MICHAEL W. SMITH RELEASES A NEW HALLELUJAH � THE LIVE WORSHIP DVD MAR. 17

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) January 26, 2008 � On the heels of an incredibly successful 2008, including having one of the top-selling and most acclaimed projects of the year and the announcement of his upcoming induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2/2/09), Michael W. Smith releases A New Hallelujah � The Live Worship DVD on March 17.

This new DVD is the video companion to Smith�s newest record, and third worship album, A New Hallelujah. Recorded live in Houston last summer before 12,000 people, a 250-voice choir and several special guests including the African Children�s Choir and 2008 GRAMMY Award-winner, Israel Houghton, this DVD captures the powerful experience of the evening�s worship in high-definition. The 90-minute long project features all 13 songs from A New Hallelujah (10/28/08), plus four new tracks and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage.

Steve Gilreath, the DVD�s director, notes, �This project truly makes you feel like you were in the room that night, and the HD quality only adds to the experience. It�s amazing how you can feel the room ebb and flow as the evening progresses. This really is more of an �experience� project than a standard DVD.�

Smith�s first worship album, simply titled Worship, released on September 11, 2001, and has sold more than a 1.5 million copies. Its follow up Worship Again released September 19, 2002, and is nearing the 800,000 mark.

About Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith has amassed an impressive catalog of achievements. His 20 prior albums have garnered multiple honors including an American Music Award, 3 GRAMMY� Awards (from 13 nominations) and 42 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, and 33 No. 1 radio hits. In addition, he holds 16 Gold and 5 Platinum albums and career sales approaching 15 million.

Over his 25-year career, Smith has used his platform as a leader and acclaimed entertainer to serve, teach, and lead offstage. Constantly giving back to the community, one of his current projects is Rocketown -- a nightclub for teens in his hometown of Nashville, Tenn. -- which serves as a safe place for young people to enjoy music and for artists to be discovered. He is married to Debbie Smith and they are the proud parents of five children. For up-to-date information on Michael W. Smith, please visit www.michaelwsmith.com or www.reunionrecords.com.

For more information on Michael W. Smith, visit the JFH Artists Database

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MICHAEL W. SMITH RECEIVES FOUR GMA DOVE AWARD NOMINATIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE CATEGORIES TODAY

(Nashville, Tenn.) February 20, 2009 – Michael W. Smith, one of Christian music’s most revered artists, released his 21st album A New Hallelujah on October 28 amid fan and industry acclaim. Today Michael was honored with three nominations directly tied to this incredible project. A New Hallelujah received a nod in the Praise & Worship Album of the Year category, where he is recognized as artist and producer, and in the Inspirational Recorded Song and Worship Song categories for the moving title track, “A New Hallelujah.”

In addition, Smith was also credited for his contribution to Billy: The Early Years Official Motion Picture Soundtrack which was nominated in the Special Event Album category.

On March 17, Smith will release A New Hallelujah – The Live Worship DVD. This new DVD is the video companion to A New Hallelujah. Recorded live in Houston last summer before12,000 people, a 250-voice choir and several special guests including the African Children’s Choir and 2008 GRAMMY Award-winner, Israel Houghton, this DVD captures the powerful experience of the evening’s worship in high-definition. The 90-minute long project features all 13 songs from A New Hallelujah, plus four new tracks and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage.

Following the busy DVD launch week, Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman will once again hit the road together for the spring leg of “The United Tour.” Kicking off March 28, in Chattanooga, the tour will hit 24 cities across the country including Cleveland, Baltimore, Visalia, Colorado Springs, Little Rock, Indianapolis, Lexington, Nashville and more. For an updated tour itinerary, please visit www.michaelwsmith.com.

About Michael W. Smith:
Throughout his 25-year career as a recording artist, Michael W. Smith has amassed an impressive catalog of achievements. His 21 albums have garnered multiple honors including an American Music Award, three GRAMMY ® Awards (from 13 nominations), 42 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and 33 No. 1 radio hits. In addition, he holds 16 Gold and five platinum albums for career sales approaching 15 million.

Smith, who was recently inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, has scored several film projects, written 11 books and has been featured by media outlets including, NBC’s Today Show, Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, Larry King Live, FOX and Friends, Hannity and Colmes, USA Today, NY Times, The Washington Post, LA Times, Newsweek, has been named one of People Magazine’s Most Beautiful People and has presented multiple times on the GRAMMY Awards show. His tours consistently rank among the best attended in the country and he has performed to capacity crowds throughout the world. Constantly giving back to the community, one of his current projects is Rocketown--a nightclub for teens in his hometown of Nashville, Tenn.--which serves as safe place for young people to enjoy music and for artists to be discovered. He and wife Debbie Smith are the proud parents of five children.

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Michael W Smith sings When I Think of You

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Smith, Parton inducted into Gospel Music Hall of Fame

Michael W Smith, Dolly Parton, Dr Bobby Jones and The Dixie Hummingbirds were inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame along with music producer Lari Gosson in a ceremony at Richland Country Club in Nashville on 2 February.

The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame has inducted more than 150 members since its inception in 1971, including 2007 inductees Phil Keaggy, The Winans and Joe Moscheo. Previous inductees include Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Keith Green, Amy Grant, Andrae Crouch, Sandi Patty, and Bill and Gloria Gaither.

Smith has been on the Christian music scene for more than a quarter of a century and released his latest album, A New Hallelujah, last November to critical acclaim.

Dolly Parton, meanwhile, has several gospel albums to her name and her Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, houses the Southern Gospel Music Museum and Hall of Fame.

President and CEO of the Gospel Music Association Foundation John W Styll paid tribute to the latest slate of inductees.

"This year’s class of GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees have all achieved great professional and personal success in many different areas of the music and entertainment industries,” stated Styll, “but each shares a common heritage of the Gospel’s powerful impact on their lives.”

Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Christian/Gospel music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, R&B, hip hop, southern gospel, country, and more.

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New Hall Of Fame-ers

Some Christian music greats are headed for more fame.

Information from The GMA Foundation says that among others, they will induct artists Michael W. Smith and Dolly Parton into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame on Feb. 2 at The Richland Country Club in Nashville. The Imperials, featuring the original back-up singers for Elvis Presley and Hall of Fame members, will provide entertainment for the event.

Born in Kenova, West Virginia on Oct. 7, 1957, Smith wrote his first song at age five. In 1978 he moved to Nashville to work as a songwriter and in 1981, he signed to Meadowgreen Music as a staff writer, where over the next few years he provided gospel hits for such artists as Sandi Patty, Kathy Troccoli, Bill Gaither and Amy Grant. He began touring as a keyboardist with Grant in 1982 and the following year, after releasing his first album, The Michael W. Smith Project, became her opening act. His debut album garnered him a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance. He became a headliner following the release of his second album, Michael W. Smith 2.

Now, a quarter century after his first taste of success, he has become one of the best-known names in Christian music with 18 albums, too many No. 1 hits to count, three Grammy Awards (amidst 13 nominations), 42 Dove Awards, and an American Music Award among countless other accolades. Beyond his own musical career, Smith was instrumental in launching a teen club in Nashville, a record label with an entirely new way of doing things (Rocketown Records), and even a church in Franklin, Tennessee.

Dolly Parton is a household name. Dolly Rebecca Parton, born January 19, 1946 grew up part of a poor, Pentecostal family of 14 in a small town in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains. Her grandfather was a fiddling preacher who wrote Singing His Praise, which was recorded by Kitty Wells. At the age of 12, Parton was appearing on Knoxville TV and, at 13, she was already recording on a small label and appearing at the Grand Ole Opry. After graduating from high school in Sevier County in 1964, she moved to Nashville to launch her career as a country singer.

Parton is a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, author, actor and philanthropist. In the 42 years since her chart debut, she remains the most successful female country music artist, with 26 No. 1 singles, a record for any female performer, as well as a record 39 Top 10 country albums. She also has the distinction of having recorded a Top 40 country hit in each of the last five decades.

Smith is being inducted into the contemporary/inspirational section while Parton of course heads for the southern gospel/country group. Until next week, God bless.

Christian Music News Source

Michael W. Smith to be Inducted into Gospel Music Hall of Fame

Christian music legend Michael W. Smith and Country music star Dolly Parton will be among the latest additions to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, according to an announcement this week.

The Gospel Music Association Foundation (GMAF) will also be inducting Dr. Bobby Jones, The Dixie Hummingbirds and music producer Lair Goss into the GMA Gospel Hall of Fame next month, announced GMAF president and CEO John W. Styll on Wednesday.

"This year’s class of GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees have all achieved great professional and personal success in many different areas of the music and entertainment industries,” stated Styll, “but each shares a common heritage of the Gospel’s powerful impact on their lives.”

Established in 1971, the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame honors and celebrates the economic, cultural, social and spiritual contributions past and present that Christian and gospel music have made not only to Music City, but to the world.

Since its inception, the Hall of Fame has inducted more than 150 members, including The Winans, Elvis Presley, Amy Grant, Andrae Crouch, and Sandi Patty.

This year’s induction ceremony and dinner will be held on Feb. 2 at The Richland Country Club in Nashville, starting with a medallion ceremony and reception at 6:30 p.m. The induction ceremony and dinner will begin at 7:30 p.m.


Source

Michael W Smith to enter Gospel Music Hall of Fame

Legendary worship artist Michael W Smith will be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame next month.

Smith, who has been on the Christian music scene for more than a quarter of a century, will be joined in the Hall of Fame by country music start Dolly Parton, Dr Bobby Jones, The Dixie Hummingbirds and music producer Lair Goss.

President and CEO of the Gospel Music Association Foundation John W Styll paid tribute to the latest slate of inductees.

"This year’s class of GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees have all achieved great professional and personal success in many different areas of the music and entertainment industries,” stated Styll, “but each shares a common heritage of the Gospel’s powerful impact on their lives.”

The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame has been celebrating the contributions of Christian and gospel music artists for nearly four decades.

Among the more than 150 artists to have taken their place in the Hall of Fame are The Winans, Elvis Presley, Amy Grant, Andrae Crouch and Sandi Patty.

This year’s induction ceremony takes place on February 2 in Nashville.

Michael W Smith released his latest album, A New Hallelujah, last November to critical acclaim.

Dolly Parton has several gospel albums to her name and her Dollywood theme park in
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, houses the Southern Gospel Music Museum and Hall of Fame.

Source

THE UNITED TOUR RETURNS THIS SPRING

Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman are happy to announce that they will be hitting the road for the second leg of their UNITED TOUR this Spring. The tour begins on March 28th in CHATTANOOGA, TN and then criss crosses the entire country for a total of 23 shows (18 shows are currently announced with 6 more coming soon).

This is a special evening of music and is THE concert of the year; bringing together the two biggest names in Christian music on one stage each night.

Tickets for most shows will be on-sale by Friday, January 30th with several starting their ticket presales within the next week (presales are open to Michael W. Smith's "FRIENDS ONLINE" Members Only. Members can go to the message board to read about how you can meet Michael W. backstage by attending a gathering in your city).

Three Concerts ALREADY have presales running - make sure you check the site often, you won't want to miss these events.

IS THE UNITED TOUR COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU? Click here for dates! (remember there are still 6 more shows to be announced - we'll let you know when those are ready to go too)


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