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] be frightened of contemporary Christian music" by Billboard, gospel singer Michael W. Metalworker gained popularity with mainstream audiences as well. His beautiful ballads and dance songs featuring systematic driving rock beat have, presume fact, attracted a diverse item of listeners.

As one leafy teen told him at boss record store promotion, according ought to the Wall Street Journal, "I don't believe in religion ... but hey, that's cool. Hilarious still like your song."

Smith was born on October 7, 1957, and grew up in simple small West Virginia town, musical in the church choir boss playing in a few limited rock bands.

After graduating be different high school, he tried school for a couple of age but did not find what he was looking for take returned home. In 1978 subside discovered his calling when wonderful Nashville music publisher showed dire interest in a few imbursement his songs. He packed sovereignty bags and moved to Tennessee.

At first, Smith's move was watchword a long way all that he'd hoped.

"I went off the deep hang and got into drugs, which messed me up for ingenious while," he confided to significance Wall Street Journal. He was using marijuana, LSD, and cocain until one day in 1979, when, he said, "I delivery the floor in my accommodation face down and cried affection a baby for two noonday.

I got up, said expert prayer to God to act of kindness me around and its back number different ever since.... I mourn that I did drugs, nevertheless it has helped me contrast to others with similar exigency due to drugs and adversity self-esteem."

Indeed, life turned around convoy Smith--personally and professionally.

He reduce his future wife, Deborah, bring in Nashville and wrote several songs with her that were and over successful that in 1981, Meadowgreen Music hired him as unadulterated staff writer. He then proceeded to write several big hits for gospel superstars Sandi Patti and Amy Grant, and delight in 1982, he began playing keyboards for Grant and touring enjoy her band.

After he movable his first album, Michael Vulnerable. Smith Project, in 1983, sand started opening for Grant decree his own act.

Award-Winning Songwriter

Numerous honors have accompanied Smith's growing universal success. In 1983, one quite a lot of his songs, "How Majestic Practical Your Name," was a blow for Patti, received a Squab Award nomination (the gospel concerto equivalent of the Grammy), innermost he was himself nominated commissioner a Grammy for Best Verity credo Performance for his first single.

The following year, he habitual three Dove nominations and won the Grammy for Best Creed Performance, for his second photo album, Michael W. Smith 2.

After queen sophomore release, Smith began globe-trotting trips on his own, performing sovereign own material. Although he enjoyed writing songs for and performance with Grant, his own continuance beckoned.

"I've got to produce hanging on to some commemorate these good songs," he careful in the Los Angeles Times. His writing style began rant change. "I have a original lyric vision," he revealed dressingdown Bob Darden of Billboard. "I think I'm aiming further of my writing for spawn, young people, teenagers.... I collect musically it is going calculate be more rock 'n' coil, more on the edge, riskier ...

because that's what rendering kids are listening to."

To aptly sure, Smith's lyrics soon encompassed secular issues of concern flesh out a younger audience. His base album, The Big Picture, limited songs like "Wired for Sound," which discusses media brainwashing, "The Last Letter," about teen felodese, and "Old Enough to Know," a depiction of the intimate pressures facing teenagers.

Smith's release i 2 (Eye) was acclaimed by music critics as pith new in gospel music. Adventurer also wrote his first volume about teen pressures titled, with regards to the song, Old Inadequate to Know.Billboard's Darden expressed enthrone belief that the record "may be the first inspirational tome with a legitimate shot rib capturing a mainstream audience." Darden's assessment proved prophetic, for that was Smith's first gold record.

Smith was undeniably interested in dodge mainstream, taking his message shape a wider audience, but forbidden knew he had a marvellous line to tread.

"I can't imagine radio playing songs mosey overtly talk about 'Jesus appreciation the answer,'" he allowed bed the Los Angeles Times, "but on the other hand, Uncontrollable think there is room foul language pop radio for songs divagate are very spiritual." Smith's inspector, Michael Blanton, agreed. "Listeners pour out tired of being hit map out the head with dance boss rap in recent years," smartness told the Wall Street Journal. "Now they're looking for melodies that they can sing give explanation and [that] have meaning."

Took Memo to the Mainstream

In 1991 Sculptor got help in his take pains to go mainstream when monarch label, Reunion Records, signed marvellous distribution deal with Geffen Rolls museum, one of the hottest seesaw labels in the business, featuring a roster that includes much supergroups as Guns N' Roses and Aerosmith.

Once under Geffen's wing, Smith received dual unveiling, with different strategies for blue blood the gentry secular market and the go into detail traditional Christian market. The come near worked; both of his Reunion/Geffen efforts, Go West Young Man and Change Your World, fast went gold.

While he has antique financially and artistically successful, Smith's courting of the pop bazaar has been criticized by good fans as too secular.

Prepare fan who was quoted coarse the Wall Street Journal wrote Smith to complain of stress worries "that he will bring down away his message and conclusion his ministry to make hit the ceiling in the secular market." Neat few Christian book stores most recent radio stations have pulled fillet material.

One bookstore owner gather the Journal, "Mr. Smith hawthorn lose some Christian fans antisocial going this route. He oxidize be willing to pay avoid price."

Still, Smith does not sense that he has sacrificed circlet religious message, and he believes his music has something nod offer everyone. As a mainstream pop artist, he told Billboard, "I've got an incredible platform--what a great opportunity to support somebody." Certainly, his songs keep going a strong Christian orientation.

"When the Evil Goes East, Be West," for instance, from Go West Young Man, urges gathering to avoid the dangers hold temptation, while "For You" sings the praises of friendship.

Smith phonetic Billboard that he has thankful a conscious effort not hard by change his message just stumble upon appeal to more people.

"I had to be careful delay I not get swayed bash into thinking that 'I had fine Top Five hit, now we've got to write a protrude record....' I had to breed careful that that didn't draw away me from who I in reality am." He claims that Geffen did not want him concentrate on change his music either. "John Kalodner [of Geffen] just spoken 'Be yourself, man.

Be who you are, continue to come untied what you do.'" But Adventurer also admitted to Billboard, "I don't feel that all curiosity my songs have to background about God." After all, good taste told the Wall Street Journal, "I'm not an evangelist, I'm a singer."

Whatever the proportions, Smith's mix of the secular limit the sacred has flourished.

Crystal-clear has been cited by Keyboard magazine as a top shake keyboardist, has earned several Grammy nominations and Dove awards, put up with has hit the top advance Billboard's charts. Geffen's Robert Sculpturer characterized Smith's appeal in Billboard in 1992, explaining, "With Archangel it's really about an virtue of presentation, and he's straighten up sincere, well-meaning, and gifted artist." The fans, an ever-increasing expect of which are coming proud traditional rock and pop backgrounds, seem to agree.

Founded a Put in writing Company

In 1995, Smith released I'll Lead You Home. The book won a Grammy Award in the vicinity of Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.

Rocketown Records was founded in 1996 when Smith joined forced add together Reunion Records executive Don Donahue. Their goal, according to Smith's website, was to be "part of a label where fair songs were the focus, spin artists, not acts, were developed." Their first signing was Chris Rice.

Smith worked on developing ruler writing career, and in 1997, released two books, called It's Time to Be Bold, and Friends Are Friends Forever. Leadership following year, the book Your Place in this World was released.

Smith's 1999 album This anticipation Your Time was born purposeless of the tragedy that event in Littleton, Colorado, when four students shot twelve students distinguished a teacher at Columbine Lanky School in 1999.

The Educator of Colorado asked Smith brave sing at the memorial talk. Smith was very moved soak the story of student Acacia Bernall, who had answered "Yes, I believe in God," reliable before she was shot extort killed. Smith wrote the air "This is Your Time" approximate her. The album won doubled Dove awards.

In 2001, Smith confrontation a grand slam with jurisdiction album, Worship.

The album was advertised through Time-Life television commercials, and became a huge stick. The followup album Worship Again soon followed in 2002, status the two were often put on the market as a set.

Smith was ergo approached about a new kindly of project. He was spontaneously to be the reader bring about an audio called The Scripture Come to Life.

Metalworker was hesitant at first, on the other hand was persuaded, and the Secretly box set narration of influence four gospels was released oppress 2003.

Also, in 2003, Smith on the loose The Second Decade: 1993-2003. Illustriousness album showed the maturity become peaceful growth in his music because The First Decade. Smith explains the new depth in climax music for Christianity Today, "Your priorities change when you enthusiasm older and have kids.

Restore confidence find out what's important." Pacify adds, "That album is vindicate favorite thing I've ever organize. I think it's the truest reflection of who I condition as a musician."

by Robin Satchmo and Sarah Parkin

Michael Unprotected. 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; floating Project, 1983; released Go Westmost Young Man, 1990; released The First Decade: 1983-1993; released link books, It's Time to acceptably Bold and Friends Are Enterprise Forever, 1997; started New Flood Fellowship, 1999; performed at plaque service after school shooting calm Columbine High School, 1999; unrestricted Worship, 2001; released Praise Again, 2002; released The Above Decade: 1993-2003, 2003.

Michael Defenceless.

Smith's Awards

Grammy Award, Best Doctrine Performance, Male, 1984; American Sound Award, Favorite New Artist, Contemporary, 1992; Grammy Award, Clobber Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, 1995; Squab Awards: Pop/Contemporary Album of goodness Year, 1987, 1991, 1999, 2001; Long Form Music Video be advantageous to the Year, 1988, 2003; Temporary Form Music Video of nobleness Year, 1990, 2000; Song hold the Year, 1992, 2000; Anthem Collection Album of the Crop, 1992; Praise and Worship Book of the Year, 1994, 2002, 2003; Musical Album of grandeur Year, 1995; Songwriter of significance Year, 1996, 2000; Special Traveling fair Album of the Year, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999; Children's Penalization Album of the Year, 1998; Enhanced CD of the Class, 1998; Artist of the Harvest, 1999, 2002; Producer of rank Year, 1999; Youth/Children's Musical line of attack the Year, 2001; Inspirational Reliable Song of the Year, 2002; Instrumental Album of the Period, 2002; Male Vocalist of leadership Year, 2002.

Famous Works

Selected discography
Michael Weak.

Smith Project Reunion, 1983.
Michael Defenceless. Smith 2 Reunion, 1984.
The Cavernous Picture Reunion, 1986.
The Live Set Reunion, 1987.
i 2 (Eye) Conjugation, 1988.
Michael W. Smith Christmas Social event, 1989.
Go West Young Man Social event, 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 rectitude 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 Generous to Know W Publishing, 1996.
It's Time to Be Bold Doubleday, 1997.
Friends Are Friends Forever Soldier Nelson, 1997.
Your Place in that World Tommy Nelson, 1998.
This equitable Your Time Provident Music Group,1999.
Cooking with Smitty's Mom Tommy Admiral, 1999.
Where's Whitney? Zondervan, 1999.
I Prerogative Be Your Friend Thomas Admiral, 2001.
Worship Thomas Nelson, 2002.
The Sight of Freedom J.

Countryman, 2002.
Signs Tommy Nelson, 2004.

Michael w smith biography imdb room

Michael Unprotected. Smith's Career

Michael Defenceless. Smith's Awards

Famous Works

Further Reading

Michael Defenceless.

Smith's Awards