Deniece Williams is an American singer. She has been described as "one of the great soul voices" by the BBC. She is best known for the songs "Free", "Silly", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" and two Billboard Hot 100 No.1 singles "Let's Hear It for the Boy" and "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late". Williams has won four Grammys with twelve nominations altogether.
Sandra Faye "Sandi" Patty is an American Christian music singer, known for her wide soprano vocal range and expressive flexibility.
"Do You Hear What I Hear?" is a song written in October 1962, with lyrics by Noël Regney and music by Gloria Shayne. The pair, married at the time, wrote it as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Regney had been invited by a record producer to write a Christmas song, but he was hesitant due to the commercialism of Christmas. It has sold tens of millions of copies and has been covered by hundreds of artists.
Top Christian Albums is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that ranks the best-performing Christian albums in the United States. Like the Billboard 200, the data is compiled by Nielsen Soundscan based on each album's weekly physical and digital sales, as well as on-demand streaming and digital sales of its individual tracks. The chart was introduced on the magazine issue dated March 29, 1980, under the title "Best Selling Inspirational LPs". The current name was adopted on August 16, 2003, in an effort to "streamline" chart titles. The first number-one album was Candle's Music Machine. Amy Grant's Age to Age, released in 1982, topped the chart for 85 consecutive weeks, the longest for any album on the chart.
White Heart is the first album by the contemporary Christian music band White Heart and the band's only album with Steve Green on lead vocals, released in 1982 on Home Sweet Home Records. A year after its release, the album peaked at number 10 on the Top Inspirational Albums chart in Billboard magazine.White Heart was nominated for a Grammy for their debut album for Best Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group at the 26th Grammy Awards.
The 18th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on 1987 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1986. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 15th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on 1984 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1983. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee.
More Than Wonderful is a live album by Gospel singer Sandi Patti issued in 1983 on Impact Records. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. The track "More Than Wonderful" would win many accolades including a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group at the 26th Grammy Awards, winning both Patti and Larnelle Harris their first Grammys together and a Dove Award for Song of the Year for its writer Lanny Wolfe and the album would win Inspirational Album of the Year and Patti won both Female Vocalist and Artist of the Year at the 15th GMA Dove Awards in 1984. In 1985, the track "Upon This Rock" wins Song of the Year, given to its writers Gloria Gaither and Dony McGuire at the 16th GMA Dove Awards. The album was certified Gold in 1985 and Platinum in 1990 by the Recording Industry Association of America. In 1990, More Than Wonderful was re-issued on Word Records.
Songs from the Heart is the seventh studio album by Christian gospel singer Sandi Patti, released in 1984 on Impact Records. The album was nominated for Best Gospel Performance, Female at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards and won Inspirational Album at the 16th GMA Dove Awards in 1985. The track "Via Dolorosa" won Song of the Year at the Dove Awards the following year, going to its writers Billy Sprague and Niles Borop. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. The album has been certified Gold by the RIAA in 1987. In 1990, Songs from the Heart was re-issued on Word Records.
Hymns Just for You is the eighth album by Christian/Gospel singer Sandi Patti. Released in 1985, it would be her final album on the Benson label. It is an album of hymns with five of the track done in medleys covering a selection of songs that people have sung in churches. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. Patti was nominated for Best Gospel Performance, Female at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards in 1986. The album was certified Gold in 1986 and Platinum in 1989 by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies. In 1990, Hymns Just for You was re-issued on Word Records.
Morning Like This is the ninth studio album by Christian/inspirational singer Sandi Patti and her first album on Word Records released in 1986. Morning Like This was considered a successful album and a turning point in her career. It was released in March 1986 and a few months after its release, Patti had reached national acclaim after her rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was included during the ABC Statue of Liberty re-dedication broadcast on July 6, 1986. This exposure led to multiple mainstream television appearances including The Tonight Show and Christmas in Washington. The album was listed at No. 87 from CCM Magazine in their 2001 book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. In 1987, Patti won 2 Grammy Awards for Best Gospel Performance, Female and Best Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group with R&B singer Deniece Williams for the track "They Say" from Williams' Gospel album So Glad I Know at the 29th Grammy Awards and later would win 3 GMA Dove Awards for Female Vocalist, Artist of the Year and Inspirational Album of the Year. The track "In The Name Of The Lord" would win a GMA Dove Award for Song of the Year in 1988 given to Patti and her co-writers Gloria Gaither and Phil McHugh. Morning Like This topped the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart, finishing in the Top 3 for three years on their Inspirational Albums year-end charts, including taking the number 1 album of 1987 and was certified Gold in 1987 and Platinum in 1993 by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Lift Up the Lord is the fourth studio album by Christian singer Sandi Patti, released in 1982 on Impact Records. The track "How Majestic Is Your Name" is written by up and coming singer/songwriter Michael W. Smith and it has become one of Patti's signature songs and has been often performed in her concerts. In 1983, the album was named Inspirational Album of the Year at the 14th GMA Dove Awards and was nominated for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational at the 25th Grammy Awards. Benson Records re-issued Lift Up the Lord on CD in 1987 with a new cover featuring an updated photo of Patti. Word Records would use the same cover for their re-issue in 1990. In 1984, Lift Up the Lord peaked at No. 12 on the Top Christian Albums chart.
Love Overflowing is the third studio album by Christian singer Sandi Patti, released in 1981 on Impact Records.It would be the beginning of her reign at the GMA Dove Awards as Female Vocalist of the Year as a title she would win for the next 11 years until 1992. The track "We Shall Behold Him" written by Dottie Rambo would be her signature song and a concert favorite as Patti has performed this at everyone of her concerts until her retirement from touring in 2016 and would win 2 Dove Awards for Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, both given to Rambo. In 1984, Love Overflowing climbed to No. 26 on the Top Christian Albums chart.Benson Records re-issued Love Overflowing on CD in 1987 with a new cover featuring a portrait painting of Patti. Word Records would use the same cover for their re-issue in 1990.
Make His Praise Glorious is the tenth studio album by Christian singer Sandi Patti, released in 1988 on Word Records.The track "Almighty God" was nominated for a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance, Female and would win Patti three GMA Dove Awards for Female Vocalist, Inspirational Album and Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year at the 20th GMA Dove Awards in 1989. Make His Praise Glorious topped the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The Finest Moments is a compilation album by Christian singer Sandi Patti, released in 1989 on Word Records. Although not your typical "best of" album, this collection of songs consists of some live highlights from her 1983 live album More Than Wonderful, some choice songs from the first ten years of her recording career from 1979's Sandi's Song to 1986's Morning Like This and one brand new track "Exalt The Name" recorded specifically for this collection co-written by CCM singer-songwriter Margaret Becker. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA in October 1993.
Another Time...Another Place is the twelveth studio album by Christian singer Sandi Patti, released in 1990 on Word Records. Like her 1986 best seller and award winning album Morning Like This,Another Time...Another Place was another definitive album with in addition to her inspirational anthems, there are also some pop elements and uptempo songs. The title song features a duet with fellow Christian singer and songwriter Wayne Watson. It became a successful hit climbing to No. 1 on the Christian AC chart and would win them a GMA Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year and it also won Song of the Year, given to its writer Gary Driskell. The album also features popular CCM recording artist Amy Grant providing guest vocals on the song "Unexpected Friends." In 1991, Patti would win her fifth and final Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album at the 33rd Grammy Awards and wins Female Vocalist of the Year and Inspirational Album of the Year at the 22nd GMA Dove Awards. Its music video won Short Form Music Video of the Year in 1992. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and was certified Gold in 1992 by the Recording Industry Association of America. The CD version contains a bonus track "Rejoice," originally recorded by Christian pop group NewSong.
Sandi Patti and the Friendship Company is the eleventh studio and first Children's music album by Christian singer Sandi Patti, released in 1989 on Word Records. The theme on this album is about friendship and how special children are to God. The album features a children's choir and Gerbert, a popular children's character based on the late 1980s television series of the same name that teaches children about kindness and friendship, making good choices, the importance of loving your neighbor and learning a valuable lesson in life, which is pretty much what this album is about. Sandi Patti and the Friendship Company went to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and would win her a GMA Dove Award for Children's Music Album of the Year at the 21st GMA Dove Awards.
Le Voyage is the fourteenth studio album by Christian singer Sandi Patti, released in 1993 on Word Records. It's a concept album and it tells the story, done in a musical setting, featuring Patti as a character named Traveler, and she comes from a long line of Sojouners. It has been described as a modern retelling of Pilgrim's Progress featuring songs about traveling on a journey of faith. Le Voyage continues her inspirational sound but also adds some upbeat pop and adult contemporary sounds as well. Patti re-records a new version of "Unexpected Friends," originally from her 1990 album Another Time...Another Place and also features a duet with fellow Christian singer/songwriter and former Kansas lead singer John Elefante called "Home Will Find You." This would be the last album using her last name "Patti." Patti also released a companion book to go with the album. The album would top the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. In 1994, her music video for the first single "Hand On My Shoulder" won Short Form Music Video of the Year at the 25th GMA Dove Awards.
So Glad I Know is the first gospel album by American R&B singer Deniece Williams, released in 1986 on Sparrow Records. This is Williams' first full-length gospel album. On Williams' previous albums, she would include a gospel song, such as "Whiter Than Snow" from Let's Hear It for the Boy and "I Believe in Miracles" from Niecy. Those two songs and many others from previous and subsequent releases were compiled into an album of gospel material called From the Beginning (1990). One of the gospel tracks "They Say", originally from Williams' 1983 album I'm So Proud, featured a duet with Earth, Wind & Fire lead singer Philip Bailey. This new recording features a duet with American Christian singer Sandi Patti, for which they won a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group. Williams also won a Grammy for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female for her rendition of the gospel hymn "I Surrender All" at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards. So Glad I Know reached number 6 on the Top Christian Albums and number 7 on the Top Gospel Albums charts in Billboard magazine.
O Holy Night! is a 1996 Christmas album by Christian singer Sandi Patty released on Word Records. It is her sixteenth and second Christmas album with six tracks produced by Patty's long-time producer Greg Nelson and five songs selected from the 1992 Hallmark Christmas album Celebrate Christmas! produced by Fred Salem with arrangements conducted by David T. Clydesdale featuring the London Symphony Orchestra. The album peaked at number 7 on the Top Christian Albums chart, number 8 on the Top Holiday Albums chart and number 143 on the Top 200 Albums chart on Billboard magazine.
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