Lamar Campbell
More Than Anything
Quick facts about Lamar Campbell
CAREER
ACTIVE FROM
CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
GENRE
PLACE OF ORIGIN
ALBUMS
Lamar Campbell’s Early Days
Lamar grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana with his three siblings. He was an active member of the Haughville Seventh Day Adventist church and showed a natural talent for music from a young age, teaching himself how to play several instruments. At the age of eight, Campbell played piano for his church before becoming its musical director at fifteen.
Lamar grew up listening to a variety of both gospel and secular music; however, he was drawn more passionately to gospel music and loved performing it. After his graduation from Broad Ripple Highschool, Lamar attended Butler University where he studied music at the Jordan Music College with the goal of becoming a music minister.
Growth and Developments in Lamar’s Career
In 1987, Lamar created his first music group known as ‘Lamar Campbell & Praise’. The group released their first and only album titled ‘Ready’ in 1989. The album was well received despite not reaching the charts, and one of the tracks, “This Debt of Love I Owe” was considered a nation-wide hit at the time, lifting the profile of the group around the Indianapolis area.
However, in 1992, Lamar decided to disband ‘Lamar Campbell & Praise’ as he felt that he had become arrogant about the group’s success, and attention was shifting away from the praise of God and ministry, which was the initial premise behind the group.
In 1995, Lamar became the music minister at Light of the World Christian Church. That year he also decided to form a new group called ‘Lamar Campbell & Spirit of Praise’. They signed to the EMI Gospel record label and released a self-titled album in 1998 which peaked at No. 21 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Album’s chart.
“It’s important to reach out to the world with gospel music in order to try and draw them into the church.”
Spirit of Praise Ministries
Along with performing as a choir, Lamar’s ‘Spirit of Praise’, is also a ministry organisation. The members volunteer their time to not only sing, but participate in local service projects, provide guidance and mentorship to young people and help those who are less fortunate. They are all committed to the cause and believe that it is important to live out their faith in tangible ways and make a difference in their local community.
Some of the projects the group has undertaken include establishing a scholarship program to help disadvantaged high school seniors go to college, serving dinners and passing out toys each Christmas to provide cheer to families who need it most. They also organise clean-ups of run-down neighbourhoods, provide informal tutoring to the local youth and even occasionally take up a collection to help pay the utility bills of families that are struggling financially.
Lamar’s Relationship with God
Lamar Campbell has a very strong belief and relationship with God. He says that music has always come quite easily to him, such as when he wrote the song “I Really Love You” on the back of an envelope when he was driving home one day.
Lamar explains that as he was driving, the Lord kept giving him the words of the song, so he had to be obedient and write them down, despite being in the middle of traffic! In fact, several of Lamar’s songs were written in the spur of the moment, following what the Holy Spirit had led him to.
Lamar also regularly share’s the Lord’s words of hope and joy across his social media platforms. Lamar believes that God is pleased with the work that his ministry and choir has done so far.
Most Recent Release by Lamar Campbell
Lamar Campbell’s most recent release is his 2013 album, ‘Open the Sky’. The album included 10 tracks which spoke about praising and worshiping God.
More Than Anything
Closer To You
I Really Love You
I’ll Forever Give You Praise
I Don’t Care What It Looks Like
Spirit of Praise Medley
Now Is the Time
Nobody Can Tell It
I Command My Soul
He Reigns