Michael W. Smith began his ministry in Contemporary Christian Music in 1982 as a keyboardist in a band backing up a young Amy Grant. He began writing songs, including Thy Word, which became a Christian radio hit for Grant. Michael also wrote songs for himself, and in 1983, he released his first album, The Michael W. Smith Project, with Reunion Records. Since then, Michael – known as “Smitty” to his fans – has released seventeen more studio albums, won 32 Dove Awards and three Grammys and written ten books. In 1994, Michael founded a teen club in Brentwood, Tennessee called Rocketown. Two years later, he co-founded Rocketown and launched the label’s first artist, Chris Rice.
Over the course of his career, Michael W. Smith has sung for presidents and other national leaders. He has also been active in the Billy Graham Crusades as well as Franklin Graham’s ministry The Samaritan’s Purse. Michael’s nineteenth studio album, Stand, will be released through Reunion Records on November 7th.
Here is a list of the top ten songs by Michael W. Smith:
1. Secret Ambition (1988) My favorite MWS song of all-time. This song offers an interesting portrayal of Jesus Christ as a young radical challenging the Pharisee establishment.
Nobody knew His secret ambition.
Nobody knew His claim to fame.
He broke the old rules steeped in tradition.
He tore the Holy Veil away.
Questioning those in powerful positions,
Running to those who call His name.
Nobody knew His secret ambition
was to give His life away.
2. Rocketown (1986)This mid-eighties hit tells a story of a man who comes to the decadent city of Rocketown to share the Word of God with some of the locals.
There came a certain man;
a stranger to the crowd.
We didn’t understand
what he was all about.
He walked a different pace so out of place in Rocketown.
3. Live the Life (1998) This song makes a great statement about the church in its outreach to the world around us. As we try to communicate God’s Word and show His love to others is to demonstrate it in the way we live our lives each day.
4. This is Your Time (1999) MWS wrote this song to honor Cassie Bernall, one of the students killed in the massacre at Columbine High School. This song encourages the listener to “live every second, leave nothing to chance.”
5. Above All (2001) Smitty first performed this worship song by Lenny LeBlanc and Paul Baloche in Washington D.C. as part of President Bush’s first inaugural festivities. It has become one of the most beloved worship songs in recent years.
Crucified. Laid behind a stone.
You lived to die rejected and alone.
Live a rose trampled on the ground,
You took the fall and though of me
Above all.
6. Place in this World (1990) MWS had a crossover hit at mainstream radio with this song. Looks through the eyes of teen admitting to God their uncertainty of facing the world that awaits them, and relying on His light to guide them.
7. I Will Be Here for You (1992) Another crossover hit. The lyrical perspective is that of God speaking to the individual listener saying “When all others have failed you, abandoned you, betrayed you: I am here for you.”
8. Friends (1983) This favorite from Michael’s first album is still sung at high school graduation ceremonies today. Smitty has re-recorded this song a couple of times on his “Best of” albums, but the original is still the best version. Friends remains a favorite highlight of Michael’s live show.
9. Healing Rain (2004) I remember hearing this song on the radio for the first time and thinking “Wow!” This song has the feel of a modern hymn. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it published in church hymnals in just a few years.
10. Hibernia (2000) This track comes from Smitty’s all-instrumental album Freedom. It’s not your typical MWS album. Hibernia is an excellent, upbeat Celtic piece. One of my favorite instrumentals of all-time.
