Todd Smith (singer)

Last updated

Todd Smith
Birth nameJames Todd Smith [1]
Genres CCM, Christian rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1997–present
Labels Curb
Website toddsmithonline.wordpress.com

James Todd Smith (who goes by Todd Smith) is an American singer and founding member of the contemporary Christian music band Selah. He remains an original member since its founding in 1997.

Contents

Early life

Smith grew up the son of missionaries in Zaire, Africa (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in a home built by his grandparents, who had been missionaries to the continent since the 1930s. His grandfather worked as a dentist in the United States before moving to Zaire. Smith's father was born in Africa, but later moved to Detroit, Michigan. Both Smith's grandparents died in Africa. [2]

Smith's family home burned to the ground when he was five. After the fire, his father felt a call to the mission field of Africa. Smith's father moved his mother, three siblings, and himself from Detroit, Michigan, to Africa. His family remained there for the next eight years. [2]

Smith has remarked that he never questioned his Biblical teaching. [3] Smith gives credit for his music career to his missionary upbringing. "I've been singing in front of people since I was three," he said. "My parents are missionaries. When we came back to the United States, we had to visit each church that sponsored us. That was a good training ground." [4] Smith is married to Angie Smith and they have four daughters. They had one other daughter named Audrey, who was born in April 2008 and died a few hours later due to cardiac issues. [5] Angie has written two books, I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy [6] and What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms. [7]

Recording career

Selah was originally formed by brother and sister, Todd and Nicol Smith, along with friend Allan Hall. Smith also worked on a solo project. His debut album Alive was released on August 10, 2004 with Curb Records. [8] The album steered from the common sound Selah offered, better known for well integrated harmonies, singing hymns and melodic ballads. A passion for the sound of rock music was more of what Smith had in mind when working on this album. Bands such as Boston, Foreigner, Journey, and Genesis influenced the sound in Alive. This has been his only solo release to date. [9]

Smith continues to work with Allan Hall and Amy Perry, current members of Selah. Their most recent album, Hope of the Broken World, was released on August 23, 2011 with Curb Records. He recorded the solo song "Broken Praise" on the various artists compilation album Music Inspired by "The Story" and the album won the "Special Event Album of the Year" on the 43rd GMA Dove Awards in 2012. He performed the song on the awards show. [10] Smith wrote a song called "I Will Carry You" after Audrey Caroline died. "I Will Carry You" is dedicated to the memory of Audrey Caroline Smith.

Discography

Solo albums

YearAlbum
2004Alive
2016There's a Light

Albums with Selah

YearAlbum
1999 Be Still My Soul
2001Press On
2002Rose of Bethlehem
2004Hiding Place
2005Greatest Hymns
2006Bless The Broken Road - The Duets Album
2007Timeless: The Selah Collection
2009You Deliver Me
2010Look at You Loving Me
2011Hope of the Broken World
2014You Amaze Us
2016Greatest Hymns, Vols. 1 & 2
2017Unbreakable
2019Firm Foundation
2020Step into My Story

Compilation contributions

ReleasedSongAlbum Label(s)
September 23, 2011Broken Praise Music Inspired by The Story EMI Christian Music


March 1 2024 Goodness and Mercy Lee Park Worship

Related Research Articles

Point of Grace is an all-female contemporary Christian music vocal group. The current trio consists of Shelley Breen, Denise Jones, and Leigh Cappillino. The group started out as a quartet in 1991, with original members Breen and Jones, as well as Terry Jones and Heather Payne. Terry Jones left in November 2003 to spend more time with her family after the birth of her third child, with Cappillino joining in March 2004 for their 2004 release I Choose You. In June 2008, Payne announced her retirement from the group to spend more time with her family.

The 36th Annual GMA Dove Awards, also called the 36th Annual GMA Music Awards, were held on April 13, 2005 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2004. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee and was hosted by Steven Curtis Chapman, CeCe Winans, Rebecca St. James, Smokie Norful, Darlene Zschech and Israel Houghton.

The 33rd Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 25, 2002 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2001. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee. Recipients are listed below, see also full list of nominees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Taff</span> American gospel singer and songwriter (born 1953)

Russell Taff is an American gospel singer and songwriter who grew up in Farmersville, California. He has sung a variety of musical styles throughout his career including: pop rock, traditional Southern gospel, contemporary country music, and rhythm and blues. He first gained recognition as lead vocalist for the Imperials (1976–81). One of his best-known performances is the song "Praise the Lord". He has also been a member of the Gaither Vocal Band, and occasionally tours with Bill Gaither in the Gaither Homecoming concerts. As a solo artist and songwriter, Taff is known for the 1980s anthem "We Will Stand". Taff has received various Dove and Grammy awards either as a solo artist or part of a larger musical group, most notably the Imperials.

Selah is a contemporary Christian vocal trio consisting of Todd Smith, Allan Hall, and Amy Perry. The group has been featured on The 700 Club, Hour of Power, and TBN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael English (American singer)</span> Musical artist

Michael English is an American Christian singer and record producer. Initially, he was a member of his family's singing group, and later a member of The Gaither Vocal Band. During his solo career, he recorded eight studio albums. English's highest-charting solo single was "Your Love Amazes Me", which reached No. 10 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1996.

The 37th Annual GMA Dove Awards, also called the 37th Annual GMA Music Awards, were held on April 5, 2006 recognizing accomplishments of Christian musicians for the year 2005. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Rebecca St. James and Kirk Franklin. This was the last year in which the awards were called the "GMA Music Awards", since they will change their names to "GMA Dove Awards".

The 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 25, 2007 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2006. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Brian Littrell, Natalie Grant, and Donnie McClurkin. This was the first year in which the awards were called the "GMA Dove Awards" since the 2006 edition was called the "GMA Music Awards".

The 31st Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 20, 2000, recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1999. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">39th GMA Dove Awards</span>

The 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation was held on April 23, 2008, recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2007. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jonathan Pierce Hildreth, better known as Jonathan Pierce, was an American CCM, gospel singer from Odessa, Texas and an interior designer in Nashville. Pierce used his first and middle name while omitting his last name for career purposes.

<i>You Deliver Me</i> 2009 studio album by Selah

You Deliver Me is Selah's seventh studio album. It features a cover of Hillsong Worship's "Hosanna". The album was released August 25, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">41st GMA Dove Awards</span>

The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation was held on April 21, 2010 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2009. The show was held at The Opry Entertainment Complex in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Bart Millard.

<i>Greatest Hymns</i> 2005 studio album by Selah

Greatest Hymns is the fifth studio album from the Contemporary Christian group Selah. It was released August 25, 2005 on Curb Records. The album contains renditions of classic Christian hymns.

<i>Hiding Place</i> (Selah album) 2004 studio album by Selah

Hiding Place is an album from contemporary Christian group Selah. It was released in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">43rd GMA Dove Awards</span>

The 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony was held on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at 7:30 P.M. EST at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other figures within the Christian music industry for the year 2011. The ceremony was produced by the Gospel Music Association and was hosted by actor David Mann and comedian Chonda Pierce. The awards show was broadcast on the Gospel Music Channel on April 24, 2012.

<i>Be Still My Soul</i> (Selah album) 1999 studio album by Selah

Be Still My Soul is the debut album of Selah, released in 1999.

Nicol Sponberg (1970) is an American Christian music singer.

Fletcher Bangs "Biff" Watson is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer. His musicianship has been a part of recording sessions for many artists.

<i>Greatest Hymns, Vol. 2</i> 2016 studio album by Selah

Greatest Hymns, Vol. 2 is a 2016 album by CCM group Selah. It was released August 26, 2016 by Curb Records.

References

  1. "Todd Smith". Christianmusiclighthouse.com. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Sunday Evening Praise. http://sundayeveningpraise.net/praise/selah.htm
  3. The Fish
  4. The News-Sentinel Archived January 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Reported By Dennis Ferrier (May 13, 2009). "Nashville news story on baby Audrey Caroline: Woman carries child she knows will die". Benotafraid.wordpress.com. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  6. Smith, Angie (2010). I will carry you : the sacred dance of grief and joy. Nashville, Tenn. ISBN   978-0805464283.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. Smith, Angie (2011). What women fear : walking in faith that transforms. Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group. ISBN   9780805464290.
  8. Curb Records. http://www.curb.com/artists/artistbio_T1.cfm?ID=154
  9. "NEWS: Selah's Todd Smith Chronicles Hope And Healing In 'THERE'S A LIGHT' August 26". The Gospel Music Association. August 17, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  10. "'The Story' wins Dove Award for Special Event Album of the Year". World Vision. Retrieved April 28, 2012.