In no particular order, Billy Joel was Matt's first, but different people have shaped us at different times and in different ways. Chris Rice, Rich Fyhr, Andy Gullahorn, Jill Phillips, Sara Groves, Glen Phillips, Watermark, David Wilcox, The Sundays, Mark Cohn, John Denver, P.O.D., Sting, Billy Joel, Dwight Yoakem, Patty Griffin, Andrew Peterson, U2, Selah, Allan Hall, Jennifer McClain, Warren Barfield, Wade Haynes, and Todd Smith.
Sounds Like
This is the fun part. The time we are tempted to say we sound like nothing you've ever heard before and that you just have to hear us. Well thanks to MySpace you probably have heard us since our player starts when you hit our page. Besides, I absolutely hate it when I hear someone say that there music sounds like nothing you've heard before as it is a sign of big headedness. I've been told my voice sounds like a cross between Glen Phillips and John Denver or James Taylor (3 artists that we don't currently have in our music collection-oh wait when I married Joanna she had a James Taylor Greatest Hits Disc and what I've heard of Glen Phillips makes me want to buy all of Toad the Wet Sprocket's albums soon, and when I was five I sang Grandma's Featherbed, and Take Me Home Country Road all the time). To me Jo's voice sounds angelic, but since I've never really heard an angel before I would have to say Allison Kraus without as much vibrato mixed with Ginny Owens and Christy Nockels (this whole process is vey similar to Conan O'Brien's what if they had a child routine isn't it). Our music is primarily acoustic in nature with the occasional appearance of electric guitars and drums. I play guitar, Joanna plays cello, and Rich plays acoustic lead and creative rhythm chops. Both Jo and I alternate lead vocals at times. She sings lead less and I don't know why because I believe that most people like her voice more. I am a songwriter and Jo is a musician. I've co-written a lot of songs with Rich and one song on our first album was co-written with Andy Gullahorn. I am very lucky because they are two of the best song writers I've ever heard. Check them out on MySpace and see what I mean. We hope that our music will help people get closer to God and encourage the Church to act more like Jesus asked us to. We have a hard time doing those things ourselves, so in a way we hope our music invites you into our struggle between following God instead of ourselves and looking out for others instead of looking out for number one.
Matt and Joanna are independent artists/worship leaders based out of Elizabethtown, KY. Matt is also the worship pastor at The Bridge Community in Elizabethtown. Their traveling ministry was birthed from the many opportunities they had to serve as volunteers in the local church. In the summer of 2003, Matt and Joanna were asked to lead worship in Jacksonville, FL for M-Fuge, a hands-on missions camp for teens. Since M-Fuge, they have had many opportunities to lead worship at retreats, and camps, and to perform their original music for youth and adults across the southeastern US.
At the heart of their ministry is the desire to see the local church continue to become a community marked by sincere fellowship in Christ. They want to see more people worship God in spirit and in truth, and empower others to serve the Lord with their lives. This is evident in their interaction with people. At a typical event you will see them spending time with teens and adults, building relationships, and listening to the experience of others. From the stage they convey a sense of community through their laid back, open, “we don’t take ourselves too seriously” style.
Their music is marked by their interchangeable lead and background harmonies, guitar/cello arrangements, and encouraging messages. Their two albums, "Sweet Communion" and "Unless the Lord", contain songs of worship along with songs that relate to life experience. The song "Your Love" written by Matt and sung by Joanna was featured on the 2004 Centrifuge Worship Compilation Album "Befriended" along with other artists such as Matt Redmond, Tim Hughes, and Jami Smith.
They have had the opportunity to open for the trio group Selah and also for Warren Barfield. "Unless the Lord" was produced in the spring of 2005 by Jason Kyle (Co-producer and engineer for Selah’s albums).
Matt and Joanna’s ministry is a part Artists in Christian Testimony, a ministry organization created to disciple and send artists out to share the gospel in creative ways.
TO SCHEDULE A SHOW, HOUSE CONCERT, OR WORSHIP EVENT EMAIL US AT matt (at) mattandjoannablack (dot) com
Hey, I tried to put Wonderful Mercy on my page but it doesn't have any volume once I get it there. It's moving like it's playing.(I tried 3 times) Just thought you might want to check it out. I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!
Love the new additions to the page bro! Love that Proclaim song too! I'd love for ya'll too get down here and play for our 250 member youth group. Those crazy kids would love it! Love yall bro!
Hi Joanna, I just added your song, Believe, to my profile. All of the songs on your playlist sound wonderful. You can hear and feel your love for Christ all through them. I'm buying the cd. :-)
The new profile pic is awesome! I also saw the other pics with my hat looking ridiculous and all, but that's what makes looking at pictures so great - you know what not to do again. Well, I think most normal people use mirrors for that, but not me, I like to be seen by all and have a permanent record of my fashion faux pas out there. Anyway, cool to see these!
Hey Jo, I survived my January term class...I slept for like 3 days after it was over though. I kind of miss it now that I'm starting to feel the workload of the real semester. How are you doing?
Hey guys!!! How are things happening? I tried going to ya'lls website and it is down? Then I tried emailing matt and got an email back saying it could not be sent? What's up with all that stuff? :) Hope you guys are doing well!!
Thank you so much for driving to NKY! I had a blast, and I've heard lots of great feedback from others that were there. You were great! Love you, and I can't wait to do it again :)
Hey Joanna..I just got your message. Great seeing you today. Cooper really enjoys Kindermusik!! :) Your daughter is such a sweetheart! You guys take care..see ya next week. :)
Hey guys! Just wanted to stop by and say hi... I haven't seen you in so long, but I think of you often. You had an amazing impact on my life in the short time I spent getting to know you. Thought I'd let you know that I am doing very well. I'm back in school and raising two beautiful children with a wonderful man. Life is great!!
Hey! Centre is good. We're doing our January term right now which means I've only got one class, which is really nice even though it's 3 hours a day and a lot of work. How have you guys been? How's the baby?
