77 Times
Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"A band that includes three 12-year-old Lakewood Park students will open for John Tesh at a concert Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Fort Wayne..."
Jenny Kobiela-Mondor, The Evening Star (March 16, 2009) - The Evening Star
"Christian rock band 77 Times won talent contests for the Fort Wayne area and state of Indiana last year. Now, the eighth-grade rockers are making their mark in a national contest for Christian musicians. " Dave Kurtz, The Star / KPC News (March 16, 2010) - The Star / KPC News
"With their music's heartfelt message, taken from the Bible and life stories, they seem to be on their way to some serious Christian rocking for some time to come."
Allison Gaff, Fort Wayne Newspapers (February 3, 2009) - Fort Wayne Newspapers
"Not quite out of middle school, the band...looks like just a bunch of kids. But on stage, they rip into songs like musicians twice their age, slashing through grinding guitar riffs and thunderous drums with speed and volume." Emma Downs - The Journal Gazette (March 9, 2010) - The Journal Gazette
Discography
77 Times (EP), 2009
Contagious (EP), 2010
"Enter the Darkness" (single), 2011
"Lifeless" (single), 2011
Photos
Bio
Yes, they are young...and full of youthful charisma...but this is not another teenage pretty boy pop band. At just 15 and 16 years old, 77 Times cranks out heavy-edged modern rock, rivaling that of bands twice their age. All-original songs infused with infectious guitar riffs, thunderous drums and positive lyrics are delivered with an energetic, youthful charm that turns heads of all ages.
77 Times began in 2007 with drummer Evan Turner and lead guitarist Hogan Brecount, then 11 and 12, jamming some cover tunes for fun. They quickly discovered they had a knack for writing their own original hard rock grooves. By October 2008, vocalist/rhythm guitarist Alex Renbarger and bassist Jesse Hardiek had rounded out the band, and 77 Times had developed a dream. With passion, persistence and a professional attitude, the guys set out to make it happen, knowing that sharing a message through music is what they were born to do.
In January, 2009 the boys stepped into the studio for the first time, and after just 4 hours, they had recorded their first six songs. A month later, they entered "Air1's Got Talent", a national online contest from Air1 Radio, and made it to the top 20 out of over 800 entries. They were just 12 and 13 years old.
On the heels of that success, 77 Times entered "Fort Wayne's Got Talent", with the idea that it would be good for experience and a little exposure. To their surprise, they won, and had the opportunity to open for national recording artist/radio host/author John Tesh at the Auer Performance Hall in Fort Wayne, IN.
Summer of 2009 was a busy one for the boys. They attended Camp Electric in Nashville, TN, where they received personal instruction from some of the biggest names in the Christian music industry. They wrote songs and played several shows, and some outdoor festivals. In September they performed for 5,000 runners at the Fort-4-Fitness Half Marathon. By November, they had hit the road with gigs in St. Louis and southern Indiana.
In December 2009, 77 Times walked away the grand prize winners of the statewide talent competition "Indiana's Got Talent". In March 2010 they once again were national semifinalists, placing in the top 50 out of approximately 800 entries in the online band contest, "Rock the Camp". With a full set of new songs under their belts, they decided to hit the studio again, and wrapped up their second EP, "Contagious" in June 2010.
With lyrics echoing grace and endurance in the midst of struggles, 77 Times shares an uplifting message that is relevant to all, building bridges across genres and generations. With boyish good looks, a positive platform and a hard rock edge, 77 Times carves out a new niche, attracting the younger crowd as well as the more mature rocker. Shades of influence such as Sevendust, Pearl Jam, Creed and 12 Stones...mixed with youthful teenage appeal...mean a show that is always original, always inspiring, and always surprising. 77 Times.
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