Singer/ guitarist David Crowder first stepped into the music industry when he realized that over half of the students at Baylor University, a Christian school that he attended in Waco, TX, were not going to church. He began to actively recruit students for worship services and started writing songs to draw more young people in. He eventually started releasing the songs, leading to his debut album, 2002's, Can You Hear Us? The album was released under the name the David Crowder Band, as Crowder was joined by guitarists Jack Parker and Jason Solley, drummer Jeremy Bush, bassist Mike Dodson, and electric violinist Mike Hogan. Two of the original members, Jason Solley and Taylor Johnson left the band and Taylor Johnson joined as an electric guitarist and mandolin player. The group won 7 Dove Awards and was named MSN's Artist of the Year for 2006. The band announced through their website that the band would end after the completion of the Fall 2011 The 7 Tour, and the release of their sixth album.