Phil Stacey follows country release with Christian pop offering

Phil Stacey’s Christian label debut, Into the Light, brings the artist full circle, from his early days of singing gospel music before gaining national prominence as a top five finalist on the sixth season of the hit TV show American Idol.

After the competition, Stacey performed with the American Idol finalists on a 55-city tour and appeared on Oprah, Live! With Regis and Kelly, The Tonight Show, Ellen, Today show, Larry King Live and Nickelodeon’s Me:TV.

Although he has a strong gospel music background, Stacey was offered a chance to try out his country leanings by signing with Disney’s Hollywood Records for his first post-Idol release, the self-titled Phil Stacey (2008).

After connecting with Provident Music Group President Terry Hemmings at an event honoring Michael W. Smith, Stacey opted to follow that release with the Christian album Into The Light.

“Everything I did with American Idol has readied me for this platform and this album,” he said. “This is where I feel at home, and I can’t wait for people to hear these songs.”

Stacey’s hope is to “draw people to God—whether that’s through the songs I write, how I conduct myself on stage or, more importantly, the ways I relate to other people,” he said.

His Christian label debut was guided by top producer Brown Bannister and includes the debut radio single “You’re Not Shaken” as well as “One,” “It’s Gotta Be Love,” “Some Kind of Love” and a cover of Rich Mullins’ “Hard to Get.”

A bonus track, “Old Glory,” showcases Stacey’s patriotic leanings—no surprise to those who know that the artist is a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve. Stacey enlisted after the tragic events of 9/11.

“I wanted to support the effort against terror,” Stacey said. “I was proud of my dad, who was a veteran and fought in Vietnam.”

Before Idol, Stacey sharpened his skills as a vocalist in two of his Christian college’s musical groups, the Lee University Singers and Second Edition.

To order Into the Light, call Provident-Integrity at 800-333-9000, or visit www.providentmusicgroup.com.

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