Tommy Sands

He was divorced from Sinatra in 1965 and has a daughter, model Jessica Sands, born in 1977 from another relationship. The song is about America's ability to rise from the ashes and remain strong even after such horrific events. Sands performed in several films including Babes in Toyland in 1961 and The Longest Day in 1962 but both his singing and film career had faded by the 1970s. Smith mentioned that the President, a personal fan of the artist, had asked him to attempt to write a song about the attacks. In 1960, he married Nancy Sinatra and for a time they were the toast of Hollywood. Bush in the Oval Office in October of 2001, a short time after the attacks. Sands' sudden fame brought an offer to sing at the Academy Awards show and his teen idol looks landed him a motion-picture contract to star in a 1958 musical drama called Sing, Boy, Sing. In introducing the song before he performed it, he made remarks about meeting personally with President George W.

On the show, his song presentation of a tune called "Teenage Crush" went over big with the young audience and, released as a 45 rpm single by Capitol Records, it went to No.3 on the Billboard Hot 100 music charts. He performed this song live for the 2004 Republican National Convention. His initial recordings garnered little in the way of sales but in early 1957 he was given the opportunity to star in an episode of "Kraft Television Theatre". Smith wrote a song entitled "There She Stands," prompted by the |September 11th terrorist attacks. He was only fifteen when Colonel Tom Parker heard about him and signed him to RCA Records. After two decades, Smith finally won the coveted Male Vocalist of the Year award at the GMA Music Awards in 2003. Sands began playing the guitar at age seven and within a year had a job performing twice weekly on a local radio station. A Worship Again DVD was released in 2002, which immediately topped the Billboard video charts.

While still young, he moved with his family to Shreveport, Louisiana. Both albums were recorded live in concert. Born Thomas Adrian Sands into a musical family in Chicago, Illinois, his father was a pianist and his mother a big-band singer. The following year, Smith released an all praise and worship album, called Worship, which was followed by a sequel, Worship Again. Tommy Sands (born August 27, 1937 ) is an American pop music singer and actor. Nearly all of Smith's albums contain at least one instrumental track, and in 2000, Smith recorded his first all instrumental album, Freedom. 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.

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. 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. In 1999, Smith released This Is Your Time, largely inspired by the Columbine shootings. Also in 1998, Smith released his second Christmas effort, Christmastime.

That album was followed by 1992's Change Your World, 1995's I'll Lead You Home and 1998's Live The Life. In 1990, Smith released Go West Young Man, which was his first real mainstream effort. The following year, Smith recorded his first Christmas album. 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".

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). By the time Smith's second pop album was released in 1984, he was headlining his own tours. 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. 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.

He cleaned up his substance abuse problem and began playing keyboards for the CCM group, Higher Ground. In October of 1979, Smith suffered an emotional and mental breakdown that awakened a recommitment to the Christian beliefs of his childhood. Nevertheless, he was able to get through a couple of years of college and develop his songwriting skills with various local bands. By the time Smith graduated from high school, he had found himself with serious drug and alcohol abuse problems.

By 2003, he had 10 gold records and 3 platinum records. Smith had sold more than seven million records and had 25 #1 hit songs. 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.