Rebecca Jean Smallbone was born on July 26, 1977, in Sydney, Australia, to Helen and David Smallbone, a family of seven children, with five boys and two girls, with Rebecca being the eldest. At the tender age of 13, she was already making a name for herself as the lead vocalist at her Christian school, and this talent didn't go unnoticed.
In that same year, Carman, a renowned Christian musician, approached Rebecca to open shows for him during his Australian tour, and she also had the opportunity to record her first album, "Refresh My Heart". The following year, David Smallbone was offered a job in America, and the entire family packed their bags to relocate with him, but unfortunately, the job fell through, leaving them in a precarious financial situation.
With no means to return to Australia, the family had to rely on odd jobs to make ends meet, including cleaning houses. For the next two years, they lived on the generosity of others, with prayers being their only source of comfort. During this challenging period, they received a life-changing gift when someone donated keys to a van, and another kind soul paid the medical bills for the youngest Smallbone, Libby, to be born in a hospital.
At the age of 16, Rebecca's hard work and dedication paid off when she was offered a record deal, marking the beginning of a career that has spanned over 11 years to date. Her self-titled debut album, released in 1994, has had a profound impact on thousands of teenagers and adults, inspiring them to live radically for God.
