Third Day

Third Day is one of contemporary Christian music's biggest crossover acts, known as much for their tuneful alt-rock craft as for their earnest faith. Formed in the mid-1990s in Georgia, Third Day started out like most indie bands, gigging relentlessly and releasing low-budget home recordings. In 1996, they signed a multi-album deal with Reunion Records, the premier Christian label, which ensured radio play and audience exposure on a much bigger scale. Tours and collaborations with acts like Newsboys and Michael W. Smith followed, helping to raise their profile even more, and by the '00s, the band were genuine contemporary Christian music (CCM) stars, in an offshoot genre--Alternative CCM--that they helped to create.

• rock