Smith

Smith is one of the most influential and best-selling artists in the Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) field and has also achieved considerable success as a mainstream artist. He has earned 34 Dove Awards. Over the course of his 24-year career, he has sold more than 13 million albums and has recorded 29 No. 1 songs, 14 gold albums, and five platinum albums. Smith is an American Music Award recipient and was named one of People magazineís most beautiful people.

The concert is free and will be on a first-come first-serve basis.

Smith, a native of Kenova, W. Va., wrote his first song at age 5. He attended college at Marshall University in West Virginia but after one semester dropped out to move to Nashville and pursue a career in music.

Smithís music career began in 1982 when he was asked to play keyboards in a band that was backing up young artist Amy Grant. He also continued to write songs for himself.

Grantís 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.

Smith made his very first record in 1983 and it was called ìMichael W. Smith Project.î

Smith wrote all the music and wife Debbie wrote the lyrics. The now famous song ìFriendsî debuted on this album. Smith continued to tour with Amy, now as her opening act.

In the midst of 18 albums and 10 books as well as the awards, Smith and his wife Debbie were blessed with five children: Ryan, Whitney, Tyler, Emily and Anna.

In 1994, Michael founded a teen club called Rocketown in an effort to provide a place for teens to gather in a safe, loving environment. A warehouse in the Cool Springs area of Brentwood, Tenn., was converted into a dance floor, rooms with pool tables and a coffeehouse. After three years, the club closed. The leadership continued to build a ministry devoted to kids, and a new site in downtown Nashville reopened in 2003. Visit Rocketown at www.rcktwn.com.

In 1996, Smith founded Rocketown Records with Reunion executive Don Donahue and launched their first artist, Chris Rice.

Throughout his career, Smith has had the opportunity to sing for presidents and national leaders. He is active in Billy Graham Crusades as well as The Samaritanís Purse, the ministry headed by Franklin Graham.

But for all of his accomplishments, Smith sums up his life as this, ìto be remembered as a God-fearing man who loved his wife and kids well. (From the Warrior Transition Brigade and Department of Ministry and Pastoral Care, WRAMC)