Twila Paris
Encyclopedia
Twila Paris Wright is a Contemporary Christian Music
songwriter, author, vocalist and pianist.
As a child she released her first album, Little Twila Paris, in 1965. The album included songs drawn from among those she sang with her family in their evangelistic outreaches.
Paris released her first full-length album, Knowin' You're Around, in 1980, and along the way she has written books, recorded children's music, and created worship songs. Her song "God Is In Control" won a GMA Song of the Year award in 1995 and her 1992 Sanctuary release won the GMA Praise & Worship Album of the Year. She has won five GMA Dove Awards and three American Songwriter Awards.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Paris released mainly contemporary Christian pop songs. But in recent years, she has focused on recording new versions of some of her worship standards and writing new praise and worship music. Her 2005 album He Is Exalted: Live Worship collects a number of favorite songs commonly used in praise and worship of Paris's and presents them in a more typical style of live worship music
. After her song "He Is Exalted" was used in churches in Brazil, Paris re-recorded it in the Portuguese translation they were using. This version appears on her 1992 album Sanctuary.
Although associated for much of her career with Star Song Communications
, EMI switched her to Sparrow Records
in 1996, before her contract ended after 2003. In 2005, she switched to the praise and worship label Integrity Music for He Is Exalted: Live Worship.
Twila released Small Sacrifice on December 26, 2007. which was available only through her website and at Lifeway Christian Stores. This album married the two parts of her career by including both inspirational pop/adult contemporary songs and original praise and worship compositions. Her first radio single from Small Sacrifice was "Live to Praise." Small Sacrifice was released for wider distribution by Koch Records on February 24, 2009.
style. Her compositions are included in hymnals used by several Christian denominations and various Charismatic churches. Paris was influenced in her early career by the music of Keith Green
, Kelly Willard
, and Jamie Owens-Collins. Her #1 single, "Do I Trust You" was written in response to Keith Green's untimely death in 1982. Willard and Owens-Collins sang background vocals for her on her Keeping My Eyes On You album and sang as a trio on the hymn "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms" on The Warrior Is A Child.
in Springdale, Arkansas
. Twila has been married to Jack Wright for more than 25 years, and has a son, Jack Paris Wright who was born in 2001. She has three siblings: Starla Novak, Oren Paris III, and Angie Paris Snyder.
Source: www.twilaparis.com
Source: www.doveawards.com
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
songwriter, author, vocalist and pianist.
Musical career
Since 1980, Twila Paris has released 22 albums, amassed 33 number one Christian Radio singles, and was named the Gospel Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year three years in a row. Many of her earlier songs such as "He Is Exalted", "We Will Glorify," "Lamb of God," and "We Bow Down," are found in church hymnals or otherwise sung in church settings.As a child she released her first album, Little Twila Paris, in 1965. The album included songs drawn from among those she sang with her family in their evangelistic outreaches.
Paris released her first full-length album, Knowin' You're Around, in 1980, and along the way she has written books, recorded children's music, and created worship songs. Her song "God Is In Control" won a GMA Song of the Year award in 1995 and her 1992 Sanctuary release won the GMA Praise & Worship Album of the Year. She has won five GMA Dove Awards and three American Songwriter Awards.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Paris released mainly contemporary Christian pop songs. But in recent years, she has focused on recording new versions of some of her worship standards and writing new praise and worship music. Her 2005 album He Is Exalted: Live Worship collects a number of favorite songs commonly used in praise and worship of Paris's and presents them in a more typical style of live worship music
Worship Music
Worship Music is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It is their first album of original material since 2003's We've Come for You All and the first to feature original singer Joey Belladonna since 1990's Persistence of Time...
. After her song "He Is Exalted" was used in churches in Brazil, Paris re-recorded it in the Portuguese translation they were using. This version appears on her 1992 album Sanctuary.
Although associated for much of her career with Star Song Communications
Star Song Communications
Star Song Communications is a Christian record label that was started in 1976 by Darrell Harris. It gained notoriety when it issued Resurrection Band's ground-breaking debut album, Awaiting Your Reply in 1978. Originally a distribution deal was made with Benson Records. From 1983 until 1986...
, EMI switched her to Sparrow Records
Sparrow Records
-Background:Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then A&R director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by EMI in 1992, it is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group, and has been named by Billboard Magazine as "America's Best Christian Music Record Label"...
in 1996, before her contract ended after 2003. In 2005, she switched to the praise and worship label Integrity Music for He Is Exalted: Live Worship.
Twila released Small Sacrifice on December 26, 2007. which was available only through her website and at Lifeway Christian Stores. This album married the two parts of her career by including both inspirational pop/adult contemporary songs and original praise and worship compositions. Her first radio single from Small Sacrifice was "Live to Praise." Small Sacrifice was released for wider distribution by Koch Records on February 24, 2009.
Musical influence
Paris has created a body of work in a modern hymnHymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
style. Her compositions are included in hymnals used by several Christian denominations and various Charismatic churches. Paris was influenced in her early career by the music of Keith Green
Keith Green
Keith Gordon Green was an American gospel singer, songwriter, musician, and Contemporary Christian Music artist originally from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. Beyond his music, Green is best known for his strong devotion to Christian evangelism and challenging others to the same...
, Kelly Willard
Kelly Willard
Kelly Willard is a Contemporary Christian Musician best known for her praise and worship recordings. She was featured as a soloist on projects from Integrity, Vineyard Music, and Maranatha! Music...
, and Jamie Owens-Collins. Her #1 single, "Do I Trust You" was written in response to Keith Green's untimely death in 1982. Willard and Owens-Collins sang background vocals for her on her Keeping My Eyes On You album and sang as a trio on the hymn "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms" on The Warrior Is A Child.
Personal life
Twila Paris is the daughter of Oren II and Rachel Inez Paris. Oren Paris II is the founder and Chancellor of Ecclesia CollegeEcclesia College
Ecclesia College is a four-year Christian work college in Springdale, Arkansas, accredited through the Association for Biblical Higher Education and certified by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. It was founded in 1975 by Oren Paris II, who is presently the College Chancellor, and the...
in Springdale, Arkansas
Springdale, Arkansas
As of the census of 2010, there were 69,797 people, 22,805 households, and 16,640 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 64.7% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 1.8% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 5.7% Pacific Islander, 22% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more...
. Twila has been married to Jack Wright for more than 25 years, and has a son, Jack Paris Wright who was born in 2001. She has three siblings: Starla Novak, Oren Paris III, and Angie Paris Snyder.
Discography
- Little Twila Paris (1965)
- Knowin' You're Around (1980)
- Keepin' My Eyes On You (1982)
- The Warrior Is A Child (1984)
- Kingdom Seekers (1985)
- Same Girl (1987)
- For Every Heart (1988)
- It's The Thought (1989)
- Cry For The Desert (1990)
- Sanctuary (1991)
- A Heart That Knows You (1992)
- Beyond A Dream (1993)
- The Time Is Now (1995)
- The Early Years (1996)
- Where I Stand (1996)
- Perennial: Songs For The Seasons Of Life (1998)
- True North (1999)
- Signature Songs (2000)
- Bedtime Prayers (2001)
- Greatest Hits: Time & Again (2001)
- House of Worship (2003)
- 8 Great Hits (2004)
- Simply (2005)
- He Is Exalted: Live Worship (2005)
- Ultimate Collection (2006)
- Looking Up (2006)
- Small Sacrifice (2007)
Source: www.twilaparis.com
Top Ten Singles in the 1980s and 1990s (Adult Contemporary Christian Charts)
- No. 1 "The Warrior is a Child" (11/2/84)
- No. 2 "Do I Trust You" (12/26/84)
- No. 1 "Runner" (4/1/86)
- No. 2 "Lamb of God" (6/25/86)
- No. 10 "He is Exalted" (10/20/86)
- No. 1 "Prince of Peace" (9/7/87)
- No. 7 "Holy is the Lord" (11/16/87)
- No. 2 "Bonded Together" (3/21/88)
- No. 4 "Send Me" (6/13/88)
- No. 1 "Every Heart That is Breaking" (10/31/88)
- No. 1 "True Friend" (2/6/89)
- No. 3 "Never Ending Love" (5/15/89)
- No. 1 "Sweet Victory" (9/4/89)
- No. 1 "I See You Standing" (9/17/90)
- No. 6 "How Beautiful" (1/7/91)
- No. 7 "Cry For the Desert" (3/18/91)
- No. 1 "Nothing But Love" (7/22/91)
- No. 7 "Undivided Heart" (10/14/91)
- No. 1 "The Joy of the Lord" (2/10/92)
- No. 1 "I'm Still Here" (w/Bruce Carroll)" (5/25/92)
- No. 1 "Destiny" (1/18/93)
- No. 5 "A Heart That Knows You" (4/12/93)
- No. 1 "God is in Control" (2/21/94)
- No. 1 "Neither Will I" (6/13/94)
- No. 2 "Watch and Pray" (9/19/94)
- No. 4 "Seventy Years Ago" (1/23/95)
- No. 1 "The Time is Now" (4/24/95)
- No. 4 "Faithful Friend" (with Steven Curtis ChapmanSteven Curtis ChapmanSteven Curtis Chapman is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist.After starting his career in the late 1980s as a singer/songwriter of contemporary Christian music, Chapman has since been recognized as one of the most prolific singers in the genre,...
) (5/13/96) - No. 1 "(I Am) Not Afraid Anymore" (8/26/96)
- No. 1 "Run to You" (10/25/99)
Gospel Music Association Awards
- Praise and Worship Album of the Year, Sanctuary, 1992
- Female Vocalist of the Year, 199324th GMA Dove AwardsThe 24th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 1, 1993 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1992. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Barbara Mandrell.-Award recipients:*Artist of the Year**Michael English...
- Female Vocalist of the Year, 199425th GMA Dove AwardsThe 25th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 28, 1994 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1993. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Amy Grant.-Award recipients:*Artist of the Year...
- Female Vocalist of the Year, 1995
- Song of the Year, "God is in Control", 1995
- Special Event Album of the Year, My Utmost For His Highest, 1996
- Special Event Album of the Year, Tribute - The Songs of Andrea Crouch, 1997
- Special Event Album of the Year, God With Us - A Celebration of Christmas Carols, 1998
- Long Form Music Video of the Year, My Utmost for His Highest, 1999
- Children's Music Album of the Year, Bedtime Prayers, Lullabies and Peaceful Worship, 2002
Source: www.doveawards.com
Books
- Making A Christmas Memory (1990) (With Jeanie Price)
- In This Sanctuary: An Invitation To Worship The Savior (1992) (co-authored with Dr. Robert Webber)
- Celebrate The Gift of Jesus Every Day (1993, 1994)
- Perennial: Mediations For The Seasons Of Life (1998)
- Bedtime Prayers and Lullabies (2001)
External links
- TwilaParis.com- Official Web Page
- http://www.ecollege.edu/twilaparis- Stats and Bio about Twila