White Heart

    White Heart

    Nashville, Tennessee5 reviews across 5 releases

    adult contemporaryaorhard rockmelodic rock
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    Formed in Nashville in 1982 by musicians connected with Bill Gaither's group, White Heart was a Christian rock band whose music moved between progressive rock and polished middle-of-the-road material. By the time of the 1990 compilation Souvenirs, its established sound included hard, guitar-led songs beside soulful material and a Christmas number. The band became more cohesive on Highlands in 1993, when stable lineup allowed its contrasting players to settle into a blended sound. Two years later, Inside changed the balance again. Its production had a clean live sound rather than the layered approach of the preceding records, the rock songs carried more weight, and the ballads became more exposed. The band's message remained explicitly Christian, but its musical identity increasingly favored direct rock performance.

    Between Highlands and Inside, bassist Anthony Sallee left and John Thorn joined, another change in a group known for its revolving personnel. In 1994 White Heart left Star Song Records for Curb Records, issuing the paired compilations Nothing but the Best - Radio Classics and Nothing but the Best - Rock Classics as it closed the earlier label period. Inside was the first Curb release and was presented as a possible route toward mainstream distribution, but the band's recorded career ended after its final 1997 album, Redemption. White Heart then disbanded. Founding members Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl had remained through the lineup changes; afterward, Smiley started Cul-de-Sac Records, while Gersmehl pursued songwriting and solo work.

    5 releases reviewed