Editing Third Day (section)

== History ==
=== Forming years and independent recordings (1991–1994) ===
In 1991, high-schoolers Mac Powell and Mark Lee formed Third Day as a Christian music group with pianist Billy Wilkins and guitarist August McCoy. McCoy left the following year to pursue tertiary (geology) education. At a 1992 event at Lee's Church, Third Day performed alongside a band called the Bullard Family Singers, which featured David Carr and Tai Anderson. Third Day invited Carr and Anderson to join them shortly after.<ref name="Third Day"/>

In 1993, the band started playing more frequently in the [[Atlanta]] region in order to make money to record an album. Wilkins left the group in order to pursue his teaching career.<ref>{{cite web|author=Third Day|url=http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/93.htm|title=Third Day Timeline (1993)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320213805/http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/93.htm|archive-date=March 20, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Third Day recorded at Furies Studios in Atlanta and with the production help of Carr, ''Long Time Forgotten'' was released in 1994, producing and selling 2,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web|author=Third Day|url=http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/94.htm|title=Third Day Timeline (1994)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320213827/http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/94.htm|archive-date=March 20, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 1995, the band started looking for a second guitarist. After hearing Brad Avery play with singer Chris Carder, Avery was asked to audition. After playing ''Consuming Fire'' during the first rehearsal, Avery was officially asked to join the band.

The band's second album, ''Contagious'', was self-financed for $3,000 and recorded at Furies Studios. 1,000 CDs and cassette copies of the demo were released. While playing in Marietta, at the Strand Theatre, the owners offered the band a contract to sign with new independent record label Gray Dot Records. The band released the album ''[[Third Day (Independent album)|Third Day]]'', which sold 20,000 copies. Shortly after, [[Reunion Records]] bought out their Gray Dot contract and signed the band to a multi-album deal.<ref>{{cite web|author=Third Day|url=http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/95.htm|title=Third Day Timeline (1995)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320212739/http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/95.htm|archive-date=March 20, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Recording contract with Reunion Records (1995–1997) ===
Reunion Records released the now official version of ''Third Day'', which has sold over 300,000 copies and was well received by critics. The album also yielded their only mainstream rock radio hit in the U.S., "Nothing at All", which peaked at No.&nbsp;34 on the [[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] rock charts.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p182586/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} Billboard]{{cite web|author=Third Day|url=http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/97.htm|title=Third Day Timeline (1997)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320212812/http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/97.htm|archive-date=March 20, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Later in 1995, Christian music headliner [[Newsboys]] asked Third Day to open for them at five West Coast shows. The band also launched their own 65-city tour with [[All Star United]] and [[Seven Day Jesus]] opening for them.

In 1996, the band was nominated for a [[Dove Award]] in the category of ''New Artist of the Year'' and their video for ''Consuming Fire'' directed by [[Chris Metzler]] and [[Jeff Springer]] won a [[Billboard Music Award]] in the category of ''Best Christian Video''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Third Day|url=http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/96.htm|title=Third Day Timeline (1996)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320212750/http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/96.htm|archive-date=March 20, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The video was shot on location in [[Bombay Beach, California]] and other places around the Salton Sea. This experience and discovering [[Leonard Knight]]'s [[Salvation Mountain]] nearby later inspired the album artwork for the band's album ''Revelation''.

In 1997, the band started working on their second album, ''[[Conspiracy No. 5]]''. The album was produced by [[Sam Taylor (producer)|Sam Taylor]], who had previously worked with [[King's X]] and other Christian bands. The album was nominated for a [[Grammy]] and won Dove Awards for Rock Album of the Year and Rock Song of the Year ("Alien").<ref>{{cite web|author=Third Day|url=http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/97.htm|title=Third Day Timeline (1997)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320212812/http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/97.htm|archive-date=March 20, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The following year, the band toured around the United States, both alone and again opening for Newsboys. Also in 1998, the band recorded a cover of [[Michael W. Smith]]'s "Agnus Dei" for his Dove Award-winning compilation project ''[[Exodus (compilation album)|Exodus]]''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gospel Music Museum|url=http://www.gospelmusicmuseum.org/#!__rising-legends/third-day|title=Rising Legends/Third Day|access-date=February 25, 2016}}</ref>

=== Mainstream and international success (1998–2006) ===
In 1998, the band started working on ''[[Time (Third Day album)|Time]]'' with Monroe Jones as the producer. ''Time'' was nominated for a Grammy Award and won another Dove Award for the band.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}} Some of the songs that were recorded for possible inclusion in the album, but left out during production, are on the [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[Southern Tracks]]''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Third Day |url=http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/99.htm |title=Third Day Timeline (1999) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320212805/http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/99.htm |archive-date=March 20, 2006 |df=mdy }}</ref> During the band's live shows they included a significant portion of worship music, prompting the band to release an album made up exclusively of worship songs. The subsequent album ''[[Offerings: A Worship Album]]'' took about a week to record. In 2000, to support both ''Time'' and ''Offerings'', Third Day went on tour alongside [[Jennifer Knapp]]. Later in the same year, the band collaborated on the project ''[[City on a Hill: Songs of Worship and Praise]]'' with [[FFH (band)|FFH]], [[Caedmon's Call]], [[SonicFlood]], [[Jars of Clay]], and others.<ref>{{cite web|author=Third Day|url=http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/00.htm|title=Third Day Timeline (2000)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320213810/http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/00.htm|archive-date=March 20, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 2001, the band played in Australia and New Zealand on the heels of the success of the ''Offerings'' album. While touring in the US, Third Day recorded a concert attended by 15,000 fans at the [[HiFi Buys Amphitheatre]] in [[Atlanta]] to be released as their first DVD, ''The Offerings Experience''.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}} That same year, the band won five Dove Awards as well as their first Grammy. They closed the year with the release of their fifth studio album, ''[[Come Together (Third Day album)|Come Together]]'', which won two Dove Awards and a Grammy. The album was certified gold the next year, along with ''Time''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Third Day|url=http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/01.htm|title=Third Day Timeline (2001)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320213817/http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/01.htm|archive-date=March 20, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Third Day|url=http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/02.htm|title=Third Day Timeline (2002)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320213820/http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/02.htm|archive-date=March 20, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The band appeared in the 2002 film ''Joshua'', the movie version of the story of [[Joseph Girzone]]. The Third Day song ''My Hope is You'' was included in the ''Joshua'' soundtrack album. In 2003, the band released a follow-up to their hit worship CD ''Offerings'' entitled ''[[Offerings II: All I Have to Give]]''.

In 2004, the band released their seventh album, ''[[Wire (Third Day album)|Wire]]'', and toured the States with [[tobyMac]] and [[Warren Barfield]]. In June of the same year, they traveled to Europe for a two-week tour. Upon returning the band recorded a concert at [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] and released it as the live album, ''Live Wire''. During the same year, they collaborated on the soundtrack for [[Mel Gibson]]'s film, ''[[The Passion of the Christ: Songs|The Passion of the Christ]]'', played at the [[Republican National Convention]] and were featured on ''[[60 Minutes]]''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Third Day|url=http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/04.htm|title=Third Day Timeline (2004)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320212745/http://www.thirdday.com/timeline/04.htm|archive-date=March 20, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In January 2007, the band played one night each in [[Melbourne]], [[Brisbane]], and [[Sydney]], Australia.<ref>[http://www.96five.com/page.asp?navstr=12,260&Pagecat=260 96five FM and 7News Tour Information] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901212708/http://www.96five.com/page.asp?navstr=12,260&Pagecat=260 |date=September 1, 2007 }}</ref>

The band's next album, ''[[Wherever You Are (Third Day album)|Wherever You Are]]'', debuted on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] at No. 8.<ref>{{cite web|author=Billboard.com|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=vincent berry|chart=all}}|title=Billboard Third Day Chart History}}</ref> It also won the band their third Grammy Award.

=== Christmas and compilation albums (2006–2008) ===
The band recorded and released its first Christmas-themed album, ''[[Christmas Offerings]]'', in 2006. In 2007, they released their first compilations of hits, ''[[Chronology Volume 1|Chronology]]''.

On February 28, 2008, Third Day released a statement announcing Brad Avery's departure from the band after 13 years and over 1,000 concerts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/headlines/11569635/|title=Christian Music, Christ, Community – CCMMagazine.com|access-date=December 29, 2010|archive-date=June 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617070839/http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/headlines/11569635/|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the official press release, Avery left the band to pursue solo projects and Third Day would not replace him, continuing on as a quartet. Following Avery's departure, the band performed at the April 2008 Papal Youth Rally at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y.

=== ''Revelation'' and ''Live Revelations'' (2008–2010) ===
Supporting the July 29, 2008, release of their new album ''[[Revelation (Third Day album)|Revelation]]'', the band appeared on ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'' where they performed the album's first single ''Call My Name'' and on November 20, 2008, they appeared on ''[[The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson]]'' performing the album's title track. The song "This Is Who I Am" also appears in [[EA Sports]] [[NASCAR]] video game ''[[NASCAR 09]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Hayward|first=Andrew|url=http://www.1up.com/news/nascar-09-soundtrack-revealed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105205656/http://www.1up.com/news/nascar-09-soundtrack-revealed|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2012|title=NASCAR 09 Soundtrack Revealed|website=[[1UP.com]]|date=May 22, 2008|access-date=December 21, 2012}}</ref> though the album was released over a month after the game. "[[Call My Name (Third Day song)|Call My Name]]" hit No.&nbsp;1 and was the fifth most-played song on [[R&R (magazine)|R&R magazine's]] [[Contemporary Christian Music|Christian CHR]] chart for 2008.<ref name=RR2008CHR>The band also had two tracks on the soundtrack for the 2008 release of the film "Fireproof." [http://www.radioandrecords.com/Formats/Charts/YearEnd/08/Christian_CHR_songs.asp 2008 Year End Charts/Top Christian CHR songs] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525080129/http://www.radioandrecords.com/Formats/Charts/YearEnd/08/Christian_CHR_songs.asp |date=May 25, 2009 }}, R&R magazine, Retrieved January 6, 2009</ref>

In April 2009, the band released a live version of the album ''Revelation'' under the title ''Live Revelations'' as a CD/DVD combination. Third Day was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on September 19, 2009. In December 2009, Third Day was nominated for three [[2009 Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]], with ''Live Revelations'' winning ''Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album'', their fourth career Grammy, and receiving nominations for "Born Again" in the two categories ''Best Gospel Performance'' and ''Best Gospel Song''. ''Live Revelations'' achieved Gold status in its month of release, becoming the band's eighth album to do so.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}

=== ''Move'' (2010) ===
Third Day was featured on [[Winter Jam]] 2010, touring alongside a variety of contemporary Christian groups including the [[Newsboys]], [[Fireflight]], and [[Tenth Avenue North]]. After releasing the single, "Lift Up Your Face" in July 2010, Third Day released their tenth studio album, ''[[Move (Third Day album)|Move]]'', on October 19, 2010. On October 30 they finished the [[World Vision]]-sponsored tour ''Make a Difference Tour 2010'' with TobyMac, Michael W. Smith, [[Jason Gray (singer-songwriter)|Jason Gray]], and [[Max Lucado]] in [[Fayetteville, North Carolina|Fayetteville]], [[North Carolina|NC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.makeadifferencetour.com|title=Make a Difference Tour Website}}</ref> The group's song "Follow Me There" from ''Move'' is featured as the theme song to the [[TLC (TV channel)|TLC Television]] show ''[[Sarah Palin's Alaska]]'' which debuted in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thirdday.com/news/%E2%80%9Cfollow-me-there%E2%80%9D-selected-theme-song-tlc%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Csarah-palin%E2%80%99s-alaska%E2%80%9D-2523|title="Follow Me There" Selected as Theme Song for TLC's ''Sarah Palin's Alaska''|date=November 12, 2010|access-date=December 22, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222012303/https://www.thirdday.com/news/%E2%80%9Cfollow-me-there%E2%80%9D-selected-theme-song-tlc%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Csarah-palin%E2%80%99s-alaska%E2%80%9D-2523|archive-date=December 22, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== ''Miracle'' and ''Lead Us Back: Songs of Worship'' (2012–2017) ===
Third Day released ''[[Miracle (Third Day album)|Miracle]]'' on November 6, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Third Day at work on its next studio project|url=http://thirdday.com/blogs/news/third-day-work-its-next-studio-project|access-date=June 6, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620110550/http://thirdday.com/blogs/news/third-day-work-its-next-studio-project|archive-date=June 20, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The band toured ''Miracle'' on the ''Miracle Tour'' with artists [[Colton Dixon]] and [[Josh Wilson (musician)|Josh Wilson]] as their opening acts, commencing on February 21, 2013, in [[Fairfax, Virginia]] and concluding on May 19, 2014, in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}}

Third Day released the worship album ''[[Lead Us Back: Songs of Worship]]'' on March 3, 2015.<ref name="JFH MAIN">{{cite web |first=Alex |last=Caldwell |title=Third Day, "Lead Us Back: Songs of Worship" Review |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/LeadUsBack.asp |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout |access-date=March 2, 2015}}</ref> The album, produced by The Sound Kids (Jonny Macintosh and [[JT Daly]]) as a worship experience with Third Day at the center of a "friend choir",<ref name="Sound Kids">{{cite web|title=Lead Us Back: Songs of Worship|url=http://www.thirdday.com/band|access-date=February 25, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301114402/http://www.thirdday.com/band|archive-date=March 1, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> peaked at No. 20 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/419522/Third+Day/chart?f=305|title=Third Day|work=billboard.com}}</ref> No. 1 on the [[List of number-one Billboard Christian Albums|Christian Albums]] chart,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/419522/Third+Day/chart?f=310|title=Third Day|work=billboard.com}}</ref> No. 5 on the Top Rock Albums chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/419522/Third+Day/chart?f=408|title=Third Day|work=billboard.com}}</ref> and No. 13 on the Digital Albums chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/419522/Third+Day/chart?f=400|title=Third Day|work=billboard.com}}</ref> The album has had one single, "Soul on Fire", that spent 19 weeks on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' charts, peaking at No. 2 on Hot Christian Songs<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/419522/third-day/chart?f=355|title=Third Day|work=billboard.com}}</ref> and No. 3 on Christian Digital Songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/419522/third-day/chart?f=1095|title=Third Day|work=billboard.com}}</ref> In 2015, bassist Tai Anderson announced he would take "a break from the upcoming touring season with Third Day". Anderson has been with the band for 23 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newreleasetoday.com/news_detail.php?newsid=607|title=Tai Anderson Announces Hiatus From Third Day|publisher=New Release Today|date=January 31, 2015|access-date=November 9, 2015}}</ref>

=== ''Revival'' and farewell (2017–2018) ===
To celebrate their 25th anniversary, Third Day released the back-to-their-roots album, ''Revival'', on August 4, 2017, recorded at [[FAME Studios]] in [[Muscle Shoals, Alabama]]. Third Day reunited with producer Monroe Jones, who had worked with Third Day on six previous albums including ''Time'', ''Offerings I'' and ''II'', and ''Come Together''.<ref name="billboard.com">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7849077/third-day-revival-album-interview|title=Third Day Talks Returning to Southern Rock Roots on 'Revival,' Shares Behind-the-Scenes Video|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=March 3, 2018}}</ref>

On March 2, 2018, Third Day announced their farewell with 12 shows as a last chance to see them live.<ref name="billboard.com"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Farewell Tour Announcement|url=https://www.facebook.com/ThirdDay/videos/10155410726942951/|website=Facebook|access-date=March 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8225261/third-day-farewell-tour|title=Third Day to Disband After Farewell Tour: Exclusive|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=March 4, 2018}}</ref> The farewell tour eventually expanded to 20 concerts. June 27, 2018, in [[Denver]] was the final show added.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newreleasetoday.com/news_detail.php?newsid=3150|title=Third Day Farewell Tour Announces Additional Dates|website=www.newreleasetoday.com|access-date=July 5, 2018}}</ref>