Susan Ashton

Last updated

Susan Ashton
Susan Ashton 2011.jpg
Ashton in 2011
Background information
Birth nameSusan Rae Hill
Born (1967-07-17) July 17, 1967 (age 56)
Irving, Texas, U.S.
Origin Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres Contemporary Christian music, country
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1991–present
Labels Sparrow, Capitol

Susan Ashton (born Susan Rae Hill; July 17, 1967) is an American contemporary Christian music and country music artist who topped the Christian charts throughout the 1990s. In 1991 she began using her mother's maiden name, Ashton, when she recorded her first single, in order to distinguish herself from CCM singer Kim Hill.

Contents

Ashton has recorded eight studio albums to date, of which six were released on Sparrow Records. She has also charted fourteen number one hits on the Christian charts, and four singles on the Hot Country Songs charts; her highest-peaking song on the latter is 1999's "You're Lucky I Love You", which reached No. 37.

Biography

1991–1993

In 1991, she released her debut album, Wakened by the Wind, which became the top-selling debut in the history of the Sparrow Records label, with Ashton repeatedly reaching number one in the Christian charts that year. She was nominated for a Dove award for New Artist of the Year and won a CCM readers and reporters poll for Best New Artist. Ashton claimed that her fondest memories with Sparrow Records were during the recording of her first album, "That was so special and since I was so young and green, there was a real innocence in that process that's still beautiful to me. I can listen to anything on that record, and it's all very clear with distinct emotions attached to making it. I love everything about the lyrics, musicianship and instrumentation. There's one song, "No One Knows My Heart," where the drummer played a shoebox. On "Suffer in Silence," one of the instruments credited was a "pencil guitar." [1]

In 1992, her second album, Angels of Mercy, produced four CCM number one singles and was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Pop Gospel Album category. Also in 1992 Susan appeared on Paul Overstreet's album "Love Is Strong", singing a duet on Paul's song "What's Going Without Saying".

On her eponymous 1993 release, Ashton was quoted during the recording of the album track "Heart Like a Rock, "I was messing around doing vocals and singing along trying to sound like an electric guitar. We actually recorded it and that sound of me imitating the guitar is still kept in the final record. There was so much fun stuff on all those records and they were all a reflection of growth and maturity and life experience through those years." [1]

Ashton won the 1993 CCM Readers Award for Favorite Inspirational Album and a reporters poll for Best Female Artist. Later that year, she married John David Cunningham. [2]

1994–1997

In 1994, Ashton, in collaboration with CCM artists Margaret Becker and Out of the Grey's Christine Denté, released a trio album Along the Road. The title track is a remake of the composition by Dan Fogelberg, while the remaining songs are original to this album. Lead vocals are split evenly among the three singers.

Also in 1994, Garth Brooks approached Ashton to open for him on his European Tour. She stated in 2005,"I did a leg of his '94 European tour, but we weren't playing to his largest crowds. But there was still something very special about his audience. Initially I was a little nerve-wracked, worrying they'd boo me off the stage, but I got a wonderful response. I was also really nervous about meeting him, but he was so nice and supportive. He told me if there was anything I ever needed, just to let him know."

So Far... The Best of Susan Ashton Volume 1, an album of mostly previously released singles, was released in 1995, and featured a newly recorded track entitled "Stand."

A Distant Call was released in 1996. This album included two songs co-written by Sheryl Crow, and one with the late Kevin Gilbert who wrote many hit songs for Crow. Wayne Kirkpatrick once again provided significant songwriting for the album, co-writing several songs with Ashton. Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith also provided co-writing credits on one song each. Alison Krauss provided background vocals for "Love Profound." Garth Brooks would release his own version of Ashton's single "You Move Me" on his own album "Sevens" the following year, which became an international hit.

Ashton provided vocals along with Collin Raye for the 1997 Jim Brickman single "The Gift", from Brickman's Christmas album of the same name. That single was number one on the pop charts for three consecutive weeks.

1997–2003

In 1999, Capital released her first non-CCM album Closer. She reached the country music charts with "You're Lucky I Love You", which peaked at No. 38. Included on this album is Ashton's cover of "Can't Cry Hard Enough", a song originally recorded by The Williams Brothers. This album was not a commercial success. When asked about this, Ashton responded in 2005, "My perspective is that it did not turn out what I wanted it to be. I wanted it to be a great country record because I'm from Texas and I love that music. But the producers I was working with—who I wholeheartedly believed wanted the best for me—loved my Christian records [with Sparrow], and they were trying to emulate those a little bit. I'm proud of those records, but they aren't country records." [1] Song writing for this album includes Kim Richey, Matraca Berg, Bill Mann and Diane Warren. Ashton only co-wrote one song. Closer was produced by Emory Gordy, Jr., husband and producer to Patty Loveless.

Around this time, Ashton and Cunningham divorced. [3]

Ashton widened her audience even further when, in 2000, she debuted on the PBS music television program Austin City Limits for their 25th Anniversary.

A second album for Capital was recorded, but the album was shelved and has never been released (although the first single "She Is", was released). [4] Ashton has stated, "I spent three years making a follow-up record for Capitol and then early last year they dropped me from the label. So I've spent the last year being a nanny, sitting, waiting and hearing what God wants me to do with my life. It was really difficult, but at the same time I've I needed some healing and clarity. This past year has been really emotional and ultimately turned out really good. I think I was probably aware that I was going to lose my deal, but it's a whole different story knowing you're going to lose it and then actually having it be gone." [1] This interview came after years of silence from Ashton.

2005–present

In 2005 Ashton released a second trio album. Originally released only in Australia and Europe as Kisses from Heaven, the album was eventually released in the United States as Lost in Wonder: Voices of Worship. This album was recorded with Michelle Tumes and Christine Denté. The album was conceived in 2003. When asked how the project came about, Ashton replied, "About two years ago I became friends with [the project's producer] John Hartley. Before I lost my record deal, I was asked to sing some demos for what would become a worship project releasing in England. When I lost my deal, John asked if I would still be interested in continuing with the project. God had been healing me, growing me and helping me find my center again, and this seemed to fit as part of his plan." [1] Ashton did not record the vocals in person with Denté and Tumes. The three were only together for the cover's photo shoot.

In 2006 Sparrow Records released Susan Ashton: The Ultimate Collection, a two-CD set of previously released material.

Ashton started a MySpace page in 2006, on which she posted two demo versions of new songs.

In 2009, she appeared on Collin Raye's album Never Going Back, singing a duet with Raye on a cover of "Without You".

On March 5, 2013, Ashton released Thief, a self-distributed six-song EP. [5]

Discography

Albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US Christian US Country US
[6]
Wakened by the Wind
  • Release date: February 25, 1991
  • Label: Sparrow Records
8——
Angels of Mercy
  • Release date: July 3, 1992
  • Label: Sparrow Records
2——
Susan Ashton
  • Release date: November 2, 1993
  • Label: Sparrow Records
———
Walk On
  • Release date: 1994
  • Label: Sparrow Records
3——
So Far... The Best of
Susan Ashton Volume 1
  • Release date: August 29, 1995
  • Label: Sparrow Records
11——
A Distant Call
  • Release date: October 1, 1996
  • Label: Chordant Records
6—163
Closer
  • Release date: July 27, 1999
  • Label: Capitol Nashville
—34—
Thief (EP)
  • Release date: March 5, 2013
  • Label: Be Music & Entertainment
–——
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Collaborations

TitleAlbum details
Along the Road
(with Margaret Becker and Christine Denté)
  • Release date: September 20, 1994
  • Label: Sparrow Records
Lost in Wonder: Voices of Worship
(with Michelle Tumes and Christine Denté)
  • Release date: March 1, 2005
  • Label: Kingsway Records

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart
positions		Album
US Country CAN Country
1991"Down on My Knees"——Wakened by the Wind
"In Amazing Grace Land"——
1992"Ball and Chain"——
"Here in My Heart"——Angels of Mercy
"Grand Canyon"——
1993"Hunger and Thirst"——
"Walk on By"——
"Waiting for Your Love to Come Down"——Susan Ashton
1994"Remember Not"——
1995"Stand"—87So Far... The Best of Susan Ashton
1996"You Move Me"——A Distant Call
1999"Faith of the Heart"5171Closer
"You're Lucky I Love You"3752
"Closer"——
2003"She Is"56—single only
2005"I Will Never Be the Same"
(w/ Michelle Tumes and Christine Dente)A		——Lost in Wonder: Voices of Worship
2013"Love Is Alive"——Thief
"Moonshine"——
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Guest singles

YearSingleArtistPeak chart positionsAlbum
US Country US AC CAN Country
1997"The Gift" Jim Brickman
(with Collin Raye)		51352The Gift

Music videos

YearVideoDirector
1992"Here in My Heart"
1996"You Move Me"
1997"The Gift" (with Jim Brickman and Collin Raye) [7] Norry Niven
1999"You're Lucky I Love You" [8] Picture Vision

Related Research Articles

Rebecca Jean Fink, known professionally as Rebecca Jean or Rebecca St. James, is an Australian American contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and actress. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first full-length studio album in 1991. She was signed to ForeFront Records in 1993, releasing her major label debut the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collin Raye</span> American singer-songwriter

Floyd Elliot Wray, known professionally as Collin Raye and previously as Bubba Wray, is an American country music singer. He initially recorded as a member of the band The Wrays between 1983 and 1987. He made his solo debut in 1991 as Collin Raye with the album All I Can Be, which produced his first Number One hit in "Love, Me". All I Can Be was the first of four consecutive albums released by Raye to achieve platinum certification in the United States for sales of one million copies each. Raye maintained several Top Ten hits throughout the rest of the decade and into 2000. 2001's Can't Back Down was his first album that did not produce a Top 40 country hit, and he was dropped by his record label soon afterward. He did not record another studio album until 2005's Twenty Years and Change, released on an independent label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Brickman</span> American composer, recording artist (born 1961)

James Merrill Brickman is an American pop songwriter, pianist and radio host. Brickman has earned two Grammy nominations for his albums Peace (2003) for Best Instrumental, and Faith (2009) for Best New Age Album. He won a Canadian Country Music Award, a Dove Award presented by the Gospel Music Association, and was twice named Songwriter of the Year by SESAC. Billboard lists 22 of his albums reaching No. 1 on the New Age chart, and 16 of his songs reaching Top 10 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Four of his albums were certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Raye</span> American country music singer

Susan Raye is an American country music singer. She enjoyed great popularity during the early and mid-1970s, and chalked up seven top-10 and 19 top-40 country hits, most notably the song "L.A. International Airport", an international crossover pop hit in 1971.

Out of the Grey is a husband-and-wife Contemporary Christian music project consisting of Scott and Christine Denté. Christine provides lead vocals, while Scott plays guitars and sings background, along with the occasional lead vocals. They have released seven studio albums, one best-of compilation and one live EP and have been involved in a number of other projects. Their debut album was ranked 47th in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.

Michelle Louise Tumes is an Australian contemporary Christian musician from Adelaide. In 1993, she moved to the United States and has released four studio albums, Listen (1998), Center of My Universe (2000), Dream (2001) and Michelle Tumes (2006).

Wes King is an American contemporary Christian singer, songwriter, photographer, and musician. He is perhaps best known for his 1993 album The Robe. His demo material, a cassette tape named "Lonely Poet", is sung by other artists, such as Kim Hill. He briefly attended Covenant College outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the late 1980s. He also led worship at Christian youth retreat camps.

<i>The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits</i> 1997 greatest hits album by Collin Raye

The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits is American country music artist Collin Raye's first greatest hits album. Released on August 26, 1997, via Epic Records, the album contains the greatest hits from his first studio albums plus several new tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret Becker</span> American singer

Margaret Becker is an American Christian rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She has had twenty-one No. 1 Christian radio hits, won four Dove Awards, and been nominated for four Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love, Me</span> 1991 single by Collin Raye

"Love, Me" is a song written by Skip Ewing and Max T. Barnes, and recorded by American country music artist Collin Raye. It was released in October 1991 as the second single from the album All I Can Be. In January 1992, the single became Raye's first Number One single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts; the same year, the song received a Song of the Year nomination from the Country Music Association. The single has been cited as a popular choice for funerals.

<i>Cant Back Down</i> 2001 studio album by Collin Raye

Can't Back Down is the seventh studio album released by country music artist Collin Raye. It was also his last album for Epic Records, and the first album of his career not to produce any Top 40 country hits. "Ain't Nobody Gonna Take That from Me", the first single, reached #43 on the Hot Country Songs charts. "What I Need", the second single, failed to chart.

<i>Along the Road</i> 1994 studio album by Susan Ashton, Margaret Becker, Christine Denté

Along the Road is an album by Susan Ashton, Margaret Becker, and Out of the Grey's Christine Denté, released in 1994.

The discography for Collin Raye, an American country music singer, comprises 12 studio albums and 39 singles. Four of Raye's singles have reached Number One on the U.S. country singles charts: "Love, Me," "In This Life," "My Kind of Girl" and "I Can Still Feel You." Twenty-one of his singles have reached Top 10 on the same chart, including 14 singles reaching the top 10 consecutively between 1991 and 1996.

The 29th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 23, 1998, recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1997. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Nashville Arena. Live coverage on The Nashville Network was hosted by John Tesh and Naomi Judd, with a one-hour pre-show hosted by Clarence Gilyard and Kathy Troccoli.

<i>Love Is Strong</i> (album) 1992 studio album by Paul Overstreet

Love Is Strong is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Paul Overstreet. Released in 1992, it produced three singles, "Me and My Baby", "Still Out There Swinging" and "Take Another Run". While this album was not as successful as his previous two, "Me And My Baby" managed to reach the top 40; the others did not. The album itself peaked at #28 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums Chart while only reaching #60 on the Top Country Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audrey Assad</span> American singer-songwriter and contemporary Christian music artist.

Audrey Nicole Assad is an American singer-songwriter. She has released six studio albums and four EPs.

<i>Closer</i> (Susan Ashton album) 1999 studio album by Susan Ashton

Closer is the sixth studio album by American Christian and country music singer Susan Ashton. It was released in 1999 on Capitol Nashville. It was her only disc for the label. It was produced by Emory Gordy Jr. The album contains songs written by Diane Warren, Matraca Berg and Kim Richey. Ashton herself only co-wrote one song here, "Think of Me".

"Love Remains" is a song written by Tom Douglas and Jim Daddario, and recorded by American country music artist Collin Raye. It was released in June 1996 as the fourth single from his album I Think About You. The song reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in November 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Tomlin discography</span>

American contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist Chris Tomlin has released eight studio albums, two independent albums, two live albums, one compilation album, and twenty-one singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Gift (Jim Brickman song)</span> 1997 single by Jim Brickman

"The Gift" is a song co-written and performed by American recording artist Jim Brickman, featuring singer Collin Raye and Susan Ashton. It was released in 1997 on Windham Hill Records as the first single and as well as the thirteenth track from his fourth studio album of the same name. It is a country pop song that was written by Jim Brickman and Tom Douglas. This song is often played on radio around the time of Christmas due to being part of Brickman's holiday album of the same name.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Argyrakis, Andy (July 18, 2005). "A Sort of Comeback". Christian Music Today . Archived from the original on July 18, 2005.
  2. ↑ "TBT: You Move Me |". georgia.thejoyfm.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  3. ↑ "A Feature of The Phantom Tollbooth". Tollbooth.org. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Susan Ashton news". Christianmusiclighthouse.com.
  5. ↑ "Susan Ashton, "Thief EP" Review". www.jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Susan Ashton Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  7. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Collin Raye : The Gift". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  8. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Susan Ashton : You're Lucky I Love You". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.