopeful industry participants and helped Floria maintain the Continentals' relevance in
Christian music
Christian music is a genre of music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christianity, Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence and lament, and its f ...
, which grew significantly during the 1980s and 1990s.
The organization started recruiting 13- to 15-year-old youth in 1992 for a distinct classification of groups and music albums called the "Young Continentals." Similarly, in 1994, it started a classification of groups called the "Encore Continentals" for members over 25 years old, as well as in 1996 renamed groups with members from the organization's historical demographic as "Frontline Continentals."
In 1996, Floria composed a new musical ''
David
David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament.
The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Dam ...
: A Man After God's Own Heart'' about the life of the
Israelite
Israelites were a Hebrew language, Hebrew-speaking ethnoreligious group, consisting of tribes that lived in Canaan during the Iron Age.
Modern scholarship describes the Israelites as emerging from indigenous Canaanites, Canaanite populations ...
king
David
David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament.
The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Dam ...
, which he premiered globally with a performance near
David's Citadel in
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
with approximately 800 performers and musicians. The Continentals later produced an album of the musical, which the Continental Orchestra performed during several tours starting in 1998.
By 1999, more than 400 groups had presented about 26,000 performances of Continentals-produced content;
and, by 2008, more than 65,000 people globally had been group members with a tour of the Continentals or one of its associated organizations.
Financial Model and Decline
The Continentals operated as a
501(c)(3) religious nonprofit corporation with the large majority of its support being donations and some support coming from sales of recorded music albums and related merchandise. Between 2003 and 2007, donations and sales accounted for 96 percent and 4 percent of support, or $12.8 million and $0.6 million, respectively.
The Continentals' financial sustainability was largely dependent on the recruitment of group members and quantity of active tours. Even though the Continentals produced and performed musical and theatrical works, the content itself did not include
works for hire. It paid
royalties
A royalty payment is a payment made by one party to another that owns a particular asset, for the right to ongoing use of that asset. Royalties are typically agreed upon as a percentage of gross or net revenues derived from the use of an asset or ...
to content creators, rather than collecting royalties from venues. While the Continentals covered group members' transportation/travel, room, and board, it also asked most prospective members to make a donation before arriving at rehearsal camp to cover their own portion of the total expected costs of the tour.
Love offerings were taken during each performance to defray some costs, but the large majority of support was donated by group members themselves.
From 2002 to 2008, annual support declined 69 percent from $3.1 million to $1.0 million.
In 2010, the organization stopped operations, hoping only temporarily, but Floria announced a dissolution on March 11, 2011. He cited causes of the decline to be, "the economic situation in the United States" and "fewer participating groups to keep operations alive." Other factors may have included the steady decline in church membership in the United States; the Continentals' lack of
digital music delivery; an increase in the quantity and variety of
Christian music
Christian music is a genre of music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christianity, Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence and lament, and its f ...
to which consumers had access; a preference by
Millennials
Millennials, also known as Generation Y or Gen Y, are the demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z. Researchers and popular media use the early 1980s as starting birth years and the mid-1990s to early 2000s a ...
and
Post-Millennials to reside near large cities that offer more opportunities to attend free live performances; and expanding
metropolitan
Metropolitan may refer to:
Areas and governance (secular and ecclesiastical)
* Metropolitan archdiocese, the jurisdiction of a metropolitan archbishop
** Metropolitan bishop or archbishop, leader of an ecclesiastical "mother see"
* Metropolitan ar ...
populations
in which young adults and youth have more outlets for creative expression (compared to the
rural area
In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry are typically desc ...
s that many Continentals tours historically frequented).
Discography
For audio recordings produced by the Continental Singers and its sister organizations, see
Continental Singers Discography.
Footnotes
References
{{reflist
1967 establishments in the United States
Charities based in California
Organizations based in California
Religion in California
Christian organizations established in 1967