Ginny Owens
Encyclopedia
Virginia Leigh Owens is a Contemporary Christian music
singer/songwriter. "Ginny" Owens was born in Jackson, Mississippi
, with poor eyesight and has been blind since the age of two. She earned her bachelor of music education in 1997 from Belmont University
, but found that most people were skeptical about hiring a blind music teacher. She entered the music business by writing songs for Michael Puryear's Final Four Publishing, which led to a number of labels competing for her, before she chose Rocketown Records
. She concentrated in singing and songwriting and began making CDs, and has been producing them since 1999 with Rocketown Records, a label under Michael W. Smith
. Owens won the Nashville "Lilith Fair
'99 Talent Search", which earned her a spot singing at that year's festival, and the following year performed at the Sundance Film Festival
.
Her music has been featured on television shows, such as Roswell
and Felicity. Owens has also received three Dove awards, including New Artist of the Year (2000) and Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year (2001) for "Blessed" with Rachael Lampa
and Cindy Morgan
.
In 2005, Owens started a non-profit organization called the Fingerprint Initiative. The organization has worked in conjunction with other groups, such as Compassion International
, International Justice Mission
, and Habitat for Humanity. Owens was featured on national television, including NBC's Today Show and CNN, for her contribution to help rebuild New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina
. Owens has just recently released her new album, " Get In, I'm Driving".
" Get In, I'm Driving"(2011)
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
singer/songwriter. "Ginny" Owens was born in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, with poor eyesight and has been blind since the age of two. She earned her bachelor of music education in 1997 from Belmont University
Belmont University
Belmont University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It is the largest Christian university in Tennessee and the second largest private university in the state, behind nearby Vanderbilt University.-Belmont Mansion:Belmont Mansion...
, but found that most people were skeptical about hiring a blind music teacher. She entered the music business by writing songs for Michael Puryear's Final Four Publishing, which led to a number of labels competing for her, before she chose Rocketown Records
Rocketown Records
Rocketown Records was an independent record label which was started in 1996 by Michael W. Smith. The dream was to create a new, independent Christian record label that wouldn't follow the rules of the modern music business. In the fall of 1995, Michael W. Smith met with Don Donahue, who was, at...
. She concentrated in singing and songwriting and began making CDs, and has been producing them since 1999 with Rocketown Records, a label under Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith
Michael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
. Owens won the Nashville "Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair was a concert tour and travelling music festival, founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk Music Group's Dan Fraser and Terry McBride, and New York talent agent Marty Diamond. It took place during the summers of 1997 to 1999, and was revived in the summer of 2010. It...
'99 Talent Search", which earned her a spot singing at that year's festival, and the following year performed at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
.
Her music has been featured on television shows, such as Roswell
Roswell (TV series)
Roswell is an American science fiction television series developed, produced, and co-written by Jason Katims. The series debuted on October 6, 1999 on The WB and moved to UPN for the third season. The last episode aired May 14, 2002...
and Felicity. Owens has also received three Dove awards, including New Artist of the Year (2000) and Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year (2001) for "Blessed" with Rachael Lampa
Rachael Lampa
Rachael Maureen Lampa is a Dove award winning American Christian singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She rose to fame in 2000 with her debut album Live For You, winning a Dove Award as well as achieving four number one singles including "Blessed", "Shaken", "God Loves You",...
and Cindy Morgan
Cindy Morgan (singer)
Cindy Morgan is a Christian singer and songwriter.Morgan released her debut album, Real Life, in 1992 earning six Dove Award nominations. Her follow-up, Reason To Live, garnered her another Dove Award nomination.In 2001, Morgan decided to take a break from her career and dedicate time to her family...
.
In 2005, Owens started a non-profit organization called the Fingerprint Initiative. The organization has worked in conjunction with other groups, such as Compassion International
Compassion International
Compassion International is a Christian child sponsorship organization dedicated to the long-term development of children living in poverty around the world. Compassion International, headquartered in Colorado Springs, functions in 26 countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Haiti, Kenya, and...
, International Justice Mission
International Justice Mission
International Justice Mission is a U.S.-based non-profit human rights organization that operates in countries all over the world to rescue victims of individual human rights abuse. IJM works to combat human trafficking including the commercial sexual exploitation of children, forced labor...
, and Habitat for Humanity. Owens was featured on national television, including NBC's Today Show and CNN, for her contribution to help rebuild New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. Owens has just recently released her new album, " Get In, I'm Driving".
Discography
- Without ConditionWithout ConditionWithout Condition is the debut album by Contemporary Christian music singer Ginny Owens.-Track listing:# Be Thou My Vision# I Wanna Be Moved# Without Condition# Free# If You Want Me To# Land of the Grey# I Am Nothing# Springs of Life...
· 1999 - Something More · 2002
- Blueprint (EP) · 2002
- Beautiful · 2004
- Live From New Orleans · 2005
- Long Way Home · 2005
- If You Want Me To: The Best of Ginny Owens · 2006
- Bring Us Peace · 2006
- Ephemera (EP) · 2008
- Say Amen · 2009
- Ephemera (EP) · 2010 ("Second Ephemera")
" Get In, I'm Driving"(2011)