Michael W. Smith

When you hear the name Michael W. Smith what is the first thing that comes to your mind?  Is it one of the greatest Christian song writers alive, or maybe its one of the greatest Christian song writers/singers alive. Well whichever one it is there arent to many that dont know the name of Michael W. Smith.  Born in Kenova, West Virginia October 7, 1957 Michael W. Smith road to being one of the greatest Christian song writers/singers was a long but prosperous one.  At age ten he knew he wanted Christ in his life and gave it to him whole heartedly, he attended Marshall University in West Virginia but dropped out after one semester to peruse his music career.  The years 1979-1981 are best written by Michael himself in his book Its time to be Bold (get this book if you can).  In 1982 he was asked to play keyboard for young sing artist Amy Grant but still 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.  After that the records just kept coming and coming

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".

Along with these amazing accomplishments him and his wife (Debbie Smith) had five children Ryan, Whitney, Tyler, Emily, and Anna.  He also founded a teen club called rocketown so teens could have a loving environment to grow up in this is also the name of their record label www.rocketownrecords.com .  Even through all his accomplishments he sums his life up like this "to be remembered as a God-fearing man who loved his wife and kids well."

Discography