Published by
The Tennessean
Tuesday, 3/23/99

Michael W. Smith gets Golden Note, night

Left to right, Dan Keen, Nashville Director of Membership Relations for ASCAP; Bill Gaither; ASCAP Vice President Connie Bradley; and Michael W. Smith talk before the ASCAP Christian Music Awards Dinner at the Richland Country Club. (Robert Johnson / Tennessean Staff)

When he came to Nashville in 1978, driving his parents' carfrom his home in Kenova, W.Va., Michael W. Smith's goal was tobecome a professional songwriter.

Last night, the American Society of Composers, Authors andPublishers presented Smith with its Golden Note Award forachievement in music. The honor previously has been given tolegendary ASCAP songwriters such as Stevie Wonder, Elton John andQuincy Jones.

Gospel legend Bill Gaither, who once loaned Smith money to buygas so he could drive to Gaither's home in Indiana for a co-writingsession, gave Smith his award during ASCAP's 21st annual Christianmusic awards dinner at Richland Country Club.

"I don't feel, in some ways, that I really deserve it," Smithsaid before the dinner. "I thought you had to work a little longerthan 17 or 18 years."

Contemporary Christian group Wilshire performed Smith'scrossover hit from 1992, I Will Be Here for You, while singersongwriter Chris Rice, who records for Smith's Rocketown label,sang his early hit, Great Is the Lord. Other musical colleagues,including Smith's frequent co-writer, Wayne Kirkpatrick, also paidtribute.

Amy Grant once took Smith on the road as her keyboardist andopening act and has recorded many of his compositions, includingLove Will Find a Way. She sent a letter praising him for his "loveof life," his "childlike enthusiasm" and his "easy laugh andready tears."

Chief among Smith's long list of credits is the 1989 anthem toenduring friendship, Friends, named the No. 1 Christian song of alltime by CCM magazine.

His career as a recording artist took off in the early '90s witha string of crossover hits including Place in This World (cowritten with Grant and a Top 10 pop hit), For You and I Will BeHere for You. Smith has sold more than 7 million records and won 15Dove Awards and two Grammys.

Reaching listeners outside Christian music with his crossoversuccess gave him special satisfaction, he said.

"The whole world was hearing my song. People would come backand say, 'We heard your song in a supermarket in Hong Kong.' Towrite something I feel is one of the best things I've written, andit be heard all over the world was gratifying."

More than 250 Christian music executives and artists attendedthe awards dinner hosted by ASCAP vice president Connie Bradley andNashville director of membership Dan Keen.

The event also honored ASCAP's Dove Award nominees for song ofthe year and songwriter of the year. Smith is up for songwriter ofthe year and his Live the Life is nominated for song of the year.Winners of the 30th annual Dove Awards will be announced tomorrownight at the Nashville Arena.