 Perhaps more than any other group in recent years, dc Talk has proved that unabashed spirituality and widespread musical appeal are mutually compatible goals. Of course, dc Talk isn't the first group to openly examine their faith -- and wrestle with thorny issues -- through their music. But when their most recent album, Jesus Freak, went gold within 30 days of its initial November 1995 release on ForeFront Records, more and more observers began to view dc Talk's music not in terms of Christian rock, but simply as rock 'n' roll. For example, in praising an "exhilarating" recent concert the Chicago Tribune declared that dc Talk "defies bumper-sticker description. And in considering the group's artistic merits, it's time to bury the over-burdened label 'Christian Band'.... like Van Morrison or U2 -- bands with strong Christian themes running throughout their music -- dc Talk deserves to be judged by a different standard." Judged by virtually any standard, the group has already come a long way. A Grammy Award, a platinum album, two gold albums, and a gold-certified long-form video illustrate dc Talk's ability to wed artistic and commercial success. "dc Talk has always been a pop group expressing our faith and we always will be," acknowledges Toby McKeehan, the group's unofficial leader. "We've experimented with elements that span the full range of the musical spectrum." From the group's inception, dc Talk hasn't been content to merely sing about their beliefs -- they have tried to live their ideals on a day-to-day basis, especially when it comes to the issue of racial harmony. "Toby, Kevin and I met and became friends in college, before we ever started pursuing music together," says Tait. "So when we eventually formed dc Talk, it was natural for us to use it as a platform to address problems of racism. Being on stage together makes a big statement in itself. We're up there as band members and best friends. We call it 'living integration.' It's right there in front of people, and it tends to have an impact that words alone never have." Through their music, their actions, and their faith, dc Talk encourages each listener to reach outward and appreciate humanity's shared beauty, while looking inward toward his or her own conscience and heart. At its core, Jesus Freak reaffirms the power of all individuals to lift themselves -- and their society -- to the highest peaks of their hopes and dreams.
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