Rachel Rachel (band) facts for kids

Rachel Rachel was an exciting Christian rock band from the early 1990s. They were special because they were the first all-female Christian rock group in America! Their music was a mix of rock and pop.

The band had five main members. Cheryl Jewell was the lead singer. Heli Sterner played lead guitar. Brynn Beltran played keyboards. Jennifer York played bass. Jennifer "Sparky" Sparks was on drums. Later, Robin Spurs joined on bass, but she didn't record any music with them.

How the Band Started

The idea for Rachel Rachel came from Jennifer York. She was a bass player working at a radio station. Jennifer felt called to start an all-girl rock band. She knew it would be hard to find female rock musicians. But talented people soon joined her.

Cheryl Jewell became the lead singer. She was discovered as a secretary for Jennifer's manager. Heli Sterner joined on guitar and also sang. Brynn Beltran came on board for keyboards and vocals. These three talented women helped form the core of the band.

They started making demo songs. A famous producer named Billy Smiley heard their music. He helped them get ready to record their first album. The last original member to join was Jennifer "Sparky" Sparks on drums. She played with the band until they stopped performing in 1994.

Their Music Career

Rachel Rachel signed with Word Records in 1990. They began working on their first album right away. It was called Way to My Heart and came out in 1991. The album featured the band members. It also had other musicians like Dann Huff.

The album included songs written by the band. It also had a cover of the Kansas song, "Carry On Wayward Son". One song, "I Will Stand by You," became a big hit. It reached No. 4 on the radio charts. The album itself reached No. 25 on the Billboard Christian Music chart.

After their first album's success, Jennifer York decided to leave the band. The remaining members looked for a new bass player. They found Robin Spurs, who had recently left another band. Robin first said no, but later agreed to join. She felt it was the right decision for her.

The band released their second album in 1993. It was called You Oughta Know by Now. Billy Smiley produced this album too. Before recording, Robin Spurs left the band. So, Jennifer York returned to play bass on the album.

Two songs from this album became No. 1 hits. They were "Only Heaven Knows" and "You'll Never Know." These songs made Rachel Rachel even more popular.

After this album, Rachel Rachel toured for seven months. They performed with the band WhiteHeart. Even though they were very popular, Rachel Rachel decided to stop playing together. Brynn Beltran said there were "creative differences." This means the band members had different ideas about their music. She also mentioned that being in California was far from the Nashville music scene.

Awards

Dove Award (Nomination) Best New Artist