Christy Lynette Nockels (née Hill, born November 17, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. She was also one of the lead members of the band Watermark, along with her husband, Nathan Nockels.

Christy Nockels
Background information
Birth nameChristy Lynette Hill
Born (1973-11-17) November 17, 1973 (age 50)
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
OriginFort Worth, Texas, U.S.
GenresWorship, contemporary Christian music
Occupation(s)singer, songwriter
Years active1996–present
LabelsRocketown, sixsteps, Sparrow
Websitewww.christynockels.com

Biography and career edit

Christy Nockels was born in Fort Worth, Texas to a pastor and a piano teacher but grew up in Oklahoma.[citation needed]

Christy met Nathan Nockels in 1993 at the Christian Artists Seminar in Estes Park, Colorado.[1] After getting married in 1995, they began serving as worship leaders in their local church in Oklahoma City. They also began writing songs together and released an album in 1996. The album, which was released under the name Sons & Daughters, was called Holy Roar, and featured the contribution of fellow worship leader and friend, Charlie Hall. Louie Giglio, pastor and founder of the Passion Movement, heard the album and invited the Nockels and Charlie Hall to attend the first Passion Conference in Austin, Texas, in 1997.[citation needed]

After this, Christy and Nathan moved to Texas and started leading worship for Metro Bible Study, a weekly gathering of 3,000 young adults at Houston's First Baptist Church. During that time Rocketown Records, owned by Michael W. Smith, approached them and they signed a contract under the name Watermark. After that, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1998. As Watermark, the Nockels recorded five albums and received several Dove Award nominations, including Female Vocalist of the Year for Christy and Producer of the Year for Nathan in 2007.[citation needed]

Smith has said of Watermark, "Christy Nockels creates space for worship like few artists I've been around. When she sings, it's disarming--you must pay attention. Whether it's 10,000 people at a Passion Conference or an intimate gathering, Christy is a worshiper who leads us all. Nathan and Christy Nockels are a huge part of the Rocketown Records story, and my life has been enriched by their love for worship music."[2]

In 2006, Christy and Nathan retired Watermark and dedicated themselves to other areas of ministry, as well as their family. In 2008, they moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where they helped to found Passion City Church with Louie Giglio, and signed with sixstepsrecords.[citation needed] Christy also started writing songs and released her first solo album, Life Light Up, in 2009. The album was also produced by her husband, Nathan.[3] In April 2012 Christy released her second solo album Into the Glorious.

On April 28, 2015, Nockels released a new live album, Let It Be Jesus.[4] A review of this release suggests that "[w]ith this newest offering, Christy Nockels reinforces...her position as one of the most respected lead worshipers in the church today."[5]

Personal life edit

Christy and Nathan Nockels have been married since 1995. They have three children together: Noah, Elliana, and Annie Rose.[6]

Discography edit

Solo edit

Year Album details Peak chart positions
US
200
[7]
US
Christian
[8]
2009 Life Light Up 136 7
2012 Into the Glorious 67 2
2015 Let It Be Jesus 54 2
2016 The Thrill of Hope
  • Released: November 4, 2016
  • Label: Keepers Branch Records
  • Format: CD, digital download
9
2017 Be Held: Lullabies for the Beloved
  • Released: September 29, 2017
  • Label: Keepers Branch Records
  • Format: CD, digital download
8
2018 Be Held (Instrumental)
  • Released: May 11, 2018
  • Label: Keepers Branch Records
  • Format: CD, digital download
2019 The Thrill of Hope Renewed
  • Released: November 8, 2019
  • Label: Keepers Branch Records
  • Format: CD, digital download
2023 This is the Hour
  • Released: February 24, 2023
  • Label: Keepers Branch Records
  • Format: CD, digital download

As Watermark edit

  • 1998: Watermark
  • 2000: All Things New
  • 2002: Constant
  • 2004: The Purest Place
  • 2006: A Grateful People

As Sons & Daughters edit

  • 1996: Holy Roar

Awards and nominations edit

GMA Dove Awards edit

  • 2005: Female Vocalist of the Year nomination
  • 2007: Female Vocalist of the Year nomination
  • 2008: Female Vocalist of the Year nomination

References edit

  1. ^ Milk Money Promotions. "About". christynockels.com.
  2. ^ In the Times magazine Cover Story Archived 2012-05-26 at the Wayback Machine, InTheTimes.com, retrieved March 24, 2006
  3. ^ Christy Nockels' biography on Last.FM
  4. ^ "iTunes - Music - Let It Be Jesus (Live) by Christy Nockels". Itunes.apple.com. April 28, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  5. ^ "Christy Nockels - Let It be Jesus [Review] | All About Worship | Podcasts, Interviews, Music, Resources". www.allaboutworship.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  6. ^ About Christy Nockels Archived 2014-02-01 at the Wayback Machine on ChristyNockels.com
  7. ^ Billboard (June 20, 2012). "Christy Nockels Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  8. ^ Billboard (April 21, 2012). "Into the Glorious - Christy Nockels". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2012.

External links edit