Album Notes

Born out of a desire for praise and worship music that sets a new standard, BLU99 is one of the hottest new independent artists around! Their debut project is already generating accolades!

Mixing styles like gospel, R&B, rock, and funk has brought a new energy and sound to the praise & worship genre. Heartfelt praise and foot-stomping worship defines BLU99's ability to use worship music to draw seekers into the worship experience.

Founded and led by worship leaders Steve Hanson, Ron Smith, and producer Jake Thorne, BLU99 has quickly proven through its debut project and numerous live performances that contemporary worship music has a new voice. We're a 'local chapter' or a part of the Christian community formed from different denominations, different life experiences, ethnicities, schools of fashion, political parties and cultural backgrounds, all coming together to praise the Lord. BLU99 stands for 'Believer's Local Union #99', for we are just a small sampling of the larger body of Christ, with a common goal - to worship God with abandon.

There are worship-oriented groups today with music driven by the current acoustic-folk, guitar-laden sounds popularized in much of the secular industry. At the other end of the spectrum are more urban styles, generally categorized as southern gospel and urban music. And then there's BLU99... Filling the gap in the middle of that spectrum, BLU99 presents a diverse mix and sound unlike many others in the worship genre. Mixing styles like gospel, R&B, rock, and funk has brought a new energy and sound to worship-oriented music.

So how did this get started? At the core are worship leaders Steve Hanson and Ron Smith and producer Jake Thorne. BLU99 was formed to unite musicians and writers in creating a ministry that used worship music as an evangelistic tool to bring seekers into the worship experience. Seeking to build a ministry that could challenge and witness to seekers and believers alike, the three have created a collection and collaboration of both secular and Christian artists that rocks the house, raises the roof, knocks Grandma's Sunday hat off her head and lifts hearts and voices as one in worship to God.

Musical note: Many of the players on the BLU99 debut project are well-known across both the Christian and secular industries, and have worked with artists ranging from Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, and Bonnie Raitt to Whitney Houston, Bryan Duncan, and the Promise Keepers Band. You've GOT to hear these grooves!

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REVIEW FROM INDIEHEAVEN.COM:
INDIEHEAVEN REVIEW
We usually don't review albums on the site, but we gotta tell you, this album simply is AWESOME!!! Truly professional in every way, the album sounds great, has wonderful songs, inspired performances from the vocalists, and the instrumentation BLEW US AWAY!

Pick up a copy of this project, you'll be glad you did! These folks are funky-fresh!
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