Phil Joel

Philip Joel Urry (born 5 January 1973), known by his stage name Phil Joel, is a New Zealand musician and former bassist for the Christian rock group Newsboys.

Phil Joel
Phil Joel at Piha beach in New Zealand
Phil Joel at Piha beach in New Zealand
Background information
Birth namePhilip Joel Urry
Born (1973-01-05) 5 January 1973
OriginAuckland, New Zealand
GenresChristian pop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, bass
Years active1990s–present
LabelsInpop, Curb
Websitewww.philjoel.com www.zealand.band

Background

Philip Joel Urry was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He was lead singer and guitarist for the band Drinkwater, of which released their eponymous six-track EP in 1991 and a full length CD, Three Murky Vibes, in 1993.[1]

Urry was recruited as bass player for Newsboys after the band noticed him during Drinkwater's 1994 opening slot for Newsboys in Auckland.[2] Urry moved to the United States to join the Newsboys on August 13, 1994[3] and soon after changed his surname to Joel to avoid potential pronunciation issues.[4]

In June 2000, Joel released his first solo album, Watching Over You, on Inpop Records.[5] He supported this album with the Strangely Normal Tour accompanied by LaRue, Luna Halo, Earthsuit, V*Enna & Katy Hudson (now known as Katy Perry).

Newsboys at the 2001 National Lutheran Youth Gathering, with Phil Joel in the foreground

Joel's second solo album, Bring It On, was released in November 2002 also on Inpop. His third album, The deliberatePeople. Album was released on 18 November 2005 in conjunction with Phil and Heather Joel's newly founded Christian ministry, deliberatePeople. The album was praised for its stripped down rock,[6] reminiscent of the Jesus Music era of Christian Music.[7]

Joel's wife, Heather, is a former host of All Access and Hit Trip on CMT. He met Heather at a radio station in her native Kansas. They were married in 1996 and have two children.

In December 2006, Joel announced that he would be leaving the Newsboys in order to devote more time to his family. In September 2008, Joel released his fifth solo CD titled The New Normal, which was his third self-produced album.[8]

Joel began the project Zealand Worship in 2015.[9]

In December 2017 it was announced that Joel would be joining his former Newsboys band mates on the year-long Newsboys United tour.[10]

Joel's debut book, Redwoods & Whales, was released by Thomas Nelson on 16 April 2019.[11]

In 2020, while much of the world was experiencing lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Joel took part in "The Blessing - Aotearoa/New Zealand", a virtual choir featuring over 200 New Zealanders performing "The Blessing". Performers from various churches and denominations across New Zealand submitted a video of themselves performing the song, which was then edited into a cohesive video. This was inspired by the many countries who had done the same.[12]

In January 2021 Joel returned to his solo career, releasing the EP Better Than I Found It, which he recorded in his home studio during lockdown in Franklin, Tennessee.[13]

Discography

Drinkwater
  • Drinkwater (independent cassette EP, 1991)
  • Three Murky Vibes (independent CD album, 1993)

Zealand Worship

Newsboys

Solo Albums

Singles
  • "Don't Look Now" (Drinkwater, 1993, Three Murky Vibes) – New Zealand Rock Radio airplay[15]
  • "God Is Watching Over You" (2000, Watching Over You) – Christian CHR No. 2, Christian AC No. 9
  • "Strangely Normal" (2000, Watching Over You) – Christian CHR No. 5
  • "Author of Life" (2000, Watching Over You)
  • "Be Number One" (2000, Watching Over You)
  • "I Adore You" (2002, Bring It On) – Christian AC No. 21
  • "Resolution" (2002, Bring It On)
  • "No Longer" (2002, Bring It On)
  • "The Man You Want Me to Be" (2002, Bring It On) – Billboard Christian Songs No. 22, Christian AC No. 15
  • "Changed" (2006, The deliberatePeople. Album)
  • "Good Good Father" (2015, Zealand Worship - The EP)
  • "Your Love is Wild" (2016, Your Love is Wild - Single)
  • "Spirit Sing" (2018, Liberated)

References
  1. Wilson, Brett (2020). Let's Back Up a Bit: Conversations With Pioneering Kiwi Christian Musicians. Auckland: Castle Publishing Ltd. pp. 195–197. ISBN 978-0-473-53464-6.
  2. Wilson, Brett (2020). Let's Back Up a Bit: Conversations With Pioneering Kiwi Christian Musicians. Auckland: Castle Publishing Ltd. pp. 185–186. ISBN 978-0-473-53464-6.
  3. Wilson, Brett (2020). Let's Back Up a Bit: Conversations With Pioneering Kiwi Christian Musicians. Auckland: Castle Publishing Ltd. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-473-53464-6.
  4. Wilson, Brett (2020). Let's Back Up a Bit: Conversations With Pioneering Kiwi Christian Musicians. Auckland: Castle Publishing Ltd. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-473-53464-6.
  5. Powell, Mark Allan (2002). "Phil Joel". Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. p. 451. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
  6. DiBiase, John (17 November 2005). "Phil Joel, "the deliberatePeople. album" Review". jesusfreakhideout.com.
  7. Saraco, Bert. "The Deliberate People Album". The Phantom Tollbooth.
  8. "Phil Joel Unleashes 'The New Normal' This Week". CMSpin. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011.
  9. "Zealand Bio". ZEALAND. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  10. News, CCM (12 December 2017). "Newsboys 'Unite' for unprecedented 2018 tour". Retrieved 13 January 2018. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. Joel, Phil (2019). Redwoods and whales : becoming who you actually are. Nashville, Tennessee. ISBN 978-0-7852-2947-6. OCLC 1080997173.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  12. "Grammy-Nominated Song, The Blessing Goes Gold". gospelmusic.org. Gospel Music Association. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  13. "Phil Joel Returns With 'Better Than I Found It'". TCB. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  14. "Phil Joel Artist Profile - NewReleaseToday". Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  15. Wilson, Brett (2020). Let's Back Up a Bit: Conversations With Pioneering Kiwi Christian Musicians. Auckland: Castle Publishing Ltd. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-473-53464-6.
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