Michael W. Smith, born Michael Whitaker Smith on October 7, 1957, in Kenova, West Virginia, is a renowned American musician recognized for his contributions to Christian rock. His father, Paul Smith, was a former minor league baseball player and worked at the Ashland Oil Refinery, while his mother, Barbara Smith, was a caterer. Michael developed a passion for music early in life, learning to play the piano and singing in his church choir.
At the age of ten, he experienced a profound religious awakening that deepened his Christian faith and led him to regular Bible study. After completing high school, he enrolled at Marshall University but left after one semester. During this period, Smith struggled with substance abuse, which temporarily distanced him from his spiritual path.
Following a period of personal challenges, Michael recommitted to his Christian faith. He began his professional music career as a keyboardist for the Christian music group Higher Ground. This role marked the beginning of a journey that would establish him as a key figure in contemporary Christian music.
Michael W. Smith has had a prolific career in Christian rock and pop music. He is a three-time Grammy Award winner and a multiple GMA Dove Award recipient, including being named Male Vocalist of the Year in 2003. Over the course of his career, Smith has released 31 No. 1 songs, along with numerous albums—14 of which have gone gold and five platinum, signifying his commercial and spiritual impact on the genre.
While he has collaborated with many notable artists across genres, the claim of producing a Christmas album with Bono of U2 is not accurate. However, Smith has worked on several acclaimed Christmas albums and projects that have featured a range of musical contributors.
| Birth Date: | 7 Oct, 1957 |
| Age: | 62 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Kenova |
| Education: | Marshall University |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American musician and songwriter |
| Net Worth 2021: | 14 million |
