About Phillips, Craig and Dean

Phillips, Craig, & Dean is a contemporary Christian music group consisting of three Pentecostal pastors known equally for their humor and harmonies. The group was formed by Randy Phillips at the urging of StarSong, a Nashville-based record company. Phillips contacted Dan Dean and Shawn Craig to join him. The group's first concert was held in November of 1991. Each member writes music and sings. The three started their career as a group performing at Pentecostal youth camps throughout Texas. They developed quite a following based on such shows and on their appearances at churches.

	In the past, their sound could have been described as "a male version of Wilson Phillips," according to the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music, which went on to say that "by the end of the 1990s, the best description would probably be 'an adult version of the Backstreet Boys.'" With their 1997 release Where Strength Begins, Karly Randolph-Pitman of CCMMagazine.com said the group "shucked the heavy synthetic feel of its past albums and adopted the current direction in Christian music--a lighter, crisper, more organic sound." The members say this represents an evolution in their music as well as a conscious decision to keep people interested in their message. By 1998 the group was considered "among Christian music's most popular acts," according to the Arlington Morning News. During the 1990s, the group had 15 number-one songs on the Christian adult contemporary charts. To mark this accomplishment, a dozen of these songs were released in a 1998 14-track compilation, Favorite Songs of All. Craig is music pastor at South County Christian Center in St. Louis, Missouri. He is completing his Master of Divinity degree. Craig has written songs that were recorded by a variety of Christian artists such as the Archers, the Gaither Vocal Band, Point of Grace, Michele Wagner, Glen Campbell, and others. He also wrote "In Christ Alone," which was recorded by Michael English. Craig has written a book of devotions called Between Sundays.

Dean is senior pastor at Christ Temple, a church in Irving, Texas . He previously served as the congregation's music minister. He is also a member of the Irving Board of Christian Counseling. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife, Becky, and their three children, Dusty, Devin, and Danielle. He has written songs that have been recorded by the groups the Cathedrals and Two Hearts.

Phillips is pastor of the World of Pentecost, PromiseLand congregation based in Austin, Texas . He and his wife, Denise, have worked with the church since 1988. In addition to his ministerial duties, he assists with the church's Heart at Home AIDS ministry. His song "Crucified with Christ" was voted the leading inspirational song of the decade by CCM magazine. He and Denise have two daughters, Garland and Lily Pearl.

As of 2003, the group had recorded nine albums and had 16 songs reach number one on the contemporary Christian music charts. Their 2003 release, Let Your Glory Fall, combines songs written by group members with hymns and praise songs popularized by other Christian artists from songwriters including Chris Tomlin and Stuart Townend. The group has also created PCD Ministries, which acts as a clearinghouse for information about their musical commitments.

Because of the subject matter of their music, Phillips, Craig & Dean are frequently categorized in a subgenre of contemporary Christian music known as praise and worship music. "Since worship music is an integral part of their individual ministries, it's no wonder this project resonates with such depth and integrity," wrote Deborah Evans Price in a Billboard review of Let Your Glory Fall in 2003. She went on to note that this is "another strong collection marked by the trio's stellar harmonies and keen song selection."

The latest project from Phillips, Craig & Dean, Top Of My Lungs (2006), brilliantly captures the loud, boisterous excitement and joy these guys feel when they open their mouths to sing of God’s bigger-than-life grace.