'Amy Grant' History:
BiographyIf you want to know Amy Grant's story, all you really have to do is listen to her songs. From the first time she picked up a guitar as a teenager and sang for her school friends, to the albums she's recorded that have racked up multiplatinum awards, Amy's always found a musical way to share her life. And in the process, she's not only become an icon in Christian music (and could, in fact, be credited with launching the genre) but also one of the most celebrated artists in pop music today. Music was always a part of Amy Grant's life. She can still recall the thrill of a cappella singing at her family's Church of Christ services and later, as a teenager, discovering a freer musical expression with the young people in her school and church. In fact, one of Grant's first performances was at a chapel service for her fellow students. The event was pivotal for Amy -- it unveiled not only a musical talent, but a true gift of connecting with her peers. From that day on, Amy Grant was marked as an artist, a role model, a kindred spirit and a seeker. Through the next 25 years none of those titles ever faded away. Although Amy Grant is truly a daughter of Nashville, she was actually born in Augusta, Georgia in 1960 during her father's doctor's residency there. Amy was still a baby when the family returned to Nashville. The youngest of four daughters, Amy and her sisters (Mimi, Kathy and Carol) grew up in a home of privilege, strong family loyalty and fervent religious faith. In church she learned the hymns and stories that would inspire both her life and her music. During her years at Nashville's most prestigious private schools, those inspirations found a home and an outlet as Amy began dabbling with songwriting and performing. source: http://www.amygrant.com |
HistoryAmy Lee Grant (born November 25, 1960 in Augusta, Georgia) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her Contemporary Christian Music and pop music, and a New York Times Bestselling author, TV personality, and occasional actress. Grant is considered by many to be one of the true pioneers of Gospel and Contemporary Christian music.[1] She has had a strong influence on Gospel music and the Christian culture in the United States and beyond. She is the best-selling Christian Music artist of all time, and is the 19th best-selling female solo artist in the United States.[2][3] Contents [hide] 1 Summary of Career 2 Early career 3 Widening audience 4 In the mainstream 5 Return to gospel 6 Looking ahead 7 Discography 8 Bibliography 9 Popular culture 10 Awards 11 See also 12 References 13 Sources 14 External links [edit] Summary of Career Grant made her debut in 1977 as a teenager, and scored her first number-one Christian radio hit two years later. In 1982, she released her breakthrough album, Age to Age, which became the first Contemporary Christian music album to be certified platinum. By 1985, her music began to reach a wider audience, when her album Unguarded crossed over onto mainstream charts. This feat was reproduced in 1991 when her album Heart In Motion became a best-seller and the single "Baby Baby" became a number one pop hit. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Grant continued to record pop-oriented albums and did not make another full gospel album until 2002, with the record Legacy...Hymns and Faith. In 2006, Grant hosted her own reality television show on NBC, called Three Wishes. As of 2007, Grant remains the best-selling Contemporary Christian music singer, having sold over 30 million units worldwide. Grant has won six Grammy Awards, 21 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, and had the first Christian album ever to go Platinum.[2] Heart in Motion is her best selling album, which has exceeded sales of 5 million. [edit] Early career After she signed to a record company at the age of sixteen, Amy Grant's first, self-titled album (largely self-composed) in 1977, was a runaway success in terms of the Christian music market of the time. She is a graduate of Harpeth Hall School and was an English major at Furman University and later Vanderbilt University, where she was a member of the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta. Grant then made a few more albums before dropping out of college to pursue a career in music. These albums included 1979's My Father's Eyes (the title track written by Grant's future first husband, singer-songwriter Gary Chapman) and Never Alone in 1980. During the 1970s, Amy was also a backup singer for Bill Gaither, and the Bill Gaither Trio. 1982 marked a turning point in both Grant's career and her personal life. After she married Chapman (on June 15, 1982), her album Age to Age forced critics to notice. The breakthrough album contained the signature track, "El Shaddai" (written by Michael Card) and the Grant-Chapman penned song, "In A Little While". "El Shaddai" was later awarded one of the "Songs of the Century" by the RIAA in 2001. Grant received her first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Gospel Performance, as well as two GMA Dove Awards for Gospel Artist of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. Age to Age became the first Christian album by a solo artist to be certified gold (1983) and the first Christian album to be certified platinum (1985). In the mid-1980s, Grant began touring and recording with young up-and-coming songwriter Michael W. Smith. Grant and Smith continue to have a strong friendship and creative relationship, often writing songs for or contributing vocals to each other's albums. Grant followed up this album with the first of her Christmas albums - albums that later would be the basis for her trademark holiday shows. In 1984, she released another pop-oriented Christian hit, Straight Ahead, earning Grant her first appearance at the Grammy Awards show. [edit] Widening audience Hardly had Grant established herself as the "Queen of Christian Pop" when she changed directions to widen her fan base (and hence her musical message). Her goal was to become the first Christian singer-songwriter who was also successful as a contemporary pop singer.[4] Unguarded (1985) surprised some fans for its very mainstream sound (and Grant's leopard-print jacket, in four poses for four different covers). "Find a Way," from Unguarded, became the first Christian song to hit Billboard's Top 40 list, also reaching #7 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Amy Grant scored her first Billboard Number One hit in 1986 with "The Next Time I Fall", a duet with former Chicago singer/bassist Peter Cetera. That year, she also recorded a duet with singer Randy Stonehill for his Love Beyond Reason album, entitled "I Could Never Say Goodbye", and recorded The Animals' Christmas with Art Garfunkel. Lead Me On (1988) contained many songs that were about Christianity and love relationships, but some interpreted it as not being an obviously "Christian" record. Years later, Lead Me On would be chosen as the greatest Contemporary Christian album of all time by CCM Magazine. The mainstream song "Saved by Love" was a minor hit, receiving airplay on radio stations featuring the newly emerging Adult Contemporary format. The album's title song received some pop radio airplay and crossed over to #96 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "1974 (We Were Young)" and "Saved By Love" also charted as Adult Contemporary songs. In 1989 she appeared in a Target ad campaign, performing songs off of the album.[5] [edit] In the mainstream When Heart in Motion was released in 1991, many fans were surprised that the album was so clearly one of contemporary pop music. Amy's desire to widen her audience was frowned upon by the confines of the popular definitions of "ministry" at the time.[6] The track "Baby Baby" (written for Grant's newborn daughter, Millie, whose "six week old face was my inspiration,") became a pop hit (hitting number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart), and Grant was established as a name in the mainstream music world. "Baby Baby" received Grammy nominations for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and Record and Song of the Year (although it failed to win in any of those categories). Four other hits from the album made the Pop top 20: "Every Heartbeat" (#2), "That's What Love Is For" (#7), "Good For Me" (#8), and "I Will Remember You" (#20). On the Adult Contemporary chart, all five songs were top 10 hits, with two of the five ("Baby Baby" and "That's What Love Is For") reaching #1. Many Christian fans remained loyal, since the album also topped the Billboard's Contemporary Christian Chart for 32 weeks. Heart in Motion is Grant's best-selling album, having sold over 5 million copies according to the RIAA.[7] Grant followed the album with her second Christmas album, Home For Christmas in 1992, which included the song "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)", written by Chris Eaton and Grant, and would later be covered by many artists, including Donna Summer, Jessica Simpson (who acknowledged Grant as one of her favorite artists), Vince Gill, Sara Groves, Point of Grace, and Broadway star Barbara Cook. House of Love in 1994 continued in the same vein, boasting catchy pop songs mingled with spiritual lyrics. The album was a multi-platinum success and produced the pop hit "Lucky One" (#18 pop and #2 AC; #1 on Radio & Records) as well as the title track (a duet with country music star and future husband Vince Gill) (#37 pop) and a cover of Joni Mitchell's frequently-covered "Big Yellow Taxi" (#67 pop) (in which she changed the line "And they charged the people a dollar and a half just to see em" to "And then they charged the people 25 bucks just to see em). Grant participated in Lifetime's 1st Annual "Girls & Guitars" benefit, singing numerous songs, including a duet with Melissa Etheridge on "You Sleep While I Drive". By this time, she and Chapman had three children: Matthew Garrison Chapman (b. 1987), Gloria Mills Chapman (called "Millie", b. 1989), and Sarah Cannon Chapman (b. 1992), who was named after country legend Minnie Pearl, a family friend. (Pearl's real name was Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon). After she covered the 10cc song "The Things We Do For Love" for the Mr. Wrong soundtrack, Behind the Eyes 1997 was released in September of 1997. The album struck a much darker note, leaning more towards downtempo, acoustic soft-rock songs, with more mature (yet still optimistic) lyrics. She called it her "razor blades and Prozac" album.[8] Although "Takes A Little Time" was a moderate hit single, the album failed to sell like the previous two albums, which had both gone multi-platinum. Behind The Eyes was eventually certified Gold by the RIAA. The video for "Takes A Little Time" was a new direction for Grant; with a blue light filter, acoustic guitar, the streets and characters of New York City, and a plot, Grant was re-cast as an adult light rocker. She followed up "Behind The Eyes" with A Christmas To Remember, her third Christmas album, in 1999. The album was certified Gold in 2000. Citing "irreconcilable differences", Grant filed for divorce against Chapman in March, 1999 and the divorce was finalized in June, 1999.[9] Chapman responded to the filing by noting: "From my vantage point, we had one irreconcilable difference: I wanted her to stay, and she wanted to leave. Everything else, God could have reconciled." On March 10, 2000, Grant married Vince Gill, who had divorced country singer Janis Gill of Sweethearts of the Rodeo. Grant and Gill have a daughter together, Corrina Grant Gill, born March 12, 2001. [edit] Return to gospel Grant returned to her gospel music roots with the 2002 release of Legacy... Hymns and Faith. The album featured a Vince Gill-influenced mix of bluegrass and gospel and marked Grant's 25th anniversary in the music industry. Grant followed this up with the pop release Simple Things in 2003. The album did not have the success of her previous pop or gospel efforts. However, soon after Simple Things, Grant and Interscope/A&M parted ways. True to all of her work, spiritual themes weave in and out of the everyday experience. The same year, Grant was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame by the Gospel Music Association, an industry trade organization of which she is a longstanding member, in her first year of eligibility. Grant released a sequel to her hymns collection in 2005 titled Rock of Ages... Hymns & Faith. [edit] Looking ahead Although neither of her latest hymn releases have captured the popularity of her previous gospel career, Grant still remains a popular concert draw and enjoys popularity amongst both fan bases. For years in the 1990s and early 2000s, she toured in November and December for her Christmas and holiday tours. Often her husband and many special guests performed along with her on stage. Grant is known for her live performances of many of her hit songs. She also has been known to perform songs of fellow female vocalists, most notably, "Big Yellow Taxi", made famous by Joni Mitchell, which she covers at most large venues and recorded for the House of Love album. Grant joined the reality television phenomenon by hosting Three Wishes, a show in which she and a team of helpers make wishes come true for small-town residents.[10] The show debuted on NBC in the fall of 2005 and was canceled at the end of its first season because of high production costs. After Three Wishes was canceled, Grant won her 6th Grammy Award for Rock of Ages... Hymns & Faith. In a February 2006 webchat, Amy stated she believes her "best music is still ahead". In April 2006, a live CD/DVD entitled Time Again...Amy Grant Live was recorded in Fort Worth, Texas, at Bass Performance Hall. (Grant's first paid public performance was at the Will Rogers Auditorium in Fort Worth, TX.) The concert was released on September 26, 2006. In addition to receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, media appearances included write-ups in CCM Magazine, and a performance on The View. In a February 2007 web chat on her web site, Amy discussed a book she was working on entitled "Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far": "It’s not an autobiography, but more a collection of memories, song lyrics, poetry and a few pictures." The book was released on October 16, 2007. In November, it debuted at #35 on the New York Times Best Seller list.[11] In the same web chat, Amy noted that she is "anxious to get back in the studio after the book is finished, and reinvent myself as an almost-50 performing woman." 2007 was Grant's 30th year in music. She left Word/Warner, and contracted with EMI CMG who re-released her regular studio albums as remastered versions on August 14, 2007. Marking the start of Grant's new contract is a career-spanning greatest hits album, with all the songs digitally remastered. The album was released as both a single-disc CD edition, and a 2-Disc CD/DVD Special Edition, the DVD featuring music videos and interviews.[12] Grant appeared with Gill on The Oprah Winfrey Show in December 2007, for a holiday special.[13] Grant has plans to appear on CMT, a Food Network special, the Gospel Music Channel, and The Hour of Power.[14] On June 24, 2008, Grant re-released her 1988 album, Lead Me On, in honor of its 20th Anniversary. The two-disc release includes the original album and a second disc with new acoustic recordings, live performances from 1989, and interviews with Amy. Grant will recreate the Lead Me On tour this fall. On June 27th, 2008, Grant surprised everyone at the Creation Northeast 2008 festival by being the special guest. She performed "Lead Me On" and a few other songs backed with the Hawk Nelson Band. Then, at the end of the concert, returned to the stage and sang, "Thy Word". She appeared on the 2008 album Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends singing "Could I Have This Dance". [edit] Discography For a complete discography list, see Amy Grant discography. Studio albums 1977: Amy Grant 1979: My Father's Eyes 1980: Never Alone 1982: Age to Age 1983: A Christmas Album 1984: Straight Ahead 1985: Unguarded 1988: Lead Me On 1991: Heart in Motion 1992: Home for Christmas 1994: House of Love 1997: Behind the Eyes 1999: A Christmas to Remember 2002: Legacy...Hymns and Faith 2003: Simple Things 2005: Rock of Ages...Hymns and Faith [edit] Bibliography Grant is the author of several books, including a memoir, Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far, and a book based on the popular Christmas song Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song). Grant, Amy (1985). Amy Grant's Heart to Heart Bible Stories. Worthy Pub, 96 pages. ISBN 9780834401303. Grant, Amy (2001). Breath of Heaven. Nashville: W Publishing Group, 64 pages. ISBN 0-8499-1732-8. Grant, Amy (Narrator) (2006). Rabbit Ears Beloved Bible Stories: the Creation, Noah and the Ark. Listening Library (Audio). ISBN 9780739337097. Grant, Amy (2007). Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far. Flying Dolphin Press, 240 pages. ISBN 0-385-52289-4. [edit] Popular culture The cover for the comic book Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #15 (March 1990) featured an unauthorized image of Grant, leading to a lawsuit against publisher Marvel Comics.[15][16] In 2001, Grant sang God Bless America in front of a sellout crowd at the Owen County Fair Grounds in Spencer, Indiana. She dedicated her performance to the victims of 9/11, and officially started the Demolition Derby. Christian comedian Mark Lowry parodied Grant's album cover Heart in Motion for his own, entitled "Mouth in Motion", showing him locked up smiling and in shackles. In a Saturday Night Live skit, John Goodman's character tells Cheri Oteri's character that she makes "Courtney Love look like Amy Grant," a reference to Love's wild antics and Grant's conservative reputation. Following the 9/11 attacks, Grant's "I Will Remember You" saw a resurgence in popularity as many radio DJs mixed a special tribute version of the song. In 2001, Grant won $125,000 for charity on the "Rock Star Edition" of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire".[17] [edit] Awards Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum inductee, 2007 GRAMMY AWARDS & NOMINATIONS: 1994 – Nomination – Children Spoken Word – Lion & the Lamb 1992 – Nomination – Album of the Year – Heart in Motion 1992 – Nomination – Song of the Year – Baby Baby 1992 – Nomination – Record of the Year – Baby Baby 1992 – Nomination – Pop Performance Female – Baby Baby 2006 – Award – Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album – Rock of Ages…Hymns & Faith 1988 – Award – Best Contemporary Album – Lead Me On 1986 – Award – Best Gospel Performance - Unguarded 1985 – Award – Best Gospel Performance - Angels 1984 – Award – Best Gospel Performance – Ageless Medley 1983 – Award – Best Contemporary Album – Age to Age OTHER SPECIAL AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS: 25 Dove Awards – Including 4 Time Artist of the Year 2003 Inducted into the Gospel Music Association “Hall of Fame” 2003 Seminar in the Rockies Summit Award 2001 “Nashvillian of the Year” 1999 The Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Nashville Symphony and Tennessee Performing Arts Center: “An Evening with the Arts” Honoring Grant’s Contributions to the Nashville Performing Arts Community 1999 The Target House – The Amy Grant Rose 1996 TNN Awards – Sarah Cannon Humanitarian Award 1996 Columbia Hospital – Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award 1996 ASCAP Award – Voice of America 1996 Academy of Achievement – Golden Plate Award 1994 St. John University – Pax Christi Award 1994 Nashville Symphony – Harmony Award 1992 Junior Chamber of Commerce – Outstanding Tennessean 1992 Nomination – American Music Awards – Best Rock/Pop Performance by a Female 1992 Nomination – MTV Awards – “Baby Baby” Video [edit] See also CCM Magazine Best selling music artists CCM 100 Greatest Albums [edit] References ^ Dave Tianen (2007). "Amy Grant shares voice on pages". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved on August 29, 2008. ^ a b CNN (2003). "Interview With Amy Grant, Vince Gill". CNN. Retrieved on August 29, 2008. ^ RIAA (2008). "Top Selling Artists". RIAA. Retrieved on August 29, 2008. ^ Michael Goldberg (1985). "Grant Wants To Put God On Pop Charts" (in English). Rolling Stone. Retrieved on May 18, 2008. ^ Gale Group (1989). "Rabbit stars in Target holiday promo - Target Stores Inc., Velveteen Rabbit". Gale Group. Retrieved on August 29, 2008. ^ Kim Sue Lia Perkes (1991). "Christian Fans Ask Too Much Of Amy Grant". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved on August 29, 2008. ^ RIAA (2008). "Amy Grant - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved on August 29, 2008. ^ Rosa Colucci (2002). "Amy Grant's career comes full circle". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved on August 29, 2008. ^ Jay Orr (1999). "Grant picks up pieces after divorce, with the help of soaring career - and Vince". The Tennessean. Retrieved on August 29, 2008. ^ CMT (2008). "Three Wishes". Country Music Television, Inc.. Retrieved on August 29, 2008. ^ The New York Times (2007). "Hardcover Nonfiction". The New York Times. Retrieved on December 6, 2007. ^ EMI (2007). "EMI Music Signs Worldwide Catalog Partnership with Amy Grant" (in English). EMI Christian Music Group. Retrieved on September 10, 2007. ^ Harpo Productions, Inc. (2007). "The Holidays, Country Style". Harpo Productions, Inc.. Retrieved on December 6, 2007. ^ WeSpreadTheWord (2007). "TV ALERT: Amy Grant (CMT, Food Network Christmas episode of "Paula's Party", Gospel Music Channel, Hour of Power)" (in English). WeSpreadTheWord. Retrieved on December 6, 2007. ^ "Amy Grant Sues Marvel", No. 136, The Comics Journal (July, 1990). ^ Chicago Sun-Times (1990). "Plus Entertainment". archived - Excerpt available. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on December 6, 2007. ^ Liane Bonin (2001). "Million Dollar Babies". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on August 29, 2008. [edit] Sources Ruhlmann, William (2005). Allmusic.com [edit] External links Official Amy Grant website German/English Amy Grant archive website Amy's MySpace page Official Amy Grant Christmas website Official Amy Grant Behind The Eyes website Amy Grant at the Internet Movie Database Amy Grant at Allmusic [hide]v • d • eAmy Grant Studio Albums Amy Grant · My Father's Eyes · Never Alone · Age to Age · Straight Ahead · Unguarded · Lead Me On · Heart in Motion · House of Love · Behind the Eyes · Legacy...Hymns and Faith · Simple Things · Rock of Ages...Hymns and Faith · Christmas Albums A Christmas Album · Home for Christmas · 20th Century Masters - The Christmas Collection: The Best of Amy Grant (Home for Christmas re-release) · A Christmas to Remember · Compilation Albums The Collection · Her Greatest Inspirational Songs · Greatest Hits 1986-2004 · My Best Christmas · Greatest Hits Live Albums In Concert · In Concert Volume Two · Time Again...Amy Grant Live · Singles/EPs "El Shaddai" · "Ageless Medley (EP)" · "Tennessee Christmas" · "Angels" · "Find a Way" · "Everywhere I Go" · "Wise Up" · "Sharayah" · "Saved by Love" · "Lead Me On" · "1974 (We Were Young)" · "What About the Love" · "Say Once More" · "Faithless Heart" · "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" · "Baby Baby" · "Hope Set High" · "Every Heartbeat" · "That's What Love Is For" · "Ask Me" · "Good For Me" · "I Will Remember You" · "Somewhere Somehow" · "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)" · "Grown-Up Christmas List" · "Let the Season Take Wing" · "We Believe in God" · "House of Love" · "Lucky One" · "Say You'll Be Mine" · "Big Yellow Taxi" · "Oh How the Years Go By" · "Takes a Little Time (song)" · "Takes a Little Time (maxi single)" · "Somewhere Down the Road" · "Simple Things" TV shows & movies Three Wishes · A Song from the Heart Books "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)" · "Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far" Related articles Discography source: wikipedia |
Amy Grant Discography:
| Release Title and date | |
 | Rock of Ages...Hymns and Faith 2005 |
 | Rock of Ages...Hymns and Faith 2005 |
| Greatest Hits 1986-2004 2004 | |
| Simple Things 2003 | |
 | Legacy...Hymns and Faith 2002 |
 | Legacy...Hymns and Faith 2002 |
| her greatest inspirational songs 2002 | |
| A Christmas to Remember 1999 | |
 | Behind the Eyes 1997 |
 | House of love 1994 |
 | home for christmas 1992 |
 | Heart in Motion 1991 |
| lead me on 1988 | |
| the collection 1986 | |
| unguarded 1985 | |
| straight ahead 1984 | |
 | a christmas album 1983 |
 | Age to Age 1982 |
| in concert (volume two) 1981 |
| unknown album |
