In 2008, The Gospel Music Association (GMA) inducted West Virginia native and Christian music superstar, Michael W. Smith into its prestigious Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee.   On the night of his induction ceremony, he was described this way:  “Michael W. Smith’s contributions to the kingdom go far beyond creating memorable songs.  He is a mentor whose wise counsel has inspired a new generation of young artists, and he is a leader whose creative vision has had immeasurable impact on the church and believers all over the world.  Most of all, he’s a worshipper whose life on stage and off celebrates the God he serves.”

 

At that time, Smith had won over 40 of the GMA’s Dove Awards, the Gospel Music world’s equivalent of a Grammy.  Notice how that powerful description of  Smith, barely mentions his music and focuses on his faith and works.  That is how Smith has prioritized his life.  For it is the faith and works that have made him one of the most enduring artists in the Contemporary Christian field.   However, this grateful, humble, musician is also a major hit maker that Billboard magazine has called “a true Renaissance artist of contemporary Christian music”.

 

Michael W. Smith has sold more than 18 million records and has won 3 Grammys and received 11 Grammy nominations.   In the Gospel Music world, he has won an amazing 45 Dove Awards.  He has had over 30 songs go #1 on the Gospel Music charts.  He has also authored 14 books, and won an American Music Award in 1992 for Favorite Adult/Contemporary New Artist.

 

Michael Whitaker Smith was born in 1957 in Kenova, WV.  The Wayne County town, situated at the confluence of the Ohio and Big Sandy Rivers, was where his family lived while his father worked for Ashland Oil, across the Ohio in Cattlesburg KY.  His mother was a caterer.  As a child he developed a love of music through his church.  He played piano and sang in the church choir.

 

He became a devout Christian at age 10 and spent countless hours with a support group of fellow believers, expressing their faith through the sharing of music.  That group disbanded after his high school years and Smith fell victim to the temptations of drugs and alcohol.  He attended Marshall University, while developing his songwriting skills, but dropped out after one semester.

 

Believing in his songwriting talents, Michael moved to Nashville in 1978 where he landed a job with the Pargagon/Benson Publishing Company.  While he enjoyed the early makings of success, according to his memoir, he was “still a troubled young man”.  Smith experienced an emotional breakdown in 1979 which resulted in his re-dedicating his life to Christ.  The following day he auditioned for a job with the Contemporary Christian group Higher Ground.  He got the job as their new keyboard player.  His life turned around.

 

In 1981 he signed with Meadowgreen Music as a staff writer and wrote songs for popular artists including Sandi Patty, Bill Gaither and Amy Grant.  Also in 1981, Michael met and married his wife Deborah Kay Davis, an accomplished lyricist in her own right.

 

1982 saw Smith hit the road as keyboardist for Amy Grant, and the following year he released his first solo effort, The Michael W. Smith Project, which he also produced.  His trademark song “Friends” debuts on this record.  The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance.  He soon became Grant’s opening act.

The follow up album, Michael W. Smith 2, released in 1984, became his breakout recording and launched his career as a headliner.  To reach a younger audience, Smith began recording in a variety of styles, including Rock. While some among the religious community criticized him for selling out, he explained that his new musical stylings enabled him to get his message across to a wider audience.

 

His first “mainstream” effort was the album Go West Young Man, released in 1990.  It included the crossover hit single “Place in This World”, which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991.  The popularity of that song helped push the album to platinum sales status.

 

In 2000 Smith traveled to Ireland to record Freedom, which featured backing from the Irish Film Orchestra, and included Smith’s songs with classic piano arrangements.

 

The following year Michael released his most acclaimed album Worship.  The album happened to be released on September 11, 2001, the day the United States was attacked.  The songs, with a message of healing and unity, provided timely, and much needed, comfort to a nation in pain.  Worship, and the followup Worship Again, have been certified double platinum and platinum, respectively.

 

Smith has acted in a number of films, and in 2015 he took a supporting role in the movie 90 Minutes in Heaven, based on the book by Don Piper.  Michael and his son, Tyler Smith, wrote the music for the film.