Blessing Offor

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Blessing Offor
Origin Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.[ citation needed ]
Genres Gospel, Contemporary Christian Music
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
Years active2007–present
Labels Capitol CMG
Website blessingoffor.com

Blessing Offor is a Nigerian-born American gospel and contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter.

Contents

Early life and career

Offor was born blind in one eye and with limited vision in the other due to congenital glaucoma. He and his uncle migrated to Connecticut, United States when Offor was six years old to treat the glaucoma and preserve his remaining eyesight. [1] When he was 10, he went completely blind due to an accident. He started composing music on piano and learned to play songs from Stevie Wonder and Sam Cooke, his musical influences. He carried on with his career as a gospel musician and moved to Nashville to pursue music more. [2]

Offor played at bars in his young adult years before competing on The Voice during its seventh season in 2014, where he joined team Pharrell Williams and later Adam Levine, before getting eliminated in the show's third round. [3] [4]

Offor regularly performs at the Kennedy Center to help spread awareness about artists with disabilities. In 2022 he released the single "Brighter Days", accompanied by an album of the same name. [5] The song reached 17 on the Billboard Top 20 at the time. [6] It also reached No. 25 on the mainstream Adult Contemporary chart. [7] It additionally reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top TV songs chart. [8]

In 2023, Offor released a duet with fellow Christian singer, TobyMac called "The Goodness", and a solo single "My Tribe", which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Christian AirPlay for seven weeks. [9] [10] [11] "My Tribe" pays tribute to his sister, Mercy, who died December 29, 2022, and to his home country, Nigeria. [12]

Later that year, his song "Believe" reached number 23, on Christian Top 40 [13] [14] and in November 2023 was nominated for the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. Offor also received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album with his album, My Tribe. It reached No. 6 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and No. 20 on the Top Current Digital Album Sales and Official Charts UK Top Christian/Gospel charts. [15] [16] Later that year, his song "Wonderful Christmastime", a Paul McCartney cover, reached #1 on the Billboard AC Monitered and Airplay charts.

Awards and nominations

In 2010, he won the International Young Soloists Award from VSA. [17]

GMA Dove Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2022 Blessing OfforNew Artist of the YearNominated
2023 "Brighter Days"Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the YearWon
My TribePop/Contemporary Album of the YearNominated
"The Goodness"
(with TobyMac)
Short Form Video of the Year (Performance)Won

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions Certifications
US
Christ
US
Current
UK
Christ
Guilty Pleasure
Roots
Brighter Days
  • Released: February 25, 2022
  • Label: Capitol CMG
  • Formats: Digital Download
My Tribe
  • Released: January 15, 2023
  • Label: Capitol CMG
  • Formats: CD, LP, Digital Download
62020

Extended plays

TitleDetails
How Much You Mean to Me
Snow Globe
  • Released: November 15, 2024
  • Label: Capitol CMG
  • Formats: Digital Download
Covers
  • Released: December 6, 2024
  • Label: Capitol CMG
  • Formats: Digital Download

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positions Certifications Album
US
Air
US
TV
US
AC
US
Pop
US
Christ
US
Christ
Air
"Say Yes"2008Guilty Pleasure
"Loving Each Other"2013Roots
"Songs for Guiding Eyes"Non-album single
"Hey World"
(with Lee Brice)
2020 Hey World
"Tin Roof"2021 Brighter Days
"Brighter Days"5251722 Brighter Days
My Tribe
"Your Love"20223018 My Tribe
"Feel Good"
"Won't Be Long Now"
"My Tribe"2
"Rollin'"22
"The Goodness"
(with TobyMac)
11 Life After Death
"Look Up to the Sky"
(with Lathan Warlick)
2023Lets Be Honest EP
"Thats the Thing About Praise"
(with Benjamin William Hastings)
2114 Benjamin William Hastings
"Autobahn"2024TBA
"Jordans"27
[A]
"All Over the World"

Other charted songs

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
Air
US
AC
US
Christ
US
Christ
Air
"Believe"202297 Brighter Days
My Tribe
"Godspeed"
(Frank Ocean cover)
202333 Covers
"Wonderful Christmastime"
(Paul McCartney cover)
1117Snow Globe
"Snow Globe"20242427

Notes

  1. Additionally charted at No. 22 on the Billboard Christian Adult Contemporary Airplay chart

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References

  1. "Blessing Offor". Capitol Christian Music Group. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  2. Law, Jeannie Ortega; Reporter, Christian Post (March 11, 2022). "Blind musician Blessing Offor says he's 'living the dream,' wakes up grateful for each day". The Christian Post. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  3. Starkey, Mei Ling (April 24, 2015). "The Voice Contestant Blessing Offor Exclusive Interview". Risen Magazine. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  4. "'The Voice' Performer Blessing Offor Is Sent Home & This Season Loses Its "Something Special"". Bustle. November 4, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  5. Bennett, Laura (April 6, 2022). "Blessing Offor's 'Brighter Days' Were Hard-Won But Faith-Building". Hope 103.2. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  6. devops (November 28, 2013). "Christian Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  7. Clarks, Jessie (December 6, 2024). "Blessing Offor Releases 'Covers' EP". TCB. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  8. Rutherford, Kevin (November 24, 2021). "Taylor Swift's 'Exile' Rules Top TV Songs Chart After 'You' Appearance". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  9. Nicholson, Jessica (January 12, 2023). "Blessing Offor Talks Christian Music Success & Debut Album 'My Tribe': 'I Didn't Give Myself Permission to Quit'". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  10. devops (November 28, 2013). "Christian Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  11. devops (January 2, 2013). "Hot Christian Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  12. Palsa, Nicole (February 1, 2023). "Blessing Offor Reflects On Releasing Debut Album, 'My Tribe,' After Sudden Loss Of His Sister: 'An Emotional Challenge'". Country Now. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  13. "Christian Top 40". www.topchristianhits.org. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  14. "Blessing Offor "Brighter Days" hits Billboard Top 10, releases "Believe" in studio performance". www.breathecast.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  15. "Blessing Offor Appears on Today with Hoda and Jenna; Covers Ep Out Friday". www.jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  16. Hollabaugh, Lorie (January 31, 2023). "Blessing Offor's 'My Tribe' Is Capitol CMG's Most Streamed Debut From Male Solo Artist". MusicRow.com. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  17. Fredricksen, Lynn (May 3, 2010). "Local artist wins international award". New Haven Register . Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  18. "2022 Nominees | The 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards". GMA Dove Awards . August 10, 2022. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  19. "2023 Nominees". GMA Dove Awards . August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  20. "American certifications – Blessing Offor". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved January 16, 2025.