Matthew West Popular Books
Matthew West Biography & Facts
Matthew Joseph West (born April 25, 1977) is an American contemporary Christian musician and singer-songwriter. He has released five studio albums and is known for his songs "More", "You Are Everything", and "The Motions". He was nominated for five Dove Awards in 2005, two of which were for his major-label debut album, Happy. West won the 2013 American Music Award for Best Contemporary Inspirational Artist. Starting as an independent musician in the late 1990s, he released three independent albums before signing with Universal South Records. With the release of his Dove Award-winning debut album, Happy, released in 2003, his first radio single, "More", stayed at No. 1 on Christian Adult Contemporary charts for nine weeks and received two Dove Award nominations. His second album, History, was followed by a 2006 re-release of the originally independent album Sellout. In 2007, his career was threatened by vocal issues that required vocal-cord surgery followed by two months of prescribed vocal rest. His third studio album, Something to Say, also enjoyed chart success with No. 1 hits "You Are Everything" and "The Motions". In addition to his main solo career, West has worked as a songwriter for many Christian musicians and groups, such as Point of Grace, Mandisa, Natalie Grant, and Casting Crowns, as well as mainstream country acts Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Vince Gill. In 2013, his second single, "Hello, My Name Is", from the album Into the Light, was released and reached No. 1 for a career-best 17 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Christian Songs chart. Early life Matthew West was born on April 25, 1977, in Downers Grove, Illinois. As a child he was a fan of his hometown baseball team, the Chicago Cubs, and wanted to eventually have a career in baseball. He played baseball throughout high school at Downers Grove North High School, becoming team captain as a senior; he also performed in the school's Chamber Choir. He was hoping for a college baseball scholarship but instead ended up receiving a four-year music scholarship at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois where he was a part of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship chapter. He graduated from Millikin in 1999. Musical career West wrote most of his first songs in the sanctuary of his father's church while he was at home during college breaks. According to a statement by West at the 2013 Winter Jam (March 23, 2013), at a 1997 Steven Curtis Chapman at the Assembly Hall in Champaign-Urbana, West was crying profusely, prompting his friends to ask him what was wrong. He said that he was being led by Jesus to pursue a career in singing and songwriting. He was a songwriter and independent musician from 1997 to 2002, releasing three albums: September Sun (1997), Every Step of the Way (1998), and Sellout (2002). In October 1997, he went on a three-city tour to support the release of September Sun. Just before West graduated from Millikin University in 1999, someone from the college recommended that he attend the GMA Music in the Rockies event for aspiring musicians. Although West was not interested at first, he attended after learning that other people signed him up and paid his entrance fee. He met a representative from Word Publishing at the event who took interest in him and kept in contact until he graduated. West landed in the finals of a songwriting competition and was offered a songwriting deal in July 1999, five weeks after graduating. After penning songs for well-known musicians like Billy Ray Cyrus and Rachael Lampa, he began touring the United States as an independent artist in 2000 and 2001. On July 26, 2002, only a week or two before signing a record contract with Universal South Records, West had an injury to his left arm which jeopardized his musical career and guitar playing. He says, "I locked myself out of my house. But I'd done that before, and I had a way of breaking in through a window. But this time, I had a really hard time getting the window open. I started pushing up on the window really hard and my hand broke through the glass. Blood starting spewing out of my left arm everywhere and I ran down my street screaming for help. After seeing so much blood, I went into shock and just blacked out in the middle of the street. The next thing I can remember is some construction workers praying over me in Spanish and then being taken to the hospital." West was told that the chances were low of regaining the full use of his left arm, a major artery having come very close to being severed. He recovered after the accident, however, and was able to continue playing guitar and record for his first studio album. Happy (2003–2004) After signing with Universal South Records on August 23, 2002, West released his first non-independent studio album, Happy, on December 26, 2003. The album's producers Kenny Greenberg and Jason Houser co-wrote the song "More" with West. The track was his first and most successful radio single to date, staying at No. 1 on R&R's Christian Adult Contemporary chart for a record-breaking nine weeks. It was the most played Christian AC song of 2004 and went on to be labelled the Christian Song of the Year by ASCAP. Two additional songs, "The End" and "You Know Where to Find Me", were also released as singles off the album. Beginning in late September 2004, West joined Avalon and Mark Schultz on a 40-city fall tour, which concluded at the end of November. In 2005, he was nominated for five Dove Awards, including "New Artist of the Year" and "Song of the Year". He won the "Recorded Music Packaging of the Year" Dove Award for his debut album Happy. In early 2005, he was on the WinterJam 2005 tour, hosted by NewSong, with tobyMac, Building 429, Tait, and Rachael Lampa. History and vocal problems (2005–2007) With Kenny Greenberg and Jason Houser once again as producers, Matthew West began recording for his second studio album in early 2005. History, co-produced by West, was released on June 21, 2005, on Universal South Records. The first single off the album, "Next Thing You Know", was released June 20, a day before the album's release. The theme of the title track "History" was inspired by a R&R music news headline "Matthew West Makes History", in reference to his first album, Happy. "It's not every day you read a headline like that with your name in it that calls you a history maker," he said. Beginning on September 14, 2005, he kicked off the 30-city History 101 tour, his first headlining tour, which included guest musicians Shawn McDonald and Paul Wright. He then joined tobyMac's Winter Wonder Slam tour, beginning on December 1, 2005, along with John Reuben, BarlowGirl, GRITS, and DJ Maj. Two additional songs were released off History as singles: "Only Grace" and the title track "History". His independent album Sellout was re-released in 2006 on Universal South Records. West said that he began to experience "some vocal fatigue" in April 2007. He said, "I had lost .... Discover the Matthew West popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Matthew West books.
Best Seller Matthew West Books of 2024
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The Great Zoo of China
Matthew ReillyNow in massmarketthe actionpacked thriller in the blockbuster and bestselling tradition of Jurassic Park from #1 internationally bestselling author Matthew Reilly!It is a secret th...
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State West Virginia v. Matthew Junior
United States Court Of Appeals For The Sixth Circuit1. "Where the same act or transaction constitutes a violation of two distinct statutory provisions, the test to be applied to determine whether there are two offenses or only one i...
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State West Virginia v. Thurman Matthew
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth CircuitThe State must prove, at least by a preponderance of the evidence, that confessions or statements of an accused which amount to admissions of all or a part of an offense were volun...
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The Baxters Take One
Karen KingsburyCould they change the worldbefore the world changes them? Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison left the mission field of Indonesia for the mission field of Hollywood with a drea...
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The One Impossible Labyrinth
Matthew ReillyTHE END IS HEREJack West Jr has made it to the Supreme Labyrinth.Now he faces one last raceagainst multiple rivals, against time, against the collapse of the universe itselfa headl...
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The Two Lost Mountains
Matthew ReillyNo. 1 bestselling action author Matthew Reilly continues his explosive Jack West series. New novel The One Impossible Labyrinth is out now. AN INCREDIBLE VICTORY BUT AT A TERRIBLE...
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Field of Valor
Matthew BetleySet in the aftermath of the “riveting…actionpacked” (Joan Lunden, New York Times bestselling author) Oath of Honor and the discovery of a deadly global conspiracy, the president re...
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Night Walks
Charles DickensCharles Dickens describes in Night Walks his time as an insomniac, when he decided to cure himself by walking through London in the small hours, and discovered homelessness, drunke...
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Goldeneye
Matthew ParkerFor two months every year, from 1946 to his death eighteen years later, Ian Fleming lived at Goldeneye, the house he built on a point of high land overlooking a small white sand be...
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The Joy Challenge
Randy FrazeeWhat if you could close the "joy gap," that distance between how you feel now and the way you wish you felt? In The Joy Challenge, pastor and bestselling author Randy Frazee s...
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Alex Ferguson
Alex FergusonWidely hailed as Scotland’s most successful football manager since Jock Stein, Alex Ferguson’s achievements with Aberdeen are unparalleled, creating and consolidating a new force i...
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Cobalt Blue
Matthew ReillyFor 35 years, the United States and Russia each had their own superhero.Three days ago, America's hero died.Today will be bad.In the face of an overwhelming attack, one young woman...
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By the Skin of Our Teeth
Jason Noto & Doug CunninghamA lush, fullcolor, beautifully designed visual history that brings to life the innovative and creative world of Morning Breath Co. Inc., the Brooklynbased boutique design studio wh...
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The Indian Captive
Matthew Brayton"The Indian Captive" by Matthew Brayton. Published by eartnow. eartnow publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From wellknown classics & literary...
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The Last Equation of Isaac Severy
Nova JacobsWall Street Journal’s “Mysteries: Best of 2018” Book of the Month Club Selection Edgar Award Nominee: Best First Novel by an American Author A “hugely entertaining” (Wall Street Jo...
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Oath of Honor
Matthew Betley“A highenergy tale that unfolds at a machinegun pace…Betley has become essential reading.” Booklist A global conspiracy threatens America’s position in the current balance of power...
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Come Home for Christmas
Matthew WestMatthew West, in his trademark creative and engaging style, leads readers to experience Christmas through the eyes of a child and to come home to greater joy, hope, peace, and belo...
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The Above the Line Collection
Karen KingsburyThe Baxters Take OneCould they change the worldbefore the world changes them? Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison left the mission field of Indonesia for the mission field of H...
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Coming Home
Karen KingsburyThe emotional and touching conclusion to the Baxter family series!The Baxters make plans to come together for a summer lakeside reunion, a celebration like they haven’t had in year...
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The Baxters Take Two
Karen KingsburyFilmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison have completed their first feature film, and Hollywood is buzzing with the news. In the wake of that excitement, the producers acquire right...
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Close Range
Annie ProulxFrom the Pulitzer Prize–winning and bestselling author of The Shipping News and Accordion Crimes comes one of the most celebrated short story collections of our time.Annie Proulx's...
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Hammers Heaven and Hell
Kirk BlowsLittle did anybody anticipate that West Ham's playoff final victory against Preston in 2005 would provide the launch pad for one of their most successful seasons ever, with the clu...
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Rules of War
Matthew BetleyFollowing the events of the “fast, hardhitting, and impossible to put down” (The Real Book Spy) Field of Valor, Logan West continues his mission to bring America’s traitorous vice ...
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Be Still
Amy ReinholdStop Breathe Listen Be Still In a world that moves too fast and places little value on quiet times, the practice of contemplative prayer offers rest to your soul and invites God's...
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Football Fanatic
Ken FerrisThis is the book which landed the author in the Guinness Book of Records for his recordbreaking 20,000mile tour of every Football League Ground in England. The first edition was hu...