What is the measure of a band? Devoted fans? Longevity? A body of work that continues to grow and is as fresh today as it was the day it was recorded?

Denver Bierman and the Mile High Orchestra can answer yes to all of those questions and more as they continue shaping and defining who they are as artists and defying genres and generations. With the band's recent release of the Dove Award winning children's album "Groovy" they should ensure their fan base far into the future, without disappointing those who have come to love their unique style over the years.

"Having kids changes you and I think being a Dad made me realize I wanted to have a musical opportunity of encouraging the next generation," said Denver. "I remember the artists and songs I used to sing when I was five or six years old and I still sing them. I wanted to do some kids songs that were inspired by our band, that the lyrics were definitely for kids but had some musical maturity that their parents could enjoy too."

Working with the group Go Fish, DMHO were able to break out a whole new approach to kid's music while covering a song our two from such music industry icons as Bill Gaither and Bob Dylan.

With a children's television show now in development the band has a commitment to having an impact on their fans, both young and old.

Meanwhile with 11 projects under their belt DMHO continues to produce the kind of music that delights fans and audiences around the world - crafting their own work with an eye towards always stretching the envelope and taking a new exciting look at old classics and hymns.

Blending a red hot horn section, along with jazz and big band roots, Denver and the Mile High Orchestra have created a power funk sound that defies description and is unlike any other. With Denver Bierman, writing and arranging the band's music, the diverse sounds of legends such as Stevie Wonder, Chicago, and Earth Wind and Fire combine for a fresh look at contemporary pop.

"The first show we performed was for 28 people," said Denver Bierman, the creative force behind Denver and the Mile High Orchestra. "It wasn't the hottest ticket in Nashville that night, but there was free coffee and cheesecake. That's one thing in the beginning I told my guys, I may not be able to pay you but there will be dessert."

The band has come a long way from those humble beginnings to network TV.

Denver and the Mile High Orchestra wowed all of America, as they made the finale of the FOX-TV "American Idol" spin off "The Next Great American Band." They've garnered praise and a devoted fan base from Greece to Hollywood, having played the Summer Olympics in Athens, and the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

While the music is what defines the band, the live show makes a fan for life. Tight production, a lot of fun and the unexpected make "DMHO live" an experience like no other.

"It's inspiring for different reasons," said Denver. "There's nothing like being with people in that moment with you, involved with you, inspired by your songs. There's nothing better than that."

It can also be a life-changing experience.

"I had a guy come up to me who'd been to several of our shows before so he wasn't unfamiliar to me," said Denver. "He told me how he had come to that show that night thinking about how he was going to take his own life that weekend, but the things we had to say had so inspired him that God had spoken to him about survival. It completely changed his life.

"My guys are just down-to-earth every day guys who didn't give up on the things that we were called to do even though life got hard. If we can inspire people to do the things that they're supposed to be doing, that's what it's all about."

DMHO and a camera have proved to be a killer combination over and over again with the DVD for "Act the Scat" spending five weeks in Christian Music Video Magazine's top ten in the nation and a total of nine weeks in the top 20.

DMHO have been headliners at Creation East, Pulsefest, Alive, Kingdom Bound, Inside Out Soul Fest, and Lifest, They have also performed at Bill Gaither's "The Praise Gathering" held at the Indiana Convention Center - Indianapolis, IN.

Members of the band have also played for such artists as Kelly Clarkson, Jaqi Velasquez, Sandi Patti, Debby Boone, Chet Atkins, Donna Summer, Dan Akroyd, Tower of Power, Guy Lombardo, Ralph Carmichael, Ben Peterson, Jonathan Pierce, Wes Montgomery, Greg Long, and Christafari.

With fans of all ages, the band continues to live up to what they feel they were called to be - an inspiration for the whole family.

"First of all I'm just delighted that they would consider us (for a Dove Award)," said Denver. "We've been at this a long time and it really is a chance to be confirmed in what we're doing. We've never really been a mainstream, pop radio band we've just tried to be a band that everybody could enjoy - a band for the American family. What could be better than being a band for the American family?"