Keith Getty

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See also: Keith & Kristyn Getty

Keith Getty
OBE
Getty in 2008
Born
Julian Keith Getty

(1974-12-16) 16 December 1974 (age 50)
Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Alma materSt Chad's College, Durham (BA)
Occupations
  • Businessman
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1995–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2004)​
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • vocals
  • piano
  • flute
  • guitar
Labels
  • Getty Music
  • Thankyou Music
Websitegettymusic.com

Julian Keith Getty OBE (born 16 December 1974) is a Northern Irish businessman, Christian singer and songwriter, best known for writing the song "In Christ Alone" in 2001 with veteran songwriter and worship leader Stuart Townend. Getty and his wife, Kristyn, also release music under the musical duo Keith & Kristyn Getty.

Overview

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Getty is a composer of Christian hymns. His song "In Christ Alone" is sung by an estimated 100 million people worldwide each year and was voted the third most popular hymn of all time in Britain on BBC's Songs of Praise.[1] He has since written or published 38 of the top 500 songs sung in churches in the USA and UK as measured by CCLI.[2]

As a recording artist, Getty's album Confessio: Irish American Roots was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Roots Album and he has received two GMA Dove Awards.[3][4] Often considered an ambassador for hymns, he has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Royal Albert Hall, and Sydney Opera House.[2]

In 2017 Christianity Today described Getty and his wife Kristyn as "preeminent" hymn writers whose songs have "changed the way evangelicals worship."[5] In 2018 Getty was named Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Elizabeth II for contributions to "Music and Modern Hymn Writing," making him the first contemporary church musician to receive this award.[6]

Getty and his wife also own and operate their own record label, touring and song publishing company known as Getty Music. The organization hosts an annual church music conference called Sing! in Nashville, TN, attended by over 7,000 people.[7] The couple also co-founded a charitable non-profit, the Getty Music Foundation, to implement global educational initiatives.

Early life

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Getty was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, to Helen Getty (née Irwin) and John Getty. He is the eldest of four children.

Getty began making music at age 11, learning to play the classical guitar; at 12 years old he began playing the flute. During school, Getty was influenced by classical music, Irish music, and church music of all kinds. As a young adult, he studied music at St Chad's College, Durham University, graduating with his Bachelor of Arts in 1995.[8] As a student, Getty completed special conducting opportunities at the Canford Summer School of Music and the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts. Getty participated in a summer master class under Irish flautist Sir James Galway.[9]

Personal life

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Kristyn met Keith Getty in 2002 after being introduced by Kristyn's uncle, John Lennox. Kristyn was attending a nearby university and asked Getty for some musical advice. After dating for two years, the couple married on 16 June 2004. The couple have four children.

Getty and his wife live between Portstewart, Northern Ireland and Nashville, Tennessee with their four daughters.

Career

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Keith and Kristyn Getty

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Main article: Keith and Kristyn Getty

Keith and his wife Kristyn write and release hymns together, in addition to performing around the world. They have also co-authored a book on congregational worship called Sing! [10]

Children's albums

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Keith and Kristyn together have written and produced a number of children's worship albums.[citation needed]

  • 2005: Songs That Jesus Said, a collection of songs for children
  • 2016: Getty Kids Hymnal: In Christ Alone
  • 2017: Getty Kids Hymnal: For the Cause
  • 2018: Getty Kids Hymnal: Family Hymn Sing
  • 2019: Getty Kids Hymnal: Family Carol Sing
  • 2020: Evensong: Hymns and Lullabies at the Close of Day

Evensong: Hymns and Lullabies at the Close of Day went to Billboard number 1 in 2020.[11]

Orchestrator

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In addition to his work with his wife as Keith & Kristyn Getty, Getty has also orchestrated or produced music for a number of other projects.[9] These include orchestrations for Michael W. Smith's 2004 Healing Rain album, McDonald's television commercials, and Silvascreen label movie soundtrack recordings Music from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy[12] and Once upon a Time: The Essential Ennio Morricone.[13] He wrote and produced the music for the 1998 C. S. Lewis International Centenary Celebrations.[14]

"In Christ Alone" song

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Main article: In Christ Alone (song)

In 2001, Stuart Townend and Getty wrote the song "In Christ Alone" with the purpose of creating a modern hymn that would explain the life of Christ.[15] They released it on the Kingsway album New Irish Hymns, featuring vocalists Máire Brennan, Margaret Becker, and Joanne Hogg. The song gained popularity, and by 2005 it was named by a BBC Songs of Praise survey as the ninth best loved hymn of all time, and in their 2010 survey was named second best hymn of all time.[16] The British Hymn Society nominated "In Christ Alone" as one of the top five hymns of all time, and BBC One's "Songs of Praise" nominated "In Christ Alone" as a top 10 hymn in 2012.[17]

Since CCLI began tracking the weekly Top 100 songs from their license reporting in 2017, "In Christ Alone" has not once fallen from the list, [18] and more of Getty's compositions appear in CCLI’s Top 500 Songs in the UK than those of any other songwriter. [19]

Recognition

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Keith Getty received the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first church musician of the modern era to be given the award for contribution to music and hymn writing.[20]

Getty has received honorary doctorates from Lancaster Bible College and Dallas Baptist University, and he has been awarded the Freedom of the City of Lisburn.[21]

He is Honorary President and founder of the New Irish Arts,[22] and Keith and Kristyn were both named fellows in 2019 of The Royal School of Church Music.[23]

The album North Coast Sessions received a Dove award in 2019 for Inspirational Album of the Year.

A number of Getty Music Albums have been nominated for a Dove Award:[24][25]

  • The album, "Awaken the Dawn" was nominated for Inspirational Album of the year 2008.
  • The album "Hymns for the Christian Life" was also nominated for a Dove award in 2013.
  • Getty Kids Hymnal-For the Cause – Children's Music Album of the Year (2018)
  • Getty Kids Hymnal-Family Carol Sing – Children's Music Album of the Year (2020)
  • His Mercy Is More (the Hymnal of Matt Boswell and Matt Papa) – Inspirational Album of the Year (2020)
  • Elizabeth (with Ellie Holcomb) – Roots/Americana Song of the Year (2020)

Evensong, Kristyn's album of hymns and lullabies to help people through the COVID-19 pandemic hit number one on USA Billboard Children's Album Charts.[26]

TV and special appearances

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The couple has also appeared on national television (CBS, PBS, BBC), most notably on Public Television (PBS) in 2015 to 45 + million homes with their Christmas Music special, Joy—An Irish Christmas,[27] in 2021 for BBC Northern Ireland "At home with the Gettys"[28] and a TBN in 2019 special filmed live at the world famous Grand Ole Opry House.[29]

In 2017, the hymn writers performed for US Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Second Lady Karen Pence at the Vice President's residence.[30] In addition the couple have performed for President George W. Bush, the United Nations, South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak, the Enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury and for former UK Prime Minister Theresa May.[31]

Discography

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•           2002: Tapestry Keith Getty and Kristyn Lennox (Getty)

•           2003: New Irish Hymns 2 (with Margaret Becker and Joanne Hogg)

•           2004: New Irish Hymns 3: Incarnation (with Margaret Becker and Joanne Hogg)

•           2005: New Irish Hymns 4 (with Margaret Becker and Joanne Hogg)

•           2005: Songs That Jesus Said; a collection of songs for children

•           2007: In Christ Alone

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Grammy-nominated hymn-writer wrote most famous tune on back of power bill". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 27 December 2022. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b Savage, Joanne (30 June 2023). "Award-winning NI Christian singer/songwriter couple Keith and Kristym Getty take to stage in Oz in culmination of tour". NewsLetter. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  3. ^ "NI hymn writers lose out on Grammy but speak of 'privilege' at nomination and conversations with Elvis Costello". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 6 February 2023. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  4. ^ Spence, Julie-Ann (2 November 2022). "Modern hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty take home esteemed Children's Music Award". Northern Ireland World. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  5. ^ Guthrie|, Steve (18 August 2017). "Keith and Kristyn Getty: Singing Isn't Just for Sunday". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Hymn Writer Keith Getty Marks First Individual to Receive OBE Award Involved in World of Contemporary Church Music - The Gospel Music Association". gospelmusic.org. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  7. ^ Alcindor, Nicole; Reporter, C. P. (13 September 2022). "Thousands attend Getty Music conference to rediscover how worship cultivates devotion for Christ". The Christian Post. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  8. ^ "The Queen's Birthday Honours 2017". Durham University Alumni. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Gettymusic – Online music resources for the church". 26 August 2009. Archived from the original on 26 August 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Hymn Writer Keith Getty Marks First Individual to Receive OBE Award Involved in World of Contemporary Church Music". Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Kid Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the - Music from the Movies". Archived from the original on 4 July 2004.
  13. ^ "EMusic". Archived from the original on 21 September 2008.
  14. ^ "C S Lewis Centenary Group - C S Lewis News - August 1998". 22 September 1999. Archived from the original on 22 September 1999. Retrieved 27 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ "Worship Together | New Worship Songs Music and Resources". Worshiptogether.com. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  16. ^ "BBC One – Songs of Praise". BBC. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  17. ^ "BBC One – Songs of Praise". BBC. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  18. ^ "CCLI SongSelect Top 100". Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Getty Music - About Us". Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  20. ^ "No. 61962". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2017. p. B11.
  21. ^ "Council Agrees to Confer Two Freedoms of the City". www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  22. ^ "New Irish Arts". Newirisharts.com. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  23. ^ "RSCM Honorary Awards – 2019". RSCM. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Dove Awards: Inspirational Album :: CMnexus". cmnexus.org. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  25. ^ "Dove Tail". Baptist Quarterly. 41 (1): 57. January 2005. doi:10.1179/bqu.2005.41.1.003. ISSN 0005-576X. S2CID 218661580.
  26. ^ "Getty's New EVENSONG Album #1 On BillBoard Charts". The Classical Difference. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  27. ^ "Hitting the right notes: Hymn writer Keith Getty on why it took him some time to woo wife Kristyn". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  28. ^ "BBC One – At Home with the Gettys". BBC. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  29. ^ "Northern Ireland couple to host global Christian music event in Nashville". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  30. ^ "Washington event for Northern Ireland hymn-writing couple". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  31. ^ "PM attends as record numbers at National Prayer Breakfast – Inspire Magazine". www.inspiremagazine.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
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