Originally “Jesus music” or “Jesus rock” was not recorded but only sung among people at a gathering.  Wikipedia mentions Larry Norman as a pioneer of CCM with his 1969 debut solo album Upon this Rock.  Norman had previously been the lead singer and chief songwriter for a band called People! who had a 1968 hit with the Zombies song “I Love You”.  A second album listed by Wikipedia is the 1970 release, Mylon – We Believe by Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart; Joe South appears as a guest musician.  

(July 2014)

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Wikipedia mentions that the organization now known as the Association of Vineyard Churches (which was founded by Gulliksen) was formed in part by Christian contemporary music pioneers that I mentioned in my last post:  “The first local church started when Kenn Gulliksen brought together two Bible studies, both meeting at the houses of singer/songwriters:  Larry Norman and Chuck Girard [a founder of early CCM band Love Song].  In early 1975, thirteen groups met at the Beverly Hills Women’s Club.  These Bible studies, and others like them, were attended by many popular actors/actresses and musicians including Bob Dylan.”  Dylan also attended the Calvary Chapel discipleship courses in Southern California. 

(August 2014)