Matthew West was nominated for five Dove Awards in 2005, two of which were for his major-label debut album, Happy.
25 Facts About Matthew West
2.
Matthew West was born on April 25,1977, in Downers Grove, Illinois.
3.
Matthew West played baseball throughout high school at Downers Grove North High School, becoming team captain as a senior; he performed in the school's Chamber Choir.
4.
Matthew West 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.
5.
Matthew West wrote most of his first songs in the sanctuary of his father's church while he was at home during college breaks.
6.
Matthew West said that he was being led by Jesus to pursue a career in singing and songwriting.
7.
Matthew West was a songwriter and independent musician from 1997 to 2002, releasing three albums: September Sun, Every Step of the Way, and Sellout.
8.
Just before Matthew 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.
9.
Matthew West met a representative from Word Publishing at the event who took interest in him and kept in contact until he graduated.
10.
Matthew West landed in the finals of a songwriting competition and was offered a songwriting deal in July 1999, five weeks after graduating.
11.
On July 26,2002, only a week or two before signing a record contract with Universal South Records, Matthew West had an injury to his left arm which jeopardized his musical career and guitar playing.
12.
Matthew West recovered after the accident and was able to continue playing guitar and record for his first studio album.
13.
Matthew West won the "Recorded Music Packaging of the Year" Dove Award for his debut album Happy.
14.
History, co-produced by Matthew West, was released on June 21,2005, on Universal South Records.
15.
Matthew West then joined tobyMac's Winter Wonder Slam tour, beginning on December 1,2005, along with John Reuben, BarlowGirl, GRITS, and DJ Maj.
16.
Matthew West said that he began to experience "some vocal fatigue" in April 2007.
17.
Matthew West was told by his doctors that vocal surgery was the only option, since a few weeks had passed.
18.
Matthew West recorded a duet with American Idol finalist Mandisa, which was released as a Christmas radio single in November 2007, from Mandisa's Christmas Joy EP.
19.
Matthew West guested on tobyMac's 26-city "Boomin' Beyond Measure" tour along with Jeremy Camp.
20.
On June 29, Matthew West hosted GMA's 2008 Gospel Dream, a televised Christian music talent competition.
21.
Matthew West released his sixth studio album, Live Forever, on April 28,2015.
22.
In February 2020, Matthew West released Brand New on his own imprint, Story House Music, under a new deal with Sony's Provident Music Group.
23.
On February 17,2023, Matthew West released a 22-song album titled My Story Your Glory.
24.
Matthew West co-wrote "Voice of a Savior" by Mandisa and "Thank You" by 33Miles, both of which were released as singles in early 2008.
25.
Matthew West pursues acting, with occasional appearances in Christian television shows, starting in 2009.