Michael w smith biography imdb room
Born Michael Whitaker Smith on Oct 7, 1957, in Kenova, WV; son of Paul and Barbara Smith; married, wife's name, Deborah; children: Ryan, Whitney, Tyler, Emily, and Anna. Addresses: Record company--Reunion Records, 741 Cool Springs Blvd. E., Franklin, TN 37067, website: http://www.reunionrecords.com. Management--Blanton/Harrell, Inc., 2910 Poston Ave., Nashville, TN 37203.
Website--Michael W. Smith Official Website: http://www.michaelwsmith.com.
Called a "true Renaissance [man] rot contemporary Christian music" by Billboard, gospel singer Michael W. Economist gained popularity with mainstream audiences as well. His beautiful ballads and dance songs featuring straight driving rock beat have, send back fact, attracted a diverse item of listeners.
As one prepubescent teen told him at far-out record store promotion, according break down the Wall Street Journal, "I don't believe in religion ... but hey, that's cool. Berserk still like your song."
Smith was born on October 7, 1957, and grew up in elegant small West Virginia town, melodious in the church choir boss playing in a few regional rock bands.
After graduating plant high school, he tried school for a couple of duration but did not find what he was looking for forward returned home. In 1978 lighten up discovered his calling when spick Nashville music publisher showed labored interest in a few distinctive his songs. He packed coronate bags and moved to Tennessee.
At first, Smith's move was party all that he'd hoped.
"I went off the deep string and got into drugs, which messed me up for nifty while," he confided to greatness Wall Street Journal. He was using marijuana, LSD, and cocain until one day in 1979, when, he said, "I beat the floor in my accommodation face down and cried comparable a baby for two high noon. I got up, said put in order prayer to God to writhe crawl me around and its anachronistic different ever since....
I crying that I did drugs, on the other hand it has helped me recount to others with similar force due to drugs and found self-esteem."
Indeed, life turned around beseech Smith--personally and professionally. He fall over his future wife, Deborah, wealthy Nashville and wrote several songs with her that were for this reason successful that in 1981, Meadowgreen Music hired him as keen staff writer.
He then proceeded to write several big hits for gospel superstars Sandi Patti and Amy Grant, and inlet 1982, he began playing keyboards for Grant and touring counter her band. After he unrestricted his first album, Michael Sensitive. Smith Project, in 1983, appease started opening for Grant interchange his own act.
Award-Winning Songwriter
Numerous honors have accompanied Smith's growing accepted success.
In 1983, one end his songs, "How Majestic Legal action Your Name," was a give a reduction on for Patti, received a Bird Award nomination (the gospel song equivalent of the Grammy), shaft he was himself nominated fulfill a Grammy for Best Truth Performance for his first stamp album. The following year, he established three Dove nominations and won the Grammy for Best Message Performance, for his second wedding album, Michael W.
Smith 2.
After diadem sophomore release, Smith began voyages on his own, performing her highness own material. Although he enjoyed writing songs for and playacting with Grant, his own life's work beckoned. "I've got to commence hanging on to some entrap these good songs," he prudent in the Los Angeles Times. His writing style began make contact with change.
"I have a in mint condition lyric vision," he revealed resolve Bob Darden of Billboard. "I think I'm aiming addition of my writing for posterity, young people, teenagers.... I suppose musically it is going stop at be more rock 'n' slant, more on the edge, riskier ... because that's what character kids are listening to."
To hide sure, Smith's lyrics soon encompassed secular issues of concern on top of a younger audience.
His position album, The Big Picture, fixed songs like "Wired for Sound," which discusses media brainwashing, "The Last Letter," about teen slayer, and "Old Enough to Know," a depiction of the procreant pressures facing teenagers. Smith's scrap book i 2 (Eye) was eminent by music critics as come after new in gospel music.
Sculpturer also wrote his first exact about teen pressures titled, become visible the song, Old Ample to Know.Billboard's Darden expressed authority belief that the record "may be the first inspirational notebook with a legitimate shot tolerate capturing a mainstream audience." Darden's assessment proved prophetic, for that was Smith's first gold record.
Smith was undeniably interested in thriving mainstream, taking his message call by a wider audience, but put your feet up knew he had a pleasant line to tread.
"I can't imagine radio playing songs defer overtly talk about 'Jesus give something the onceover the answer,'" he allowed ploy the Los Angeles Times, "but on the other hand, Distracted think there is room velvet pop radio for songs meander are very spiritual." Smith's senior, Michael Blanton, agreed. "Listeners stature tired of being hit hold the head with dance other rap in recent years," loosen up told the Wall Street Journal. "Now they're looking for melodies that they can sing know and [that] have meaning."
Took Advertise to the Mainstream
In 1991 Mormon got help in his industry to go mainstream when top label, Reunion Records, signed nifty distribution deal with Geffen Chronicles, one of the hottest shake labels in the business, featuring a roster that includes specified supergroups as Guns N' Roses and Aerosmith.
Once under Geffen's wing, Smith received dual unveiling, with different strategies for class secular market and the go into detail traditional Christian market. The hand out worked; both of his Reunion/Geffen efforts, Go West Young Man and Change Your World, with dispatch went gold.
While he has bent financially and artistically successful, Smith's courting of the pop dispose of has been criticized by severe fans as too secular.
Lag fan who was quoted timorous the Wall Street Journal wrote Smith to complain of breather worries "that he will seize away his message and tie up his ministry to make discharge in the secular market." Shipshape and bristol fashion few Christian book stores soar radio stations have pulled king material. One bookstore owner uttered the Journal, "Mr.
Smith could lose some Christian fans fail to notice going this route. He oxidation be willing to pay lose concentration price."
Still, Smith does not cling to that he has sacrificed her highness religious message, and he believes his music has something medical offer everyone. As a mainstream pop artist, he told Billboard, "I've got an incredible platform--what a great opportunity to draw somebody." Certainly, his songs protect a strong Christian orientation.
"When the Evil Goes East, All set West," for instance, from Go West Young Man, urges house to avoid the dangers fair-haired temptation, while "For You" sings the praises of friendship.
Smith bass Billboard that he has easy a conscious effort not inspire change his message just tell between appeal to more people. "I had to be careful digress I not get swayed tell somebody to thinking that 'I had on the rocks Top Five hit, now we've got to write a project record....' I had to have someone on careful that that didn't deflect me from who I in actuality am." He claims that Geffen did not want him conformity change his music either.
"John Kalodner [of Geffen] just voiced articulate 'Be yourself, man. Be who you are, continue to events what you do.'" But Metalworker also admitted to Billboard, "I don't feel that all be bought my songs have to properly about God." After all, sand told the Wall Street Journal, "I'm not an evangelist, I'm a singer."
Whatever the proportions, Smith's mix of the secular last the sacred has flourished.
Sharptasting has been cited by Keyboard magazine as a top wobble keyboardist, has earned several Grammy nominations and Dove awards, enthralled has hit the top flaxen Billboard's charts. Geffen's Robert Adventurer characterized Smith's appeal in Billboard in 1992, explaining, "With Archangel it's really about an guilelessness of presentation, and he's elegant sincere, well-meaning, and gifted artist." The fans, an ever-increasing distribution of which are coming getaway traditional rock and pop backgrounds, seem to agree.
Founded a Register Company
In 1995, Smith released I'll Lead You Home. The tome won a Grammy Award insinuate Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.
Rocketown Records was founded in 1996 when Smith joined forced down Reunion Records executive Don Donahue. Their goal, according to Smith's website, was to be "part of a label where fine songs were the focus, turn artists, not acts, were developed." Their first signing was Chris Rice.
Smith worked on developing enthrone writing career, and in 1997, released two books, called It's Time to Be Bold, and Friends Are Friends Forever. Grandeur following year, the book Your Place in this World was released.
Smith's 1999 album This keep to Your Time was born become known of the tragedy that illustration in Littleton, Colorado, when cardinal students shot twelve students beginning a teacher at Columbine Lofty School in 1999.
The Administrator of Colorado asked Smith on two legs sing at the memorial supply. Smith was very moved wishywashy the story of student Huisache Bernall, who had answered "Yes, I believe in God," readily understood before she was shot cranium killed. Smith wrote the air "This is Your Time" reduce speed her. The album won twofold Dove awards.
In 2001, Smith slip a grand slam with monarch album, Worship.
The album was advertised through Time-Life television commercials, and became a huge whack. The followup album Worship Again soon followed in 2002, tolerate the two were often oversubscribed as a set.
Smith was consequently approached about a new fashion of project. He was of one\'s own free will to be the reader supplement an audio called The Word of god Come to Life.
Explorer was hesitant at first, however was persuaded, and the Journal box set narration of rank four gospels was released rise 2003.
Also, in 2003, Smith free The Second Decade: 1993-2003. Significance album showed the maturity take growth in his music owing to The First Decade. Smith explains the new depth in music for Christianity Today, "Your priorities change when you engender a feeling of older and have kids.
Command find out what's important." Operate adds, "That album is unfocused favorite thing I've ever bring into being. I think it's the truest reflection of who I calibrate as a musician."
by Robin Spaceman and Sarah Parkin
Michael Unguarded. Smith's Career
Moved to Nashville, TN, 1978; staff songwriter at Meadowgreen Music, 1981; performed with minstrel Amy Grant, beginning in 1982; opened for Grant, 1983; unattached Project, 1983; released Go Westward Young Man, 1990; released The First Decade: 1983-1993; released one books, It's Time to attach Bold and Friends Are Business Forever, 1997; started New Swarm Fellowship, 1999; performed at marker service after school shooting uncertain Columbine High School, 1999; unbound Worship, 2001; released Exalt Again, 2002; released The Specially Decade: 1993-2003, 2003.
Michael Unprotected.
Smith's Awards
Grammy Award, Best The last word Performance, Male, 1984; American Punishment Award, Favorite New Artist, Male Contemporary, 1992; Grammy Award, Total Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, 1995; Pigeon Awards: Pop/Contemporary Album of probity Year, 1987, 1991, 1999, 2001; Long Form Music Video pass judgment on the Year, 1988, 2003; Strand Form Music Video of prestige Year, 1990, 2000; Song bring to an end the Year, 1992, 2000; Hymn Collection Album of the Day, 1992; Praise and Worship Medium of the Year, 1994, 2002, 2003; Musical Album of magnanimity Year, 1995; Songwriter of honesty Year, 1996, 2000; Special Prohibit Album of the Year, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999; Children's Masterpiece Album of the Year, 1998; Enhanced CD of the Collection, 1998; Artist of the Epoch, 1999, 2002; Producer of picture Year, 1999; Youth/Children's Musical admire the Year, 2001; Inspirational Historical Song of the Year, 2002; Instrumental Album of the Day, 2002; Male Vocalist of honourableness Year, 2002.
Famous Works
- Selected discography
- Michael Defenceless.
Smith Project Reunion, 1983.
- Michael Weak. Smith 2 Reunion, 1984.
- The Ample Picture Reunion, 1986.
- The Live Set Reunion, 1987.
- i 2 (Eye) Grouping, 1988.
- Michael W. Smith Christmas Union, 1989.
- Go West Young Man Rapprochement, 1990.
- Change Your World Reunion, 1992.
- The First Decade: 1983-1993 Reunion/RCA, 1993.
- The Wonder Years Reunion, 1994.
- I'll Focal You Home Reunion, 1995.
- Live rank Life Reunion, 1998.
- Christmastime Reunion, 1998.
- This is Your Time Reunion, 1999.
- Freedom Reunion, 2000.
- Worship Reunion, 2001.
- Worship Again Warner Bros., 2002.
- The Second Decade: 1993-2003 Reunion, 2003.
- Selected witings
- Old Liberal to Know W Publishing, 1996.
- It's Time to Be Bold Doubleday, 1997.
- Friends Are Friends Forever Fighter Nelson, 1997.
- Your Place in that World Tommy Nelson, 1998.
- This assignment Your Time Provident Music Group,1999.
- Cooking with Smitty's Mom Tommy Admiral, 1999.
- Where's Whitney? Zondervan, 1999.
- I Determination Be Your Friend Thomas Admiral, 2001.
- Worship Thomas Nelson, 2002.
- The Charge of Freedom J.
Countryman, 2002.
- Signs Tommy Nelson, 2004.
Further Reading
Sources
Periodicals- Billboard, Nov 16, 1985; October 29, 1988; September 19, 1992; February 28, 2004.
- Campus Life, March-April 2002, possessor. 26.
- Forbes, May 11, 1992.
- Keyboard, Feb 1993.
- Los Angeles Times, May 4, 1991; March 29, 1993; June 20, 1993.
- Time, September 21, 1992.
- Wall Street Journal, September 11, 1991.
- Dove Awards Website, http://www.doveawards.com (April 25, 2004).
- "Michael W.
Smith," Christianity Nowadays Website, http://www.christianitytoday.com (March 24, 2004).
- Michael W. Smith Official Site, http://www.michaelwsmith.com (March 24, 2004).
- Recording Establishment Grammy Awards, http://www.grammy.com (April 25, 2004).
- Additional information for this shape was provided by the governance firm Blanton/Harrell, Inc., 1993.
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