2004 BMI Christian Music Awards: Steven Curtis Chapman

2004 BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year

With 41 #1 radio singles to his credit and sales of more than nine million, Steven Curtis Chapman is undoubtedly one of the most prominent performers and influential songwriters in all of Christian music. Born and reared in Paducah, Kentucky, Chapman learned to play several instruments while hanging around his father's music store, excelling at guitar and piano. He chose a music career over a college degree and moved to Nashville, where he began performing at Opryland USA and writing. Recognition as a songwriter came first, with a cut by the Imperials; others who have recorded his tunes include Sandi Patti, Billy Dean, Glen Campbell and Roger Whittaker.

A Sparrow Records artist his entire career, in 1987 he released his debut album First Hand, followed by Real Life Conversations [1988], More To This Life [1989], For the Sake Of the Call [1990], The Great Adventure [1992], The Live Adventure [1993], Heaven In the Real World [1994], Signs Of Life [1996], Speechless [1999], Declaration [2001] and -- in collaboration with his wife, Mary Beth -- All About Love [2003].

A four-time Grammy winner for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, he has collected a record 47 Dove Awards, including seven wins in the male vocalist category and an unprecedented nine Songwriter of the Year crowns. At the 2001 BMI Christian Music Awards, Chapman was named Songwriter Of the Year, via his award-winning titles "Fingerprints Of God," "Great Expectations" and "The Invitation"; he also earned a BMI Award in 2002 for "Live Out Loud." He repeated as BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year in 2003 by placing the AC hits “God Is God” and “Magnificent Obsession” on the most performed list.

He will release All Things New, his fourteenth Sparrow album, on September 21. Utilizing his unique skills in observation of daily life, as well as scripture reading and prayer, Chapman's conception of All Things New was also inspired by sermons from his pastor and the writings of John Piper and Philip Yancey. To coincide with the project, Chapman will kick off the “All Things New Tour” in October, playing in more than 65 major markets through April 2005. Opening on the tour will be Casting Crowns, the number one selling new artist of 2003 whose self-titled debut was co-produced by Chapman.

The Chapmans reside in Nashville with their five children: sons Caleb and Will Franklin, and daughters Emily, Shaohannah and Stevey Joy. Shaohannah was welcomed from China in 2000, and Stevey Joy in 2003. With the arrival of their first daughter from China, the Chapman family established Shaohannah's Hope, a foundation to help families with funding for adoption. In 2001, Steven and Mary Beth were honored as National Angels in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption.