Amy Grant

Amy Grant (2008)

Amy Lee Grant (born November 25, 1960 in Augusta , Georgia ) is an American singer and songwriter . In the beginning she was particularly successful in the field of Christian pop music and is known as one of the first artists of contemporary Christian music to make the leap into the secular and mainstream pop music market.

She has won six Grammys and 22 Dove Awards to date, and was inducted into the Gospel Music Association 's Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2003 . So far it can boast six gold albums (each over 500,000 copies sold) and seven platinum albums (each over 1 million copies sold), one of which is five times platinum, one is triple and one is double. In total, Grant has sold more than 30 million records to date.

Success story

At the age of 15, Amy Grant signed with a Christian record company and released her first self-titled album in late 1977, which was mainly composed by her. This quickly developed into a real box office hit in the Christian music market of the time. She released a few more albums while studying at Vanderbilt University in Nashville , before swapping her college career for one in the music industry. In 1982, the album Age to Age was released , which received a lot of critical acclaim and finally became the first record by a Christian artist to sell over a million times.

No sooner had Grant established herself as the "Queen of Christian Pop" than she began to change direction a little to reach a larger audience. An indirect goal was certainly to be the first Christian female singer and songwriter to be successful in both genres.

In mid-1985 she surprised her fans with the album Unguarded , on the one hand by the very popular music that was no different from other pop acts of the time, and on the other hand by the cover picture for this album, which Amy Grant in four different versions in one Shows leopard jacket. The first single Find a Way released from it became the first Christian song to make it into the Billboard Top 40 list. In the fall of 1986, Amy Grant scored her first Billboard number 1 hit with The Next Time I Fall , a duet with Peter Cetera , former singer of the band Chicago .

The record Lead Me On from early summer 1988, after considerable tension in her marriage to Gary Chapman and after she became a mother for the first time, is considered by many critics to be her strongest album, both for the lyrics and the music. This album contains a number of songs that are not obviously "Christian". The song Saved by Love was a small hit on the then newly emerging Adult Contemporary radio format.

When Heart in Motion was released in the spring of 1991 , many supporters were shocked and outraged again that this album largely dispensed with explicitly Christian lyrics and was clearly aimed at a mainstream pop audience. The piece Baby Baby , written for Grants eldest daughter Millie could keep for three weeks at the top of the American charts long. It became her biggest hit to date, and finally established her and her name in the world of music for the masses. Another four singles from this album reached the top 20 of the US charts. Heart in Motion is their best-selling album with over five million copies. Baby Baby was also able to stay in the top ten in the German charts for several weeks. The LP House of Love , released in the summer of 1994, continued the success story in the same way.

Amy Grant (1998)

In the late summer of 1997, Amy Grant released Behind the Eyes , a record with a much darker mood. Soon after, it became known that Grant's marriage was about to end. This was followed by the separation from Gary Chapman and later the divorce . Many fans and Christian radio formats distanced themselves from her, which came to a head when she soon married country singer Vince Gill .

Although Amy Grant continued to produce records in the years that followed and has released an album every year since 2002, her focus seems to have shifted from a high-gloss career to a more family-related life. Her last album Rock of Ages ... Hymns & Faith , the sequel to the 2002 gold album Legacy ... Hymns & Faith , is a collection of Grant's favorite hymns , musically represented through Americana, folk, country and Blues influences is featured. From September 2005, Amy Grant presented the reality show Three Wishes on the American broadcaster NBC, in which three people's heart's desire was fulfilled. Before the year was over, NBC discontinued the series.

In April 2006, recordings for a live CD / DVD took place in Fort Worth, TX. Amy had her first paid gig there at the time. The recordings were released on September 26, 2006 under the name Time Again .

In a press release on April 27, 2007, the news is published that Grant is leaving her previous label, Word Records, to which she was under contract for 30 years, and has signed a worldwide record deal with the EMI label Sparrow Records, which includes all of her previous albums, for which the singer owns the rights and includes future albums.

On October 16, 2007, an autobiographical book entitled Mosaic: Pieces of My Life so Far was published by Waterbrook Press. Another greatest hits album came out in October , which was the first project of the new EMI CMG cooperation.

In 2008 their record company EMI CMG released an anniversary edition of their critically acclaimed album Lead Me On with live recordings of the tour at the time and newly recorded versions of some songs.

Grant is currently working on a new album. It is possible that some of the new songs will be released on EPs in advance and offered for download. Two new songs (Unafraid and She Colors My Day) were released on the EP She Colors My Day . All proceeds from the sale of the song She Colors My Day go 100 percent to the Women's Cancer Research Fund of the Entertainment Industry Foundation .

Amy Grant is a long-time member of the Gospel Music Association (GMA), which awards the annual Dove Awards and operates the Gospel Music Hall of Fame .

Discography

Studio albums

year	Title music label	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)					Remarks
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US
1977	Amy Grant Myrrh	-	-	-	-	-	First published: February 3, 1977
1979	My Father's Eyes Myrrh	-	-	-	-	US- gold US	First published: April 20, 1979 Sales: + 563,000
1980	Never Alone Myrrh	-	-	-	-	-	First published: March 10, 1980
1982	Age to Age Myrrh	-	-	-	-	US- platinum US	First published: April 12, 1982 Sales: + 1,293,000
1984	Straight ahead myrrh	-	-	-	-	US133 gold (18 weeks)US	First published: May 20, 1984 Sales: + 1,183,000
1985	Unguarded A&M	-	-	-	-	US35 platinum (38 weeks)US	First published: May 13, 1985 Sales: + 1,317,000
1988	Lead Me On A&M	-	-	-	-	US71 gold (13 weeks)US	First published: June 20, 1988 Sales: + 1,721,000
1991	Heart in Motion A&M	DE22 (14 weeks) DE	AT17 (8 weeks) AT	-	UK25th gold (15 weeks)UK	US10 × 5 Quintuple platinum (105 weeks)US	First published: March 5, 1991 Sales: + 6,516,000
1994	House of Love A&M	-	-	CH43 (2 weeks) CH	-	US13 × 2 Double platinum (52 weeks)US	First published: Aug 23, 1994 Sales: +2,705,000
1997	Behind the eyes A&M	-	-	-	-	US8th gold (24 weeks)US	First published: September 9, 1997 Sales: + 518,000
2002	Legacy ... Hymns and Faith A&M	-	-	-	-	US21st gold (21 weeks)US	First published: May 2, 2002 Sales: + 500,000
2003	Simple Things A&M	-	-	-	-	US23 (6 weeks) US	First published: August 19, 2003 Sales: +28,000
2005	Rock of Ages… Hymns and Faith Word	-	-	-	-	US42 (9 weeks) US	First published: May 3, 2005 Sales: + 110,000
2010	Somewhere Down the Road Sparrow	-	-	-	-	US41 (10 weeks) US	First published: March 30, 2010
2013	How Mercy Looks from Here Sparrow	-	-	-	-	US12 (11 weeks) US	First published: May 14, 2013 Sales: +26,000

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

Christmas albums

year	Title music label	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)					Remarks
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US
1983	A Christmas Album Myrrh	-	-	-	-	US- platinum US	First published: September 27, 1983 Sales: + 1,325,000
1992	Home for Christmas A&M	-	-	-	-	US2 × 3 Triple platinum (14 weeks)US	First published: Oct 6, 1992 Sales: + 3,674,000
1999	A Christmas to Remember A&M	-	-	-	-	US36 gold (12 weeks)US	First published: October 19, 1999 Sales: + 500,000
2016	Tennessee Christmas Sparrow	-	-	-	-	US31 (9 weeks) US	First published: October 21, 2016

More Christmas albums

year	Title music label	Remarks
1986	The Animals' Christmas Sony	First published: August 20, 1986 with Art Garfunkel
2001	The Spirit of Christmas A&M	First published: September 30, 2001 with the London Symphony Orchestra

Live albums

year	Title music label	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)					Remarks
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US
2006	Time Again ... Amy Grant Live Word	-	-	-	-	US87 (1 week) US	First published: September 26, 2006

More Christmas albums

year	Title music label	Remarks
1981	In concert myrrh	First publication: 1981
	The Spirit of Christmas Myrrh	First publication: 1981
1989	A moment in time myrrh	First published: 1989 with Gary Chapman and Michael W. Smith

Compilations

year	title	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes)					Remarks
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US
1986	The Collection	-	-	-	-	US66 platinum (33 weeks)US	First published: July 22, 1986 Sales: 1,634,000
2003	20th Century Masters: The Best of Amy Grant - The Christmas Collection	-	-	-	-	US166 (1 week) US	First published: September 23, 2003
2004	Greatest Hits 1986-2004	-	-	-	-	US48 (4 weeks) US	First published: October 12, 2004
2007	Greatest hits	-	-	-	-	US196 (2 weeks) US	First published: October 2, 2007
2008	The Christmas Collection	-	-	-	-	US41 (27 weeks) US	First published: September 30, 2008
2011	Christmas memories	-	-	-	-	US174 (1 week) US	First published: November 2011
2012	Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas	-	-	-	-	US199 (1 week) US	First published: November 2012
2014	In Motion: The Remixes	-	-	-	-	US110 (1 week) US	First published: August 19, 2014

More compilations

1986: Choral Collection 1991: Smash Hits 2002: Her Greatest Inspirational Songs 2005: My Best Christmas

2006: Hymns for the Journey 2010: Discover Amy Grant: 6 Essential Songs 2014: Christmas (release: September 1st) 2015: Be Still and Know… Hymns & Faith (release: April 14th)

Singles

year	Title album	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)					Remarks
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US
1985	Find a Way Unguarded	-	-	-	-	US29 (16 weeks) US	First published: May 1985 Authors: Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith
	Wise Up Unguarded	-	-	-	-	US66 (9 weeks) US	First published: July 1985 Authors: Billy Simon, Wayne Kirkpatrick
1986	The Next Time I Fall Solitude / Solitaire	-	-	-	UK78 (3 weeks) UK	US1 (21 weeks) US	First publication: September 1986 with Peter Cetera Authors: Bobby Caldwell, Paul Gordon
1988	Lead Me On Lead Me On	-	-	-	UK89 (2 weeks) UK	US96 (2 weeks) US	First published: May 1988 Authors: Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick
1991	Baby Baby Heart in Motion	DE8 (20 weeks) DE	AT7 (15 weeks) AT	CH11 (11 weeks) CH	UK2 silver (13 weeks)UK	US1 (21 weeks) US	First published: January 18, 1991 Authors: Amy Grant, Keith Thomas
	Every Heartbeat Heart in Motion	DE37 (24 weeks) DE	-	-	UK25 (7 weeks) UK	US2 (19 weeks) US	First published: June 1991 Authors: Amy Grant, Charlie Peacock, Wayne Kirkpatrick
	That's What Love Is For Heart in Motion	DE78 (9 weeks) DE	-	-	UK60 (3 weeks) UK	US7 (19 weeks) US	First published: September 1991 Authors: Amy Grant, Michael Omartian, Mark Muller
1992	Good for Me Heart in Motion	DE52 (12 weeks) DE	-	-	UK60 (1 week) UK	US8 (20 weeks) US	First published: December 1991 Authors: Jay Gruska , Tom Snow , Wayne Kirkpatrick
	I Will Remember You Heart in Motion	-	-	-	-	US20 (20 weeks) US	First published: March 1992 Authors: Gary Chapman , Keith Thomas
1994	Lucky One House of Love	DE56 (8 weeks) DE	-	-	UK60 (2 weeks) UK	US18 (20 weeks) US	First published: July 1994 Authors: Amy Grant, Keith Thomas
	Say You'll Be Mine House of Love	-	-	-	UK41 (2 weeks) UK	-	First published: October 1994 Authors: Wayne Kirkpatrick, Keith Thomas
	House of Love House of Love	-	-	-	UK46 (2 weeks) UK	US37 (21 weeks) US	First release: November 1994 feat. Vince Gill Authors: Greg Barnhill, Kenny Greenberg, Wally Wilson
1995	Big Yellow Taxi House of Love	-	-	-	UK20 (10 weeks) UK	US37 (15 weeks) US	First published: May 1995 Author and original: Joni Mitchell , 1970

More singles

1978: On and On 1981: I'm Gonna Fly 1983: Ageless Medley (EP) 1984: It's Not a Song 1985: Angels 1985: I Could Never Say Goodbye (with Randy Stonehill ) 1985: Tennessee Christmas (release: October) 1985: Everywhere I Go (release: November) 1986: Stay for Awhile (release: September) 1986: Carol of the Birds (with Art Garfunkel ; release: November) 1988: 1974 (We Were Young) (release: October) 1989: Saved by Love (release: January) 1992: Let the Season Take Wing 1992: Grown Up Christmas List 1996: The Things We Do for Love

1997: Takes a Little Time 1998: Like I Love You 1999: Child of God 2000: When I Look into Your Heart (with Vince Gill ; released May 15) 2003: Simple Things 2005: Believe 2009: She Colors My Day 2012: Third World Woman 2014: Say Once More (Remixes) (feat. Hex Hector) 2014: You're Not Alone (Remixes) (feat. Guy Scheiman) 2014: Better Than a Hallelujah (Remixes) (feat.Mark Picchiotti) 2014: Welcome Yourself 2015: Songs from the Loft 25 Years Later (EP)

Video albums

1984: In Concert: Age to Age Tour 1985: Find a Way 1986: Amy Grant's Old Fashioned Christmas (US:gold) 1991: Heart in Motion - Video Collection (US:gold) 1993: Creation

1994: Building the House of Love 2004: Greatest Videos 1986-2004 2004: Soundstage Presents - Live in Concert ... ( Peter Cetera with Special Guest Amy Grant) 2006: Time Again ... Amy Grant Live

Awards for music sales

Golden record  Australia 1991: for the single Baby Baby  Canada 1985: for the album Age to Age 1985: for the album Unguarded 1988: for the album A Christmas Album 1988: for the album Straight Ahead 1991: for the album Lead Me On 1992: for the album Home for Christmas  New Zealand 1991: for the single Baby Baby

Platinum record  Australia 1992: for the album Heart in Motion  Canada 1991: for the album Heart in Motion 1995: for the album House of Love 2 × platinum record  Taiwan 1992: for the album Heart in Motion

Note: Awards in countries from the chart tables or chart boxes can be found in these.

Country / Region	silver	gold	platinum	Sales	swell
Awards for music sales (country / region, awards, sales, sources)
Australia (ARIA)	-	gold1	platinum1	105,000	Individual evidence
Canada (MC)	-	6 × gold6th	2 × platinum2	500,000	musiccanada.com
New Zealand (RMNZ)	-	gold1	-	7,500	Individual evidence
Taiwan (RIT)	-	-	2 × platinum2	400,000	Individual evidence
United States (RIAA)	-	8 × gold8th	14 × platinum14th	22,643,000	riaa.com
United Kingdom (BPI)	silver1	gold1	-	300,000	bpi.co.uk
All in all	silver1	17 × gold17th	19 × platinum19th

swell

1. ↑ Capitol Christian Music Group Surprises Amy Grant with Award For 1 Billion Global Streams ( Memento April 12, 2020 in the Internet Archive )
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Chart sources: Singles albums UK US
3. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k} Top 100 Best Selling Albums ( Memento from June 24, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
4. ↑ Amy Grant Shares 'Simple Things' ( Memento from April 12, 2020 in the Internet Archive )
5. ↑ Fall Preview - News albums from. Billboard, August 5, 2006, p. 20 , accessed April 12, 2020 . 
6. ↑ Amy Grant: Chart Beat Meet & Greet (Video) ( Memento from July 9, 2019 in the Internet Archive )
7. ↑ 1991 ARIA Singles Chart ( Memento from April 11, 2020 in the Internet Archive )
8. ^ Dean Scapolo: The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966 - 2006 . Ed .: Maurienne House. 2007, ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8 (English).
9. ↑ ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart - Week Ending 3rd May 1992 ( Memento from April 11, 2020 in the Internet Archive )
10. ^ Grant in Motion. Billboard, May 23, 1992, p. 39 , accessed April 11, 2020 . 

Web links

Commons : Amy Grant  - collection of images

• Amy Grant's official website (English)
• Works by and about Amy Grant in the catalog of the German National Library
• Amy Grant at Allmusic (English)
• Amy Grant at Discogs (English)
• Amy Grant's Behind-The-Eyes website