Michael W. Smith

The song is about America's ability to rise from the ashes and remain strong even after such horrific events. The third single "In The Middle" went top twenty in the UK and Ireland and top 40 in Europe and Australia. Smith mentioned that the President, a personal fan of the artist, had asked him to attempt to write a song about the attacks. The second single "Too Lost In You" went top 5 in the UK, top ten in Norway as well as going top ten on both sides of the Straits of Taiwan (Taiwan and China). Bush in the Oval Office in October of 2001, a short time after the attacks. It reached number two in Ireland and Norway, and was a minor American hit as well, reaching #96. In introducing the song before he performed it, he made remarks about meeting personally with President George W. The first single "Hole In The Head" was the group's third UK number one single and went to number one in Denmark as well.

He performed this song live for the 2004 Republican National Convention. The group's third album Three released in 2003 continued the momentum reaching number three on the UK album charts. Smith wrote a song entitled "There She Stands," prompted by the |September 11th terrorist attacks. The fourth single "Shape" went top ten in the UK, Netherlands and Ireland in early 2003. After two decades, Smith finally won the coveted Male Vocalist of the Year award at the GMA Music Awards in 2003. The third single from the album "Stronger" went top ten in the Netherlands and Norway while a "Stronger/Angels With Dirty Faces" double A-side single went top ten in the UK and top 20 in New Zealand in late 2002. A Worship Again DVD was released in 2002, which immediately topped the Billboard video charts. On the back of these hits, Sugababes second album Angels With Dirty Faces reached number two on the UK album charts and was a hit elsewhere.

Both albums were recorded live in concert. Their second single for Island Records "Round Round" was the groups second UK number one single and went to number 2 in Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand. The following year, Smith released an all praise and worship album, called Worship, which was followed by a sequel, Worship Again. The second single for Island Records. Nearly all of Smith's albums contain at least one instrumental track, and in 2000, Smith recorded his first all instrumental album, Freedom. The song was also a European top ten song and reached the top 40 in New Zealand, Norway and Belgium. He states the label is driven by the artists, and one of its first artists signed was Chris Rice, who had written "Go Light Your World," a #1 hit song by Kathy Troccoli, in 1995. This song was a breakthrough for the group being their first UK number one in 2002 and reaching number two in Ireland.

In 1996, Smith opened his own record label (although he does not record on it), Rocketown Records, named for a teen club which he established for Christian youth in the Nashville area. The song featured Sugababes singing a lyric by Adina Howard over a sample of "Are 'Friends' Electric" by Tubeway Army. Smith had been asked to perform at some of the memorial services that were held in honor of the victims, which made a huge impression on Smith. Their first single with the new label was "Freak Like Me", a version of a Bastard Pop song "We Don't Give a Damn About Our Friends" by Girls On Top (really Richard X). In 1999, Smith released This Is Your Time, largely inspired by the Columbine shootings. Heidi Range (born 23 May 1983) from Liverpool replaced Donaghy in the group and the group signed with Island Records. Also in 1998, Smith released his second Christmas effort, Christmastime. Siobhan Donaghy's solo record Revolution In Me released through London Records failed to achieve the same success as the Sugababes subsequent releases.

That album was followed by 1992's Change Your World, 1995's I'll Lead You Home and 1998's Live The Life. Siobhan Donaghy left the band mid-tour in 2001 due to depression, later deciding to pursue a career as a solo artist. In 1990, Smith released Go West Young Man, which was his first real mainstream effort. Despite this, the One Touch didn't sell as well as London Records hoped leading to them dropping the band in 2001. The following year, Smith recorded his first Christmas album. The group largely wrote the One Touch album which had three further Top 40 hits in the UK - "Soul Sound", "Run For Cover" and "New Year" - with "Run For Cover" also making the Australian Top 40. After the release of his 1988 effort, I 2 eye, Smith once again teamed up with Amy Grant for her "Lead Me On World Tour". The first single "Overload" made the UK Top 10 and was nominated for a Brit Award.

In 1986, Smith released the critically acclaimed rock effort The Big Picture, with well known record producer Johnny Potoker (Brian Eno, Genesis, Madonna, No Doubt, Talking Heads, etc). London Records decided to offer the group a contract when the girls were 14 and brought in Cameron McVey, known for his work with the All Saints to develop an album. By the time Smith's second pop album was released in 1984, he was headlining his own tours. The trio decided to form a group together soon after in 1998. He would eventually become Grant's opening act, and recorded his first Grammy nominated solo album, Michael W. Smith Project (which he also produced), in 1983, on the Reunion label, a label started by Grant's brother-in-law, Dan Harrell, along with Michael Blanton. Buchanan's family hails from Jamaica while Buena's comes from the Philippines. In 1981, Smith was signed as a writer to Meadowgreen Music, where he racked up a number of highly successful gospel hits penned for artists like Sandi Patty, Kathy Troccoli, Bill Gaither and Amy Grant. The following year, Smith began touring as a keyboardist for Grant on her Age to Age tour. Keisha Buchanan (born 30 September 1984) and Mutya Buena (born Rosa Isabel Mutya Buena 21 May 1985) were childhood friends in London and met Siobhan Donaghy at a party when they were thirteen.

He cleaned up his substance abuse problem and began playing keyboards for the CCM group, Higher Ground. The band has also won at the Brit Awards for "Best British Dance Act". In October of 1979, Smith suffered an emotional and mental breakdown that awakened a recommitment to the Christian beliefs of his childhood. They have also had two UK top five albums in Angels With Dirty Faces in 2002 and Three in 2003. Nevertheless, he was able to get through a couple of years of college and develop his songwriting skills with various local bands. Sugababes are a UK girl group formed in 1998 and have so far have released 12 songs that have made top 40 charts around the world including three UK number one singles. By the time Smith graduated from high school, he had found himself with serious drug and alcohol abuse problems. Three (2003).

By 2003, he had 10 gold records and 3 platinum records. Angels With Dirty Faces (2002). Smith had sold more than seven million records and had 25 #1 hit songs. One Touch (2000). Smith has frequently topped both Christian radio and Billboard charts, and is often listed as one of the top keyboardists in rock and roll in Keyboard Magazine. Since his first solo project in 1983, Smith has become one of the most popular artists in the Contemporary Christian music world, while also finding considerable success in the mainstream.

Michael Whitaker Smith (born October 7, 1957 in Kenova, West Virginia), often nicknamed "Smitty", is an American singer, songwriter and keyboardist.