THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 23, 1996 TAG: 9608220132
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 54 lines
MICHAEL W. SMITH gets on stage, excitedly praises God in song, gets off stage, then flies home to wife Deborah and a quintet of small Smiths, ranging in age from 4 to 12.
``You can't put a price tag on family,'' said Christian music's best-selling male artist. ``It's an absolute constant. I'm more interested in being a good father and a good husband.''
Smith will leave home and hearth for a show at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base on Sunday. He will not have enough time to perform all of his hits.
Smith, who received a 1995 Grammy Award for ``Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album,'' has sold over six million albums and claims seven gold records.
``Somebody Love Me'' and ``Place In This World'' - which he describes as ``an extremely spiritual song'' - topped the Christian and pop charts.
It was unintentional.
``If some of my songs do good in the pop field, that's great,'' Smith said, during an interview from his Franklin, Tenn., home. ``I'll stay with Christian music - write what I feel.
``Faith is the most important thing,'' he said, adding, ``I still write love songs for my wife.''
Another lady in his life - strictly on a professional level - is Amy Grant. She gave the Kenova, W.Va., native his big break in 1982 when she hired him as his pianist. Smith also spent three years as her opening act. The two are still friends and often work together.
He has finished writing most of a new album and expects to start recording in a few weeks.
``It will be a more aggressive record,'' he said. ``My moods change - but I don't do it on purpose. I just let it flow.''
Smith's current album, ``I'll Lead You Home,'' relies heavily on acoustic instrumentation.
``Contemporary Christian music has gotten better, musically,'' he said. ``In my opinion, it used to be weak.''
That hasn't been true of the artist whose list of credits and awards take up four pages of small print.
Smith's kudos include seven Dove awards, Best Male Vocalist four years in a row according to Campus Life Magazine readers and, most improbably, one of the ``50 most beautiful people,'' according to People magazine in `92. ILLUSTRATION: Who: Michael W. Smith with Jars of Clay
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base Main Stage; gates open
at noon
Tickets: $17.50, with discounts for groups of 15 or more.
Available at all locations of Dudley's Religious Supply or order by
calling 671-8100.
Information: 363-4311 by CNB