STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN

'Steven Curtis Chapman' (born November 21, 1962 in Paducah, Kentucky, U.S.) is a contemporary Christian musician who has won five Grammy awards and more Gospel Music Association awards than any other artist in history.

Contents

Biography

Advocacy and social causes

Discography

Awards

Trivia

Notes

External links

Biography

Steven Curtis Chapman was first signed to a songwriting deal in the early 1980s, based upon the strength of his song "Built To Last" which was recorded by popular gospel group The Imperials. Shortly after, he signed a record deal with Sparrow Records, where he rose to prominence. As of September, 2005, Chapman had sold over nine million records.^[1]
Steven and his wife Mary Beth live in Franklin, Tennessee, and have three biological children (Emily Elizabeth, Caleb Stevenson, Will Franklin) and three adopted daughters from China (Shaohannah Hope Yan, Stevey Joy Ru, Maria Sue Chapman). Chapman and his sons recorded under the name of "Stevenson" for the 2003 ''Veggie Rocks'' CD. (Song: "I Love My Lips", VeggieTales). Chapman starred in the 2003 film Christmas Child.
When Steven and Mary were first married, they struggled with finances and turned to God in prayer. A few days before their anniversary they found out that Mary was pregnant. When arriving home one night they noticed fire engines outside their apartment, and realised their apartment had burnt down, and they had no insurance. They moved in with friends. Then Sparrow Records noticed Steven's vocal abilities and signed him.
Together, Chapman and his wife have written three children's books with adoption themes, ''Shaoey And Dot'' (2004), ''Shaoey and Dot: The Christmas Miracle'' (2005), and ''Shaoey and Dot: A Thunder and Lightning Bug Story'' (2006). Together with minister Scotty Smith, Chapman authored two books for the adult inspirational market, ''Speechless'' (1999) and ''Restoring Broken Things'' (2005). Chapman's song "All About Love" has been featured in commercials for the Fox television show, Celebrity Duets.
In 2006, Chapman went on tour to several Asian countries. His web site claims his concert for U.S. troops serving in South Korea was the first Christian concert ever performed for the troops in that country, and a concert in Shanghai, China was "the first public performance by a Gospel recording artist event in the city open to China passport holders" and the third-largest concert in Shanghai that spring.^[2] The tour also took the artist to Australia, New Zealand, China, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore. During the same period, his song "The Blessing" reached number one on Thailand radio charts. His number one hit was Dive.
Steven has toured with Greg Laurie's Harvest Crusades, coming to New Zealand in 2006.

Advocacy and social causes

Chapman and his wife are recognized advocates for adoption. Together, they founded Shaohannah's Hope, a charity organization which offers grants to qualifying families to help defray the cost of adopting, at home and abroad. Both were awarded the Angels of Adoption award by a Congressional Committee for adoption in Washington, D.C. in September of 2001. Chapman also has promoted the international charity World Vision for at least a decade, currently serving as spokesperson for Project Restore, its program serving the U.S. Gulf Coast region in recovery from Hurricane Katrina, in cooperation with the Gospel Music Association.
In the late 1990s, Chapman became involved in youth violence prevention efforts following the 1997 Heath High School shooting at his alma mater in West Paducah, Kentucky.^[3] In addition to being asked to sing at the funeral of one of the victims, Chapman later gave a memorial concert and joined Charles Colson and others in creating a video designed to sensitize teenagers to signs of serious violence planning among peers and to encourage them to report plans that are told to them.

Discography

Main articles: Steven Curtis Chapman discography

Chapman has released more than 20 albums in his career, including three Christmas albums, several collections of greatest hits, and a live album. He has sold more than nine million total albums (including two certified Platinum albums, seven certified Gold albums) and had more than 40 number one radio hits.^[4]

Awards

Chapman's proficiency at the GMA Music Awards (51 career awards) led to a memorable quote at the 1999 Song of the Year presentation, where Darrell Waltrip, the triple NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion, asked three-time Dove winner Kathy Troccoli if she could relate to the experience of a driver who has tuned his car to perfection, driving well, only to be blown away by another driver who leaves everyone in the dust to steal the win. The songstress responded, "We know the feeling, Darrell. It happens to us every time Steven Curtis Chapman releases a new album!"

Trivia

★ In the Christian video game ''Dance Praise'', 4 songs from Steven Curtis Chapman are included: "All About Love", "Dive", "Live Out Loud", and "Only Getting Started". The ''Dance Praise'' expansion pack, ''Dance Praise Expansion Pack Volume 1: Modern Worship'', adds the following songs to the game: "Children of the Burning Heart", "Let us Pray", "See the Glory", "Fingerprints of God", and "I Do Believe".

★ Mark Lowry did a parody of Chapman's "The Great Adventure" entitled "The Date Adventure" on the 1994 CD ''Mouth In Motion''.

★ Also, Lowry mentioned Chapman in a parody of the Michael W. Smith song "'Place in this World'". The parody, which is centred around plastic surgery and called "Face in this World", mentions Lowry stating "all the girls will love my Steven Curtis Chapman grin". ^[5]

★ Chapman has been featured on every WOW Hits compilation except WOW Hits 2007.

★ Chapman hosts the Gospel Music Channel show, "The Best of the Dove Awards".

Notes

1. http://christianmusic.about.com/od/musicnews/a/aasccgrammy05.htm Steven Curtis Chapman Wins 5th Grammy at 47th Annual Awards, about.com
2. http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/news/default.aspx?id=332499 News Brief, July 26, 2006 (accessed August 19, 2006)
3. http://www.house.gov/ed_workforce/hearings/106th/ecyf/schviolence51899/chapman.pdf Testimony of Steven Curtis Chapman to the Early Childhood, Youth and Families Subcommittee Committee on Education and the Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives, on May 18, 1999
4. http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/artists/stevencurtischapman.html
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db1iNZsO3_w Mark Lowry - My Face In This World

External links

★ Steven Curtis Chapman

★ Songtailor: SCC Fansite

★ Steven Curtis Chapman's archive

★ Steven Curtis Chapman's Greatest Hits - The Walk website

★ Steven Curtis Chapman's Speechless website

★ Sparrow Records

★ Shaohannah's Hope Adoption Foundation