Cheri Keaggy

Originally from Southern California, Cheri Keaggy began studying classical piano at age seven. After marrying her high school sweetheart, her home church offered her a job as a novice worship coordinator. There she found herself looking for songs that would best express the pastor's sermon. One week, when she couldn't find one to match a message on Psalm 91, her husband suggested she write something of her own. That afternoon ‘You, Oh Lord, Are My Refuge’ was born. Eventually a recording of her very first songs made its way to Nashville. Six albums, nine number one songs, and a Dove Award later, Cheri Keaggy is recognized as a mainstay in the adult contemporary and inspirational genres and songs like ‘There is Joy in the Lord’ and ‘In Remembrance of Me’ are sung in churches worldwide.



Barring the recently released compilation, the ‘Very Best Of Cheri Keaggy’, it has been five years since her last studio album. Good things come to those who wait and Cheri’s seventh offering, Because He First Loved Us, is something to savor.



“I’m not a great cook, but my family loves it when I fix salmon. I let it soak in this yummy roasted garlic marinade. It takes all day, but it’s worth it. I feel like this record is kind of like that. Over the last few years I’ve been marinating in all kinds of stuff, just trying to listen to God’s voice and be obedient, trying to parent intentionally and grow in my relationships. And recently I’ve been working on a book. The Christian life can be quite an adventure! These songs are pieces of all of that.”



From the albums’ unexpected appetizer, ‘Stay to The Middle,’ to the sweet resolve of the closing track, ‘The Reason I Stand Tall,’ Cheri invites us to marinate in the presence of a Holy God, both Teacher and Friend. ‘Speak’ reminds us to listen and ‘You’ll Always Be My Son’ is a welcome follow-up to the oft requested ‘Little Boy On His Knees.’ Because He First Loved Us is a rich blend of heart-stirring lyrics served on a bed of classic, piano-based instrumentation. All twelve songs are written by Cheri, and like comfort food for the soul, there is something wonderfully familiar about it.



“The message of the gospel is timeless. It never gets old. It’s as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. I wanted this album to have that quality about it in the production.” To fill that order, Cheri teamed up with industry veteran, Tom Hemby. “My husband had worked with him through the years at Promise Keepers. And Tom had played guitar on some of my previous albums. He’s an incredible player, but he’s also a songwriter. He wants to serve the song and understands that sometimes less is more.” The result is a tasteful musical journey that leads us straight to the heart of the message.



“I wanted to call the album Because He First Loved Us because it’s solid. It’s the whole reason I sing. I believe I John 4:19 is a verse that resonates with the Church. We know the world is watching to see if this religion thing is real. How do we treat each other? Does our faith repel the lost or does it attract them to Jesus? Do we love unselfishly even when it’s not convenient or easy? Christ did. And He empowers us to do the same.”



Cheri and her husband, Eddie, live in Nashville, TN with their two teenagers, Cameron (17) and Sarah (15) and their beloved dog, Daisy Doo.



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