Christian rock group Casting Crowns were formed in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida. "I've been a youth pastor for about 12 years, and every church I've been in, music's always been a part of it", Hall said. He fronted the group as a singer and songwriter, recruiting guitarists Juan DeVevo and Hector Cervantes and violinist Melodee DeVevo. They later moved to Stockbridge, Georgia in 2001 only to gain more members.