Martha Munizzi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Martha Denise Stallings |
| Born | February 26, 1968 Lakeland, Florida |
| Origin | Orlando, Florida |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | marthamunizzi |
Martha Denise Munizzi (born February 26, 1968) is an American Christian music singer, songwriter, author, and pastor.
A native of central Florida, Martha Munizzi was born into a Christian musical family. The daughter of evangelists, Martha and her twin sister Mary Alessi were born in Lakeland, Florida, and grew up traveling and ministering through music with her family. She began performing at age 8, touring the country with her family in concerts and crusades around the United States and Canada.
Martha, Mary, and their older sister Marvelyne were born with their parents' talent for music and became a part of the traveling family group as kids. The family settled in Orlando, Florida, when Mary and Martha were 12, so that the children could attend formal, public school.
At age 16, Mary, Martha and Marveline (age 18) helped form a praise and worship band at the urging of a church friend. That group evolved into Testament and became popular enough to travel around the state of Florida performing in churches and at conferences and other events.
One year after completing high school (1986), Martha married Dan Munizzi, who was a keyboard and bass player in the band Testament. [1] In 1993 she and Dan became the music directors and founding members of a new, fledgling church in Orlando, Florida, initially leading a congregation of 250 and a choir of about 30 people that eventually grew in 8 years into a 5000-member congregation and a 200-member music team. They remained there until 2001.
She led worship at Lakewood Church while Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff was on maternity leave. [2] [3]
Along with figures like Ron Kenoly, CeCe Winans, and Israel Houghton, Munizzi is pioneering cross-cultural worship music that not only connects with both black and white Christian congregations but also reaches the masses. [4]
Munizzi's songs are self-published under the name Say The Name Publishing/Martha Munizzi Music. She released her first Praise & Worship/Gospel album, Say the Name (2002), followed by The Best Is Yet to Come (2003) and When He Came (2004), both of which debuted high on Billboard's Gospel chart. The Best Is Yet to Come peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Music Top Gospel Album charts in 2004 and remained on the charts for more than a year.
In 2004, Munizzi had two music albums in the top five on Billboard's Gospel charts at the same time (The Best Is Yet to Come at No. 2 and When He Came at No. 5) and Billboard Magazine named her as one of the top five Gospel Artists for 2004. Additionally, her project The Best Is Yet to Come was named one of the top ten selling Gospel projects for 2004.
In 2005, she signed a distribution deal with Integrity Media, Inc. Under this agreement, her previously released albums The Best Is Yet To Come and Say The Name and all future releases were to be distributed to Christian retail outlets through Provident-Integrity Distribution and to general market outlets on the Epic Records (a division of Sony-BMG Distribution). [5]
In 2006, Munizzi released her next CD entitled No Limits Live . This CD debuted on Billboard's Top Gospel Charts at No. 1 and remained at the top of the charts for 6 weeks.
Munizzi has ministered with several popular Christian ministries including; Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, CeCe Winans, and Bishop T.D. Jakes. She has also appeared on Trinity Broadcasting Network's (TBN's) Praise The Lord, on the Daystar Television Network, on Life Today with James Robison, and on Black Entertainment Television's BET Celebration Of Gospel. Additionally she performed as a part of the 3rd annual "Sisters In The Spirit" tour with Yolanda Adams, Kelly Price, Juanita Bynum, Rizen and Sheila E in 2005. She was also a featured performer with Kirk Franklin at the "Imagine Me" all-star celebrity benefit concert on January 11, 2007, at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. [6] The concert was a benefit for the Children's Defense Fund.
Munizzi also performed with the Gospel trio Virtue on their 2006 album Testimony on the song Praises to You. She also performs her song Glorious live on Donna Richardson-Joyner's 2006 exercise video entitled Sweating in the Spirit 2. Her twin sister, Mary Alessi, performs with her on her 2006 album No Limits Live.
The CD/DVD project, Change the World was released on April 1, 2008. The project was recorded on December 7, 2007, and features Israel Houghton, Mary Alessi, Micah Stampley, Bishop Joseph Garlington, and Ricardo Sanchez. [7]
On April 24, 2011, Munizzi released Make it Loud her first self-produced CD. The new project features William McDowell, Michael Gungor, Jonathan Stockstill, Lori Morrison, Daniel Eric Groves, and the debut of Danielle Munizzi, her daughter. [8]
On August 27, 2021, Munizzi released Best Days, with a new single "Fight for Me". [9]
Munizzi married Dan Munizzi in 1987 and have three children: Danielle, Nicole, and Nathan. Martha and Dan currently pastor Epic Life Church in Orlando, Florida.[ citation needed ]
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Say the Name
| |
| 2003 | The Best Is Yet to Come
|
|
| 2004 | When He Came
|
|
| 2006 | No Limits: Live
|
|
| 2008 | Change The World
|
|
| 2011 | Make It Loud
|
|
| 2021 | Best Days
|
Munizzi has been nominated for Grammy, Dove, Stellar and Soul Train Awards as both a performer and songwriter. In 2006, Munizzi was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. She has also been nominated for the 2007 Stellar Awards' Artist of the Year and Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year. [11]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | GMA Dove Awards | Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "Because of Who You Are" | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Stellar Awards | Best New Artist of the Year Award | The Best Is Yet To Come | Won | |
| 2006 | Stellar Awards | Special Event CD of the Year | When He Came | Won | |
| Oasis Awards | International Female Artist of the Year | Won | |||
| Grammy Awards | Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album | Say the Name | Nominated | ||
| GMA Dove Awards | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | When He Came | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | CCM Magazine Readers Choice Awards | Female Artist of the Year | No Limits Live | Nominated | |
| Praise & Worship CD of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Worship Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Stellar Awards | Artist of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| GMA Dove Awards | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Contemporary Gospel of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Christian Music Awards | Female Artist of the Year | Won | |||
| 2009 | GMA Dove Awards | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Change The World | Won | |
| Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year | "Favor Of God" | Nominated |
Kirk Dewayne Franklin is an American songwriter, choir director, gospel singer, and rapper. He is best known for leading urban contemporary gospel and Christian R&B ensembles such as The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC) among many others. He has won numerous awards, including 19 Grammy Awards. Variety dubbed Franklin as a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel", and is one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
The Winans family is a U.S. family of gospel music artists from Detroit, Michigan.
Anointed is a contemporary Christian music duo from Columbus, Ohio, known for their strong vocals and harmonies, featuring siblings Steve Crawford and Da'dra Crawford Greathouse, along with former members Nee-C Walls and Mary Tiller. Their musical style includes elements of R&B, pop, rock, funk and piano ballads. The group has won seven Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards and three Grammy Award nominations. The group has also been featured on several Christian compilation albums such as Real Life Music, 1996 and WOW The 90s.
Priscilla Marie Winans Love, known professionally as CeCe Winans, is an American gospel singer. She rose to prominence as a member of the duo BeBe & CeCe Winans; before launching a solo career. Winans has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards, the most for a female gospel singer; and 31 GMA Dove Awards, 16 Stellar Awards, 7 NAACP Image Awards, along with many other awards and honors to her credit. Winans is considered to be one of the greatest gospel artists of all time, the most-awarded gospel artist of all time, and is the best-selling gospel act of all time.
The Clark Sisters are an American gospel vocal group originally consisting of five sisters: Jacky Clark Chisholm, Denise "Niecy" Clark-Bradford, Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. The Clark Sisters are the daughters of gospel musician and choral director Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. They are credited for helping to bring gospel music to the mainstream and are considered pioneers of contemporary gospel.
Tramaine Aunzola Richardson, known professionally as Tramaine Hawkins, is an American award-winning Gospel singer whose career spans over five decades. Since beginning her career in 1966, Hawkins has won two Grammy Awards, two Doves, and 19 Stellar Awards.
Mary Mary is a female American urban contemporary gospel duo composed of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Trecina Atkins-Campbell. Formed in 1998, Mary Mary was launched into mainstream recognition following the release of their best-selling debut album, Thankful (2000), which contained the hit single "Shackles ". Their followup album Incredible (2002), reached number one on the Top Gospel Albums chart. Their self-titled third album, Mary Mary (2005), which contains themes the public interpreted as a channel to the group's experience,. That album also contains the worldwide hits "Heaven", "The Real Party", and "Yesterday".
Vickie Winans is an American gospel singer.
Tamela Jean Mann is an American gospel singer, songwriter, and actress. She began her career as a singer with the gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family. Mann was a primary vocalist on several tracks while with Franklin's group, including "Now Behold the Lamb", and "Lean on Me", the latter of which also included Mary J. Blige, Crystal Lewis, R. Kelly, and Bono. She began her solo career by releasing the albums Gotta Keep Movin (2005), and The Master Plan (2009).
The Heavens Are Telling is an album by the multiple Grammy and Stellar award-winning gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard, released on November 4, 2003. In the US, the album peaked at #3 on the Billboard Top Gospel Charts, #11 on the Billboard Top Christian Charts, #44 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Charts, and #188 on the Billboard Top 200.
Mary Alessi is a Christian songwriter and Worship leader.
More is a gospel album by Mary Alessi which was recorded at the Covenant Church in Dallas, Texas and released on July 19, 2005.
When Women Worship is a gospel album by Mary Alessi which was recorded on August 30, 2006 at the Covenant Church in Dallas, Texas and released on January 2, 2007.
Kierra Valencia "Kiki" Sheard-Kelly is an American gospel singer and evangelist. She is the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark-Sheard and COGIC Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard and the granddaughter of gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark. After appearing on her mother's and aunt's albums, Sheard debuted to the music scene with the release of her debut album I Owe You in 2004. Her hit single You Don't Know was inspired by her mother almost losing her life in 2001 to a fatal blood clot. Sheard portrayed her mother in the hit Lifetime movie, The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel.
WOW Gospel 2005 is a double CD gospel music compilation album in the WOW series. Released on January 25, 2005, it has thirty-one tracks. The album cover pays tribute to Washington, D.C.
No Limits: Live is a live album from Gospel music singer Martha Munizzi. The album was released on March 4, 2006.
When He Came is a Christmas album from Christian singer Martha Munizzi. The album was released on October 19, 2004.
Natasha Tameika Cobbs Leonard is an American gospel musician and songwriter. She released the extended play Grace in 2013 with the hit lead single "Break Every Chain". The EP reached No. 61 on the Billboard charts.
Koryn Mattanah Hawthorne is an American contemporary Christian music and gospel singer. Hawthorne was a finalist in season 8 of NBC's singing competition The Voice, at the age of 17, as a member on Pharrell Williams's team. After placing fourth on the show, Hawthorne got signed to RCA Inspiration, a division of Sony Music dedicated to gospel music recordings. Her debut studio album, Unstoppable, was released on July 13, 2018, and earned her multiple awards nominations, including two Grammy nominations.
"Wait on You" is a song performed by American contemporary worship bands Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music, which features vocals from Dante Bowe and Chandler Moore. The song was released on April 23, 2021, as a promotional single from their collaborative live album, Old Church Basement (2021). The song was written by Brandon Lake, Chandler Moore, Chris Brown, Dante Bowe, Steven Furtick, and Tiffany Hudson.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
