Music is the language we all speak regardless of our beliefs, culture, and race. It is the fabric that binds us together in perfect harmony. If music is the word of a spiritual entity, there are those who have given themselves away as prophets of the word, delivering it to the rest of us in its purity and excellence. Each prophet finds the form that best suits their expression, like Michael W Smith who has chosen the path of contemporary Christian music. He has made a name for himself as a purveyor of music to Christian audiences, read on and learn more about this multiple Grammy award winner
Michael W Smith Biography (Age)
The church represents so many things for various people; for Michael W Smith, it was the place he fell in love with music. Born in Kenova, West Virginia, on the 7th of October 1957, Smith’s parents (Paul and Barbara Smith) took him to church regularly. He eventually fell in love with the piano and ultimately joined the church choir.
At the age of 10, Michael Whitaker Smith’s connection to the church had deepened and he became a devote member of the Christian faith. However, he did suffer a crisis of faith when his friends left for college. Lonely and alienated, he found solace in alcohol and drugs.
During his journey as a backsliding Christian, he began developing his songwriting abilities and was later encouraged by a friend, Shane Keister, to take his talents to Nashville, the home of country music. That advice and the subsequent decision to relocate in 1978 changed his life forever.
After moving to Nashville, Michael auditioned and joined a contemporary Christian music group, Higher Ground. He became Higher Ground’s keyboardist and his time with the group became a significant period of his life. Not only did he rededicate his life to the Christian faith and abandon alcohol and drugs, but his songwriting skills also caught the eyes of executives at Meadowgreen Music and he was signed to write music for various Christian artists such as Bill Gather, Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, among others.
Michael Smith tried to complete his formal education after graduating from high school and attending Marshall University but he eventually dropped out after one semester.
Albums and Songs
Michael W Smith recorded his first album, The Michael W Smith Project in 1983. At the time, he had established himself as the opening act for Amy Grant’s tours. His first album contained one of his hit songs, Friends. The first album was a great introduction to the world as an artist and by the time he released his second album, Michael W Smith 2 in 1984, he was big enough to headline his own tours.
He later released The Big Picture in 1986; I 2 (EYE) came in 1988 and he released his first Christmas album in 1989 – he titled it Christmas.
Having devoted himself mostly to the Christian rock genre, Michael W Smith pivoted to a more mainstream style of music in the early 90s to attract a wider audience. His first album for the new musical direction was a hit. A song on the album, Place in This World, peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Till date, Michael W Smith has released a total of 22 albums, selling over 20 million records. He has 33 number one songs which have been accompanied with 13 Grammy nominations and 3 wins. He also has 45 Dove Awards and one American Music Awards. In all, Smith boasts of five platinum albums and fourteen gold albums. He was awarded a lifetime achievement award, a Golden Note in 1999 by the ASCAP.
His Net Worth
A lifetime of extraordinary success in music has enabled Michael W Smith to build a significant net worth in the region of $14 million. His wealth comes at no surprise considering his superior songwriting skills which have produced songs that made it into the hymnals of various Christian bodies.
Michael W Smith’s Family Life
Smith met and married his wife, Deborah Kay Davis all within four months. Since then, the two have collaborated in creating music and five beautiful children. Like their father, some of the children have embraced music. Tyler Michael is a keyboard player, Whitney Katherine Mooring is married to Jack Mooring who is in the band, Leeland. His other children are Ryan, Anna Elizabeth, and Emily Alison. He and the rest of his family reside in the suburbs of Nashville.
