Colts player moonlights with Christian band

By Deborah Evans Price

NASHVILLE (Billboard) - When a professional athlete tries to launch a music career, the results aren't always pretty. But Hunter Smith, punter for Super Bowl champions the Indianapolis Colts, is the exception.

In partnership with longtime friend and fellow worship leader Chris Wilson in the group Connorsvine, Smith has helped fashion one of the most impressive debuts to hit Christian music this year.

Wilson has long had a love affair with Christian music and began leading worship by the time he was in middle school. Smith and Wilson met in 2001 while leading worship for a young adult ministry at a church in Indianapolis.

"We really didn't set out intending to start a group," Wilson said. "We were writing songs to use the next week in worship. People started coming up to us saying, 'You guys should start recording.' Then we started thinking maybe God had something in mind."

INO Records released Connorsvine's self-titled debut October 23.

"When we started this whole process, we knew it was going to be unorthodox. We knew the whole football thing would play a part," said Smith, acknowledging that the Super Bowl champ-turned-artist angle held press appeal, but that there would also be scheduling challenges. "We also knew it would be a hindrance as well. We knew a conventional record label might not be the best way to go. We needed people who were willing to think outside the box."

With Smith in the middle of football season, Connorsvine interviews and appearances have to be scheduled around his Colts duties. After football season, Connorsvine plans to embark on a tour.

How does Wilson feel about his musical partner juggling another high-profile career? "For a number of years, I've actually been looking for a professional athlete to do this," Wilson said, as he and Smith erupt with laughter. "Actually, I'm not a football fan, not a sports fan at all. I had no idea what Hunter did for a living. When we were introduced, we just hit it off."