Michael W Smith

Michael W Smith Trending Posts

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  • 13 May 2012 I like these guys! These are funny guys!
  • 11 May 2012 Here with Clay (The Bearded Wonder) in Canada.
  • 06 May 2012
  • 06 May 2012 Thinking of making some changes in wardrobe. (Jimbo and Steve) Thoughts?
  • 05 May 2012 So happy after an amazing show in Toronto. O Canada...how I love you. Thanks so much for tonight.
  • 04 May 2012 Amazing night in Montreal. Really good!!! Here backstage with Jimbo.
  • 01 May 2012 Here at Predators practice facility. Big game tomorrow night.
  • 25 April 2012 Thanks to everyone who came...Belfast, Holland and London. You were amazing! Clip from EO in Holland.
  • 21 April 2012 With Martin Smith backstage before show in Holland.
  • 21 April 2012 Here with Martin Smith and orch rehearsing for tonight.
  • 21 April 2012 Here with Martin Smith and orch rehearsing for tonight.
  • 20 April 2012 Here in Holland with Martin Smith and orchestra. Gonna be good.

Other Posts

  • 05 May 2012 So happy after an amazing show in Toronto. O Canada...how I love you. Thanks so much for tonight.
  • 06 May 2012
  • 13 May 2012 I like these guys! These are funny guys!
  • 04 May 2012 Amazing night in Montreal. Really good!!! Here backstage with Jimbo.
  • 22 May 2012 Great I AM SECOND event at the house today. Go to iamsecond.com and check out Scott Hamilton's film (story). Really, really good!
  • 06 May 2012 Thinking of making some changes in wardrobe. (Jimbo and Steve) Thoughts?
  • 15 May 2012 Hockey or Basketball? (backstage in Red Deer)...
  • 11 May 2012 Here with Clay (The Bearded Wonder) in Canada.
  • 04 July 2011 235 Years Ago a declaration was signed, a nation was born... "She" still stands today! Celebrate with us:
  • 08 April 2011 Hangin' at the house with Issac Slade from "The Fray"...Good times!
  • 02 May 2011 Go here to help people: http://www.samaritanspurse.org
  • 22 October 2011 Playing home town tonight. Very excited! Having a surreal moment....was at this site with my dad almost 41 years ago. Will never forget. "WE ARE MARSHALL"
Michael W Smith Snapshot
Michael Whitaker Smith was born October 7, 1957 to Paul and Barbara Smith in Kenova, West Virginia. A sister named Kim would follow. Michael was a typical boy – active in baseball, his family’s church activities, and playing piano. But in not-so-typical fashion, he wrote his first song at age five. At the age of ten, he made a decision to give his life to Christ. He dreamed of playing professional baseball.

Michael attended college at Marshall University in West Virginia but after one semester dropped out to move to Nashville and pursue a career in music. (side note trivia: In 1992 Michael received an honorary Doctorate of Music degree from Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia.)

The years 1979-1981 are best written by Michael himself in his book It’s Time To Be Bold. From chapter 1, we read:
While playing keyboards for the group Higher Ground, I signed my first songwriting contract with Paragon/Benson Publishing Company. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. I was knocking down $200 a week to do something that I loved. Writing songs for a living meant that I didn’t have to wait tables anymore, or work at Coca-Cola, or plant shrubs with a landscaping company.

I thought my life had peaked and God didn’t have to do anything else for me. I wasn’t looking for a record deal, a higher salary, or even a girlfriend – and especially not a wife. Writing music, I was as content as I’d ever been, and I labored at it sixteen hours a day. Then one afternoon while I was working in my office, Deborah Kay Davis walked by.

I thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. When she passed by, it was all over for me. I was blown away. Totally head over heels in love. I frantically picked up the phone and called my mother in West Virginia.

"Mom, I can’t believe it. You’re not going to believe this, Mom. I just saw the girl I’m going to marry.

"What’s her name?"

"I don’t know, Mom. I haven’t met her yet. But I gotta go. I’ll find out and call you back."

My poor mother! She must have thought I’d lost my mind. But I’d never been so clearheaded in my life.

I left my office and went searching for this girl in the warehouse. Sherlock Holmes couldn’t have done a better job of tracking her down, and eventually I found myself standing outside the ladies’ restroom, waiting for her to emerge. She walked out. I introduced myself. We were engaged three and a half weeks later – and married four months after that!

In 1982, Michael was asked to play keyboards in a band that was backing up young artist Amy Grant. He also continued to write songs for himself.

The story goes that Amy’s 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.

Michael made his very first record in 1983 and it was called “Michael W. Smith Project.” Michael wrote all the music and wife Debbie wrote the lyrics. The now famous song “Friends” debuted on this album. Michael continued to tour with Amy, now as her opening act.
  • Michael W Smith
  • Kenova, WV