Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
(WASHINGTON) - 24-year-old Sam Hancock, a 2005 graduate of Washington High School, is the lead singer for Luminate, a contemporary Christian band based out of Tyler, Texas. (Times-Hearld)
Luminate's debut album, "Come Home," was nominated for a 2012 Gospel Music Association Dove Award for rock/contemporary album of the year.
The Dove Award is basically the Grammy's for Christian music.
To be nominated was a special honor for Hancock.
"Come Home" is nominated in 2012 along with some of the biggest names in Christian music: Hawk Nelson, NEEDTOBREATHE, Kristian Stanfill and Abandon Kansas. Hancock says he won't be disappointed if they don't win.
According to Hancock, his journey with the band began when bass player Dusty Jakubik took notice of Hancock's songwriting talent at the Visible School of Music in Memphis, Tenn.
According to Luminate's website, Jakubik was an artist looking for a fresh start after a group he was in fell apart after signing a major label deal. Hancock was 17 at the time and the band was a bit apprehensive about working with someone who "still had some growing up to do," but it soon became apparent that there was no doubt they should work together.
In 2005, Luminate began touring, nonstop, playing at several venues including the one of Christian music's biggest events, the Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Ill.
In 2007, Luminate met an arts and repertoire representative from Sparrow Records, and in March of 2009 signed a deal with the company.
The title track of Luminate's debut album is "Come Home," which made it as high as No. 18 on the Christian Billboard Charts. Hancock also said Luminate has been working hard in the studio for the last three months. In July they will release a new album that is currently untitled.
The Dove Awards will be held at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Ga., on April 24, at 7 p.m. The event will be televised on GMC.
Luminate's music can be found on their website (luminatemusic.com) or on Facebook at facebook.com/luminate. "Come Home" is also available for purchase on iTunes.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.