Matt Maher
Encyclopedia
Matthew "Matt" Guion Maher (born November 10, 1974) is a contemporary Christian music
(CCM) artist, songwriter
, and worship leader originally from Newfoundland
, Canada
, who later relocated to Tempe, Arizona
. He has written and produced five solo albums to date. Three of his albums and have reached the Top 25 Christian Albums Billboard chart
and four of his singles have reached the Top 25 Christian Songs
chart. He is a practicing Catholic.
, Canada
. His parents recognized his musical talent, and he grew up taking piano lessons and immersing himself in a broad variety of music and playing in concert and jazz ensembles, singing in a choir, and playing in a garage rock band.
Maher received a scholarship from the Jazz Department at Arizona State University
, where he studied Jazz Piano
and got his music degree. He paid for his first three years of college by playing piano in a hotel
.
Matt currently lives in Tempe, Arizona. He is involved in building community at Our Lady Of Mount Carmel parish. He married Kristin Fisher on September 10, 2010. Their son, Michael Conor, was born on August 1, 2011.
. He released his first big-label album (and his fourth album overall) Empty and Beautiful on April 8, 2008. His second album with Essential Records (and his fifth album overall), Alive Again
, was released on September 22, 2009. In fall of 2009, Maher toured with Michael W. Smith on the "New Hallelujah Tour". Alive Again peaked in sixth position on Billboard magazine's Top Christian Albums chart in 2009.
When Pope Benedict XVI
visited the United States in April 2008, Maher was asked to lead worship for crowds of thousands at the Rally for Youth and Seminarians in Yonkers, New York
, which also featured Kelly Pease, tobyMac
and Third Day
, among other musicians. He was subsequently interviewed on Fox News, where he played his title track from Empty and Beautiful on the secular airwaves.
Maher was a guest singer songwriter speaker at Crowder's Fantastical Church Music Conference at Baylor University
Fall 2010 put on by the David Crowder Band
. In early 2011 he toured the United States on the Rock And Worship Roadshow headlined by MercyMe
.
1 Currently active on the charts
Covenant Awards
GMA Dove Awards
Unity Awards
Other
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
(CCM) artist, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and worship leader originally from Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, who later relocated to Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
. He has written and produced five solo albums to date. Three of his albums and have reached the Top 25 Christian Albums Billboard chart
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
and four of his singles have reached the Top 25 Christian Songs
Hot Christian Songs
Christian Songs is a Billboard chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States....
chart. He is a practicing Catholic.
Biography
Maher was born and raised in NewfoundlandNewfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. His parents recognized his musical talent, and he grew up taking piano lessons and immersing himself in a broad variety of music and playing in concert and jazz ensembles, singing in a choir, and playing in a garage rock band.
Maher received a scholarship from the Jazz Department at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, where he studied Jazz Piano
Jazz piano
Jazz piano is a collective term for the techniques pianists use when playing jazz. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings. Its role is multifaceted due largely to the instrument's combined melodic and harmonic capabilities...
and got his music degree. He paid for his first three years of college by playing piano in a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
.
Matt currently lives in Tempe, Arizona. He is involved in building community at Our Lady Of Mount Carmel parish. He married Kristin Fisher on September 10, 2010. Their son, Michael Conor, was born on August 1, 2011.
Career
In the spring of 2007 Maher signed to Essential RecordsEssential Records (Christian)
Essential Records is a Contemporary Christian record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. It is a division of a major label, Sony Music Entertainment.-History:...
. He released his first big-label album (and his fourth album overall) Empty and Beautiful on April 8, 2008. His second album with Essential Records (and his fifth album overall), Alive Again
Alive Again (Matt Maher album)
Alive Again is the fifth studio album by contemporary Christian musician Matt Maher, released on September 22, 2009. It is his second album with Essential Records. It reached #6 on the Billboard Christian albums chart, and reached #128 on the Billboard 200...
, was released on September 22, 2009. In fall of 2009, Maher toured with Michael W. Smith on the "New Hallelujah Tour". Alive Again peaked in sixth position on Billboard magazine's Top Christian Albums chart in 2009.
When Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
visited the United States in April 2008, Maher was asked to lead worship for crowds of thousands at the Rally for Youth and Seminarians in Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
, which also featured Kelly Pease, tobyMac
TobyMac
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
and Third Day
Third Day
Third Day is a Grammy award-winning Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia during the 1990s. The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee and former member Billy Wilkins. The other band members are bassist Tai Anderson and drummer David Carr...
, among other musicians. He was subsequently interviewed on Fox News, where he played his title track from Empty and Beautiful on the secular airwaves.
Maher was a guest singer songwriter speaker at Crowder's Fantastical Church Music Conference at Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
Fall 2010 put on by the David Crowder Band
David Crowder Band
The David Crowder Band is a six-piece Christian Modern Worship band from Waco, Texas.-Band history:The band began when David Crowder, from Texarkana, Texas, realized that almost half of the students at Baylor University were not attending church...
. In early 2011 he toured the United States on the Rock And Worship Roadshow headlined by MercyMe
MercyMe
MercyMe is an American Christian rock band founded in Greenville, Texas. The band consists of vocalist Bart Millard, keyboardist James Bryson, percussionist Robby Shaffer, bassist Nathan Cochran and guitarists Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul....
.
Albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Christian |
US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
US Indie Independent Albums The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels... |
||
| 2001 | The End And The Beginning The End And The Beginning The End And The Beginning was the first studio album released by CCM artist Matt Maher on January 1, 2001 via Spirit and Song Records an independent label.-Album:...
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| 2003 | Welcome To Life Welcome To Life (Matt Maher album) Welcome To Life was the second studio ablum released by CCM artist Matt Maher on January 1, 2003 via Spirit and Song Records an independent label.-Album:...
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| 2006 | Overflow Overflow (Matt Maher album) Overflow was the third studio album released by CCM artist Matt Maher on March 22, 2006 via Spirit and Song Records an independent label.-Album:...
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| 2008 | Empty & Beautiful Empty & Beautiful Empty & Beautiful is the fourth studio album by Matt Maher, released on April 8, 2008. It was his first album with Essential Records. It reached #168 on the Billboard 200. The album also debuted at #6 on the Top Heatseekers charts.- Track listing :...
|
168 | 12 | 6 | — |
| 2009 | Alive Again Alive Again (Matt Maher album) Alive Again is the fifth studio album by contemporary Christian musician Matt Maher, released on September 22, 2009. It is his second album with Essential Records. It reached #6 on the Billboard Christian albums chart, and reached #128 on the Billboard 200...
|
128 | 6 | — | — |
| 2011 | The Love In Between The Love In Between The Love In Between is the sixth studio album by contemporary Christian musician Matt Maher, released on September 20, 2011. It is his third album with Essential Records.- Track listing :- External links :* *...
|
97 | 7 | — | — |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak Chart Positions | Album |
| Billboard Hot Christian Songs Hot Christian Songs Christian Songs is a Billboard chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.... |
|||
| 2009 2009 in music The following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year... |
"Empty & Beautiful" | 47 | Empty & Beautiful |
| "Alive Again" | 12 | Alive Again | |
| 2010 2010 in music 2010 in music may refer to:*2010 in American music*2010 in Australian music*2010 in British music*2010 in Canadian music*2010 in European music *2010 in Irish music*2010 in Japanese music*2010 in New Zealand music... |
"Hold Us Together" | 6 | |
| "Christ Is Risen" | 18 | ||
| 2011 | "Turn Around" | 51 | The Love In Between |
1 Currently active on the charts
Awards and recognition
GMA CanadaGMA Canada
GMA Canada is the Gospel Music Association of Canada . Created in 1974, the organization is a not for profit association whose mission is to promote the growth and ministry of Christian music arts in Canada...
Covenant Awards
Covenant Awards
The Covenant Awards are handed out annually by GMA Canada, the Gospel Music Association of Canada . Created in 1974, the association is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the growth and ministry of Christian music arts in Canada...
- 2008 Praise And Worship Album of the Year: Empty & Beautiful
- 2009 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year
- 2009 nominee, Song of the Year: "As It Is In Heaven"
- 2009 nominee, Praise And Worship Song of the Year: "As It Is In Heaven"
- 2010 Album of the Year: Alive Again
- 2010 Praise And Worship Album of the Year: Alive Again
- 2010 Song of the Year: "Hold Us Together"
- 2010 Praise And Worship Song of the Year: "Alive Again"
GMA Dove Awards
- 2010 nominee, Praise And Worship Song of the Year: Alive Again
- 2010 nominee, Song of the Year: "Alive Again"
- 2010 winner, Special Events Album of the Year: Glory Revealed II: The Word of God in Worship [Split win with Kari JobeKari JobeKari Brooke Jobe is an American Christian singer and songwriter.- Biography :Kari Jobe was born in Waco, Texas to parents Mark Douglas and Caroline "Sandy" Jobe and was raised in Watauga, Texas and Hurst, Texas; she has two other siblings, Kristen and Caleb. Jobe first began singing at the age of...
]
Unity Awards
- 2003 winner, Best New Artist of the Year
- 2004 winner, Praise & Worship Song of the Year: "I Love You, Lord"
- 2008 winner, Best Artist of the Year
Other
- 2008 Catholic Album of the Year: Empty & Beautiful