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Evan Craft is Christian pop singer known for his original praise & worship music sung in both English and Spanish. He broke through with his 2012 debut, Yo Soy Segundo, which landed at number ten on the Latin Pop Albums chart. Craft has remained a popular performer across the Latin and Christian genres with albums like 2015's Principio y Fin and 2017's Impulso. He has also collaborated on tracks with GDS Band, Matt Redman, Elevation Worship, and others, including Danny Gokey and Redimi2, who joined in him on the song "Be Alright" off 2021's Desesperado. He followed in October with Holy Ground, and its Spanish-language version Tierra Santa. In 2023, Craft returned with Chances/Mas Rico del Mundo, and the holiday EP Al Mundo Paz [Alégrense] in 2024.

Born in 1991 in Conejo Valley, California, Craft began playing guitar at the age of 12 and was writing his own songs and performing by the time he was in high school. He self-released several albums and EPs and distributed them at shows. Craft also undertook a serious study of Spanish during his adolescence, developing a proficiency that allowed him to ably assist his father in running a homeless shelter in Los Angeles.

Craft furthered his linguistic studies in college, attending schools in Spain and Costa Rica. He also began writing songs in Spanish. His debut Spanish-language album, Yo Soy Segundo, was released in 2012 on Dream Records and distributed through Universal. He followed it by joining friends and fellow musicians Sean and Ryan Cook and Nico Aranda; they traveled and delivered an evangelical message with their performances in numerous Spanish churches, schools, and orphanages.

Considering this to be his mission in life and his best way to serve God, Craft began posting videos to YouTube and issuing Spanish translations of his English songs as well as Spanish covers of popular Anglo worship tunes. As a result, Y Soy Segundo landed on various Christian radio and download charts. He followed it with the EP Jóvenes Somos in 2014. His YouTube presence exploded and created popular demand that allowed him to tour churches and other venues across Latin America through the rest of that year and into 2015.

Returning home during the winter, Craft began recording an album of congregational anthems with Sean Cook as producer. Entitled Principio y Fin, the 19-song set on Essancy Music was released in July. It was comprised of original material and featured a duet with Carlos PenaVega on the charting title track, as well as collaborations with other artists including Danilo Montero, Ingrid Rosario, Seth Condrey, and "Un Corazón" with Lluvia Richards.

Craft's third album, Impulso, arrived in 2017 and included guest appearances by Alex Campos, Marcela Gandara, Ke'erron Sims, and others. He was also featured on GDS Band's 2019 song "Déjame Aquí" and sang on a 2019 Spanish version of Danny Gokey's track "Love God Love People" ("Ama a Dios y a Tu Vecino"), which also featured Redimi2. The following year, Craft reunited with Gokey and Redimi2 for the song "Be Alright," the first track off his 2021 full-length Desesperado. The year also saw him release Holy Ground/Tierra Santa. Craft focused on touring for much of the following year, though Universal digitally released The Collection. 2023 saw Craft return from the road; he delivered the full-length Chances/Mas Rico del Mundo in September and hit the road for most of 2024. He issued the holiday EP Al Mundo Paz [Alégrense] in December. ~ Thom Jurek

After appearing on American Idol in 2009, Danny Gokey initially took a swing at the country charts with his 2010 solo debut, My Best Days, before settling into a long running career as a Christian pop artist. His soulful, earnest style has landed him repeatedly at the top Billboard Christian chart, a run that began with his second album, 2014's Hope in Front of Me, then continued with 2017's Rise and 2021's Jesus People. By the time Gokey delivered his eighth album, 2024's Sound of Heaven, he was established as one of the most successful Christian artists of his generation.

Born on April 24, 1980, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Daniel Jay Gokey was raised in a large family and began singing during weekly church services. His interest in religion and music continued to shape his adolescence, and he became the music director of Faith Builders International Ministries during his mid-twenties. Meanwhile, he married his high school sweetheart, a fellow church-going music fan named Sophia Martinez, and lived with her for four years.

In 2008, Martinez underwent surgery for congenital heart disease and died during the operation. An enthusiastic fan of American Idol, she had asked Gokey to audition for the show on several occasions. He ultimately auditioned that summer -- a mere four weeks after her passing -- and became one of the eighth season's early frontrunners, sailing through each round with his gruff, soulful vocals and tear-jerking back story. Gokey ultimately finished third in the competition, with only Adam Lambert and Kris Allen receiving more votes.

The American Idols LIVE! Tour kept him busy until September 2009, at which point he signed with 19 Recordings (in conjunction with RCA Nashville) and set to work on a country album. His first single, "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me," peaked at number 29 on the country chart, and he rang in the New Year by releasing a full-length record, My Best Days, in early 2010. Well-received, the album peaked at number three on the Billboard Country Albums chart. He opened a handful of dates on Taylor Swift's Speak Now World Tour in 2011, and, parting ways with RCA Nashville, self-released the limited-edition Love Again EP through his website in 2012. That year, he also married Leyicet Peralta, and they welcomed their first child in 2013.

In October 2013, NavPress published Gokey's memoir, Hope in Front of Me: Find Purpose in Your Darkest Moments, which he co-authored with Ben Stroup. Committing thereafter to inspirational music, his sophomore album, Hope in Front of Me, arrived via BMG in 2014. Buoyed by the single "More Than You Think I Am," it debuted at number one on the Billboard Christian Albums chart. A year later, he delivered the number one holiday album Christmas Is Here, which he followed in 2016 with La Esperanza Frente a Mi, a Spanish-language version of Hope in Front of Me. Gokey returned with his fifth full-length studio album, Rise, in 2017. It included guest appearances from fellow American Idol alum Jordin Sparks and vocalist Kierra Sheard. The record debuted at number one on the Billboard Christian Albums chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album.

"The Prayer," a collaborative single with Natalie Grant, appeared in 2018. Gokey followed it early the next year with the Christian Top Five single "Haven't Seen It Yet." An album by the same name saw release by Sparrow in April 2019. It reached number two on the Christian chart.

Gokey released The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Collection, his second collection of seasonal music, in 2019; it reached 32 on Billboard's Christian chart. Jesus People, his first album of new material since Haven't Seen It Yet, appeared in August 2021. It topped Bilboard's Top Christian Albums chart and spawned the singles "We All Need Jesus" with Koryn Hawthorne and "Stand in Faith." More singles followed, including 2023's "Live Up to Your Name" and 2024's "I Got You," the latter of which worked as the lead single off Gokey's 2024 studio album, Sound of Heaven. ~ Andrew Leahey

Redimi2 is the stage name for Dominican rapper Willy González Cruz. He holds the distinction of being the first Christian hip-hop artist from his home country and has, since his recording career began with 2002's Combinación Mortal, developed into an internationally renowned crossover artist in hip-hop, trap, reggaeton, and Latin pop. He has collaborated with artists ranging from Vico C and Annette Moreno to Don Omar, Daddy Yankee, and Calle 13. Beginning with 2011's Exterminador Operación P.R., he recorded a series of covers and originals that included Exterminador Operación P.R. 100X35 (2012), Exterminador Operación R.D. (2012), and Exterminador Operación Mundial (2014). All charted across the Caribbean and Latin America. 2017's Pura Sal went to number three in Puerto Rico, while 2018's digital Trapstornadores charted across the Caribbean. The singles compilation 20/20 placed inside the Top 20 in ten countries. 2021's Momentum featured guest spots by Danny Gokey, El Profeta, Indiomar, and others. Rompiendo followed in 2022 and Maverick in 2023.

The first incarnation of Redimi2 was called Redimi2 Squad, a collective formed with his brother JG. Their debut album, Combinación Mortal, appeared in 2000 and became not only the first Christian rap album in the Dominican Republic, but the country's best-selling Christian music recording of all time. It opened doors for Redimi2 Squad in both religious and secular media and performance outlets. This was followed in 2004 by the chart-topping Hasta Los Dientes, and his first true solo album, Revolución, in 2006. With the release of the collaborative El Equipo Invencible in 2007, the artist's reputation spread throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

After incessant touring, a live album was issued in 2008, and a compilation in 2009. Redimi2 took time off to get married and start a family. In 2011 he returned with Exterminador Operacion P.R., a hit album that featured a number of Puerto Rican collaborators; it was the first part of a trilogy that also included 2012's Exterminador OPR 100X35 and Exterminador Operación R.D. In 2013, the single "Saldrás de Esta," with Christian pop singers Lucy Parker and René González, ran up the CCM charts; the song was based on the Max Lucado novel of the same name. Operación Mundial, was issued in October of 2014 as a conclusion to the thematic series.

In 2015, Redimi2 began releasing singles. He scored at Latino Christian radio with the anthemic "Espitrito Santo (feat. Barak), and the following year delivered the gritty hip-hop track "Ofensivo y Escandoloso" that didn't register at radio, but made top-shelf DJ sets from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv. The pop-folk-cum-hip-hop anthem "Vivire," (feat. Evan Craft) was issued in 2017, followed by the digital long-players Mas and the collaborative Trapstornadores in 2018. Each of the former set's 12 tracks were cut as duets with Funky, but also included contributions from Annette Moreno, Bianca, Any Puello, and Jesus Adrian Romero. An all-instrumental set titled Vertical followed a year later.

2019 also saw Redimi2 issue singles in several styles. While "La Praxis Freestyle" offered an old-school approach to reggaeton, "Filipenses 1:6" (feat. Almighty) used maximal trap production. "Alegria (feat. Ivan) wed 21st century trap to cumbia in a ferociously beat-heavy mix. "La Resistancia, P.R." recorded in collaboration with Indiomar, Eliud L'Voices, Gabriel RodriguezEMC, Harold Velazquez, C Shalom and Práctiko, was released as a benefit intended to raise relief funds after the island nation was battered by two devastating hurricanes in a single season. He closed the year with "Locos Como Yo," wedding bomba, plena, jazz, and salsa to urbano and trap. 2020 saw the release of no less than seven singles, most of which, including the radio hit "Jesus" (feat. Betsy Jo), were included on the compilation 20/20.

Redimi2 issued two albums in 2021. February's thoroughly urbano Uno appeared in collaboration with Alex Zurdo and Funky, while December's club-friendly Momentum offered another dozen tracks with a slew of guest spots. Danny Gokey collaborated on "No Hay Nada Imposible," while Melody Jaine appeared on the jazzy hip-hop of "Ti Amo," and Betsy Jo returned for a reprise duet performance on "Vuelvo a Ti."

In 2022, Redimi2 issued the digital album Rompiendo, a richly collaborative 12-track set that included appearances by Melodie Jaine, Betsy Jo, and Meryli Rosa, among others. In July 2023, Redimi2 released the 15-track Maverick with guest contributions from Dalida Cont ("Si a la Vida"), and Marto and Aspostoles del Rap ("Like Marto"). ~ Thom Jurek