Mormon Musicians Make a Splash in the Music Industry

Musicians associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have made quite an impression in the classical music world. Lindsey Stirling, The Piano Guys and Nathan Pacheco have become top sellers.

Brandon Flowers of The Killers is another internationally acclaimed Mormon musician. With their band filling stadiums worldwide, they make headlines.

Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire’s Grammy win may have come as a surprise to some; particularly those unfamiliar with them. Perhaps due to being relatively obscure even among music nerds.

Funeral, the critically acclaimed debut album from Funeral Records was an important stepping-stone in their genre; their next effort, Neon Bible, really put them on the map and this track from it showcases their skilled pacing and soothing vocal delivery, marrying ancient emotions with modern anxieties in one seamless piece of work.

Contrasting with much of Everything Now’s overbearing grandiosity and glowing neon, this track captures a moment of clarity for the band; synth stutter alone makes us believe. Reworking lyrics may also prove fruitful – L.P.

Panic! at the Disco

Panic! at the Disco is one of the most exciting bands to see live, their concerts being filled with an overwhelming energy. At their American Music Awards performance, they took an enormous risk by performing their entire latest album–Viva Las Vengeance–from start to finish without interruption, which had the audience singing, dancing and cheering as though it were among their greatest hits.

Panic! at the Disco was formed as teenagers in Las Vegas in 2004 by singer Brendon Urie and guitarist Ryan Ross, drummer Spencer Smith and bassist Brent Wilson. At first they practiced blink-182 songs at Smith’s grandmother’s living room before writing original pop-influenced tunes and posting demos online.

After signing to Fueled by Ramen, the imprint owned by Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy, their popularity skyrocketed after their debut album A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out was released. Subsequent releases such as Vices & Virtues, Death of a Bachelor and Pray for the Wicked expanded their sound further by including synthpop, dance-punk and hip-hop influences in their sound.

Gladys Knight

Gladys Knight is an accomplished Mormon church member and singer. She began her musical journey when she won first prize on Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour at age seven; since then she has gone on to achieve stardom with her soulful voice and captivating stage presence.

Over her long career, Gladys Knight has written her autobiography and won multiple awards. In 1995, she was recognized with a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with her band Gladys Knight and the Pips.

Knight has made notable television appearances, both as a guest star on 30 Rock (NBC) and Jamie Foxx’s mother (Living Single, FOX), judged talent competitions on American Juniors and Duets respectively (FOX), and participated in Dancing With the Stars season 14.