Amy Grant
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.
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
(105 weeks)US |
First published: March 5, 1991
Sales: + 6,516,000 |
1994 | House of Love A&M |
- | - |
CH43 (2 weeks) CH |
- |
US13 × 2
(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
(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
|
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
|
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
|
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
||
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
|
|
Video albums
|
|
Awards for music sales
|
|
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
- ↑ Capitol Christian Music Group Surprises Amy Grant with Award For 1 Billion Global Streams ( Memento April 12, 2020 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ a b c d e Chart sources: Singles albums UK US
- ↑ 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 )
- ↑ Amy Grant Shares 'Simple Things' ( Memento from April 12, 2020 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Fall Preview - News albums from. Billboard, August 5, 2006, p. 20 , accessed April 12, 2020 .
- ↑ Amy Grant: Chart Beat Meet & Greet (Video) ( Memento from July 9, 2019 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ 1991 ARIA Singles Chart ( Memento from April 11, 2020 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ Dean Scapolo: The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966 - 2006 . Ed .: Maurienne House. 2007, ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8 (English).
- ↑ ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart - Week Ending 3rd May 1992 ( Memento from April 11, 2020 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ Grant in Motion. Billboard, May 23, 1992, p. 39 , accessed April 11, 2020 .
Web links
- 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
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Grant, Amy |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Grant, Amy Lee (full name) |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American singer and songwriter |
DATE OF BIRTH | November 25, 1960 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Augusta , Georgia , United States |