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Michael W. Smith

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For other people named Michael Smith, see Michael Smith (disambiguation).
Michael W. Smith

Michael W. Smith (born October 7, 1957) is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian Music, and he has achieved considerable success in the mainstream music industry as well.[1] Smith is a three-time Grammy Award winner, and he has earned 34 Dove Awards. Over the course of his 24-year career, he has sold more than 13 million albums and he has recorded 29 number-one hit songs, fourteen gold albums, and five platinum albums. Smith is an American Music Award recipient and he was named one of People magazine's most beautiful people.[2]

Beginnings

Michael Whitaker Smith was born October 7, 1957 to Paul and Barbara Smith in Kenova, West Virginia. His father was an oil refinery worker and his mother was a caterer.[2] He inherited his love of baseball from his father, who had played in the minor leagues. Michael developed a love of music through his church. He learned piano at an early age and sang in his church choir. At the age of thirteen, Michael had "an intense spiritual experience" that led to his becoming a devout Christian. "I wore this big cross around my neck," he would recall, "It was very real to me."[3] He got involved in Bible study and found a group of older friends who shared his commitment to Jesus Christ. These were very happy years for Michael.[3]

After his older Christian friends moved away to college, Michael began to struggle with feelings of loneliness and alienation. After graduating high school, he gravitated toward alcohol and drugs.[2] He attended Marshall University for a few semesters while developing his songwriting skills. He also played with various local bands around Huntington, West Virginia. During that time, his friend Shane Keister, who worked as a session musician in Nashville, encouraged Michael to move to the Country Music capital and pursue a career in music.[3]

In 1978, Michael moved to Nashville to follow his dream, but it was not easy getting started. He took a job as a landscaper to support himself. He played with several local bands in the Nashville club scene.

I really started losing touch when I moved to Nashville, around April of '78. I was smokin' marijuana, drinking, doing some other drugs; just being crazy, you know. My mom and dad knew what I was doing. But they never hassled me, they just prayed for me. And I felt convicted by God. Every time I'd wake up I knew: This isn't me. But I couldn't change myself.[3]

In November 1979, Smith suffered a breakdown that led to his recommitment to Jesus Christ. The next day he auditioned for a new CCM group, Higher Ground, as a keyboardist and got the job. It was on his first tour with Higher Ground, playing mostly in churches, that Smith was finally able to put the drugs and alcohol behind him.[3]

Songwriting success

In 1981, Smith was signed as a writer to Meadowgreen Music, where he racked up a number of highly successful gospel hits penned for artists like Sandi Patty, Kathy Troccoli, Bill Gaither, and Amy Grant. The following year, Smith began touring as a keyboardist for Grant on her Age to Age tour. He would eventually become Grant's opening act and recorded his first Grammy nominated solo album: The Michael W. Smith Project (which he also produced), in 1983, on the Reunion Records label; a label started by Grant's brother-in-law, Dan Harrell, along with Michael Blanton. This album contained the first recording of his hit Friends which he co-wrote with his wife Deborah. Incidentally, the song that is most associated with him, probably took him the least amount of time to write, as they wrote it one afternoon for a friend who was moving away, never thinking it would become the hit it has.

By the time Smith's second pop album was released in 1984, he was headlining his own tours. In 1986, Smith released the critically acclaimed rock album The Big Picture, with well known record producer Johnny Potoker (Brian Eno, Genesis, Madonna, No Doubt, Talking Heads, etc). On a track titled "Tearing Down The Walls" from The Big Picture, Michael intros with an Amy Grant recording of Emmanuel played backwards via the CD search button. Michael has explained that he and John Potoker were trying to come up with a different way to go into the song.

After the release of his 1988 effort, i 2 (EYE), Smith once again teamed up with Amy Grant for her "Lead Me On World Tour". The following year, Smith recorded his first Christmas album.

In the mainstream

In 1990, Smith released Go West Young Man, which was his first mainstream effort, including the mainstream crossover hit "Place in This World." That album was followed by 1992s Change Your World (which included the #1 adult contemporary hit "I Will Be Here For You"), 1995s I'll Lead You Home, and 1998s Live the Life. Also in 1998, Smith released his second Christmas effort, Christmastime. In 1999, Smith released This Is Your Time (which is about Cassie Bernall, one of the students who was killed during the Columbine massacre. She was killed when one of the shooters reportedly asked her if she believed in God, and she said yes—although some reports of the killings indicate that a different girl who was shot but survived was asked that question. In the music video for this song, the beginning shows a real video of Cassie talking about her religious beliefs and how she wanted to spread the word of God.), written by Smith and Wes King, the brother-in-law of Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, which was inspired by the Columbine shootings. Smith had been asked to perform at some of the memorial services that were held in honor of the victims, which made a huge impression on him.

In 1996, Smith opened his own record label (although he does not record on it), Rocketown Records, named for a song on The Big Picture. He states the label is driven by the artists, and the first artist signed was Chris Rice, who had written "Go Light Your World", a #1 hit song by Kathy Troccoli, in 1995.

Nearly all of Smith's albums contain at least one instrumental track, and in 2000, Smith recorded his first all instrumental album, Freedom, after many years of wanting to create an instrumental album. The following year, Smith released an all praise and worship album, called Worship on September 11. This album was followed by a sequel, Worship Again in 2002. Both albums were recorded live in concert. (Both are also the only two albums to be comprised almost entirely of songs he did not write himself). A Worship DVD, which comprised a selection of songs from both albums, was recorded live in Edmonton, Alberta at YC Alberta and released in 2002. It immediately topped the Billboard video charts and became a Gold seller in both the U.S. and Canada.

After two decades, Smith finally won the Male Vocalist of the Year award at the GMA Music Awards in 2003.

Smith wrote a song entitled "There She Stands", prompted by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He performed this song live for the 2004 Republican National Convention. In introducing the song before he performed it, he made remarks about meeting personally with President George W. Bush (who has a personal nickname for him, "W") in the Oval Office in October of 2001, a short time after the attacks. Smith mentioned that the President, a personal fan (as is the President's father), and family friend of the artist, had asked him to attempt to write a song about the attacks. The song is about America's ability to rise from the ashes and remain strong even after such horrific events.

Smith became a good friend of U2 frontman Bono. The two have joined forces on a number of occasions for performances and in connection to Bono's DATA Organization. While U2 was recording its album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, Bono even invited Smith to jam with them in the studio. The song that the group worked on with Smith, entitled "North Star," did not end up making it onto the record, but might surface in the future on another project. [1]

Smith's album, Healing Rain, was released in 2004 and debuted at #11 on the Billboard Hot 200 Chart. The title track rose to #1 on the Radio & Records Charts and a music video for the song was released. The album nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, combines the pop style of his previous recordings with the praise and worship feel of his two releases in that genre. A new album, Stand, was released in November, 2006.

Smith and his wife have written the theme songs for Kanakuk Kamps for the past two decades. The theme songs have birthed such notable hits as "Love Crusade", "Live the Life", and "Straight to the Heart". The Christian youth at this camp give Smith access to a steady, young audience even as his original fans age.

At a concert in Wabash, Indiana on April 29, 2007, Smith announced that he was soon headed to London to begin recording his third Christmas album. It was reported on Christian Today that the new album would be a collection of all-original Christmas songs. [2] The album titled 'It’s A Wonderful Christmas' was released on October 16, 2007.

Other ventures

In 1994, Smith opened a teen club, named Rocketown, in Franklin, Tennessee. Later in early 2003, the club was moved to a new location--a renovated warehouse in downtown Nashville. The venue offers a large dance floor, extensive indoor skate park, and a cafe hosting live acoustic music. Rocketown is located on 401 6th Ave. S. Quoting an Christian Activities article, Rocketown's mission is to create culturally relevant environments that foster vital relationships between disenfranchised adolescents and Christian mentors in order to meet their physical, social, and spiritual needs.

Smith is actively involved in volunteer service and is vice chair of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, which is chaired by Jean Case of the Case Foundation.

Smith finished work on a film directed by Steve Taylor entitled The Second Chance which was released on February 17, 2006 in selected theatres. In the movie, he stars as a pastor assigned to work in the inner city. The film also stars Jeff Obafemi Carr, and features a soundtrack now available from Reunion Records. The DVD of the movie was released on July 18, 2006.

In July 2007 Smith performed live for a San Diego concert as a part of Sean Hannity's "Freedom Concert" tour.

Personal life

Smith is married to Deborah "Debbie" K. Davis Smith and has five children: Ryan Whitaker, Whitney Katherine Smith-Mooring (married to Jack Mooring of the band Leeland), Tyler Michael, Anna Elizabeth and Emily Allison. He resides in the Nashville suburbs and spends time at the Smith family farm.

Smith is an alumnus of Alderson-Broaddus College, having been awarded the degree Doctor of Music honoris causa in 1992.

Smith is the lead pastor of New River Fellowship in Franklin, TN.

Smith is an outspoken supporter of the Republican Party, and is personal friends with several prominent Republicans, including President George W. Bush.[4][5] He officially endorsed Republican Sam Brownback's unsuccessful presidential campaign.[6]

Discography

Please see Michael W. Smith Discography for a complete discography.

Awards

Grammy Awards

  • 2004 Worship Again – Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
  • 1995 I’ll Lead You Home – Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
  • 1984 Michael W. Smith 2 – Best Gospel Performance, Male

Grammy Nominations

  • 2006 Healing Rain – Best Christian Pop Album
  • 2002 Worship – Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
  • 2000 This Is Your Time – Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
  • 1998 Live the Life – Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
  • 1990 Go West Young Man – Best Pop Gospel Album
  • 1989 "Holy, Holy, Holy" – Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Male (Track from Our Hymns, Word Gospel)
  • 1988 I 2(Eye) – Best Gospel Performance, Male
  • 1986 The Big Picture – Best Gospel Performance, Male
  • 1983 Michael W. Smith Project – Best Gospel Performance, Male

Dove Awards

  • 2003 Artist of the Year
  • 2003 Male Vocalist of the Year
  • 2003 Album of the Year – Worship Again (producer, artist)
  • 2003 Long Form Music Video of the Year – Worship DVD/Video (producer, artist)
  • 2002 Artist of the Year
  • 2002 Album of the Year – Worship (producer, artist)
  • 2002 Instrumental Album of the Year – Freedom (producer, artist)
  • 2002 Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year – "Above All" (artist)
  • 2001 Youth/Children’s Musical Album of the Year – Friends 4 Ever (artist)
  • 2001 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year – This is Your Time (producer, artist)
  • 2000 Song of the Year – "This is Your Time" (artist)
  • 2000 Songwriter of the Year
  • 2000 Short Form Music Video of the Year – "This is Your Time" (artist)
  • 1999 Artist of the Year
  • 1999 Producer of the Year
  • 1999 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year – Live the Life (producer, artist)
  • 1999 Special Event Album of the Year – Exodus (artist)
  • 1998 Special Event Album of the Year – God With Us – A Celebration of Christmas Carols and Classics (artist)
  • 1998 Children’s Music Album of the Year – Sing Me to Sleep Daddy (artist)
  • 1997 Special Event Album of the Year – Tribute: The Songs of Andre Crouch (artist)
  • 1996 Songwriter of the Year
  • 1996 Special Event Album of the Year – My Utmost For His Highest (artist)
  • 1995 Musical Album of the Year – Living on the Edge (artist)
  • 1994 Praise and Worship Album of the Year – Songs From the Loft (artist)
  • 1992 Song of the Year – "Place in this World" (artist)
  • 1992 Musical Album of the Year – The Big Picture (artist)
  • 1992 Choral Collection of the Year – The Michael W. Smith Collection (artist)
  • 1991 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year – Go West Young Man (producer, artist)
  • 1990 Short Form Music Video of the Year – "I Miss the Way" (artist)
  • 1988 Long Form Music Video of the Year – "The Big Picture Tour Video" (artist)
  • 1987 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year – The Big Picture (producer, artist)
  • 1985 Songwriter of the Year

References

  1. ^ Williams, Matt, and and Mary Ann Strombitski. "Michael W. Smith Helps Compassion Gain Nearly 4,000 Sponsorships" in Compassion, January 31, 2003.
  2. ^ a b c Brennan, Sandra. "Michael W. Smith" in All Music Guide.
  3. ^ a b c d e Long, Jim (1988). "Michael W. Smith Looks Back". Christianity Today. 46 (8): 56. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Russ Breimeier (2004-04-10). "The Real Dubya (interview with Michael W. Smith)". Retrieved 2008-02-12.
  5. ^ "Remarks by the President at the National Republican Senatorial Committee Annual Dinner". The White House. 2002-09-25. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
  6. ^ 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog: Michael W. Smith Endorses Brownback for President


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