Jars of Clay

With multiple Grammy Awards and Dove Awards to their name, Jars of Clay are one of the most successful Christian rock bands of all time. However, the Nashville group—whose members met at Greenville College in Illinois—have also enjoyed success in the secular music world. Jars of Clay’s 1995 self-titled debut featured the earnest, Adrian Belew-produced single “Flood”, which reached the U.S. Top 40 and fit right in with the folk-influenced modern-rock sound that was popular in the ’90s. The group followed up this success in 1997 with the platinum-certified Much Afraid, which featured another alternative-radio hit, the driving pop-rocker “Crazy Times”, and then hit No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums chart in 1999 with If I Left the Zoo. Post-2000, Jars of Clay have continued to enjoy success with both music that is overtly informed by their faith (2005’s Redemption Songs, which features hymns and traditional songs), and more-secular sounds (like 2013’s affable pop-rock album Inland, produced by Tucker Martine, who has worked with The Decemberists).