Smith to record DVD at worship festival

American gospel artiste Michael W. Smith is set to record a live DVD for his concert scheduled for August 26, 2012 in the Harare Gardens. The Grammy Award-winning musician who will perform for the

first time in Harare during the three-day Crossline Music Worship Festival, has already done a video clip now on YouTube promoting his show and Zimbabwe. “Hello Harare, Zimbabwe. I am excited about coming to be with you for an Evening of Worship on August 26,” he says. Since breaking the news last week, The Herald website has been abuzz with comments from gospel fans who can’t wait to see the iconic star live on stage.

A fan only identified as Tindo posted: “Thank you for bringing an icon to Zimbabwe.”  Confidence Mutereko said she would attend the concert. Another fan said: “Well, I for one will find time to be there. His music changed a lot of my perceptions and since then I listen to this man’s gospel music almost exclusively. Well done organisers.”

“This is where worshippers are found. This man praises his Lord with passion and my spirit moves when I listen to his music,” said one fan. Another fan said Michael W. Smith was a blessing. “My life has been impacted by his music. A great musician indeed, an icon and we welcome you,” another fan said.

Now that Smith will be performing in Zimbabwe organisers have upped their preparations to ensure that it’s a world-class event. Through Smith’s influence, it is hoped that fans will come as far as Botswana, Zambia and even from South Africa. The three-day festival will also feature another heavy hitter in gospel circles Nicole C. Mullen, who is not new to her Zimbabwean fans as she has performed in Harare for the past two years.

This year, the festival is expected to move a notch up as the revered man of song, three-time Grammy winner and platinum seller reaches out to his fans up close and personal.

Married to Deborah “Debbie” Kay Davis, the couple has five children. Smith is the founding pastor of New River Fellowship in Frankling, Tennessee, where he was the lead pastor from 2006 to 2008. Currently, Smith and his wife remain involved members of the church where he developed a love for music. He learned piano at an early age and sang in the church choir. At the age of 10, he had “an intense spiritual experience” that led to his becoming a devout Christian.

He became involved in Bible study and found a group of older friends who shared his religious faith. After his older Christian friends moved away to college, Smith began to struggle with feelings of loneliness and alienation. After graduating from high school, he gravitated towards alcohol and drugs.

He also developed a problem with substance abuse. In November 1979, Smith suffered a breakdown that led to his recommitment to Jesus Christ. The next day he auditioned for a new contemporary Christian music group, Higher Ground, as a keyboardist and got the job. It was on his first tour with Higher Ground, playing mostly in churches, that Smith was finally able to put the drugs and alcohol behind him. Herald