high places, friends in

Darlene Zschech

Darlene Joyce Zschech (born September 8, 1965 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) is an Australian Charismatic/Pentecostal worship leader and singer-songwriter who primarily writes praise and worship songs. She is a member of Compassionart, a charity founded by Martin Smith from Delirious?.

Hillsong

Zschech is a Worship Leader at Hillsong Church (an Assemblies of God church) in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, formerly Worship Pastor. Hillsong made global headlines when their 2004 live CD release, For All You've Done, reached number one in the Australian national music charts.

Biography

As a young adult, she sang jingles for a number of international companies including McDonald's, KFC and Diet Coke.

She and husband Mark Zschech have three daughters, Amy Jaye, Chloe Jaz, and Zoe Jewel.

Shout to the Lord

Zschech's best known song is Shout to the Lord, sung by an estimated 25–30 million churchgoers every week . Darlene composed the praise anthem inspired by Psalms 92–96 at the time that she was feeling discouraged. "I felt I could either scream and pull my hair out — or praise God" she said. This song is the title track for the first live album co-produced with Integrity Music featuring Darlene as a prominent female worship leader. Shout to the Lord was nominated as "Album of the Year" for the 1997 Dove Awards and "Song of the Year" for the 1998 Dove Awards. It has been recorded on over 20 different albums. In 2000, Darlene received a Dove Award nomination for "Songwriter of the Year" and has received the "International Award" from GMA (Gospel Music Assoc., USA).

Idol Gives Back

The top 8 American Idol Season 7 contestants closed the Idol Gives Back show performing Shout to the Lord. They changed the name "Jesus" to "Shepherd". The following evening, on April 10, 2008, the American Idol Top 8 again performed Shout to the Lord. This time, the name "Jesus" was placed back into the song.

A recorded version of Shout to the Lord, sang by the Top 8, was also posted for sale on iTunes. It, too, had the name "Jesus" in it. Proceeds from iTunes sales went to the Idol Gives Back charity. The song, sung by the top 8, debuted in the Top 50 of the US Billboard Charts, a feat for a Christian song

Discography and publications

In the early 1990s, Zschech released her debut solo album entitled Pearls and Gold. The album had some success, but was not widely sold as Zschech and Hillsong Music was still new in Christian circles.

Songs

Songs written or co-written by Darlene Zschech include:

Stone's Been Rolled Away (1993)

"Your Name"

People Just Like Us (1994)

"Shout to the Lord"

Friends in High Places (1995)

"Praise His Holy Name"
"Rock of Ages" with Geoff Bullock
"Lord I Give Myself"

God Is in the House (1996)

"God Is in the House" with Russell Fragar
"And That My Soul Knows Very Well" with Fragar
"Let the Peace of God Reign"
"Walking in the Light"

All Things Are Possible (1997)

"All Things Are Possible"
"I Live to Know You"
"I Know It"
"Glory to the King"

Touching Heaven Changing Earth (1998)

"That's What We Came Here For" with Fragar
"I Will Bless You Lord"
"Jesus You're All I Need"
"The Potter's Hand"

By Your Side (1999)

"Sing of Your Great Love"
"Free to Dance"

For This Cause (2000)

"Here to Eternity" with David Moyse
"It Is You"

You Are My World (2001)

"Irresistible"
"Glorious"
"To You"
"Worthy Is the Lamb"

Blessed (2002)

"Blessed" with Reuben Morgan

Hope (2003)

"My Hope"
"Call"
"You Are"

For All You've Done (2004)

"You Are Worthy"
"Glorify Your Name" with David Holmes

God He Reigns (2005)

"Saviour"
"Know You More"

Mighty to Save (2006)

"More to See" with Mia Fieldes, Deborah Ezzy, Donia Makadonez & Nigel Hendroff
"I Believe in You"
"At the Cross" with Reuben Morgan

Saviour King (2007)

"One Thing" with Marty Sampson

This Is Our God (2008)

"High and lifted up"

Notes and references

Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. First printing, Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers.
, her biography on the official website