Michael English(born April 12, 1962) is an American Christian singer and record producer. Initially, he was a member of his family's singing group, and later a member of TheGaither Vocal Band.During his solo career, he recorded eight studio albums. English's highest-charting solo single was "Your Love Amazes Me",which reached No. 10 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1996.
Michael English | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | April 12, 1962 Kenansville,North Carolina, U.S. |
| Origin | Wallace,North Carolina, U.S. |
| Genres | Southern gospel,pop,CCM,pop rock,adult contemporary |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, record producer |
| Instrument | Voice |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Labels | Warner Alliance,Curb |
| Website | www |
Biography
editEarly years
editBorn inKenansville, North Carolina[1]English was raised by parents Aubine and Grace English, in a town called North East, nearWallace, North Carolina.[2]English performed in his family's singing group, The Singing Samaritans, from 1972 until 1980. After graduating from high school, he joined The Singing Americans, where he shortened his name to Mike English, later going back to Michael. He left the group in 1982 and joined The Goodmans.[1]At about the same time he married his first wife Lisa Bailey and they had a daughter Megan who was born in late 1984. After that, he joined a regional group, The Gospel Couriers, for about six months until he rejoined The Singing Americans. It was then that he had his first big success insouthern gospel musicwith the live recording of what would become his signature song, "I Bowed on My Knees (And Cried, Holy)".
Although one of the Goodmans had brought him the song to sing and record while he was still there with them, the Singing Americans felt the song had not gone as far as it could while he sang with the group. This prompted English to record the track with the group, bringing the song its biggest success.
His last album with the Singing Americans,Black and White,was one of their most popular. It featured a single English was fairly well known for called "Welcome To Heaven", but the success of it was possibly stalled when he left the group in 1985 to joinThe Gaither Vocal Bandas their new lead singer, replacing Gary McSpadden, who moved to sing baritone. The change of groups introduced more people to the southern gospel genre. After rising to fame as a member of the Gaither Vocal Band,Bill Gaitherencouraged English to pursue a solo career. He signed his first solo recording contract withWarner Alliancein 1991 while continuing to sing lead in the Gaither Vocal Band.
His debut effort,Michael English,was well received, ultimately winning twoDove Awardsin 1992 for Male Vocalist and New Artist.[3]His first self-titled album was produced by Brown Bannister and featured major Christian radio hits in "Solid As The Rock", "Mary Did You Know" and "In Christ Alone" He left the Gaither Vocal Band in 1994. Michael was named GMA Male Vocalist of the Year in 1994. In addition to being named Male Vocalist of the Year, his single, "Holding Out Hope To You" won Inspirational Song of the Year and his 1994 recording, "Hope", was Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year.
Scandal
editEnglish's Christian music career abruptly came to a halt on May 6, 1994, just one week after the25th GMA Dove Awardswhere he had received fourDove Awards,including Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year.[1][4]English learned that Marabeth Jordan, with whom he had an affair, was pregnant with his child. (Jordan sang with the groupFirst Call;First Call and English had just completed a tour for unwed mothers.)[1]Both English and Jordan were married to other people at the time.
English was pressured by Warner Alliance to make a public apology, and he was eventually dropped by the label. Warner removed all promotions, marketing, which halted sales of English's records,[1]and Christian radio stations pulled English's songs off the air.[1]He also returned his Dove Awards to theGospel Music Association.[1]English and his wife Lisa, who were married for 11 years and had a daughter, divorced.
English stayed with friendsAshleyandWynonna Juddduring his recovery period, and did not perform gospel music for three years. In late 1994, English signed a record contract withCurb Recordsto produce mainstream pop music.[1]A duet withWynonna Judd,titled "Healing" (a song English had originally recorded for his album "Hope" ), introduced English to a secular audience when the song was featured in the 1994 movieSilent Fall.
Comeback
editIn September 1996, English released a pop album,Freedom.The album's first single, "Your Love Amazes Me" (a cover of country music singerJohn Berry's 1994 hit), peaked at No. 10 on theadult contemporarychart but only hit No. 105 on the main chart.
At both the 1996 and 1997 Dove Awards, his co-production for album projects byThe Martinswon Southern Gospel Album of the Year.[5]He also produced albums he had already started for The Stamps Quartet, The Gaither Vocal Band, and performed as a background singer on several artists' Christian albums, as well as demo work.
In August 1996, southern gospel audiences re-accepted English after promoter/historian Charles Waller reunited English with Ed Hill,Rick Strickland,Dwayne Burke and Milton Smith as theSinging Americans,before an audience of over 4,000 gospel music fans at the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion.[1]J. D. Sumneralso invited English to appear with the Stamps at the National Quartet Convention, as well as the Grand Ole Opry.
Curb RecordsreleasedGospel,produced by English and featuring his own band with arrangements he had sung in his concerts over the past several years. This album was co-produced by long-time friendJay DemarcusofRascal Flatts.Gary LeVox,the lead singer of Rascal Flatts, sang background vocals as well. In March 1999,Bill Gaitherinvited English to appear at a recording ofGaither Homecoming.Three videos were released from this taping, "Good News", "Harmony in the Heartland'", and "What a Time".
In March 2000, English recorded a new album,Heaven to Earth,which was released by Curb Records. Premiering his album onTrinity Broadcasting Network'sPraise the Lord,English gave a testimony of what God had brought him through and shared his story about his addiction to painkillers and subsequent treatment and rehab.
In addition to touring, English released his autobiography,The Prodigal Comes Home,in April 2007.
In 2009, English rejoined the Gaither Vocal Band—making it a quintet—singing lead.
2010–present
editOn March 4, 2010, English underwent surgery on the spinal column in his neck. While he was recovering,Marshall Hallcame back to fill in for two months, and Reggie Smith filled in for one month. With an emotional concert return, English sang again with the vocal band on August 1, 2010.[citation needed]
English was inducted into theNorth Carolina Music Hall of Famein 2011.[6]
In October 2013, it was announced that English would be leaving the Gaither Vocal Band to devote more time to his solo career. His departure was effective immediately. His final appearance with the group was performing "Alpha and Omega" at the2013 Dove Awards.Since his Gaither Vocal Band departure Michael has appeared on numerous Gaither Vocal Band Reunion videos and has released three studio albums, a live album and a greatest hits recording:The Best of Michael English.
Discography
editWith the Singing Americans
edit- 1981:The Exciting Sounds of the Singing Americans(Victory Records)
- 1981:Hymntime(Halo Records; also released asSing Hymns)
- 1984:Something Old Something New(Mark Five Records)
- 1984:Live And Alive(Riversong Records)
- 1984: "I Bowed on My Knees And Cried Holy" (single)
- 1985:Black And White(Riversong)
With the Happy Goodmans
edit- 1982:Goodman Greats(Canaan Records)
- 1982:Chosen(Canaan)
With the Gaither Vocal Band
edit- 1986:One X 1
- 1988:Wings
- 1990:A Few Good Men
- 1991:Homecoming
- 1993:Peace of the Rock
- 1993:Southern Classics
- 2009:Reunited
- 2010:Greatly Blessed
- 2011:I Am a Promise
- 2012:Pure and Simple
- 2014:Hymns
Solo albums
edit- 1991:Michael English(Curb Records)
- 1993:Hope(Curb)
- 1996:Freedom(Curb)
- 1998:Gospel(Curb)
- 2000:Heaven to Earth(Curb)
- 2003:A Michael English Christmas(Curb)
- 2006:Greatest Hits: In Christ Alone(Curb)
- 2008:The Prodigal Comes Home(Curb)
- 2013:Some People Change(Curb)
- 2015:Worship(Daywind)
- 2017:Love is the Golden Rule(Daywind)
Compilations
- 1995:Healing(Curb Records)(with 2 new tracks)
- 2006:Michael English Greatest Hits: In Christ Alone(Curb)(with 2 new tracks)
- 2021:Best of Michael English
Live
- 2015:Live at Daywind Studios(DVD-CD) (Daywind)
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US CHR AC | US AC | US | ||
| 1995 | "Healing"(withWynonna Judd) | — | — | 120 |
| 1996 | "Your Love Amazes Me" | — | 10 | 105 |
| 2000 | "Heaven to Earth" | 17 | — | — |
| 2008 | "Feels Like Redemption" | 26 | — | — |
Music videos
edit| Year | Song | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "Healing" | Randee St. Nicholas |
| 2017 | "Love is the Golden Rule" | Scott Godsey |
Accolades
editGMA Dove Awards[7]
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | New Artist of the Year | Won | |
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Won | ||
| 1993 | Male Vocalist of the Year | Won | |
| Praise and Worship Album of the Year | Coram Deo(shared withMichael Card,Charlie Peacock,Susan Ashton,Out of the Grey,Charlie Peacock) | Won | |
| 1994 | Vocalist of the Year | Won | |
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Won | ||
| Inspirational Song of the Year | "Holding Out Hope To You" | Won | |
| Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year | Hope | Won | |
| Southern Gospel Song of the Year | Southern Classics;Gaither Vocal Band (co-producer) | Won |
References
edit- ^abcdefghiSchwalboski, Ann M. (1999). "Michael English". In Brennan, Luann (ed.).Contemporary Musicians.Volume 23.Farmington Hills,Michigan:Gale Group.pp.113–116.ISBN0-7876-2091-2.ISSN1044-2197.
- ^Michael English (2007).The Prodigal Comes Home.(with Lynn Vincent). Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson. pp.5.ISBN978-0-8499-0173-7.
- ^"Dove Award Recipients for 1992".Gospel Music Association.Archived fromthe originalon October 20, 2006.RetrievedMarch 1,2007.
- ^Wartofsky, Alona (January 5, 1997)."The Sins of the Singer".Washington Post.
- ^"Dove Award Recipients for Southern Gospel Album of the Year".Gospel Music Association.Archived fromthe originalon October 20, 2006.RetrievedMarch 1,2007.
- ^"2011 Inductees".North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.RetrievedSeptember 10,2012.
- ^"Past Winners".GMA Dove Awards.