Top American Gospel Artist Michael W. Smith coming to Zimbabwe

Michael W. Smith

Top United States gospel musician Michael W Smith will visit Zimbabwe for the first time for the Crossline Worship Music Festival that runs between August 24 and 26 at the Harare Gardens. Smith will come with another respected gospel musician, Nicole Mullen, who has performed at the previous two editions of the festival and left lasting impressions.

Mullen first came in the country in 2010 and performed at Borrowdale Racecourse. In 2011 she graced the festival at Celebration Centre. She will perform on August 25 while Smith will perform on August 26. The festival will also feature number of local gospel musicians.

Organiser of the festival, Pastor Herman Chimusoro, said they had decided to bring the festival to Harare Gardens because of its central position. “We feel we deprived people from other parts of the city when we staged the festival in Borrowdale for the past two editions,” said Chimusoro.

“The previous editions of the festival were successful and we are hopeful that we will keep that momentum or even take it to another level. We aim to bring the best international gospel musicians and many who follow global music will admit that Smith is one of the greatest worship singers.“He has the experience and has made waves across the world. He is a worshipper par excellence and having him perform here will be a dream come true.”

Smith is an American contemporary Christian musician, best known for his Billboard Hot 100 top ten hit song Place in this World. He has charted primarily in the contemporary Christian and occasionally in mainstream charts. His biggest success in mainstream music was in 1991 when Place in this World was number six on the Billboard Hot 100.

Smith is a three-time Grammy Award winner and has earned 40 Dove Awards. Over the course of his career, he sold more than 13 million albums. He has fourteen gold albums and five platinum albums. He has won awards at the American Music Awards and was also named one of People magazine’s Most Beautiful People.

Chimusoro said Smith’s contribution to worship music made him the right person to come and grace the festival. “We are really honoured to have such a great musician at the festival. I tell you, worship music locally will not be the same after his performance. He is a music teacher, leader and perfect vocalist.”

Chimusoro and his Line Crosser group will be among local performers that would spice up the three-day event. Newsday