Grammy-nominated recording artist Jeremy Camp will perform at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. this Saturday. Camp, a Christian singer and songwriter from Lafayette, Indiana, is currently on his Deeper Waters Tour, which includes performances of songs from his newest album, “Deeper Waters.”
Camp began playing guitar at 14 but entered the music industry during college. His life and faith have significantly influenced his career.
“When I was 18, I went to California and went to Bible College,” Camp told the Reporter-Telegram. “It was a really sweet time of growing spiritually. While I was there, I started playing at the school and at different churches.”
He gained more attention after performing at various events around California.
“I met my first wife, and she was diagnosed with cancer,” Camp said. “I wrote a lot of songs that were kind of birthed from that battle.”
Camp’s wife, Melissa Lynn Henning Camp, passed away three and a half months into their marriage.
“I remember the songs that came out were ‘I Still Believe’ and ‘Walk by Faith’ and all these different songs were the ones that I needed to hear,” Camp said. “It’s actually songs that God was giving me for my own healing and I’m so thankful for that.”
These experiences led him to sign with a record label in 2002, releasing his first album the same year.
“It was really beautiful to see how God used those songs from my pain to comfort other people,” he added.
Since then, Camp has released 12 albums and achieved significant success with 44 No. 1 songs and eight No.1 albums. He has received multiple accolades including four ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Awards and being named Billboard’s No. 2 Christian Artist of the Decade.
“All your life, the Grammy Awards are like the big thing,” Camp said regarding his nomination. “I think that to me it was a huge recognition of what God has done in my life.”
His story inspired a 2020 film titled "I Still Believe," featuring actors KJ Apa, Britt Robertson, Shania Twain, Melissa Roxburgh, and Gary Sinise.
Earlier this year, Camp faced health challenges requiring emergency heart surgery due to atrial fibrillation (afib).
“I’ve always tried to be really healthy,” he explained. “I even take a Peloton on the road with me... but there’s just things you can’t control.”
Camp's newest album "Deeper Waters" topped the Billboard 200 Christian chart upon its release on May 17.
“The concept of deeper waters in surrender,” he explained about his latest work. “For me it’s pressing forward... saying ‘I can’t do this but I take all these things and land at your feet.’”
Camp expressed excitement about returning to Midland for Saturday's performance.
“I’ve been in Midland and have performed at that theater before,” he said. “I’m excited to come back.”
Tickets for Jeremy Camp's Deeper Waters Tour are available on Wagner Noël’s website with prices ranging from $20-$79.95; doors open at 6 p.m., an hour before showtime.