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Henry Smith
b. 1952 Hymnal Number: 12 Author of "Give Thanks" in Praise Hymnal Henry Smith must have seen life this way: God’s side of the equation outweighs whatever is on the opposite side. At least, that’s what the words he wrote indicate. God is the ‘all’ of existence, so that I am called to ‘give thanks’ six times in the song’s opening words. When I’m done here on planet Earth, all that will matter is what lies ahead – in God’s presence. That must have been alluring for Henry Smith, who was struggling to find steady work, despite having just earned his college degree. When he says ‘the poor’ are rich in “Give Thanks”, that’s an echo from his difficulty in finding work. His eyesight was also failing because of a degenerative condition that would eventually leave him legally blind, certainly a ‘weakness’ that he expressed in the song as his eyesight faded. Thankfully, theological training informed him that God’s side of the equals sign was what mattered. And other parts of his life further motivated the song that leapt from his heart. He’d found someone to love, his future wife. And, he was grateful to be through school, which his deteriorating vision had made difficult, and to be back home in a church he loved in Williamsburg, Virginia. If God was all Henry Smith had in 1978, He could be praised, and yet He provided even more. It’s no surprise that Smith’s heart overflowed in a song. And, the song resounds still in Henry Smith’s hometown and around the globe today.
--songscoops.blogspot.com/2010/
Henry Smith
Gloria Gaither
b. 1942 Hymnal Number: 6 Author of "Something Beautiful" in Praise Hymnal Gloria Gaither (born March 4, 1942) is a Christian songwriter, author, speaker, editor, and academic. She is the wife of Bill Gaither and also sang in the Bill Gaither Trio, one of the most influential groups in recent Christian music.
She was born Gloria Lee Sickal in 1942 in Michigan, a daughter of pastor Lee Sickal and Dorothy Sickal. She spent most of her childhood and high school career in the Battle Creek area of Michigan, working a brief time for the Kellogg Company. When Sickal graduated from high school, she attended Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana. There, she triple majored in English, French, and Sociology. Upon her graduation, she took a job at Alexandria Monroe High School as a French teacher. There, she met Bill Gaither, who was teaching English at the time. She married Gaither in 1962, and they began writing songs recreationally. By the end of the 1960s, Gloria, Bill, and his brother Danny Gaither were touring steadily, as the Bill Gaither Trio.
After touring with the Bill Gaither Trio, Gaither drew her focus to the Gaither Homecoming series. She has been an active presence in every video production. Gaither is currently the scriptwriter and narrator for the Homecoming series. In 1991, she attended Ball State University and received a Master of Arts in Literature. She taught as an adjunct professor at Anderson University for periods in the late 80s and late 90s. In 1996, she spearheaded the creation of Gaither Family Reources in Alexandria, Indiana, and currently serves as co-owner and managing director. In 2002, Gaither launched Homecoming:
Gloria Gaither
Amy Grant
b. 1960 Hymnal Number: 17 Author of "Thy Word" in Praise Hymnal Amy Lee Grant PhD USA 1960-present Born at Augusta, GA, the youngest of four girls, her family moved to Nashville, TN, in 1967. She is the great granddaughter of Nashville philanthropist, A M Burton (founder of Life & Casualty Tower, WLAC Radio, and WLAC TV, and Lillie Burton). The Burtons attended the Nashville Ashwood Church of Christ, as did she. She wrote her first song: ‘Mountain Top’, at Harpeth School, Nashville, an all-girls school where she attended. In 1977 Grant was offered a recording contract before her 16th birthday after a recording studio owner heard her sing on a demo tape. That studio recorded her first 11 albums. She attended Furman U, Greenville, SC, and later Vanderbilt U, Nashville, TN. She held her first ticketed concert while attending Furman in 1978. In 1982 she married Gary Chapman. They had three children: Matthew Garrison, Gloria Mills (Millie), and Sarah Cannon. Chapman wrote the title track for her 2nd album, and they toured together in 1979. In 1980 she transferred to Vanderbilt U. She became a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She made a few more albums before dropping out of college to pursue her recording career. In 1989 her album released was titled: ‘Never Alone’. Another album in 1982 was titled: ‘Age to Age’. In the mid-80s, she began touring and recording with Michael W Smith, and they developed a strong friendship, sometimes writing songs or contributing vocals to each other’s albums. Grant was also a back-up singer for Bill Gaither. She released her first Christmas album in 1983. NBC noticed and asked her to star in her own Christmas special. She developed a reputation as ‘Queen of Christian Pop. In 1984 her album: ‘Straight Ahead’ was released. She also saw success in 1985 as a contemporary pop singer, and released an album titled: ‘Unguarded’. In 1986 she performed secular music with a number of other artists, including, Peter Cetera, Randy Stonehill, and Art Garfunkel. Her album: ‘The Animals Christmas’ came out, and her first book came out that year titled: Amy Grant’s Heart to Heart Bible Stories’. In 1988 her album: ‘Lead Me On’, containing both Christian and secular music was voted the ‘greatest Contemporary Christian album of all time’. In 1991 she released her album: ‘Heart in Motion’, strictly contemporary pop music. Her famous track, ‘Baby, Baby’ was dedicated to her six-week-old daughter, Millie. To date, it has sold over 5 million copies. In 1992 she released her 2nd Christmas album: ‘Home for Christmas’. Another album followed in 1994: ‘House of Love’. In 1997 she released an album: ‘Behind the Eyes’. In 1999, she released her 3rd Christmas album: ‘A Christmas to Remember’. She and Gary Chapman also divorced that year. In 2000 she remarried to Vince Gill, and they have remained married to date. They have a daughter, Corina Grant from this marriage. In 2001 she won $125,000 on the TV show: ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’. That year she also did an audio book titled: ‘The Creation’ (Bible stories for children). In 2002 Grant returned to Christian pop music and released an album of hymns: ‘Legacy.. Hymns and Faith’, a mix of bluegrass and pop music. This was her 25th anniversary in the music industry. Another album in 2003, ‘Simple Things’, was not as successful as earlier releases. In 2005 she released another album: ‘Rock of Ages.. Hymns and Faith’. That year she also hosted a NBC TV show titled ‘Three Wishes’. It featured a team of helpers making wishes come true for small-town residents. It was canceled after its first season due to high production costs. In 2006 she recorded a live CD/DVD titled: ‘Time Again’ at Fort Worth, TX, in Bass Performance Hall. In 2007 she released her book: “Pieces of My Life So Far’ (memories, song lyrics, poetry, and some pictures). In 2007, Grant left Word/Warner and contracted with EMI CMG, who released her regular studio albums as remastered versions. In 2008 she joined a writing team from Compassionart and recorded as a guest vocalist in London. That year she also re-released her 1988 album, ‘Lead Me On’. In 2009 she released an EP with two new songs and some old ones to benefit the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s (EIF) Women’s Cancer Research Fund. In 2010 she released an album titled: ‘Somewhere Down the Road’. In 2012 she received an honorary doctorate degree from Grand Canyon U, Phoenix, AZ, for music performance. That year Grant took part in a campaign called ’30 Songs / 30 Days’ to support the group ‘Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide’. It was a multi-platform media project. That year she also was a guest narrator for Disney’s Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World. She repeated as narrator in 2013 and 2015. In 2013 she released an album: ‘How Mercy Looks from Here’. In 2014 she released an album: ‘In motion: the Remixes’. That year she also had a new single in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month titled: ‘Welcome Yourself’. In 2015 she released a new compilation album: ‘Be still and Know’. In 2016 she released another album: ‘Tennessee Christmas’. It contained old and new music. She and her husband toured the U S and Canada with Christmas concerts, along with Michael W Smith and Jordan Smith. More similar concerts ensued in 2017. In 2020, Grant had an open-heart surgery to repair a congenital heart condition (PAPVR). In 2022 she sustained a concussion, cuts and bruises, requiring hospitalization, after falling from her bicycle while riding near Nashville’s Harpeth Hills Golf Course. Between 1983-2007 Grant received some 22 Dove Awards for music performance; six Grammies; and other awards, including: JCC Young Tennessean (1992); Pax Christi, St Johns U; Harmony, Nashville Symphony (1994); Sarah Cannon Humanitarian; Minnie Pearl Humanitarian; Voice of America; Golden Plate: Academy of Achievement (1996); Nashville Symphony: TN Performing Arts Center; Amy Grant Room for Music & Entertainment at Target House, St Jude’s Children Hospital (1999); Easter Seals Nashvillian of the Year (2001); Gospel Music Hall of Fame: GMA; Summit: Seminar in the Rockies (2003); Amy Grant Performance Platform: Nashville Schermerhorn Symphony Center; Hollywood Walk of fame (a star) (2006); Christian Music Hall of Fame (2007); Class of 1966 Friend of West Point (2008); Number 52 in the Top Female Artists of the Rock Era-1955-2015 (2015); Kennedy Center Honoree (2022). In 2023 she was again honored with a doctorate in Fine Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN. The family continues to live in the Nashville, TN, area.
John Perry
Amy Grant
David "Beaker" Strasser
Person Name: David Beaker Strasser Hymnal Number: 8 of "Step by Step" in Praise Hymnal "Beaker" is a pseudonym for David Strasser, a Christian songwriter and musician well known for his collaborations with artist Rich Mullins. He received his nickname as a young man, when friends said he looked like Beaker the Muppet.
When Beaker was in the seventh grade, his youth pastor introduced him to his friend Rich Mullins, and the two soon became collaborators. Beaker co-wrote, performed, and toured with Rich Mullins for several years. The first song they wrote together was "Boy Like Me, Man Like You", a 1991 hit for Mullins. Beaker is also responsible for writing the modern praise chorus "Step By Step" ("Oh God, you are my God, and I will ever praise you..."). He was also instrumental in co-founding the Kid Brothers of St. Frank with Rich Mullins, and well as co-writing a musical about Saint Francis of Assisi entitled Canticle of the Plains.
In the mid-90s, Beaker dropped out of the spotlight to focus on family life. He and his wife Julie have three sons, Aidan (for whom Rich Mullins penned his hit song "Let Mercy Lead"), Avery, and Elias, and two daughters, Cora Shea and Isabel.
--en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaker_(musician)
David "Beaker" Strasser
Niles Borop
b. 1956 Hymnal Number: 7 Author of "Look What God Is Doin'" in Praise Hymnal Niles Borop is a prolific songwriter of Southern Gospel music. He also owns two music publishing companies, N B Music and Niles Borop Music.
http://sghistory.com/index.php?n=N.Niles_Borop
Niles Borop
Rich Mullins
1955 - 1997 Hymnal Number: 8 Author of "Step by Step" in Praise Hymnal Richard Wayne "Rich" Mullins (October 21, 1955 – September 19, 1997) was an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter born in Richmond, Indiana. He had two sisters and two brothers.
Mullins was best known for his worship songs "Awesome God" and "Sometimes by Step", both of which have been embraced as modern classics by many Christians. Some of his albums were also considered among Christian music's best, including Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth (1988), The World As Best As I Remember It, Volume One (1991) and A Liturgy, A Legacy, & A Ragamuffin Band (1993). His songs have been performed by numerous artists, including Caedmon's Call, Five Iron Frenzy, Amy Grant, Carolyn Arends, Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, John Tesh, Chris Rice, Rebecca St. James, Hillsong United and Third Day.
Rich Mullins is also remembered for his devotion to the Christian faith. He was heavily influenced by St. Francis of Assisi (1181–1226). In 1997, he composed a musical called Canticle of the Plains, a retelling of the life of St. Francis set in the Old West.
--en.wikipedia.org/wiki
Rich Mullins
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