Toby Ma

With two recent number one singles on the contemporary Christian music charts, a trophy case full of Dove and Grammy Awards and a career stretching back to the 1980s, Toby Mac could easily fill arenas on his own. However, each year he invites a handful of likeminded Christian acts to join him on the road for his Hits Deep Tour, making a stop at the Nutter Center in Fairborn on Friday, March 22.

It was a savvy move considering Hits Deep 2018 was the highest grossing Christian music tour of last year. The 2019 lineup includes Jeremy Camp, Jordan Feliz, Ryan Stevenson, We Are Messengers and Aaron Cole.

“We want to make it different every year so, first you have to look at who is available,” Mac said. “It has a lot to do with who has just released records and is able to tour. We also look at overall friendships and diversity within the bill. I knew all these acts in some capacity. I toured with a few of them and others like Jordan Feliz, I’ve gotten to be around a little bit backstage.”

The artist, born Toby McKeehan in Fairfax, Va., in 1964, was a member of DC Talk from 1987 to 2001. His debut solo album, “Momentum,” was released by ForeFront Records in November 2001. Since then, he has won 19 Dove Awards and three Grammy Awards, scored 21 top 10 singles and sold more than 11-million units.

In October, ForeFront released Mac’s eighth solo studio album, “The Elements.” It was his fifth release to reach number one on Billboard’s Christian Albums chart and featured the number one Christian singles “I Just Need U” and “Everything.”

“I’m always writing,” Mac said. “As I move though society and my community, whether I’m on tour or at home, I’m writing songs all the time. I watch people and I watch the news and I’m reacting to all those things in writing lyrics and song concepts. After about a year-and-a-half, I get back into the studio and try to turn those thoughts into songs. It takes me about a year, if I do it right.”

WANT TO GO?

What: Toby Mac's Hits Deep 2019 Tour featuring Jeremy Camp, Jordan Feliz, Ryan Stevenson, We Are Messengers and Aaron Cole

Where: Nutter Center, 3650 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Fairborn

When: 7 p.m. Friday, March 22

Cost: $16-$89

More info: 937-775-4789 or www.nuttercenter.com

Artist info: www.tobymac.com

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