{"id":545,"date":"2026-11-02T08:38:36","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T13:38:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musicascristianas.online\/biografias-y-discos\/?p=545"},"modified":"2026-11-02T08:38:38","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T13:38:38","slug":"michael-w-smith-complete-biography-and-discography-with-all-his-albums-and-songs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musicascristianas.online\/biografias-y-discos\/en\/michael-w-smith-complete-biography-and-discography-with-all-his-albums-and-songs\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael W. Smith: complete biography and discography with all his albums and songs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Few figures in contemporary Christian music<\/a> have shaped as many generations as Michael W. Smith: a three-time Grammy winner, with hymns like \u00abFriends\u00bb<\/strong>, \u00abPlace in This World\u00bb<\/strong>, \u00abAbove All\u00bb<\/strong> and \u00abWaymaker\u00bb<\/strong> spanning pop and worship. In this entry we tell you his complete story and review his entire discography, album by album<\/strong>. If you want to listen to Michael W. Smith<\/a> with his videos, here we also tell you where to find his Michael W. Smith songs<\/a> gathered on M\u00fasica Cristiana<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Michael<\/p>\n

1. Complete biography<\/h2>\n

Childhood in West Virginia and first steps (1957-1982)<\/h3>\n

Michael Whitaker Smith was born on October 7, 1957 in Kenova, West Virginia, to Paul and Barbara Smith. His love of music was born in his church, the First Baptist Church of Kenova, where he learned piano and sang in the youth choir; at age 10 he had an intense spiritual experience that led him to a devout faith. After high school he went through a period of drugs and alcohol; in 1978 he moved to Nashville and, in November 1979, after a personal crisis, he recommitted to his faith and joined the group Higher Ground as keyboardist. In 1981 he was hired as a songwriter at Meadowgreen Music, where he wrote gospel hits for Sandi Patty, Kathy Troccoli, Bill Gaither and Amy Grant; the following year he began touring as Grant’s keyboardist on her \u00abAge to Age\u00bb<\/strong> tour. In 1981 he married Deborah Kay Davis, with whom he has five children and co-wrote \u00abFriends\u00bb<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The debut and Christian music success (1983-1989)<\/h3>\n

In 1983 he recorded his first solo album, \u00abProject\u00bb<\/strong> (The Michael W. Smith Project), produced by himself for Reunion Records and Grammy-nominated; it included the first recording of \u00abFriends\u00bb<\/strong>. It was followed by \u00abMichael W. Smith 2\u00bb<\/strong> (1984), which earned him his first Grammy, \u00abThe Big Picture\u00bb<\/strong> (1986) and \u00abI 2 (EYE)\u00bb<\/strong> (1988). In 1989 he released his first Christmas album, \u00abChristmas\u00bb<\/strong>. During those years he was Amy Grant’s opening act and touring companion.<\/p>\n

The pop crossover and the nineties (1990-1999)<\/h3>\n

\u00abGo West Young Man\u00bb<\/strong> (1990) took him to mainstream pop: \u00abPlace in This World\u00bb<\/strong> reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. \u00abChange Your World\u00bb<\/strong> (1992) brought \u00abI Will Be Here for You\u00bb<\/strong>, No. 1 on adult contemporary radio. He then released the compilation \u00abThe First Decade: 1983-1993\u00bb<\/strong> (1993), \u00abI’ll Lead You Home\u00bb<\/strong> (1995, Grammy winner), \u00abLive the Life\u00bb<\/strong> (1998), \u00abChristmastime\u00bb<\/strong> (1998) and \u00abThis Is Your Time\u00bb<\/strong> (1999). In 1994 he opened the Rocketown youth club in Nashville and in 1996 founded the Rocketown Records label, whose first artist was Chris Rice.<\/p>\n

The worship era: \u00abWorship\u00bb<\/strong> and \u00abWorship Again\u00bb<\/strong> (2000-2003)<\/h3>\n

In 2000 he recorded \u00abFreedom\u00bb<\/strong>, his first all-instrumental album. On September 11, 2001 he released \u00abWorship\u00bb<\/strong>, his first worship album, recorded live in concert; it was followed by \u00abWorship Again\u00bb<\/strong> (2002), a Grammy winner. \u00abAbove All\u00bb<\/strong>, from \u00abWorship\u00bb<\/strong>, became a hymn sung in churches around the world, and \u00abThere She Stands\u00bb<\/strong>, inspired by the September 11 attacks, he performed at the 2004 Republican National Convention.<\/p>\n

\u00abHealing Rain\u00bb<\/strong>, \u00abStand\u00bb<\/strong> and film (2004-2010)<\/h3>\n

\u00abHealing Rain\u00bb<\/strong> (2004) debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 and its title song reached No. 1 on radio; \u00abStand\u00bb<\/strong> (2006) followed the same CCM line. In 2006 he starred in the film \u00abThe Second Chance\u00bb<\/strong> and scored its soundtrack. In 2007 he released his third Christmas album, \u00abIt’s a Wonderful Christmas\u00bb<\/strong>, and in 2008 he recorded \u00abA New Hallelujah\u00bb<\/strong>, his third live worship album, at Lakewood Church in Houston. \u00abWonder\u00bb<\/strong> arrived in 2010.<\/p>\n

Hymns, \u00abSovereign\u00bb<\/strong> and the present (2011-2026)<\/h3>\n

\u00abGlory\u00bb<\/strong> (2011), his second instrumental album with a 65-piece orchestra, won the Dove. In 2014 he released three albums: \u00abHymns\u00bb<\/strong>, with his renditions of classic hymns (Dove for Inspirational Album); \u00abSovereign\u00bb<\/strong>, his first studio worship album and his Capitol Records debut (No. 10 on the Billboard 200); and \u00abThe Spirit of Christmas\u00bb<\/strong>, his first duets album, with Carrie Underwood, Bono, Amy Grant and more (Dove for Christmas Album of the Year 2015). He also released the children’s album \u00abLullaby\u00bb<\/strong> (2018) alongside his \u00abNurturing Steps\u00bb<\/strong> book series. In 2018 he launched the pop \u00abA Million Lights\u00bb<\/strong> and the live worship album \u00abSurrounded\u00bb<\/strong>; in 2019, the live \u00abAwaken: The Surrounded Experience\u00bb<\/strong> with \u00abWaymaker\u00bb<\/strong>; in 2021, the live \u00abWorship Forever\u00bb<\/strong> for the 20th anniversary of September 11; and in 2024 the EP \u00abWorthy Is the Lamb\u00bb<\/strong>, recorded at Belmont University. On screen he acted in \u00ab90 Minutes in Heaven\u00bb<\/strong> (2015) and played the disciple James in FOX’s \u00abThe Passion\u00bb<\/strong> (2016). He has three Grammy Awards, more than 45 Dove Awards, an American Music Award and his induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2008); he has sold more than 15 million albums and recorded more than 36 No. 1 songs. He lives in the Nashville suburbs, was founding pastor of New River Fellowship Church (2006-2008) and takes part in evangelistic crusades and the work of Compassion International.<\/p>\n

2. Complete discography<\/h2>\n

Complete discography of Michael W. Smith<\/h3>\n

This is the complete list of his releases, in chronological order. Tap an album name to go straight to its block, with its cover art and its song list verified on iTunes: the studio albums are in section 3 and the live albums, compilations, Christmas albums and EPs in section 8. The singles are in section 5. The block years follow the verified release dates.<\/p>\n