Tina Osborn

"First up is Tina Osborn. If you've never heard of her before, that's OK. You won't forget her anytime soon. From the Shawn-Colvin-esque magnificence of Glorious God, to the sweet praise groove of Crying Out to You, to the achingly beautiful loss-and-hope One Day... she's a real treasure... one you're likely to want to share with a friend."
Chuck Brown
Christian MP Free.com

Although only a handful of her songs have been recorded, Tina's transparent heart for worship shines through the excellent production of her projects.

Still unknown to many, her songs have been featured on hundreds of radio stations and her ministry model has been much like that of Keith Green, making her music available freely to all.

Besides giftings as a song writer, vocalist, and piano and keyboard player, Tina is known as a passionate worship leader, great mother of three and fantastic wife (at least her husband thinks so).

Background

Tina grew up in Pevely, Missouri, a small community 45 minutes south of downtown Saint Louis. Growing up in a family of five children, she was blessed with two committed Christian parents. However her mother developed Multiple Sclerosis even before Tina was born. Tina and her sister became the primary care givers until her mother passed on. "Knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character, hope." (Romans 5:4) The servant attitude she learned from her home life permeates her character. (At least her husband thinks so).

Tina's musical experiences began at the age of two as she sang acapella in front of her family's small church. At the age of four she began mastering a toy piano. When piano lessons started in the fourth grade, she found she could play a song by ear after hearing it the first time. There was no need to practice, and no motivation to learn to sight-read, so she stopped the lessons. But she didn't stop playing music. At the age of 16 she joined the worship team at her church as a piano player. Her very first Sunday at leading worship was compounded with her father's death just days before, but Tina always rose up when a challenge was presented, so she led worship anyway. Later, she ended up becoming the main worship leader at her church, in spite of being the youngest person on the worship team. She was the worship director at Victory Church for six years.

Tina studied at Washington University in St. Louis, graduating with honors receiving degrees in Political Science and History. After being accepted to both law schools she applied to, she felt that God wanted her to stay home. So she taught school for 2 years at her church?s Christian school.

She met her husband Roy, an electrical engineer, on a Valentine's Day blind date (arranged by another worship leader) and married three months later. They have three young children: Donald, Dustin, and Olivia. Tina and Roy are VERY happily married.

The Story Behind the Music

This music project started with the desire to make a professional recording of some of the songs written by Tina. After considering many options, Tina received wise counsel that suggested recording in Nashville instead of St. Louis. This triggered Roy's memory of a professional producer in Nashville who had attended Roy's old church in Seattle, David Zafirro (Dove award winning producer, - "Passion", Kim Hill, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Brett Williams, and "Prayer of Jabez" - as well as previous lead guitarist for the 80's/90's heavy metal band "Bloodgood"). After contacting David for any kind of advice, we were delighted that David could fit us into his schedule and we could employ his services for the project. After sending David a CD of 17 songs we recorded in our basement studio, he recommended doing just a few songs well instead of trying to do a whole CD mediocre. So that's how we ended up with this four song EP.

Producing these songs was quite an education in and of itself: how songs are recorded, song writing, lyric development, and vocal technique. David worked with Tina, often intensely, on a variety of the issues. David and Tina co-wrote two of the songs ("With The Mornings Dawn" and "Glorious God"). During the recording process, Tina also wrote two new songs, "Crying Out To You" and "You Are With Me". So none of the original songs started with were recorded!

After seeing and experiencing all the work involved, Tina gained a great respect for anyone in the recording industry. And in the process, she picked up quite a few new skills.

Her songs "You Shine" and "There Is No Other Name" were later produced by David Gloyd.

"One Day" is a simple recording based on observations at a local cemetary.