MercyMe celebrate 10 years since 'I can only imagine'

|PIC1|It’s been 10 years since MercyMe frontman Bart Millard penned “I Can Only Imagine”, a touchingly personal song about his father’s early death that catapulted the group to nothing short of superstardom.

The down-to-earth Texas-based band’s breakthrough hit went on to sell almost three million units, race up the charts on Top 40, AC, Christian and Country charts, and be adopted as an anthem by hurting people around the world. In a testament to “I Can Only Imagine’s” timelessness, it remains a favourite on Christian radio playlists today.

To mark this epic anniversary, and to celebrate one of the most powerful songs and popular groups in Christian music history, MercyMe is releasing “10” on April 7. “10” is a new CD and DVD set that showcases twelve number one singles and videos that span the band’s career.

The “10” audio CD features all eleven of MercyMe’s number one radio hits that span their five studio releases, from 2001’s Almost There to their 2007 release All That Is Within Me. The disc also features three bonus tracks including a new recording of “I Can Only Imagine” with the famed London Symphony Orchestra, the never-before-released track “Only Temporary,” as well as the live show cult hit, “10 Simple Rules”, originally featured on the kids video “Hoop Dogz”.

The companion DVD brings the music to life, featuring a diverse mix of concept videos and live performances that showcase how the bands unique brand of music has won hearts in local venues and around the world. In addition to the eleven live and concept videos, fans can view an inside glimpse of the story behind “I Can Only Imagine” and get up close and personal with the band through their appearance on Gospel Music Channel’s “Faith & Fame” feature.

For listeners who first met MercyMe through the story of Millard’s father, which inspired “I Can Only Imagine”, “10” will be a musical marker of a career that has changed lives and continues to inspire. For others, it may be an introduction to a group that has scaled great heights and yet remains firmly grounded by their faith and their families.

MercyMe will be performing and bowing the new project at the NRB Convention in Nashville as presented by The Christian Music Broadcasters' "The Perfect 10" Night Of Music on Monday February 9.

Since their debut in 2001, Grammy-nominated, American Music Award and multiple GMA Dove Award winners MercyMe have sold over 6 million units in CD and DVD sales, including “Almost There”, nearly triple platinum, “Spoken For”, which is approaching platinum sales, and the RIAA Gold certification for “Undone”, the MercyMe Live DVD, and “Coming Up to Breathe”. Their latest, “All That Is Within Me,” entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at No. 15 and sold an impressive 83,626 units, the most they’ve ever sold in a project’s first week.

MercyMe is one of few Contemporary Christian music groups to have had all of their recordings certified Gold or Platinum, as well as garner 19 multi-format No 1 Christian radio singles, and four consecutive mainstream radio hits with “I Can Only Imagine”, “Here With Me”, “Homesick” and “So Long Self”.

In 2008 the band was named R&R’s Christian AC Artist of the Year.

To hear Millard talk more about “I Can Only Imagine” go to: www.inorecords.com/mercyme/downloads