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Uptown Praise Band

Uptown Praise Band is a worship band dedicated to leading their church congregation in praise and worship every Sunday and Wedensday in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Our desire is to reach the lost with our music and lead them to the Church for healing, restoration and revival.

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Hometown	Grand Rapids, MI
Genres	Christian, Country
Band Members	Joyce Humphrey (vocals); Chris Nunez (guitars/... » more
Achievements
Upcoming Shows	None

Contact Information:	Manager Chris Nunez chris@uptownpraiseband.com 616-308-9334
# Years Experience Performing Live:	6
# Live Perfomances Past Six-months:	18
Market Draw:	Grand Rapids, MI: 101-150
Venue History:	Unity Music Festival - Muskegon, MI Common Ground Christian Bookstore - Kentwood, MI Trinity Music City USA - Hendersonville, TN
Opener Experience:	Switchfoot
Similar Artists:	Beckah Shae; Mandisa; Casting Crowns
Performing Rights Society:	ASCAP
Discography:	Testimonials LP—2010; 2010 Worship Collection EP—2010

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About the Artist

Uptown Praise Band is #1 on Reverbnation Christian/Gospel local charts and hovering at the #350 spot on Reverbnation National charts. In August, the band was selected to play A-stage at 2010 Unity Music Festival in Muskegon (that drew over 50,000!) and...

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Music

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Achievements

Top 10 in Christian, August 2012

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Press Coverage

Uptown Praise Band moves outside walls of Church by Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- Chris Nunez felt compelled to do more with his musical gifts. So he led the praise music band from his Uptown Church on Lake Drive SE to complete a new CD and to perform regular gigs throughout West Michigan. I really felt a push to get outside the four walls of the church and use our talents," said Nunez, 51, who has been part of the Uptown Praise Band for five years. It was only last December that the group took its talents on the road. Nunez is a songwriter, producer and guitarist for the ensemble. He wrote all nine of the songs on their new CD, "Testimonials." We have a diverse group of people -- a rock drummer, a classically-trained keyboardist and a conga player," said Nunez, whose own background is in blues and jazz. Lead singer Joyce Humphrey has been singing at the church for 15 years. Nunez is a California native who took accordion lessons in his youth before getting into guitar and performing in various teen garage bands and writing original songs. I did a lot of recording back in my younger days -- when they were still using two-inch (recording tape) in the studios," he recalled. He also dabbled in production at a Los Angeles record label. With wife Tracey and their two kids, Nunez moved to West Michigan in 2004 and found a musical outlet at the Uptown church. The new CD features jazz strains in songs such as "His Name Is Jesus" and "We Love You," a rock ballad titled "Because You Made Me," and a country-rocker "I'm Healed Now." A tune called "Beautiful World" turned into a great funk groove, according to Nunez. The album was recorded and produced both in Nashville at Creative Soul and in Grand Rapids at Sound Post Studio. In August, the band scored a finalist slot at the Unity Christian Music Festival's regional talent contest in Muskegon. The ensemble debuted its CD and performed in front of hundreds of new faces. I think that our live sound is more energetic and a little more Latin thanks to our conga player (Angel Berrios), who really brings that out," Nunez said. Performing two days a week at the church plus a weekly rehearsal, the Uptown Praise Band had fashioned a tight sound that includes as many as five background vocalists. Rebecca Start plays keys and drummer is Robert Williamdyke. Humphrey said performing throughout the community has been satisfying. This is a real commitment, but it's something I've been called to do, so it's a priority," she said. "It's different than just singing inside the church, but it's been very good." The Uptown Praise Band is a regular performer at the new Common Ground in the former Parable-Kregels store on Kalamazoo Ave. SE. The retail/music venue celebrates its grand opening with Friday evening's concert and music all day on Saturday. E-mail Weekend: weekend@grpress.com

Selected To Open Main Stage at BTF by Online Pr News
Uptown Praise Band was selected by Free Spirit Ministries to open the main worship stage on June 24, 2011 at their annual mega Christian Music Festival. The festival is expected to draw over 20,000 and will feature over 100 bands on 7 stages over three days June 23-25 at Ionia State Fairgrounds, Ionia MI. Major Christian artists will include Toby Mac, Skillet, Newboys, Sanctus Real, 33 Miles, Leeland, Building 429, Phillips, Craig, and Dean, Sidewalk Prophets, Natalie Grant, The Afters, Chris Sligh, KJ-52, Me In Motion, Chris August, Icris, Kerrie Roberts, Matt Maher, Pocket Full of Rocks, Stellar Kart, Tye Tribbett, Heather Williams, Remedy Drive, Sargent Avenue and others. The band will be playing "Because You Made Me" a radio ready Christian rock ballad released by its own independent label SpiritFilled Productions. The song is an uplifting ballad about hope and faith with crystal clear vocals, beautiful soaring harmonies and strong lyrics and musical dynamics. The song is part the bands debut "Testimonials" album, available on iTunes.com, cdbaby.com and Amazon for $8.99. It is also available at over 300 Christian book stores across the country via the myMEDIA BurnBar platform. Uptown Praise Band is #1 on ReverbNation’s Christian/Gospel local charts and is hovering at the #350 spot on their National Christian/Gospel charts. In August, the band was selected to play A-stage at 2010 Unity Music Festival in Muskegon (that drew over 50,000!) and recently was chosen as a top ten finalist in Best of the Blessed competition, broadcast live on TBN TV during the 2010 Christian Music Awards hosted at Trinity Music City in Nashville, TN. Uptown Praise Band is a church band dedicated to leading their church congregation in worship every Sunday and Wednesday at inner city church Uptown Church, 1470 Lake Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 The bands desire is to reach the lost with their music and lead them to the church for healing, restoration and revival. http://www.uptownpraiseband.com

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