Maranatha! Music began as an outreach of Calvary Chapel. The Jesus People of the late 1960s and early 1970s began to write new hymns and worship songs with a folk rock style. Maranatha! Music was founded at this time in order to publish and promote this new type of Christian music.

The first "Maranatha bands" were recorded in Buddy King's small home studio in Huntington Beach, Some of these early groups were; "Love Song" ,"Children Of The Day", "The Way" and "Mustard Seed Faith".