Flashback Friday

 Back to the 90's again this week with the group Point of Grace. Point of Grace is a group of contemporary Christian music singers and authors. This all-ladies group started out at a quartet in 1991 and consisted of Shelley Breen, Denise Jones, Terry Jones and Heather Payne. In November 2003, Terry Jones decided she needed to spend more time with her family after giving birth to her third child, and left the group, with Leah Cappillino joining in March 2004 for their 2004 release I Choose You. In June 2008, Payne announced her retirement from the group, in order to spend more time with her husband and four children.

Point of Grace is recognized as one of the top Contemporary Christian music bands in the United States. In 2003, they released their ninth album, 24 - a compilation of their 24 consecutive #1 radio singles. To this date, no band in any genre has matched this record. As of 2006 the girls have 27 #1 radio singles.

Point of Grace got its start at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. They sang in a vocal group called 'The Ouachitones,' which was made up of 14 girls. Within the group, the girls formed a trio, and after a sound check for a Ouachitones performance, the girls were singing a cappella when they were told by an onlooker that they should do something together. They developed quite a following and spent nearly every weekend singing. After many fan requests, they recorded an independent album, and became favorites in the South and Midwest. The girls, encouraged by their family members, attended the 1992 Music in the Rockies Christian Artists Seminar in Estes Park, Colorado. They wowed the crowd and the judges when they performed "He's The Best Thing" and wound up winning the Overall Grand Prize in the Group competition. After their performance, there was major record label interest, and the group decided to sign with Word Records. They then moved to Nashville to start work on what would become their self-titled debut album.

On August 23, 1993, led by the No. 1 single "I'll Be Believing", Point of Grace released their self-titled debut album. It was quickly embraced by fans and critics, who compared the group's tight harmonies to that of pop group Wilson Phillips. The album's next five singles also reached the top of the charts, a feat unmatched to this day. Before Point of Grace, the record was held by Gloria Estefan and Mariah Carey with 4 consecutive No. 1 singles from their debut albums. The group's undeniably catchy sound, inspiring lyrics and fresh-faced image increased their following, and songs like "I'll Be Believing", and "Jesus Will Still Be There" became fan favorites. In 1993 they were named New Artist of the Year at the 24th GMA Dove Awards and embarked on a national tour with Wayne Watson. In 1997, their debut album was certified gold by the RIAA and was the top-selling Christian catalog album of 1998.

Towards the end of 1994 they began work on the follow-up to Point of Grace. On March 15, 1995, The Whole Truth was released. The album's first single, "The Great Divide", shot to No. 1 and became the girls' seventh consecutive No. 1 single. The album did very well on the charts, charting at No. 1 and staying there for 13 consecutive weeks. After it left the No. 1 spot, it remained in the Top 10 for 45 consecutive weeks. It was certified gold by the RIAA in 1997 and the remaining four singles also reached the top of the charts.

The girls embarked on a nationwide tour with Phillips, Craig and Dean (a previous Flashback Friday feature). They were named the 1996 Group of the Year at the Dove Awards and also won Doves for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Album of the Year (The Whole Truth), Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year ("The Great Divide") and Special Event Album of the Year (My Utmost For His Highest).

The media was paying attention to Point of Grace.  "Keep The Candle Burning", went No. 1 on the day their album released. It became the girls' twelfth consecutive No. 1 single. The girls announced that they would be co-headlining an arena tour with 4Him, (another previous Flashback Friday group), who had just released their album The Message. The tour hit major markets and was very successful, leading both groups to add a spring leg, which went into early summer of 1997.

Life Love & Other Mysteries has been one of their most successful albums to date. It was certified gold by the RIAA in 1997 and platinum in 1999. The album debuted at No. 1 and stayed at the top of the charts for 10 weeks. It was one of the Top 5 selling albums throughout 1997 and one of the Top 10 selling albums in 1998. The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 1997. The girls were also nominated for the 1997 Group of the Year at the Dove Awards and "Keep The Candle Burning" was nominated for Song of the Year.

One of my favorite Point of Grace songs is from this album, "Circle of Friends"...

Point of Grace continues to perform and release albums today. Their latest album was released in 2018. Also in August, 2018, Point of Grace were inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall Of Fame.