Matt Maher
| Matt Maher | |
|---|---|
 Maher performing in 2011 |
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 10, 1974 [1] Newfoundland, Canada |
| Genres | Christian rock |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Essential |
| Website | www.mattmahermusic.com |
Matthew "Matt" Guion Maher (born November 10, 1974)[1] is a contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist, songwriter, and worship leader originally from Newfoundland, Canada, who later relocated to Tempe, Arizona. He has written and produced six solo albums to date. Three of his albums have reached the Top 25 Christian Albums Billboard chart and four of his singles have reached the Top 25 Christian Songs chart. He is a practicing Catholic.[2]
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Biography [edit]
Maher was born and raised in Newfoundland, Canada. His parents recognized his musical talent, and he grew up taking piano lessons and immersing himself in a broad variety of music and playing in concert and jazz ensembles, singing in a choir, and playing in a garage rock band.[3]
Maher started his post-secondary studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland, but soon after received a scholarship from the Jazz Department at Arizona State University, so he moved to Phoenix, AZ where he studied Jazz Piano and got his music degree. He paid for his first three years of college by playing piano in a hotel.
Matt currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee. He married Kristin Fisher on September 10, 2010. Their son, Michael Conor, was born on August 1, 2011.
Career [edit]
His first label was the Spirit and Song, a division of OCP Publications, where he released his first three collections. Early in 2007 Maher signed to Essential Records. He released his first big-label album (and his fourth album overall) Empty and Beautiful on April 8, 2008. His second album with Essential Records (and his fifth album overall), Alive Again, was released on September 22, 2009.[4] In late 2009, Maher toured with Michael W. Smith on the "New Hallelujah Tour". Alive Again peaked at No. 6 on Billboard magazine's Top Christian Albums chart in 2009.[5]
When Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States in April 2008, Maher was asked to lead worship for crowds of thousands at the Rally for Youth and Seminarians in Yonkers, New York, which also featured Kelly Pease, tobyMac and Third Day, among other musicians. He was subsequently interviewed on Fox News, where he played his title track from Empty and Beautiful.[6]
Maher was a guest singer songwriter speaker at Crowder's Fantastical Church Music Conference at Baylor University in late 2010 put on by the David Crowder Band.[7] In early 2011 he toured the United States on the Rock And Worship Roadshow headlined by MercyMe.[8]
Discography [edit]
Albums [edit]
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Christian |
US Heat |
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| 2001 | The End and the Beginning[9]
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— | — | — |
| 2003 | Welcome to Life[11]
|
— | — | — |
| 2006 | Overflow[13]
|
— | — | — |
| 2008 | Empty & Beautiful
|
168[15] | 12[16] | 6[17] |
| 2009 | Alive Again
|
128[18] | 6[16] | — |
| 2011 | The Love in Between
|
97 | 7 | — |
| 2013 | All the People Said Amen
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115 | 5 | — |
Singles [edit]
| Year | Title | Peak Chart Positions | Album |
| Billboard Hot Christian Songs | |||
| 2008 | "Your Grace Is Enough" | 4 | Empty & Beautiful |
| 2009 | "Empty & Beautiful" | 47 | |
| "Alive Again" | 12 | Alive Again | |
| 2010 | "Hold Us Together" | 6 | |
| "Christ Is Risen" | 18 | ||
| 2011 | "Turn Around" | 5 | The Love In Between |
| "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" | 23 | non-album single | |
| 2012 | "Rise Up" | 231 | The Love In Between |
1 Currently active on the charts
Awards and recognition [edit]
- 2008 Praise And Worship Album of the Year: Empty & Beautiful[19]
- 2009 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year
- 2009 nominee, Song of the Year: "As It Is In Heaven"
- 2009 nominee, Praise And Worship Song of the Year: "As It Is In Heaven"
- 2010 Album of the Year: Alive Again
- 2010 Praise And Worship Album of the Year: Alive Again
- 2010 Song of the Year: "Hold Us Together"
- 2010 Praise And Worship Song of the Year: "Alive Again"
- 2011 Male Vocalist of the Year
- 2012 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: "The Love In Between"
- 2010 nominee, Praise And Worship Song of the Year: Alive Again
- 2010 nominee, Song of the Year: "Alive Again"
- 2010 winner, Special Events Album of the Year: Glory Revealed II: The Word of God in Worship [Split win with Kari Jobe]
- 2003 winner, Best New Artist of the Year
- 2004 winner, Praise & Worship Song of the Year: "I Love You, Lord"
- 2008 winner, Best Artist of the Year
- Other
- 2008 Catholic Album of the Year: Empty & Beautiful
References [edit]
- ^ a b http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/artists/MattMaher.asp
- ^ Jones, Kim (April 29, 2006). "Matt Maher Interview". About.com. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
- ^ Bio formerly at www.mattmahermusic.com (archived at the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine).
- ^ New Release Tuesday.com
- ^ Alive Again review at Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
- ^ Provident Press
- ^ [1]
- ^ "MercyMe, Jars of Clay part of The Rock and Worship Road Show in Sioux City". Argus Leader. 30 January 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- ^ The End and the Beginning at Spirit and Song
- ^ http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-end-and-the-beginning/id477545751
- ^ Welcome to Life at Spirit and Song
- ^ http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/welcome-to-life/id464900288
- ^ Overflow at Spirit and Song
- ^ http://breathecast.christianpost.com/Christian.Music.Artist-Matt.Maher/Album-585_1.htm
- ^ Empty & Beautiful at Billboard
- ^ a b "Album Chart Positions". All Music. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ "Matt Maher Heatseekers history". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ Alive Again at Billboard
- ^ Maher received four other GMAC nominations in 2008: New Artist of the Year, Inspirational Song of the Year: "Empty And Beautiful", Praise And Worship Song of the Year: "Your Grace Is Enough", and Song of the Year: "Your Grace Is Enough" GMA Canada list of 2008 nominees
External links [edit]
- Official website
- Official MySpace page
- Matt Maher at Essential Records
- Matt Maher at Spirit and Song
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