The incredible story behind singer Jeremy Camp
KJ Apa fans will be flocking to theaters this month to see the popular “Riverdale” star in “I Still Believe.” Many of them will likely buy their tickets without knowing much — if anything at all — about Jeremy Camp, who is the real-life Christian music artist Apa portrays in the film. And that’s perfectly OK. You don’t have to know anything in advance about Camp to enjoy this wonderfully romantic tearjerker, which also stars Britt Robertson, Melissa Roxburgh, Nathan Dean, Shania Twain and Gary Sinise. I attended an advance screening of the film and can attest that Jon and Andrew Erwin — the same sibling director team behind the 2018 film “I Can Only Imagine,” about MercyMe singer Bart Millard — do a great job in bringing this story to the screen. Still, I think those who have a little bit of background with Camp will get even more out of this film, which opens Friday in theaters nationwide. It’s also available to stream or buy on Amazon Prime. So, to bring some of the uninitiated up to speed, I’ve come up with a short primer about the “I Still Believe” singer. Think of it as Jeremy Camp 101 or, perhaps, the Jeremy Camp boot camp. And I’ll do my best to stay away from any potential spoilers here, knowing that many viewers will be learning the details about this stirring love story for the first time when they see “I Still Believe.”
CAMP IN ONE SENTENCE >>
Camp is a 42-year-old singer-songwriter-guitarist from Lafayette, Indiana, who has been a major force on the contemporary Christian music scene since the early 2000s.
OUT OF THE GATE >>
Camp achieved big success with his very first major-label offering, 2002’s “Stay,” which followed the independently released “Burden Me” in 2000. That major-label debut featured three big singles — “Right Here,” “Walk By Faith” and the new biopic’s namesake, “I Still Believe.” The album eventually went gold, the first of four consecutive Camp offerings to achieve that certification.
CAMP’S BIGGEST HITS >>
His bestknown offerings include the chart-toppers “Walk By Faith,” “Take You Back,” “This Man,” “Let It Fade,” “There Will Be a Day” and “The Way.” Listen to those six songs, plus “I Still Believe,” if you want to get a sense of Camp’s songbook before heading to see “I Still Believe.”
CAMP BY THE NUMBERS >>
He’s sold more than 4 million albums, resulting in five gold certifications and one platinum plaque. He also has one multi-platinumselling DVD, “Live Unplugged.” Yet arguably his most impressive stat is that he’s landed 37 No. 1 radio hits during his career. Did I mention he’s just 42?
PLUS THE DOVES >>
Camp has won five Dove Awards, which are the equivalent of the Grammys in the Christian music world. He took home the new artist of the year trophy in 2004 as well as back-to-back male vocalist of the year awards in 2004 and 2005.
HIS LATEST ALBUM >>
Camp’s most recent release is “The Story’s Not Over,” which hit stores in September. “From ‘Dead Man Walking’ to the title-track, ‘The Story’s Not Over,’ these songs have been written through a season of hardship, but also are a reflection back on God’s faithfulness through all I’ve been through over the years,” Camp says on his website. “Our perspective can make or break us, and it’s so important to remember God’s goodness in the midst of those hard times.”
MUSICIAN AND MINISTER >>
He studied theology at Southern California’s Calvary Chapel Bible College in the ’90s and is an ordained minister. He considers himself “a minister who happens to play music as a way to minister,” according to his website.
THE STORY OF “I STILL BELIEVE” >>
I want to give away as little as possible about the film, so I’ll just borrow from its official website and say that it’s “the true life story of Christian music mega star Jeremy Camp and his remarkable journey of love and loss that proves there is always hope in midst of tragedy and that faith tested is the only faith worth sharing.” Oh, and I will add one thing: Watch this with a box of Kleenex close at hand.
GO DEEPER >>
Dive into Camp’s 2013 memoir, “I Still Believe,” which has recently been revised and rereleased in an expanded format, featuring a foreword by Bart Millard, three new chapters and more. MORE INFORMATION >> Go to jeremycamp.com and lionsgate. com/movies/i-still-believe.