Biography

The venerable CCM group Farrell & Farrell was fronted by husband and wife Bob and Jayne Farrell, who together emerged from the Houston, Texas music scene during the early 1970s. In 1974 Bob joined the group Dove, one of the first acts signed to the fledgling Myrrh label; at that time Jayne pursued a solo career, but when Bob left Dove in 1976 they began working together under the name Farrell & Farrell. Their self-titled debut LP, released in 1978, immediately topped the CHR charts on the strength of its sophisticated techno-pop sound -- Farrell & Farrell were among the first acts in either secular or spiritual music to employ a Fairlight synthesizer. In addition to subsequent LPs including 1979's Portrait of Us All and 1981's Make Me Ready, which launched the chart-topping "All You Need," Bob also became a highly successful songwriter, notching a series of CCM smashes for outside artists. After 1982's Let the Whole World Know--Live, Farrell & Farrell signed with the Star Song label for 1984's Choices; its 1985 follow-up Jump to Conclusions was among their most well-received efforts, notching a major hit with the media satire "People in a Box." After 1986's Manifesto, the prolific duo spent three years readying their next release, Superpower, then retired from performing. In the years to follow Bob turned exclusively to songwriting, authoring material for artists ranging from Amy Grant to Michael W. Smith to Sandi Patty; Jayne, meanwhile, recorded a solo LP, and also turned to composing as well. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi