David Wallace Crowder, known professionally as Crowder, is a celebrated American contemporary Christian musician and worship leader whose music holds a significant place in modern Christian worship. He rose to prominence as the lead vocalist of the David Crowder*Band, which later disbanded in 2012, after which he continued successfully as a solo artist. Crowder began his musical journey while studying at Baylor University, where he started leading worship and writing music that laid the foundation for his later work. He is openly Christian, and his music is rooted in Christian faith and worship themes. In 2025, Crowder used a mobility scooter for a period after breaking his leg and undergoing emergency surgery, though he was not permanently in a wheelchair.
Early Life
David Wallace Crowder was born on November 29, 1971, in Texarkana, Texas. He grew up in Texarkana with his parents, Dan and Marian Crowder. Dan Crowder worked as an insurance salesman (running the Dan Crowder Insurance Agency), and Marian Crowder was a social worker. Both parents were active in their community and church. Crowder later described his upbringing as “half-Baptist… and half-Pentecostal,” reflecting a deeply religious family environment. The family attended First Baptist Church downtown, where Crowder’s father even helped run the church’s bus ministry. In childhood Crowder played neighborhood sports (his father coached a local Challengers soccer team), and he spent many weekends running and racing in local youth sports with his mother’s encouragement.
Growing up, Crowder was exposed to a wide range of Southern gospel and country music. He recalls that as a boy his parents’ eight-track tape player was always set to artists like Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Olivia Newton-John and Bill Gaither. These artists influenced him from an early age. His mother also insisted that he take piano lessons, so he “grew up playing piano” (he later admitted he did not enjoy it at first). Crowder credits these early musical experiences, the music he heard at home and church with shaping his later musical interests. The songs and sounds from the car rides and church services in Texarkana remained important influences throughout his life.
For his education, Crowder attended Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana. He graduated from there around 1990 and even met his future wife Toni Brine while they were both students (she was a year ahead of him). After high school, he enrolled at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
| No. | Fact Category | Verified Information |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full Name | David Wallace Crowder, born November 29, 1971. |
| 2 | Profession | Contemporary Christian singer and worship leader. |
| 3 | Famous For | Lead singer of David Crowder*Band and solo artist. |
| 4 | Music Genre | Christian, worship, folk, and bluegrass. |
| 5 | Net Worth | Estimated $5–$7 million as of 2026. |
| 6 | Education | Studied at Baylor University, Texas. |
| 7 | Awards | Multiple Dove Awards and Grammy nominations. |
| 8 | Chart Success | Several No. 1 Billboard Christian hits. |
| 9 | Wife | Married to Toni Crowder. |
| 10 | Current Status | Active musician and touring artist in 2025. |
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Professional Beginnings
David Crowder began his music career as a college student worship leader. In 1996, while at Baylor University, he co-founded University Baptist Church (Waco, Texas) with fellow students, serving as worship pastor and writing songs for the congregation. He and the church band independently recorded Pour Over Me (1996) and All I Can Say (1998), attracting attention from Passion City Church’s Louie Giglio. By 2002 the six-member worship group later named the David Crowder*Band had signed to Giglio’s new sixstepsrecords label and began touring nationally. This period laid the groundwork for Crowder’s emergence as a leading figure in modern worship music.
Role Progression & Industry Contributions
Crowder served as the band’s lead vocalist and primary songwriter from 1996 through 2012. During that time the David Crowder*Band blended bluegrass, folk and rock into contemporary worship services, earning multiple Dove Awards and even a Grammy nomination for their creative sound. In late 2012 the band released its final album and disbanded, and Crowder immediately launched a solo career under the mononym Crowder. His solo work continued to integrate acoustic and electronic elements: reviewers noted that his debut solo album (2014’s Neon Steeple) mixed country-folk instrumentation (banjos, upright bass) with modern worship songwriting. Crowder relocated to Atlanta and built a professional home studio, completing his fourth solo album Milk & Honey (2021) in that space. Over the years he also contributed to major Christian music events (such as the Passion Conferences) and co-authored books on worship, extending his influence beyond performance.
Notable Career Milestones
Crowder’s career is marked by high-charting releases, awards, and chart-topping singles. His former band’s final album Give Us Rest (2012) debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Albums chart (and No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200).
In his solo career, Neon Steeple (2014) entered the Billboard 200 at No. 9, and several subsequent albums also reached No. 1 on Christian charts. For example, The Exile (2024) topped the Billboard Christian/Gospel Albums chart upon release. Crowder has earned five Billboard No. 1 Christian radio singles. Notably, the song “Grave Robber” (2024) became his fifth Christian radio No. 1.
He has received five GRAMMY Award nominations and at least five Dove Awards (out of over 20 nominations), highlighting industry recognition of his work. Critics credit Crowder with expanding worship music’s sound: Christianity Today praised Neon Steeple for refreshing the genre with folk and bluegrass elements.
Commercially, Crowder’s catalog has amassed over 2 billion global streams. His live performance milestones include a Grand Ole Opry debut and headlining major tours such as Winter Jam, further raising his profile in both Christian and mainstream venues.
Current Position & Ongoing Initiatives
As of 2025, David Crowder remains a busy recording artist. He partnered with sixstepsrecords/Capitol CMG for his most recent releases (e.g. The Exile, 2024). That album is the second in an announced trilogy (following Milk & Honey in 2021). Crowder spends much of his time on tour: he toured nationally in late 2024 with MercyMe on the “Together Again…Again” tour and headlined the fall Air1 radio tour. Looking ahead, he is scheduled to join TobyMac’s Hits Deep 2026 tour, a major multi-artist tour announced for early 2026. Throughout these ongoing initiatives, Crowder continues writing, recording and performing, solidifying his role as an influential voice in contemporary worship music.
Who is the wife of David Crowder?
David Crowder’s wife is Toni Crowder, an Atlanta-based architect and interior designer. The two first met when they were students in high school. They eventually married in the early 1990s, and by 2022 their marriage had lasted about thirty years.
David Crowder Net Worth
As of 2026, David Crowder’s net worth is estimated to be between $5 million and $7 million. Crowder is an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter who earned his wealth through his music career. He first gained fame as lead singer of the David Crowder*Band (active 1996–2012), releasing several albums that topped Christian music charts. He later launched a solo career under the stage name Crowder and continues to perform worldwide. Much of his income comes from album sales, concert tours and music royalties, reflecting his ongoing success in the Christian music industry.
