While other six year olds were developing their hand- and foot-eye coordination with tag and kickball, Jeff Deyo cultivated his behind 88 ivory keys. Don’t pity his childhood -- Deyo didn’t forsake the trees and outdoor adventures of Denver, CO, but it took little convincing of this precocious youngster from his mother to study classical piano. The kid with the big smile continued to practice and began departing from the notes on the page to his own creations at the age of eight. Taking the time-honored “Heart and Soul” (most commonly known as the theme song from the movie BIG, where Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia played the foot piano), Deyo rearranged the notes to make it his own, and creative exploration in song was birthed.
Today, Deyo is known internationally as the original lead singer of the Dove Award-winning group Sonicflood. Jeff is the voice behind classic worship songs like “I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever,” “In The Secret,” and “My Refuge.” As Sonicflood’s lead singer, primary songwriter, and co-producer, Deyo saw the band’s gold certified, self-titled debut (1999) and its Grammy-nominated follow-up, Sonicpraise (2001), reach combined sales of over one million. Deyo followed up these accomplishments by releasing four acclaimed worship recordings: Saturate, Light, Surrender (Live), and Unveil. With Moving Mountains, his fifth worship album (2012), Deyo's music blended pop rock with soulful groove, and striking melodies with meaningful words in modern congregational expressions such as “We Delight,” “Rescue Me,” “The Perfection Of Beauty” as well as the salient title track.
Deyo is the founder of Worship City Ministries, which is the umbrella under which he creates, serves, and participates in a variety of ministries worldwide. From teaching at conferences to leading worship for large and small events, Deyo's music exists to help worshipers deepen their walk with God by leading them into his transforming presence in both “glory times and crisis times.”
With a father’s heart, Deyo developed the Pure Worship Institute (PWI) from a vision which stirred in him back in 2004. After putting together a mini traveling worship conference, things culminated in the fall of 2007 when Pastor Sam Hinn of The Gathering Place Church exhorted Deyo to "pick up the new mantle of worship and pass it on to the next generation." It was then that Deyo made plans for PWI 2008 where an assembly of singers and musicians would come together annually to receive practical and spiritual training. Deyo continues to multiply his impact by mentoring and shepherding creative types to be effective leaders in parts of the world he could personally never reach.
In addition, Deyo now holds the high honor of being a full-time faculty member (as “Worship Arts Specialist, professor”) at North Central University (NCU) in Minneapolis, MN. He teaches in the classroom, helps grow NCU’s already vibrant music department, recruits new students, leads worship, and produces new recordings for some of NCU’s top bands & artists. He is also very involved in his home church, Celebration Church, in Lakeville, MN and has been married to his college sweetheart, Martha, since May 23, 1992. Together, they have 4 beautiful children, Roman, Evan, Channing, and Clara.
Pure Worship Institute| Posted November 03, 2013
God has used Jeff Deyo's talents to keep me on track with Him since his Sonicflood days. In 2008, I had the humble honor of being a part of Jeff's very first P.W.I., Pure Worship Institute. I saw first hand for one full week (day in and day out) his genuine passion for others to stay in a state of constant worship with our Lord.