Retro Insider - "Michael W Smith"

Michael Whittiker Smith is one of the most commercially successful, polished and photogenic artists in Christian music. His music is fairly easy listening, with a flare for pop thrown in. After faithfully following Christ in his youth, he had a rebellious period of partying before rededicating his life in the early 80's. In 1982, he was invited to play keyboard for Amy Grant and became her opening act. His early albums are collections of keyboard driven songs, typical of the 80's, but his music has matured with age.
Early albums include The Michael W. Smith Project, The Big Picture, I to Eye and Go West Young Man. Significant success came to him with the Change Your World album, with "Friends" becoming one of his biggest hits. Other top songs from these albums included "Place in this World", "Rocketown", "Give it Away", "I Will Be Here for You" and "Pray for Me".
After he released a Greatest Hits package, Michael released I'll Lead You Home, Live the Life and This is Your Time. Hits included the title tracks and "Missing Person".
In 2000, Michael released an instrumental album called Freedom, and then in 2001, he released his first worship project. The live recording was released on 9/11 and has been one of the most powerful worship albums ever made. Worship Again, released later, was not as successful. Most recently, Michael has released A New Hallelujah, and is touring with that album. In Spring 2009, Michael W. Smith performed at Copp's Colliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, and Faith FM's Brad Loveday caught up with him for a brief interview.
Although Michael is synonymous with Christian music, he has made friends in various music circles. He is friends with Bono and U2, and actually jammed with the band when they recorded How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Fans look forward to the day they release the song they recorded together, although there are no solid plans at present.
Beyond his music career, Michael continues his ministry through side acting jobs, such as his role in the movie "Second Chance", directed by Steve Taylor, and through the youth drop-in "Rocketown" in Nashville that he founded.
For more information, check out his website at www.michaelwsmith.com or check out www.rocketown.com