TobyMac

Kevin Michael McKeehan
tobyMac performing in 2015
tobyMac performing in 2015
Background information
Birth nameKevin Michael McKeehan
Also known asToby McKeehan or TobyMac
Born (1964-10-22) October 22, 1964 (age 60)
Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1987–present[1]
Labels
Member ofDC Talk
Spouse
Amanda Levy
​
(m. 1994)​
Websitetobymac.com

Kevin Michael McKeehan[2] (born October 22, 1964), better known by his stage name TobyMac (styled tobyMac), is an American contemporary Christian music singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. His road band is known as Diverse City. He was first known for being a member of the Christian rap and rock trio DC Talk, staying with them from 1987 until they went on hiatus in 2000. He has since continued a successful solo career with the release of ten studio albums: Momentum (2001), Welcome to Diverse City (2004), Portable Sounds (2007), Tonight (2010), Christmas in Diverse City (2011), Eye on It (2012), This Is Not a Test (2015), The Elements (2018), Life After Death (2022), as well as five remixed albums: Re:Mix Momentum (2003), Renovating Diverse City (2005), Dubbed and Freq'd: A Remix Project (2012), Eye'm All Mixed Up (2014) and The St. Nemele Collab Sessions (2019). He became the third Christian artist to have a No. 1 debut on Billboard 200 chart[3] with Eye on It.[4][5]

Between DC Talk and his own solo career, he has sold more than 10 million albums[6] and won seven Grammy Awards.[7] He has had six No. 1 hit CHR singles[8] including "Gone", "Made to Love", and "Lose My Soul". Six singles have gone to No. 1 on Billboard's Christian Songs chart, making him one of the artists with the most No. 1 hits on that chart.[9] His live concert CD+DVD combo album, Alive and Transported, was released in 2008 and received the Grammy Award for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009.[10] His fifth studio album, Eye on It, received a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 2013 Grammys,[11] along with his sixth album, This Is Not a Test winning the same award at the 2016 Grammys.[12]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference jfh profile was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Williams, Preston (May 15, 2008). "Giving Up Sports Has Never Sounded So Good". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
  3. ^ Caulfield, Keith. "Toby Mac Brings Christian Music Back To No. 1." Billboard 124.32 (2012): 49. Music Index. Web. October 4, 2015.
  4. ^ "Christian Music, Christian Music Video, Christian Music News". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  5. ^ Sisario, Ben (September 6, 2012). "A Christian Album Tops the Chart". The New York Times. p. 1 – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ "Christian Music, Christian Music Video, Christian Music News". Hear It First. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
  7. ^ "GRAMMY Award Results for TobyMac". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  8. ^ Jones, Richard O. (January 23, 2009). "Francesca Battistelli brings theater perspective to Christian music". The Middletown Journal. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  9. ^ "tobyMac". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  10. ^ "The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Winners List". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  11. ^ "Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News, February 2013: TobyMac Wins Grammy For Best Contemporary Christian Music Album EYE ON IT". www.jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  12. ^ premprod. "TobyMac Wins Seventh Grammy for 'This is Not a Test' – Premier Productions LLC". Retrieved April 9, 2023.