Halo

Origin: Alabama (USA)

HALO

Mike Graham - Barry Graul - Scott Springer

Discography:

st - 1990 (with lyrics)

Heaven calling - 1991 (with lyrics)

Notes:

-Said to be an acronym for "Heavenly Angelic Light Orchestra," Halo began in Alabama in 1980 when drummer Mike Graham, age 14 at the time, was introduced to vocalist and bass player Scott Springer and guitarist Keith Mims, both seven years older than Graham. Mims and Springer made it clear to Graham that their interest was in pursuing Christian music. Graham, who had already played drums in a Southern Gospel group for two years without taking up the Christian faith, had his reservations, but he liked the music Springer and Mims were playing and assumed he could play with them, just like he had in the Southern Gospel group, without any conflicts of interest.

After playing in Halo for only two years, Graham was won over to the Christian faith in January 1982, and, with a unified mission to be a Christian band with a ministry, it was at this point that the group really started to take form. Working to get their stride, Halo toured the Southern United States, performing mostly in Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia. While playing the circuit, Halo had the good fortune of meeting Bob Hartman, founder and guitarist for perennial favorites in the Christian music industry, Petra. Hartman acted as a mentor to Halo, providing advice on song-writing as well as sound equipment. Despite their efforts and advice, Halo was still unsigned after nine years of touring, and their performances were effectively equal to a diversion that consumed many hours.

In 1989, Springer announced that God was calling him to full-time ministry. Originally, it appeared that he was going to head off to seminary to become a youth pastor. However, around the same time, Bob Hartman told Graham that he had given a Halo demo tape, recorded in Hartman's studio, to brothers John Elefante and Dino Elefante, owners of Pakaderm Records in Los Alamos, CA and the producers of the last few Petra albums. Not long thereafter, Pakaderm offered Halo a recording contract.

By 1990, Halo had released their self-titled debut album, featuring ten tracks written and played by Springer, Mims, Graham, and the Elefante brothers, with arrangements by Bob Hartman and session players, guitarist Tony Palacios (Guardian) and keyboardist John Andrew Schreiner (Carman, Steve Camp, Petra).[3][4] Altogether, the album is said to exude the "sound of a cohesive power pop band", drawing likenesses to both secular and Christian artists, such as Foreigner, Journey, Kansas, Petra, and Mastedon. -

(Notes by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_(Christian_rock_band))

- One of the surprise packages during 1990 was this release on the Christian Pakaderm label by the trio called Halo. Now, anything released on the Elefante brothers label Pakaderm should be worth investigating, such is their reputation for putting out quality product including their own Mastedon material. Hailing from the state of Alabama, Halo are no exception. I have to say that despite the overly Christian messages throughout the album, this is one of my favourite discs during 1990. Mostly all the tracks are high class, catchy, and some of those choruses are so infectious. Halo get a helping hand by the likes of Bob Hartman from Petra, Tony Palacios from Guardian, John Schreiner, as well as the Elefante's themselves .. John and Dino. -

(Notes by http://gdm.glorydazemusic.com/articles.php?article_id=1250)