A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented at an annual ceremony called the GMA Dove Awards. Formerly, the ceremony took place in Nashville, Tennessee, but since 2011 the ceremony has been held in Atlanta, Georgia. The ceremonies feature live musical performances and are broadcast on the Gospel Music Channel.^[1]

The awards were established in 1969, and represent a variety of musical styles, including rock, pop, hip hop, country, and urban.^[2][3]

History[link]

This article is a part in a series on Gospel music

Roots and Beginnings  Christian Hymns Negro Spirituals Sacred Harp Shape note

Genres and Subgenres  Southern Gospel Gospel blues Bluegrass gospel Christian country music Country Gospel Progressive Southern Gospel Urban contemporary gospel Christian hip hop

Related Music Genres  CCM

Associations and Groups  Gospel Music Hall of Fame Gospel Music Workshop of America National Gospel Singing Convention National Quartet Convention Australian Gospel Music Association GMA Canada

Gospel Music Awards  GMA Dove Awards Stellar Awards Covenant Awards Singing News Fan Awards Australian Gospel Music Awards

Related WikiProjects  Christianity Wikiproject Gospel music Wikiproject Southern Gospel Wikiproject

Category  • Musicians See also: Christianity: Portal  • Category Christian music: Portal  • Category

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The Dove Awards were originally conceptualized by Gospel singer and songwriter Bill Gaither, at a Gospel Music Association board meeting in 1968. The idea of the award being represented by a dove is credited to Gaither and design for the award itself is credited to gospel singer Les Beasley. The first GMA Dove Awards were held at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee in October 1969. In 1971, the awards moved to Nashville, Tennessee.

The 3rd GMA Dove Awards of 1971 were deemed invalid due to apparent ballot stuffing by the southern gospel group the Blackwood Brothers, and that year is still not considered an official awards year by the Gospel Music Association. There were no awards held in 1979, due to a decision by the Gospel Music Association to move the awards from autumn to spring. Every ceremony since has been held in the spring. The first televised ceremony was the 15th GMA Dove Awards of 1984, which aired on the Christian Broadcasting Network.^[4]

The awards were held in Nashville until 2011, where they have since been presented at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.^[5][3]

Categories[link]

Because of the large number of award categories (42 in 2012), and the desire to feature several performances by various artists, only the ones with the most popular interest are presented directly at the televised version of the award ceremony.^[6]

General[link]

The "General Field" includes seven awards which are not restricted by genre:

• Song of the Year is awarded to the songwriter and the publisher.
• Male Vocalist of the Year
• Female Vocalist of the Year
• Group of the Year
• Artist of the Year
• New Artist of the Year
• Producer of the Year

Other awards are given for performances in specific genres, as well as for other contributions such as artwork and video. As of the 43rd Dove Awards, these include:

Rap/Hip Hop & Urban[link]

• Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year
• Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year
• Urban Recorded Song of the Year

Rock[link]

• Rock Recorded Song of the Year
• Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
• Rock Album of the Year
• Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year

Pop[link]

• Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
• Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year

Inspirational[link]

• Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year
• Inspirational Album of the Year

Gospel[link]

• Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
• Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
• Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
• Southern Gospel Album of the Year
• Traditional Gospel Album of the Year
• Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year

Country & Bluegrass[link]

• Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year
• Country Recorded Song of the Year
• Bluegrass Album of the Year
• Country Album of the Year

Praise & Worship[link]

• Worship Song of the Year
• Praise & Worship Album of the Year

Musicals[link]

• Musical of the Year
• Youth/Children's Musical of the Year

Others[link]

• Instrumental Album of the Year
• Children's Music Album of the Year
• Spanish Language Album of the Year
• Special Event Album of the Year
• Christmas Album of the Year
• Choral Collection of the Year
• Recorded Music Packaging
• Short Form Music Video of the Year
• Long Form Music Video of the Year

Definition of gospel music[link]

In 1998, due to controversy caused by two popular singles by Amy Grant and Sixpence None the Richer, the GMA published a new definition of gospel music. According to the definition, to be considered eligible for the Dove Awards, gospel music must have lyrics that are:

• Substantially based upon historically orthodox Christian truth contained in or derived from the Holy Bible
• An expression of worship of God or praise for His works; and /or
• Testimony of relationship with God through Christ; and/or
• Obviously prompted and informed by a Christian world view.^[7]

Prior to the definition, the only qualified music was that sold in Christian Booksellers Association affiliated stores. The new standards resulted in complaints by some fans and artists after thirteen entries were disqualified as being too secular in the 1999 Dove Awards. The rules were rescinded afterwards, and many groups disqualified by the rulings in 1999 were winners in 2000.^[8]

See also[link]

• Christian pop culture
• Gospel Music Association of Canada Covenant Awards

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• GMA website

Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith performing in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, September 2005.
Background information
Birth name	Michael Whitaker Smith
Born	(1957-10-07) October 7, 1957 (age 54) Kenova, West Virginia, USA
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Genres	CCM, Christian rock, pop rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, musician, composer, actor
Instruments	Piano, keyboards, vocals, guitar
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Reunion, Provident Label Group
Associated acts	Amy Grant, Kathy Troccoli, Chris Rice, Steven Curtis Chapman
Website	www.michaelwsmith.com

Michael Whitaker Smith (born October 7, 1957) is an American contemporary Christian musician, who is best known for his Billboard Hot 100 top ten hit song, "Place in this World". As a longtime Musician, he has charted primarily in the contemporary Christian and occasionally in the mainstream charts.^[1] His biggest success in mainstream music was in 1991 when "Place in this World" hit No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Smith is a three-time Grammy Award winner, and has earned 40 Dove Awards. Over the course of his career, he sold more than 13 million albums and recorded 29 No. 1 Hit songs, fourteen gold albums, and five platinum albums. Smith is an American Music Award recipient; he was also named one of People magazine's "Most Beautiful People".^[2]

Early life[link]

Michael Whitaker Smith was born to Paul and Barbara Smith in Kenova, West Virginia. His father was an oil refinery worker at the Ashland Oil Refinery, one of the top ten largest oil refineries in the world, in nearby Catlettsburg, Kentucky and his mother was a caterer.^[3] He inherited his love of baseball from his father, who had played in the minor leagues. As a child, he developed a love of music through his church. He learned piano at an early age and sang in his church choir. At the age of 10, he had "an intense spiritual experience" that led to his becoming a devout Christian. "I wore this big cross around my neck," he would recall, "It was very real to me."^[4] He became involved in Bible study and found a group of older friends who shared his religious faith.^[4]

After his older Christian friends moved away to college, Smith began to struggle with feelings of loneliness and alienation. After graduating from high school, he gravitated toward alcohol and drugs.^[3] He attended Marshall University for a few semesters while developing his songwriting skills. He also played with various local bands around Huntington, West Virginia. During that time, his friend Shane Keister, who worked as a session musician in Nashville, encouraged him to move to Nashville, the Country Music capital, and pursue a career in music.^[4]

In 1978, Smith moved to Nashville, taking a job as a landscaper to support himself. He played with several local bands in the Nashville club scene. He also developed a problem with substance abuse.

In November 1979, Smith suffered a breakdown that led to his recommitment to Jesus Christ. The next day he auditioned for a new contemporary Christian music (CCM) group, Higher Ground, as a keyboardist and got the job. It was on his first tour with Higher Ground, playing mostly in churches, that Smith was finally able to put the drugs and alcohol behind him.^[4]

Career[link]

In 1981, Smith was signed as a writer to Meadowgreen Music, where he wrote a number of gospel hits penned for artists such as Sandi Patty, Kathy Troccoli, Bill Gaither and Amy Grant, to the effect that some of these popular worship songs can now be found in church hymnals. The following year, Smith began touring as a keyboardist for Grant on her Age to Age tour. He would eventually become Grant's opening act and recorded his first Grammy-nominated solo album The Michael W. Smith Project (which he also produced) in 1983 on the Reunion Records label, a label started by Grant's brother-in-law, Dan Harrell, along with Michael Blanton. This album contained the first recording of his hit "Friends", which he co-wrote with his wife Deborah. They wrote it one afternoon for a friend who was moving away.

By the time Smith's second pop album was released in 1984, he was headlining his own tours. In 1986, Smith released The Big Picture, produced by Johnny Potoker. Smith intros "Tearin' Down the Wall" with an Amy Grant recording of "Emmanuel" played backwards via the CD search button. He has explained that he and Potoker were trying to come up with a different way to go into the song.^{[citation needed]}

After the release of his 1988 effort, i 2 (EYE), Smith once again teamed up with Grant for her "Lead Me On World Tour". The following year, Smith recorded his first Christmas album.

In the mainstream[link]

In 1990, Smith released Go West Young Man, his first mainstream effort, including the mainstream crossover hit "Place in This World," which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1992, he released Change Your World (which included the No. 1 adult contemporary hit "I Will Be Here for You"), 1995's I'll Lead You Home, and 1998's Live the Life. Also in 1998, Smith released his second Christmas effort, Christmastime. In 1999, Smith released "This Is Your Time" (about Cassie Bernall, one of the students killed during the Columbine massacre). In the music video for this song, the beginning shows a real video of Bernall talking about her religious beliefs and how she wanted to spread the word of God. Smith wrote the song with Wes King, the brother-in-law of Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris. Smith had been asked to perform at some of the memorial services that were held in honor of the victims.

In 1996, Smith opened his own record label, Rocketown Records, named for a song on The Big Picture. He does not personally record on it. He states the label is driven by the artists, and the first artist signed was Chris Rice, who had written "Go Light Your World", a No. 1 hit song by Kathy Troccoli, in 1995. In 1999, Smith collaborated with Jim Brickman on "Love of My Life" from the album Destiny, which went to No. 9 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks.

Nearly all of Smith's albums contain at least one instrumental track, and in 2000, Smith recorded his first all instrumental album, Freedom. The following year, Smith released an all Christian music album, Worship, on September 11. This album was followed by a sequel, Worship Again in 2002, recorded live at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY. Both albums were recorded live in concert. (Both are also the only two albums to be composed almost entirely of songs he did not write himself). A Worship DVD, which comprised a selection of songs from both albums, was recorded live in Edmonton, Alberta at YC Alberta and released in 2002. It immediately topped the Billboard video charts and went gold in both the U.S. and Canada.

Smith won the Male Vocalist of the Year award at the GMA Music Awards in 2003.^[5]

Smith wrote a song entitled "There She Stands", inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks. He performed this song live for the 2004 Republican National Convention,^[6] saying that President George W. Bush, whom he said is a fan and a family friend, had asked him to write a song about the attacks.^[7]

Smith's album, Healing Rain, was released in 2004 and debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 200 Chart. The title track rose to No. 1 on the Radio & Records Charts and a music video for the song was released. The album nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, combines the pop style of his previous recordings with the religious feel of his two releases in that genre. A new album, Stand, was released in November 2006.

In October 2007, he released It's a Wonderful Christmas. On June 20, 2008, Smith recorded his third live Worship album at the Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, titled A New Hallelujah. It was released in October 2008. That same month he began a tour with Steven Curtis Chapman. In September 2010, he released Wonder,^[8] and in October started touring with Third Day, tobyMac, and Max Lucado on the "Make a Difference" tour.

Other ventures[link]

In 1994, Smith opened a teen club, named Rocketown, in Nashville, Tennessee (6th Avenue). Later in early 2003, the club was moved to a new location—a renovated warehouse in downtown Nashville. The venue offers a large dance floor, extensive indoor skate park, and a cafe hosting live acoustic music.

Smith is actively involved in volunteer service and is vice chair of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, which is chaired by Jean Case of the Case Foundation. He is also an avid spokesperson for sponsoring children through Compassion International.^[9] Smith finished work on a film directed by Steve Taylor entitled The Second Chance which was released on February 17, 2006 in selected theatres. In the movie, he stars as a pastor assigned to work in the inner city. The DVD of the movie was released in July 2006.

Personal life[link]

Smith is married to Deborah "Debbie" Kay Davis (b. 1958) and has five children: Ryan Whitaker, Whitney Katherine Smith-Mooring (married to Jack Mooring (of the band Leeland)), Tyler Michael (keyboard player for the United Tour), Anna Elizabeth and Emily Allison. He resides in the Nashville suburbs and spends time at the Smith family farm.

Alderson-Broaddus College awarded Smith the degree Doctor of Music honoris causa in 1992.

Smith is the founding pastor of New River Fellowship in Franklin, Tennessee, where he was the lead pastor from 2006 to 2008. Currently Smith and his wife remain involved members of the church.

Smith supports the Republican Party, and is personal friends with several prominent Republicans, including former President George W. Bush.^[10][11][12]

Works[link]

Discography[link]

Publications[link]

• Old Enough to Know. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987.
• Friends are Friends Forever. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997.
• Your Place in This World. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1998.
• This Is Your Time: Make Every Moment Count. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1999.
• The Price of Freedom. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2001.
• Worship. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2002.
• Freedom. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation, 2002.
• It's Time to Be Bold. New York: Doubleday Books, 2003.
• Above All. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2003.
• Signs. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2004.
• Healing Rain. Nashville: Thomas-Nelson. 2004.
• A Simple Blessing. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.^[15]

Audio books[link]

• The Gospels Come to Life. Irving, Texas: Gospels Come to Life, 2003.

Awards[link]

Grammy Awards

• 1984 Best Gospel Performance, Male for Michael W. Smith 2
• 1995 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for I’ll Lead You Home
• 2002 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for Worship Again

Grammy Nominations

• 1983 Best Gospel Performance, Male for Michael W. Smith Project
• 1986 Best Gospel Performance, Male for The Big Picture
• 1988 Best Gospel Performance, Male for I 2(Eye)
• 1989 Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Male for "Holy, Holy, Holy"
• 1990 Best Pop Gospel Album for Go West Young Man
• 1998 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for Live the Life
• 2000 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for This Is Your Time
• 2002 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for 'Worship
• 2006 Best Christian Pop Album for Healing Rain

Dove Awards

• 1985 Songwriter of the Year
• 1987 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for The Big Picture (producer, artist)
• 1988 Long Form Music Video of the Year for "The Big Picture Tour Video" (artist)
• 1990 Short Form Music Video of the Year for "I Miss the Way" (artist)
• 1991 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Go West Young Man (producer, artist)
• 1992 Choral Collection of the Year for The Michael W. Smith Collection (artist)
• 1992 Musical Album of the Year for Change Your World (artist)
• 1992 Song of the Year for "Place in this World" (artist)
• 1993 Praise and Worship Album of the Year for Songs from the Loft (artist)
• 1993 Recorded Music Packaging of the Year for The Wonder Years (artist)
• 1994 Musical Album of the Year for Living on the Edge (artist)
• 1996 Songwriter of the Year
• 1996 Special Event Album of the Year for My Utmost For His Highest (artist)
• 1997 Special Event Album of the Year for Tribute: The Songs of Andre Crouch (artist)
• 1998 Children’s Music Album of the Year for Sing Me to Sleep Daddy (artist)
• 1998 Special Event Album of the Year for God With Us: A Celebration of Christmas Carols and Classics (artist)
• 1999 Artist of the Year
• 1999 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Live the Life (producer, artist)
• 1999 Producer of the Year
• 1999 Special Event Album of the Year for Exodus (artist)
• 2000 Short Form Music Video of the Year for "This is Your Time" (artist)
• 2000 Song of the Year for "This Is Your Time" (artist)
• 2000 Songwriter of the Year
• 2001 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for This is Your Time (producer, artist)
• 2001 Youth/Children’s Musical Album of the Year for Friends 4 Ever (artist)
• 2002 Album of the Year for Worship (producer, artist)
• 2002 Artist of the Year
• 2002 Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "Above All" (artist)
• 2002 Instrumental Album of the Year for Freedom (producer, artist)
• 2003 Album of the Year for Worship Again (producer, artist)
• 2003 Artist of the Year
• 2003 Long Form Music Video of the Year for Worship DVD/Video (producer, artist)
• 2003 Male Vocalist of the Year
• 2008 Christmas Album of the Year
• 2009 Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "A New Hallelujah"
• 2009 Praise & Worship Album of the Year for A New Hallelujah

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Michael W. Smith at Allmusic
• Michael W. Smith at the Internet Movie Database
• [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0602/10/lkl.01.html Transcript of February 10, 2006 interview with Larry King
• Yamaha Corporation artist biography

Israel Houghton
Background information
Also known as	Israel & New Breed
Born	(1971-05-19) May 19, 1971 (age 41) Oceanside, California, United States
Genres	Contemporary Christian, gospel, contemporary worship
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, producer, arranger
Instruments	Guitar, piano
Years active	1997—present
Labels	Integrity
Associated acts	Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff, CeCe Winans, Michael W. Smith
Website	israelhoughton.net

Israel Houghton (pronounced, hoh’-tin) (born May 19, 1971) is an American Christian singer and worship leader, mostly known for his cross-cultural style of Christian music that fuses elements from gospel, jazz and rock. Houghton is usually credited as Israel & New Breed and currently signed to Integrity Music. Houghton is a worship leader at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. "All Around" is on the Digital Praise PC game Guitar Praise.

Musical career[link]

Recording career[link]

He has earned two gold-selling albums, six Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award, and four Grammy® Awards—for "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album" for The Power of One, “Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album” for A Deeper Level, “Best Traditional Gospel Album” for Alive In South Africa, and “Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album” for Love God, Love People.

Production career[link]

Israel produced an album by Michael Gungor called "Bigger Than My Imagination". This album was described as "one of the year's best worship albums" in a 2003 Christianity Today review.^[1]

Other performances[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2009)

He has served as worship leader for the Promise Keepers and Champions for Christ events, as well as the Hillsong Conference 2006—2010, and Hillsong Conference Europe 2008-2010. Israel currently serves as a worship leader (alongside Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff, Steve Crawford and Da'dra Crawford-Greathouse) at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX, pastored by Joel Osteen.

Israel and New Breed accompanied Alicia Keys at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards for a performance of George Michael's "Freedom '90."

Israel and New Breed performed at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, taking part in a segment saluting Gospel music, alongside the likes of Aretha Franklin and BeBe Winans.

Israel also sang with Michael W Smith on his 2008 Album, "A New Hallelujah", recorded at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Other recordings[link]

• "Champions for Christ" - Hi5 (Worship Leader, 2002)
• "Where Are the Fathers?" from He-Motions (EMI Gospel, 2004)
• "Send Me to the Nations" from A Wing & A Prayer (EMI Gospel, 2003)
• Lakewood Live: We Speak to Nations (Integrity, 2002)
• Lakewood Live: Cover the Earth (Integrity, 2004)
• Lakewood Live: The Gift
• Lakewood Live: Free to Worship
• Free Chapel Live: Moving Forward
• Lakewood Live: Hope for Today Worship^[2]
• Free Chapel Live: Power of the Cross (Integrity, 2009)
• New Breed Live: Generation Love (2009)
• Free Chapel Live: Echo

Awards[link]

Personal life[link]

He is of mixed heritage, Jamaican and French-as told by him personally-and was raised in a Mexican-American neighborhood. He and his wife Meleasa, and his three children, Mariah, Israel 'Sonny Boy' and Milan 'Lillie' currently reside in Houston, Texas.^{[citation needed]}

References[link]

• "Dove Award Recipients for 2005". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved 2007-02-06.
• "Dove Award Recipients for 2006". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved 2007-02-06.
• "38th Annual Dove Award Recipients". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
• "49th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners List". Published by The Recording Academy. Retrieved 2007-02-13.
• Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. p. 438. ISBN 1-56563-679-1. 

External links[link]

• Israel Houghton's website
• Biography by Israel's Label
• CBN Interview with Israel Houghton
• Israel & New Breed at Allmusic
• Israel Houghton at the Internet Movie Database
• Israel Houghton at the Two Days of Hope conference

Steven Curtis Chapman
Background information
Birth name	Steven Curtis Chapman
Born	(1962-11-21) November 21, 1962 (age 49) Paducah, Kentucky, U.S.
Genres	CCM, Christian rock, pop
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, record producer, actor, author,
Instruments	vocals, guitar, piano, drums, mandolin, dobro
Years active	1987–present
Labels	EMI, Sparrow, Epic, PolyEast, Sony BMG
Website	stevencurtischapman.com

Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist.

After starting his career in the late 1980s as a singer/songwriter of contemporary Christian music, Chapman has since been recognized as one of the most prolific singers in the genre, releasing more than 20 albums to date. Chapman has also won five Grammy awards and 56 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, more than any other artist in history. His seven "Artist of the Year" Dove Awards, his latest in 2009, are also an industry record.^[1] As of 2007, Chapman has sold more than 10 million albums and has 8 RIAA-certified Gold or Platinum albums.^[2][3]

Chapman is also a vocal advocate for adoption, along with his wife Mary Beth. Together, they have started a charity organization called Show Hope (formerly called Shaohannah's Hope), that mobilizes individuals and communities to care for orphans through its international orphan care work as well as adoption aid grants to help put more orphans from overseas and the U.S. in loving, forever families. In 2009, Show Hope finished building Maria's Big House of Hope, a medical care center in China that provides holistic care to orphans with special needs. He is also a contributor to Compassionart, a charity founded by Martin Smith of British rock band Delirious?.

Chapman was recognized in the Fall 2010 issue of Wood & Steel discussing the new Taylor 714 Signature Series guitar in honor of his youngest daughter Maria Sue.^[4] The guitar features the flower from Maria's picture and the word "SEE" on the 12th fret in Maria's handwriting. In 2003, Chapman starred in the Christian film Christmas Child.^[5]

Early life[link]

Steven Curtis Chapman was born to Judy and Herb Chapman in Paducah, Kentucky on November 21, 1962.^[6] Chapman's father is a guitar teacher in Paducah, and young Steven and Herb Jr. grew up playing the guitar and singing.

Upon finishing high school, Chapman enrolled as a pre-med student at Georgetown College in Kentucky. After a couple of semesters he transferred to Anderson College in Indiana. However, he soon dropped out and went to Nashville to pursue a career in music. While in Nashville he briefly attended Belmont University. He began working a music show at Opryland USA while dedicating time to songwriting.^[7][8]

In the 1980s, Chapman wrote a song called "Built to Last," which was recorded by prominent gospel group The Imperials. The strength of the song prompted him to be signed to a songwriting deal with Sparrow Records, where he rose to prominence. As of 2007, artists like Sandi Patty, Billy Dean, Glen Campbell, the Cathedral Quartet and Roger Whittaker have recorded Chapman's songs.^[7]

First albums[link]

In 1987, Chapman released his first album, First Hand. The album included the song "Weak Days," which peaked at No. 2 on the Contemporary Christian Music chart. In 1988, he followed with his second album, Real Life Conversations, which earned him four more hits, including the No. 1 song "His Eyes." The song, which was co-written by James Isaac Elliott, earned the Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year award from the Gospel Music Association in 1989. That year, he also won a GMA Award for Best Songwriter of the Year.

After that, Chapman followed with more albums like More to This Life and For the Sake of the Call. All of these albums featured several No. 1 singles, and were awarded several GMA Awards. The latter also gave Chapman his first Grammy in the Best Pop Gospel Album category. These achievements strengthened his position in the Christian music scene.^[7]

Going mainstream[link]

In 1992, Chapman made a successful shift into a more mainstream audience with his album The Great Adventure. The album garnered Chapman with two more Grammys, for the album and for the title track video. After Sparrow Records was purchased by EMI/Liberty, they began to market the album to a broader audience, pushing it to gold status in 1993. The success of the album prompted Chapman to record one of his concerts and release it as The Live Adventure, both as a video and a CD. This continuation won Chapman more GMA Awards, and also a new award from American Songwriter magazine for Songwriter and Artist of the Year.^[7]

Chapman continued to enjoy success with albums like Heaven in the Real World, Signs of Life, and Speechless. In 2001, with the release of Declaration, Chapman got more attention in the Top 200. That album, along with 2003's All About Love, peaked in the Top 15. The follow-up, All Things New, made it to No. 22.^[7]

Chapman has also released three Christmas albums, beginning with 1995's The Music of Christmas. In 2005, he released All I Really Want for Christmas, and this was followed by a re-release of The Music of Christmas in 2004, distributed only at Hallmark Cards stores.

In the Christian video game Dance Praise, four songs from Steven Curtis Chapman are included: "All About Love," "Dive," "Live Out Loud," and "Only Getting Started." The Dance Praise expansion pack, Dance Praise Expansion Pack Volume 1: Modern Worship, adds the following songs to the game: "Children of the Burning Heart," "Let us Pray," "See the Glory," "Fingerprints of God," and "I Do Believe."

Chapman also hosts the Gospel Music Channel show, "The Best of the Dove Awards."

Recent years[link]

In 2006, Chapman went on tour to several Asian countries. His website claims his concert for U.S. troops serving in South Korea was the first Christian concert ever performed for the troops in that country, and a concert in Shanghai, China was "the first public performance by a Gospel recording artist event in the city open to China passport holders," and the third-largest concert in Shanghai that spring.^[9] The tour also took the artist to Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore. During the same period, his song "The Blessing" reached No. 1 on Thailand radio charts. His No. 1 songs are "Dive," "Live Out Loud," "Cinderella," and "Do Everything."

In 2007, Chapman co-headlined Newsong's annual Winter Jam tour with Jeremy Camp. For the tour, he brought his sons' band, The Following, out on tour to play as his backing band, along with longtime keyboardist Scott Sheriff. Chapman also released This Moment, which included the hit singles "Cinderella" and "Yours," in October 2007. He was chosen for WOW Hits 2009 for Cinderella. He continues to tour with his sons, Caleb and Will.

On April 20, 2008, Chapman was awarded a star on Nashville's Walk of Fame for his contributions in Christian music.

On November 3, 2009, Chapman released his seventeenth album Beauty Will Rise. Many of the songs from this album are inspired by the death of his daughter, Maria Sue. He claims that the songs on the album are his "personal psalms." Steven, Mary Beth, Caleb, and Will got a tattoo of the flower that Maria drew before her untimely death. "Beauty Will Rise," "Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope," Steven's new song "Meant to Be," and "re:creation" are dedicated to Maria's memory.

Chapman's newest album, re:creation, contains six new songs as well as new versions of some of his most memorable songs of the past. He feels that this album is an opportunity to let everyone know he and his family believe God is recreating many wonderful things in their lives after the death of Maria Sue.

Personal life[link]

Steven and Mary Beth Chapman

Chapman is a devout Christian, and as of 2010, he has been married to Mary Beth Chapman (they had the same last name prior to their marriage) for more than 25 years. The couple met in the early '80s at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana and married in the fall of 1984.^[10] They currently live in Franklin, Tennessee, and have three biological children. Emily Elizabeth Chapman, Caleb Stevenson Chapman, and Will Franklin Chapman. Since 1991 Mary Beth has suffered from Clinical depression.^[11] Mary Beth keeps her depression under control with Prozac. After going on a Mission Trip to Haiti with Mary Beth in 1997, Emily asked her parents about adopting a little girl from the other side of the world, but they said "No." After much persistence from Emily Elizabeth and doing some research, Steven and Mary Beth changed their minds and they adopted three young girls from China. Shaohannah "Shaoey" Hope Yan, Stevey Joy Ru, and Maria Sue Chunxi.^[12]

Together, Chapman and his wife have written three children's books with adoption themes: Shaoey And Dot: Bug Meets Bundle (2004), Shaoey and Dot: The Christmas Miracle (2005), and Shaoey and Dot: A Thunder and Lightning Bug Story with illustrations by Jim Chapman (2006). Chapman's modern fairytale, Cinderella: The Love of a Daddy and His Princess (2008) chronicles and celebrates the blessings of childhood, family, love, and life. Together with minister Scotty Smith, Chapman has authored two books for the adult inspirational market: Speechless (1999), and Restoring Broken Things (2005). Chapman's song "All About Love" has been featured in commercials for the Fox television show Celebrity Duets.

Chapman and his sons recorded under the name of "Stevenson" after his oldest son Caleb Stevenson for the 2003 Veggie Rocks CD. (Song: "I Love My Lips," VeggieTales). Steven recorded a new song for the brand new Veggie Tales Movie "It's A Meaningful Life" called "Meant to Be". Steven Curtis Chapman is best friends with Geoff Moore. The Chapmans are members of Christ Community Church. The Chapmans own two dogs, Duke and Winston.

On November 10, 2011 Steven and Marybeth became grandparents for the first time when a baby girl was born to Emily and her husband in Ireland. The baby was born at 9:30 am Ireland time or 3:30 am Tennessee time.^[13]

Death of Maria Sue Chunxi Chapman[link]

Maria Sue Chunxi Chapman died from her injuries and blood loss in a driveway accident on May 21, 2008^[14] Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest son Will Franklin was pulling into the driveway of their house after he auditioned for a musical at school, and Maria Sue was running to meet him. They didn't see each other in time and Will accidentally ran over Maria. Maria was air lifted to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.^[15] The paramedics tried to save her on the way to the hospital, but they couldn't. Maria was pronounced dead on arrival.^[16] The entire family was preparing to celebrate Caleb's high school graduation from Christ Presbyterian Academy and Emily's engagement just hours before the accident.^[17]

During the memorial service for Maria, in which Pastor Scotty Smith preached, the family expressed their faith in God and their love for one another.^[18][19]

After Maria's accident, the Chapman family spoke publicly about their loss and the role that faith played in it all. They have appeared on Good Morning America, Larry King Live, in People magazine, The 700 Club, and Huckabee.^[20][21] Maria was buried in her flower girl dress as she, along with Stevey, was going to be a Flower girl in Emily's wedding that October. Maria's favorite color was blue. The family put Maria's ballet shoes, her favorite doll, letters from her brothers and sisters, and other things that meant a lot to Maria Sue in her coffin. Will kept Maria's security blanket so that he would have something to remember her by. Maria Sue is buried in Williamson Memorial Gardens in Franklin, Tennessee. Steven Curtis Chapman's subsequent album, Beauty Will Rise focuses on this event and its aftermath. Steven almost quit his singing career due to Maria's death and he nearly chose to never sing "Cinderella" again, but then he realized that Maria would have wanted him to continue singing and to honor her memory by singing "Cinderella". There was an investigation of Maria's death done by a spokesperson from The Tennessee Highway Patrol. It was ruled as a tragic accident. No charges were filed and The Tennessee Highway Patrol let Will off with a warning. In November 2009, a year after Maria Sue died, Chapman performed at a special concert at Harvest Christian Fellowship. Greg Laurie, the pastor of Harvest, suffered the loss of his own son, Christopher Laurie, just months after Chapman's loss. Steven performed several songs from Beauty Will Rise, and took part in a live discussion between himself and Pastor Laurie. The two talked about dealing with grief and their mutual belief and hope in Heaven.^[22]

Since Maria's unexpected death Mary Beth Chapman has written and released a book about losing her youngest daughter called Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope,^[23] Caleb married his girlfriend Julia,^[24] Caleb and Will have started a Christian Band called "Caleb", Shaoey joined her school's basketball team and learned how to play the trumpet for music class at school, and Stevey is doing gymnastics and made her acting and singing debut in the 2010 "Veggie Tales" Movie It's a Meaningful Life. Shaoey and Stevey are taking voice lessons and they even started a band with Maria before she died.

Honorary Doctorate[link]

On May 7, 2011 Chapman received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Anderson University and was the commencement speaker for the Class of 2011.^[25]

Activism and social causes[link]

In the late 1990s, Chapman became involved in youth violence prevention efforts following the 1997 Heath High School shooting at his alma mater in West Paducah, Kentucky.^[26] Chapman even dedicated a song, "With Hope," from his 1999 album, Speechless, to the families who lost someone in the shooting.^[27] In addition, he was asked to sing at the funeral of one of the victims. Chapman later gave a memorial concert, and joined Charles Colson and others in creating a video designed to sensitize teenagers to the signs of serious violence planning among peers, and to encourage them to report plans that are told to them.^[28]

In 2009, Show Hope finished building Maria's Big House of Hope, a medical care center in China that provides holistic care to orphans with special needs. Maria's Big House of Hope is also dedicated to the memory of the late Maria Sue Chunxi Chapman. Also in 2009, Steven and Mary Beth received the Children's Champion Award from the charitable organization Children's Hunger Fund for their work with Show Hope.

In September 2011, Steven and Mary Beth were awarded the Congressional Angels in Adoption award by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) in Washington, D.C..^[29]

Chapman also has promoted the international charity World Vision for at least a decade, serving as spokesman for Project Restore, its program serving the U.S. Gulf Coast region in recovery from Hurricane Katrina, in cooperation with the Gospel Music Association. He has also traveled to Uganda on a few occasions to help with the problem of street children, and to help orphans and adoption organizations. He has played at local churches, including KPC (Kampala Pentecostal Church) in Kampala.

Discography[link]

Chapman has released 16 studio albums, more than 20 albums total in his career, including two Christmas albums, several collections of greatest hits, and a live album. He has sold more than ten million total albums (including two certified Platinum albums, seven certified Gold albums), and has had 46 No. 1 Christian radio hits.^[30]

Studio albums[link]

Estimated sales figures are included in the list.^{[citation needed]}

• First Hand (1987) – 150,000
• Real Life Conversations (1988) – 225,000
• More to This Life. (1989) – 525,000 RIAA Gold Certified
• For the Sake of the call (1990) – 650,000 RIAA Gold Certified
• The Great Adventure (1992) – 700,000 RIAA Gold Certified
• The Live Adventure (1993) – 100,000
• Heaven in the Real World (1994) – 1,075,000 RIAA Platinum Certified
• The Music of Christmas (1995) – 600,000 RIAA Gold Certified
• Signs of Life (1996) – 750,000 RIAA Gold Certified
• Greatest Hits (1997) – 550,000 RIAA Gold Certified
• Speechless (1999) – 1,150,000 RIAA Platinum Certified
• Declaration (2001) – 900,000 RIAA Gold Certified
• All About Love (2003) – 525,000 RIAA Gold Certified
• All Things New (2004) – 300,000
• Christmas Is All in the Heart (Hallmark Exclusive) (2003) – 400,000
• The Abbey Road Sessions (2005) – 50,000,
• All I Really Want for Christmas (2005) – 350,000
• This Moment (2007)
• Cinderella Digital Single Sales – 175,000
• Beauty Will Rise (2009)
• re:creation (2011)

Awards[link]