Jerry Wise brings songs of praise to Renaissance Center for June 4 concert

Release Date: 5/6/2005. Expired: 6/4/2005

Nashville’s Jerry Wise has just released his first album but is already getting noticed for his songs of praise in performances all over the country.

The Texas native brings his contemporary Christian music and message to the stage of The Renaissance Center for one show June 4. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $6 for children.

A graduate of the University of Evansville with a bachelor’s degree in Music Management, Wise spent two years writing songs and recording Grain of Sand, his recently released debut CD. Wise wrote all but one of the 11 songs.

One of his songs, Abide in Me, has been selected by Tony-award winning actress Kristin Chenoweth to be included on her upcoming inspirational album. Chenoweth has appeared on the NBC series The West Wing and will be seen in the upcoming movies The Pink Panther and Bewitched, as well as winning a Tony as Best Actress in a Musical in 1999 in a Broadway revival of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and more recently receiving another nomination for her role as Glenda, the Good Witch, in Wicked. Her album, As I Am, is scheduled for release April 5.

For the first time since working in the studio on the album, Wise will be performing with a full band. Joining him on The Renaissance Center stage will be Adam Black on drums, Jared Black on bass, Dave Cleveland on acoustic guitar, Brandon Vestal on electric guitar, Matt Benge on keyboards and Dustin French providing background vocals.

Wise moved to Nashville with his family in 1991 and graduated from Brentwood Academy. Following college, he served as the creative arts minister at New Hope Community Church in Brentwood.

“After two and a half years at New Hope, God told me that, ‘the time of singing had come,’” Wise says. “I left New Hope and stepped out to answer God’s call to share my faith through music and ministry.”

Wise comes from a family of musicians and writers. As a child, he sang on two Dove-nominated children’s albums with Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in Disney’s Little Mermaid, and on a children’s album for Kid Rhino/Warner Brothers. When he was 13 years old, Wise won a solo spot with the San Antonio Symphony.

In college in Indiana, Wise majored in classical voice and was involved in jazz choir, men’s choir and concert choir. During his sophomore year, he had the opportunity to study overseas where he was awarded the Dean’s Award for outstanding leadership.

That same year Wise picked up a guitar and opened a whole new world of music. He soon filled a three-ring binder with praise and worship songs and began leading the worship team on campus.

For the past two summers, Wise served as music leader for Group Work Camps, a youth missions program sponsored by Group Publishing.

“Being raised in the church, I understand what it means to go through the motions of Christianity without it making a difference in your everyday life,” Wise says. “For much of my Christian walk I seemed to know all the right answers but was missing out on a true and intimate relationship with Christ.

“My turning point began when I started to seek God through scripture and letting His Word permeate into my life. God revealed to me that I was made on purpose and for a purpose. From that foundation, He called me to serve and encourage His church through music, using the same scriptures that impacted my own faith.”

Wise has been drawing praise for his voice and songs as well as his guitar playing in shows from Tennessee to Texas.

For more information on the Jerry Wise concert June 4 at The Renaissance Center, call (615)740-5600, or visit www.jerrywisemusic.com. To purchase tickets, call (615)740-5570.

The Renaissance Center is an arts and technology education and performing arts center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.

Visit the Events - Concerts and Recitals page for more about musical performances.

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