Matthew West facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Matthew West
Matthew West live at the Grand Ole Opry in 2012
Background information
Birth name	Matthew Joseph West
Born	(1977-04-25) April 25, 1977 (age 48) Downers Grove, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Contemporary Christian music, pop rock
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Universal South, Sparrow, Provident Label Group

Matthew Joseph West, born on April 25, 1977, is an American Christian musician, singer, and songwriter. He is well-known for his popular songs like "More", "You Are Everything", and "The Motions". In 2013, he won the American Music Award for Best Contemporary Inspirational Artist.

Matthew West started his music journey as an independent artist in the late 1990s. He released three albums on his own before signing with Universal South Records. His first major album, Happy, came out in 2003. The song "More" from this album was a huge hit, staying at No. 1 on Christian music charts for nine weeks.

Later, Matthew West faced a challenge when he had vocal problems in 2007. He needed surgery on his vocal cords and had to rest his voice for two months. After recovering, he released his third album, Something to Say, which also had No. 1 hits like "You Are Everything" and "The Motions". Besides his own singing, Matthew West has written songs for many other Christian artists and even some country music stars.

Matthew West's Early Life and Dreams

Matthew West was born in Downers Grove, Illinois, on April 25, 1977. When he was a kid, he loved the Chicago Cubs baseball team. He even dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. He played baseball all through high school and was the team captain in his senior year. He also sang in his school's choir.

Instead of a baseball scholarship, Matthew received a four-year music scholarship. He attended Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and graduated in 1999.

Matthew West's Musical Journey

Matthew West wrote many of his first songs in his father's church. This was during his college breaks. In 1997, after seeing a concert, he felt called to become a singer and songwriter.

From 1997 to 2002, he was an independent musician. He released three albums during this time: September Sun (1997), Every Step of the Way (1998), and Sellout (2002). In October 1997, he went on a small tour to support his first album.

Just before graduating from college in 1999, Matthew West attended a music event for new artists. There, he met someone from a music publishing company who was interested in his talent. Five weeks after graduating, he got a songwriting deal. He started writing songs for famous musicians and toured as an independent artist in 2000 and 2001.

In July 2002, Matthew West had an accident that could have stopped his music career. He locked himself out of his house and tried to get in through a window. His hand went through the glass, causing a serious injury to his left arm. Doctors told him he might not fully use his arm again. Luckily, he recovered and was able to keep playing guitar and recording music.

Happy Album and Early Success (2003–2004)

Matthew West at a concert on tobyMac's Winter Wonder Slam tour in December 2005

Matthew West signed with Universal South Records on August 23, 2002. His first official studio album, Happy, came out on December 26, 2003. The song "More" became his biggest hit. It stayed at No. 1 on Christian radio charts for nine weeks. It was even named the Christian Song of the Year in 2004.

In 2004, Matthew West toured with other artists like Avalon. In 2005, he was nominated for five Dove Awards, including "New Artist of the Year". He won the "Recorded Music Packaging of the Year" Dove Award for his Happy album.

History and Vocal Challenges (2005–2007)

Matthew West playing a concert on the History 101 tour in September 2005

Matthew West started recording his second album, History, in early 2005. It was released on June 21, 2005. The album's title song, "History", was inspired by a news headline that called him a "history maker." In September 2005, he started his first headlining tour, called History 101.

In 2006, his earlier independent album Sellout was re-released.

In April 2007, Matthew West began to have problems with his voice. He lost some of his vocal range and found it hard to speak. Doctors found some polyps on his vocal cords that were bleeding. He had surgery on May 17, 2007, which he said was "career threatening." After the surgery, he had to stay completely silent for two months to let his voice heal.

A documentary called Nothing to Say was released in 2008. It showed Matthew West's time of silence and his recovery.

Something to Say and Continued Success (2008–2010)

His next song, "You Are Everything", was released in late 2007. Matthew West's album Something to Say came out on January 15, 2008. It reached No. 8 on Billboard's Top Christian albums chart. The album's title was chosen months before his vocal problems, which was a funny coincidence. "You Are Everything" became a No. 1 hit in March 2008.

Matthew West also toured with tobyMac and Jeremy Camp in early 2008. He appeared on a TV special called America's Dream: Chasing Happiness. In June 2008, he hosted a Christian music talent show called Gospel Dream. His song "The Motions" also reached No. 1 on Christian radio charts in April 2009. In December 2009, "The Motions" was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Recent Music and Projects (2010–Present)

"My Own Little World" was the first song from Matthew West's album The Story of Your Life, released on October 5, 2010. This album was inspired by thousands of stories his fans shared with him. He spent two months reading 10,000 stories in a cabin.

Matthew West also acted in the Christian film The Heart of Christmas in 2011. In 2012, he released his album Into the Light. His song "Hello, My Name Is" from this album was No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart for 17 weeks.

His sixth album, Live Forever, was released on April 28, 2015. His seventh album, All In, came out on September 22, 2017. In February 2020, West released Brand New on his own record label. A special deluxe version followed in April 2021.

On February 17, 2023, Matthew West released a 22-song album called My Story Your Glory. In 2024, he released Don't Stop Praying.

Matthew West's Other Songwriting Work

Besides singing his own songs, Matthew West has written for many other Christian artists. These include Mandisa, Casting Crowns, and Natalie Grant. He has also written for mainstream country artists like Billy Ray Cyrus and Rascal Flatts. For example, Rascal Flatts recorded his song "The Day Before You".

Matthew West's Acting Roles

Matthew West has also tried acting. He has appeared in Christian TV shows since 2009. In 2011, he made his movie debut in the Christian film The Heart of Christmas. He starred alongside Candace Cameron Bure in the movie.

Matthew West's Family Life

West with his family (L-R) Lulu, Delaney, Emily, and his mother in 2013

Matthew West lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife Emily. They got married on May 10, 2003. They have two daughters and two dogs named Nick and Rocky.

Matthew West's Awards

American Music Awards

GMA Dove Awards

Matthew West's Albums

See also

In Spanish: Matthew West para niños