Third Day

Third Day is a Grammy award-winning Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia during the 1990s. The band's name is a reference to the biblical account of Jesus' rising from the dead on the third day following his crucifixion.The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee and former member Billy Wilkins. The other band members are bassist Tai Anderson and drummer David Carr. The band was inducted in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on September 19, 2009.



In 1992, Mac Powell and Mark Lee were playing at Lee's church the same night that David Carr & Tai Anderson were playing with their band called Bullard Family Singers. Once introduced, the group took to each other quickly and Carr & Anderson were invited to join the band. In 1993, while remaining in school, the band started playing a lot more around Atlanta and saved $3,000 to record a full-length album. During this time, Wilkins, who was working full-time as a school teacher, decided to leave the band. Third Day continued to work on their album, recording at Furies Studios in Atlanta.

 In 1995, the band started looking for a second guitarist and after hearing Brad Avery play with singer Chris Carder, Avery was asked to audition with the band. After playing Consuming Fire during their first rehearsal, Avery was officially asked to join the band.As the band completed its line-up, they started playing more steadily in venues around the Southeast. While playing in a Marietta, Georgia at the Strand Theatre, the owners offered the band a contract to sign with a new independent record label called Gray Dot Records. With recording contract in-hand, the band released the album Third Day, which ended up selling 20,000 copies. Shortly after, Reunion Records bought out their Grey Dot contract and signed the band to a multi-album deal.