Matt Maher
Maher performing in 2011
Background information
Born	(1974-11-10) November 10, 1974 (age 37)[1] Newfoundland, Canada
Genres	Christian rock
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Essential
Website	www.mattmahermusic.com

Matthew "Matt" Guion Maher (born November 10, 1974)^[1] is a contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist, songwriter, and worship leader originally from Newfoundland, Canada, who later relocated to Tempe, Arizona. He has written and produced five solo albums to date. Three of his albums have reached the Top 25 Christian Albums Billboard chart and four of his singles have reached the Top 25 Christian Songs chart. He is a practising Catholic.^[2]

Biography[link]

Maher was born and raised in Newfoundland, Canada. His parents recognized his musical talent, and he grew up taking piano lessons and immersing himself in a broad variety of music and playing in concert and jazz ensembles, singing in a choir, and playing in a garage rock band.^[3]

Maher received a scholarship from the Jazz Department at Arizona State University, where he studied Jazz Piano and got his music degree. He paid for his first three years of college by playing piano in a hotel.

Matt currently lives in Tempe, Arizona. He is involved in building community at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish. He married Kristin Fisher on September 10, 2010. Their son, Michael Conor, was born on August 1, 2011.

Career[link]

Early in 2007 Maher signed to Essential Records. He released his first big-label album (and his fourth album overall) Empty and Beautiful on April 8, 2008. His second album with Essential Records (and his fifth album overall), Alive Again, was released on September 22, 2009.^[4] In late 2009, Maher toured with Michael W. Smith on the "New Hallelujah Tour". Alive Again peaked at No. 6 on Billboard magazine's Top Christian Albums chart in 2009.^[5]

When Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States in April 2008, Maher was asked to lead worship for crowds of thousands at the Rally for Youth and Seminarians in Yonkers, New York, which also featured Kelly Pease, tobyMac and Third Day, among other musicians. He was subsequently interviewed on Fox News, where he played his title track from Empty and Beautiful on the secular airwaves.^[6]

Maher was a guest singer songwriter speaker at Crowder's Fantastical Church Music Conference at Baylor University in late 2010 put on by the David Crowder Band.^[7] In early 2011 he toured the United States on the Rock And Worship Roadshow headlined by MercyMe.^[8]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Singles[link]

¹ Currently active on the charts

Awards and recognition[link]

GMA Canada Covenant Awards

• 2008 Praise And Worship Album of the Year: Empty & Beautiful^[19]
• 2009 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year
• 2009 nominee, Song of the Year: "As It Is In Heaven"
• 2009 nominee, Praise And Worship Song of the Year: "As It Is In Heaven"
• 2010 Album of the Year: Alive Again
• 2010 Praise And Worship Album of the Year: Alive Again
• 2010 Song of the Year: "Hold Us Together"
• 2010 Praise And Worship Song of the Year: "Alive Again"
• 2011 Male Vocalist of the Year

GMA Dove Awards

• 2010 nominee, Praise And Worship Song of the Year: Alive Again
• 2010 nominee, Song of the Year: "Alive Again"
• 2010 winner, Special Events Album of the Year: Glory Revealed II: The Word of God in Worship [Split win with Kari Jobe]

Unity Awards

• 2003 winner, Best New Artist of the Year
• 2004 winner, Praise & Worship Song of the Year: "I Love You, Lord"
• 2008 winner, Best Artist of the Year

Other

• 2008 Catholic Album of the Year: Empty & Beautiful

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Official MySpace page
• Matt Maher at Essential Records
• Matt Maher at Spirit and Song