Chris Tomlin
A worship leader whose simple, powerful songs became the soundtrack for modern Christian congregations across the globe.
Born 1972 (age 54)·American Christian musician·Birthday: May 4·Generation X
Biography
Chris Tomlin emerged from East Texas with a guitar and a gift for writing melodies that felt both fresh and ancient. His music, rooted in the language of modern worship, bypassed complex theology to offer direct, singable expressions of faith. Songs like 'How Great Is Our God' and 'Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)' achieved a rare feat: they felt immediately familiar in churches, crossing denominational lines to become standards. Tomlin's role has been less that of a distant rock star and more of a humble song leader; his live performances are characterized by a deliberate focus on congregational singing rather than solo spectacle. This approach helped fuel the Passion movement, connecting with a generation of young believers. With multiple Grammy Awards and chart-topping albums, his influence is measured not just in sales but in the countless services where his compositions provide the framework for collective worship.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Chris was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His song 'How Great Is Our God' was voted the number one worship song of all time by a Christianity Today survey.
- He has won two Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for 'Burning Lights'.
- He has had 16 number-one singles on the Billboard Christian Songs chart.
- He was a key artist and collaborator with the Passion Conferences, helping define its musical identity.
Did You Know?
He wrote his first worship song, 'We Fall Down', at the age of 14.
He attended Texas A&M University and led worship at a local church in College Station.
The bridge he co-wrote for the classic hymn 'Amazing Grace' ('My chains are gone...') is now widely incorporated into the song.
He is an avid hunter and outdoorsman.
“"Worship is the act of giving back to God what He has given to us."”
