Difference between revisions of "Michael W. Smith"

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{{Infobox musical artist
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{{summary | text=Michael W. Smith is a well known Christian singer and song-writer. He was born in 1957 in [[West Virginia]]. Some of his well known songs include [[Healing Rain (song)|Healing Rain]] and [[Missing Person (song)|Missing Person]].}}
|Name = Michael W. Smith
 
|Img = Michael W. Smith.jpg
 
|Img_capt = Michael W. Smith
 
|Background = solo_singer
 
|Birth_name = Michael Whitaker Smith
 
|Alias = Smitty
 
|Born = [[October 7]], [[1957]][[Kenova, West Virginia|Kenova]], [[West Virginia]]
 
|Died =
 
|Origin = {{flagicon|USA}} [[USA]]
 
|Instrument = [[Piano]][[Guitar]]
 
|Genre = [[Contemporary Christian music|CCM]][[Worship music|Worship]][[Pop music|Pop]]
 
|Occupation = [[Musician]][[Songwriter]][[Composer]]
 
|Years_active = 1983 – present (Solo)
 
|Label = [[Reunion Records]]
 
|Associated_acts = [[Amy Grant]]
 
|URL = [http://www.michaelwsmith.com/ www.michaelwsmith.com]
 
|Current_members =
 
|Past_members =
 
}}
 
  
{{TOCright}}
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{{overview}}
  
'''Michael Whitaker Smith''' (born [[October 7]], [[1957]], to Paul and Barbara Smith in [[Kenova, West Virginia|Kenova]], [[West Virginia]]), often nicknamed "Smitty", is a [[Christian]] [[singer]], [[songwriter]], [[guitarist]], and [[keyboardist]].
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{{topics}}
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* Major songs - [[Healing Rain]] | [[Missing person]]
  
Since his first solo project in 1983, Smith has become one of the most popular artists in the [[Contemporary Christian music]] world, while also finding considerable success in the mainstream.  Smith himself is hesitant to put a label on his music and states that he "doesn't make a record for the Christian market or for the Pop market, [he] just makes a record." <ref>''Change Your World Live'' video</ref>  Smith has frequently topped both Christian radio and [[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] charts and is often listed as one of the top keyboardists in rock and roll in Keyboard Magazine. Smith has sold more than 13 million records and has had 29 #1 hit songs. By 2005, he had garnered 14 gold records and 5 platinum records, 40 Dove Awards, an American Music Award and 3 [[Grammy Award]]s. He was also named one of [[People magazine]]'s most beautiful people.
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{{opinions}}
  
By the time Smith graduated from high school, he had found himself with serious drug and alcohol abuse problems. He attended [[Marshall University]] for a brief period while developing his songwriting skills with various local bands around [[Huntington, West Virginia]]. Smith dropped out of college and moved to [[Nashville]] to pursue a professional music career.  In November of 1979, he suffered an emotional and mental breakdown that awakened a re-commitment to [[Christianity]]. He cleaned up his substance abuse problem and began playing keyboards for the CCM group, Higher Ground.<ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/1988/003/1.56.html| Christianity Today, 1988]</ref>
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{{quotes}}
  
In 1981, Smith was signed as a writer to Meadowgreen Music, where he racked up a number of highly successful gospel hits penned for artists like [[Sandi Patty]], [[Kathy Troccoli]], [[Bill Gaither]], and [[Amy Grant]]. The following year, Smith began touring as a keyboardist for Grant on her ''[[Age to Age]]'' tour. He would eventually become Grant's opening act and recorded his first [[Grammy]] nominated solo album: ''[[The Michael W. Smith Project]]'' (which he also produced), in 1983, on the [[Reunion Records]] label; a label started by Grant's brother-in-law, Dan Harrell, along with Michael Blanton.  This album contained the first recording of his hit ''Friends'' which he co-wrote with his wife Deborah.  Incidentally, the song that is most associated with him, probably took him the least amount of time to write, as they wrote it one afternoon for a friend who was moving away, never thinking it would become the hit it has.
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{{returnto}} [[Song writers]]
 
 
By the time Smith's second pop album was released in 1984, he was headlining his own tours. In 1986, Smith released the critically acclaimed rock album ''[[The Big Picture (Michael W. Smith album)|The Big Picture]]'', with well known [[record producer]] Johnny Potoker ([[Brian Eno]], [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]], [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], [[No Doubt]], [[Talking Heads]], etc).
 
 
 
After the release of his 1988 effort, ''[[i 2 (EYE)]]'', Smith once again teamed up with [[Amy Grant]] for her "[[Lead Me On]] World Tour". The following year, Smith recorded his first Christmas album.
 
 
 
==In the mainstream==
 
 
 
In 1990, Michael W. Smith released ''[[Go West Young Man]]'', which was his first real mainstream effort, including the mainstream [[crossover (music)|crossover]] hit "Place In This World". That album was followed by 1992s ''[[Change Your World (Michael W. Smith album)|Change Your World]]'' (which included the #1 adult contemporary hit "I Will Be Here For You"), 1995s ''[[I'll Lead You Home]]'', and 1998s ''[[Live The Life]]''. Also in 1998, Smith released his second Christmas effort, ''[[Christmastime]]''. In 1999, Smith released ''[[This Is Your Time]]'', written by Smith and [[Wes King]], the brother-in-law of Florida Secretary of State [[Katherine Harris]], which was inspired by the [[Columbine High School massacre|Columbine]] shootings. Smith had been asked to perform at some of the memorial services that were held in honor of the victims, which made a huge impression on him.
 
 
 
In 1996, Smith opened his own record label (although he does not record on it), [[Rocketown Records]], named for a song on ''The Big Picture''.  He states the label is driven by the artists, and the first artist signed was [[Chris Rice]], who had written "Go Light Your World", a #1 hit song by [[Kathy Troccoli]], in 1995.
 
 
 
Nearly all of Smith's albums contain at least one instrumental track, and in 2000, Smith recorded his first all instrumental album, ''[[Freedom (Michael W. Smith album)|Freedom]]'', after many years of wanting to create an instrumental album. The following year, Smith released an all praise and worship album, called ''[[Worship (2001 album)|Worship]]'', interestingly on [[September 11]]. This album was followed by a sequel, ''[[Worship Again]]'' in 2002. Both albums were recorded live in concert.  (Both are also the only two albums to be comprised almost entirely of songs he did not write himself). A ''Worship'' DVD, which comprised a selection of songs from both albums, was recorded live in [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]] at a youth conference and released in 2002. It immediately topped the Billboard video charts and became a Gold seller in both the U.S. and [[Canada]].
 
 
 
After two decades, Smith finally won the Male Vocalist of the Year award at the [[GMA Music Awards]] in 2003.
 
 
 
Smith wrote a song entitled "There She Stands", prompted by the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|9/11]] terrorist attacks.  He performed this song live for the 2004 [[Republican National Convention]]. In introducing the song before he performed it, he made remarks about meeting personally with President [[George W. Bush]] in the [[Oval Office]] in October of 2001, a short time after the attacks.  Smith mentioned that the President, a personal fan (as is the President's father), and family friend of the artist, had asked him to attempt to write a song about the attacks.  The song is about America's ability to rise from the ashes and remain strong even after such horrific events.
 
 
 
Smith became a good friend of [[U2 (band)|U2]] frontman [[Bono]]. The two have joined forces on a number of occasions for performances and in connection to Bono's DATA Organization. While U2 was recording its album ''[[How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb]]'', Bono even invited Smith to jam with them in the studio. The song that the group worked on with Smith did not end up making it onto the record, but might surface in the future on another project.
 
 
 
Smith's album, ''[[Healing Rain]]'', was released in 2004 and debuted at #11 on the Billboard Hot 200 Chart. The title track rose to #1 on the Radio & Records Charts and a music video for the song was released.  The album nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, combines the pop style of his previous recordings with the praise and worship feel of his two releases in that genre.  A new album, ''[[Stand (Michael W. Smith album)|Stand]]'', was released in November, 2006.
 
 
 
Smith and his wife have written the theme songs for [[Kanakuk Kamps]] for the past two decades.  The theme songs have birthed such notable hits as "Love Crusade", "Live the Life", and "Straight to the Heart".  The [[Christian]] youth at this camp give Smith access to a steady, young audience even as his original fans age.
 
 
 
== Other ventures ==
 
 
 
In 1994, Smith opened a teen club, named Rocketown, in Franklin, Tennessee. Later in early 2003, the club was moved to a new location--a renovated warehouse in downtown Nashville. The venue offers a large dance floor, extensive indoor skate park, and a cafe hosting live acoustic music. Rocketown is located on 401 6th Ave. S. Quoting a [http://www.christianactivities.com/youth/story.asp?ID=2469 Christian Activities] article, ''Rocketown's mission is to create culturally relevant environments that foster vital relationships between disenfranchised adolescents and Christian mentors in order to meet their physical, social, and spiritual needs.''
 
 
 
Smith is actively involved in volunteer service and is vice chair of the [[President's Council on Service and Civic Participation]], which is chaired by [[Jean Case]] of the [[Case Foundation]].
 
 
 
Smith finished work on a film directed by [[Steve Taylor]] entitled ''[[The Second Chance]]'' which was released on [[February 17]], [[2006]] in selected theatres. In the movie, he stars as a pastor assigned to work in the inner city. The film also stars [[Jeff Obafemi Carr]], and features a soundtrack now available from [[Reunion Records]].  The DVD of the movie was released on July 18, 2006.
 
 
 
==Discography==
 
===Albums===
 
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 class="wikitable"
 
!align="center" valign="top"|Album Cover
 
!align="center" valign="top"|Title
 
!align="center" valign="top"|Release Date
 
!align="center" valign="top"|The [[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] 200 <br/> Chart Position
 
!align="center" valign="top"|[[RIAA Certification]]
 
!align="center" valign="top"|[[CRIA]] Certification <br/> Canada
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Project.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[The Michael W. Smith Project]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1983
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Gold
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Mws2.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[Michael W. Smith 2]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1984
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"|
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Bigpicture.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[The Big Picture (Michael W. Smith album)|The Big Picture]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Feb. 1, 1986
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"|
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Liveset.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[The Live Set]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Mar. 1, 1987
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"|
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:I2eye.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[i 2 (EYE)]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1988
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Gold
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Christmas_%28album%29.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[Christmas (Michael W. Smith album)|Christmas]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| June 1989
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"|
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Gowestyoungman.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[Go West Young Man]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1990
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 74
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Platinum
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Changeyourworld.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[Change Your World (Michael W. Smith album)|Change Your World]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Jan. 1, 1992
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 86
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Platinum
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Firstdecade.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[The First Decade (1983-1993)]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Oct. 12, 1993
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"|
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Illleadyouhome.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[I'll Lead You Home]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Aug. 29, 1995
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 16
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Platinum
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Livethelife.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[Live The Life]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Apr. 28, 1998
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 23
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Gold
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Christmastime.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[Christmastime]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Oct. 13, 1998
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 90
 
|align="center" valign="top"|
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Thisisyourtime.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[This Is Your Time]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Nov. 23, 1999
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 21
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Gold
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Freedom_%28album%29.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[Freedom (Michael W. Smith album)|Freedom]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Nov. 21, 2000
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 70
 
|align="center" valign="top"|
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:MWSWorship.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[Worship (2001 album)|Worship]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Sep. 11, 2001
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 20
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Platinum
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Gold
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Cdmichaelwsmith_worshipagain.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[Worship Again]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Oct. 22, 2002
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 14
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Gold
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:G05929g9eqg.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[The Second Decade|The Second Decade (1993-2003)]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Oct. 7, 2003
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 38
 
|align="center" valign="top"|
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:MwsHealing_Rain.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[Healing Rain]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Oct. 26, 2004
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 11
 
|align="center" valign="top"| Gold
 
|-
 
|align="center"| [[Image:Stand.jpg|50px|]]
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''[[Stand (Michael W. Smith album)|Stand]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| ''Nov 7. 2006''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"|
 
|}
 
 
 
===Imports===
 
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 class="wikitable"
 
!align="center" valign="top"|Album
 
!align="center" valign="top"|Release <br/> Year
 
!align="center" valign="top"|The [[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] 200 <br/> Chart Position
 
!align="center" valign="top"|[[RIAA Certification]]
 
|-
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''Live the Life (w/bonus tracks - Japanese Import)''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1998
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
|align="left" valign="top"| ''Freedom''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 2000
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
|}
 
 
 
===Collaborative Albums===
 
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 class="wikitable"
 
!align="center" valign="top"|Album
 
!align="center" valign="top"|Release <br/> Year
 
!align="center" valign="top"|The [[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] 200 <br/> Chart Position
 
!align="center" valign="top"|[[RIAA Certification]]
 
|-
 
| ''Our Hymns''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1991
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
| ''My Utmost for His Highest''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1995
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
| ''My Utmost for His Highest: The Covenant''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1996
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
| ''Emmanuel''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1996
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
| ''Tribute: The Songs Of Andrae' Crouch''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1996
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
| ''[[The Jesus Record]]''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1997
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
| ''Exodus''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1999
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
| ''The McCaughey Septuplets: Sweet Dreams''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 2000
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
| ''Your Love Broke Through: The Worship Songs of Keith Green''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 2002
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
| ''Roaring Lambs''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 2005
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
| ''Ultimate Music Makeover: The Songs of Michael W. Smith''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 2005
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|}
 
 
 
===Singles/Specialty/EP's===
 
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 class="wikitable"
 
!align="center" valign="top"|Album
 
!align="center" valign="top"|Release <br/> Year
 
!align="center" valign="top"|The [[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] 200 <br/> Chart Position
 
!align="center" valign="top"|[[RIAA Certification]]
 
|-
 
| ''Live The Life (Remix EP)''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1997
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
| ''The Acoustic Set: A Live Recording''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 2000
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
| ''Devotions''
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 2001
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|}
 
 
 
===Singles===
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
!rowspan="2"|'''Year'''
 
!rowspan="2"| '''Title'''
 
!colspan="2"| '''Chart positions'''
 
|-
 
|[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] Adult Contemporary
 
|Billboard Hot 100
 
|-
 
| 1991
 
| "Place In This World"
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 5
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 6
 
|-
 
| 1991
 
| "For You"
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 20
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 60
 
|-
 
| 1992
 
| "I Will Be Here For You"
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 1
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 27
 
|-
 
| 1993
 
| "Somebody Love Me"
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 10
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 71
 
|-
 
| 1998
 
| "Love Me Good"
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 61
 
|-
 
| 1999
 
| "This Is Your Time"
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 25
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|-
 
| 2005
 
| "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
 
|align="center" valign="top"| 28
 
|align="center" valign="top"| -
 
|}
 
 
 
=== Video (DVD/VHS) ===
 
*''Live in Concert &ndash; A 20 Year Celebration'' (DVD) (2003)
 
*''Worship'' (DVD) (2002)[[CRIA]] Gold in Canada
 
*''Change Your World Live'' (VHS) (1993)
 
*''The Big Picture Tour'' (VHS) (1987)
 
*''Michael W. Smith In Concert'' (VHS) (1985)
 
 
 
=== Soundtrack (CD) ===
 
*''The Second Chance'' (CD) (2006)
 
 
 
=== Motion picture (DVD) ===
 
*''[[Joshua]]'' (DVD) (2002)
 
*''[http://www.thesecondchancemovie.com/_site/mediaplayer/index.php?id=28dcf5b6b1e4da21f4c6de1029dec85a] [[The Second Chance]]'' (DVD) (2006)
 
 
 
== Notes ==
 
<div class="references-small">
 
<references />
 
</div>
 
 
 
==External links==
 
*[http://www.michaelwsmith.com Michael W. Smith's official website]
 
*[http://www.michaelwsmith.de/ Michael W. Smith's archive] (contains one-minute samples of all tracks)
 
*[http://www.reunionrecords.com Reunion Records' website]
 
*[http://www.rocketownrecords.com Rocketown Records]
 
 
 
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809363 Michael W. Smith] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]
 
*[http://www.casefoundation.org/web/guest/spotlight/youthservice/council/michael_w_smith Interview about his charitable work]
 
*[http://www.christianguitar.org/csongs467/Michael-W.-Smith Michael W. Smith guitar tabs]
 
*[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0602/10/lkl.01.html Transcript of February 10, 2006 interview with [[Larry King]]]
 
 
 
[[Category:1957 births|Smith, Michael W.]]
 
[[Category:Living people|Smith, Michael W.]]
 
[[Category:American musicians|Smith, Michael W.]]
 
[[Category:American songwriters|Smith, Michael W.]]
 
[[Category:Christian musicians|Smith, Michael W.]]
 
[[Category:Dove Award winners|Smith, Michael W.]]
 
[[Category:People from Huntington, West Virginia|Smith, Michael W.]]
 
[[Category:People from Nashville|Smith, Michael W.]]
 
[[Category:American Christians|Smith, Michael W.]]
 
[[Category:Grammy Award winners|Smith, Michael W.]]
 
[[Category:People from Nashville, Tennessee]]
 
 
 
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[[zh:米高·維塔克·史密夫]]
 

Revision as of 06:48, 24 August 2007

Michael W. Smith is a well known Christian singer and song-writer. He was born in 1957 in West Virginia. Some of his well known songs include Healing Rain and Missing Person. (Read more)




See Michael W. Smith (overview) for more information



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Michael W. Smith (discussion) (For short comments and opinions)


For related quotations see Michael W. Smith (quotes)



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