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Kirk Franklin
With a new album, a new media company and a new film in the works, KIRK FRANKLIN is a bonafide multimedia juggernaut... |
Rush of Fools
The members of Rush of Fools were just humble guys serving God—until a hit single got the attention of the nation. |
Pillar: Game On!
Pillar’s Rob Beckley describes the challenges of being in music for the long haul—and why he won’t balk if you say he is in a “Christian band.” |
The Passion World Tour
Greater things... |
Christmas Wrap Up
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...…to break out some new Christmas tunes! |
Sara Groves
When it comes to Sara Groves and her music, hearing is believing. |
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Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith Bio
Michael Whitaker Smith was born October 7, 1957 to Paul and
Barbara Smith in Kenova, West Virginia. A sister named Kim would
follow. Michael was a typical boy - active in baseball, his
family's church activities, and playing piano. But in not-so-typical
fashion, he wrote his first song at age five. At the age of
ten, he made a decision to give his life to Christ. He dreamed
of playing professional baseball.
Michael attended college at Marshall University in West Virginia
but after one semester dropped out to move to Nashville and
pursue a career in music. (side note trivia: In 1992 Michael
received an honorary Doctorate of Music degree from Alderson-Broaddus
College in Philippi, West Virginia.)
The years 1979-1981 are best written by Michael himself in his
book It's Time To Be Bold. From chapter 1, we read:
While playing keyboards for the group Higher
Ground, I signed my first songwriting contract with Paragon/Benson
Publishing Company. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.
I was knocking down $200 a week to do something that I loved.
Writing songs for a living meant that I didn't have to wait
tables anymore, or work at Coca-Cola, or plant shrubs with
a landscaping company.
I thought my life had peaked and God didn't have to do anything
else for me. I wasn't looking for a record deal, a higher
salary, or even a girlfriend - and especially not a wife.
Writing music, I was as content as I'd ever been, and I labored
at it sixteen hours a day. Then one afternoon while I was
working in my office, Deborah Kay Davis walked by.
I thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
When she passed by, it was all over for me. I was blown away.
Totally head over heels in love. I frantically picked up the
phone and called my mother in West Virginia.
"Mom, I can't believe it. You're not going to believe this,
Mom. I just saw the girl I'm going to marry."
"What's her name?"
"I don't know, Mom. I haven't met her yet. But I gotta go.
I'll find out and call you back."
My poor mother! She must have thought I'd lost my mind. But
I'd never been so clearheaded in my life.
I left my office and went searching for this girl in the warehouse.
Sherlock Holmes couldn't have done a better job of tracking
her down, and eventually I found myself standing outside the
ladies' restroom, waiting for her to emerge. She walked out.
I introduced myself. We were engaged three and a half weeks
later - and married four months after that!
In 1982, Michael was asked to play keyboards in a band that
was backing up young artist Amy Grant. He also continued to
write songs for himself.
The story goes that Amy's managers, Mike Blanton and Dan Harrell
could not find a Christian record label that would sign Michael
or a young New Yorker named Kathy Troccoli. Believing so much
in these two young talents, they started Reunion Records.
Michael made his very first record in 1983 and it was called
"Michael W. Smith Project." Michael wrote all the music and
wife Debbie wrote the lyrics. The now famous song "Friends"
debuted on this album. Michael continued to tour with Amy, now
as her opening act.
From there - the records kept coming, and then the books as
well:
- 1984 - the album "Michael W. Smith 2"
- 1985 - the video "Michael W. Smith Live in Concert"
- 1986 - the album "The Big Picture" and Michael's first
book Old Enough to Know \
- 1987 - the album "The Live Set" and the video "The Big
Picture Tour"
- 1988 - the album "i 2 (EYE)"
- 1989 - the album "Christmas"
- 1990 - the album "Go West Young Man" which saw the song
"Place in This World" hit the top 5 in pop charts, and helped
earn him American Music Award's New Artist of the Year.
- 1992 - the album "Change Your World"
- 1993 - the album "The First Decade" (a best-of album)
as well as a limited edition 2-cd boxed set entitled "The
Wonder Years."
- 1995 - the album "I'll Lead You Home"
- 1997 - the book It's Time to Be Bold and the book Friends
Are Friends Forever
- 1998 - the album "Live the Life" and the book Your Place
In This World and at Christmas his second Christmas album
"Christmastime"
- 1999 - the album "This Is Your Time," the book This Is
Your Time, as well as a cookbook with his mom entitled Cooking
with Smitty's Mom and a children's book co-authored with
wife Debbie entitled Where's Whitney?
- 2000 - the album "Freedom"
- 2001 - the book I Will Be Your Friend and the album "Worship"
- 2002 - the book Worship, the book The Price of Freedom
the vhs/dvd "Worship" and the album "Worship Again" * 2003
- the CD box set "The Gospels Come to Life" (narration of
the four gospels), a DVD "The Bigger Picture" and the album
"The Second Decade" with a limited edition DVD
- 2004 - album "Healing Rain" * 2006 - the movie and soundtrack
"The Second Chance
- 2006 - the album "Stand" * 2007 - NEW CHRISTMAS CD THIS
FALL
In the midst of 18 albums and ten books as well as the awards
(Dove awards and Grammy awards among them), Michael and Debbie
were blessed with five children: Ryan, Whitney, Tyler, Emily
and Anna.
In 1994, Michael founded a teen club called Rocketown in an
effort to provide a place for teens to gather in a safe, loving
environment. A warehouse in the Cool Springs area of Brentwood,
TN was converted into a dance floor, rooms with pool tables
and a coffeehouse. After three years, the club closed. The leadership
continued to build a ministry devoted to kids, and a new site
in downtown Nashville that reopened in 2003. Visit Rocketown
at www.rcktwn.com.
In 1996, Michael founded Rocketown Records with Reunion executive
Don Donahue and launched their first artist, Chris Rice. Michael
and Don shared a dream to be part of a label where great songs
were the focus, where artists, not acts, were developed. They
wanted a label that felt like a family. And what a family it
is! Go to www.rocketownrecords.com to learn more!
In 1999, a prayer group of Michael and Debbie's that had been
meeting at their farm, had blossomed into what they felt had
become a church body. Gathering up some leadership, Michael
and Debbie helped start New River Fellowship with close leadership
by Pastor and mentor Don Finto, former senior pastor of Nashville's
Belmont Church where Michael and Debbie had attended for many
years. Visit New River Fellowship at www.newriverfellowship.com.
Throughout his career, Michael has had the opportunity to sing
for Presidents and national leaders, and counts among his friends
the Reverend Billy Graham and his son, Franklin Graham. He is
active in Billy Graham Crusades as well as The Samaritan's Purse,
the ministry headed by Franklin Graham.
But for all of Michael's accolades, for his involvement in his
teen outreach Rocketown, leadership in his local church body,
the business of being an artist, an author and a record label
executive, Michael sums up his life as this, "to be remembered
as a God-fearing man who loved his wife and kids well. Bio
Courtesy michaelwsmith.com
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