Quick Facts
Aquarius
Biography
Matthew James Redman (born 14 February 1974) is an English Christian worship leader, singer-songwriter and author. Redman has released 16 albums, written 8 books, and helped start three church-plants. He is best known for his two-time Grammy Award-winning single, "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)". Co-written with Jonas Myrin, the single reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Christian Songs chart in 2012.
Career
Christian church leadership
Redman was converted to Christianity at the age of 10 and attended the Anglican church of St Andrew's Chorleywood, in Hertfordshire. It was there he learned to play guitar, and at the age of 20, he began leading worship services and released his first album. In 1993, Redman helped found Soul Survivor, a global Christian movement and yearly music festival aimed at youth alongside his pastor Mike Pilavachi. From 1994 until 2002 Redman lead worship services for Soul Survivor Church in Watford, England.
In 2002, after a sabbatical in America to record Where Angels Fear to Tread, Redman moved to Brighton. In 2004 he and his wife joined a new church plant, The Point, in West Sussex, led by pastor Will Kemp.
In 2008, Redman, along with his wife Beth and their three children, moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to help plant Passion City Church with Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin. In August 2010, they returned to the UK with their children.
Music
Matt recorded his first album, Wake Up My Soul, at ICC studios in January and February 1994. The album had an impressive line-up of Christian musicians including Iona's Mike Haughton, percussionist Martin Neil, Split Level's Adrian Thompson, Helen Burgess and Les Moir on bass, and was produced by Martin Smith.
In 2005, Redman co-wrote with his wife Beth, the 2005 Dove Award-winning "Blessed Be Your Name" (Worship Song of the Year) and the Grammy Award-nominated "Our God." Since then, Matt and Beth have co-created some of Redman's most successful songs including, "You Never Let Go", "Face Down" and "Let My Words Be Few".
In February 2011, Redman joined Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, and Nathan and Christy Nockels at LIFT – A Worship Leader Collective where his 2011 live album, 10,000 Reasons, was recorded. On 28 July 2012, "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)", the title track of Redman's new album, topped the Billboard Christian Songs chart, where it stayed for 13 weeks. It was his first No. 1 hit on American Contemporary Christian radio. The single went on to win two Grammy Awards, for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song and Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance and was certified Gold by RIAA in 2018. Matt has also won thirteen Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards.
The album's success came immediately after Matt Redman and LZ7, a Manchester-based Christian rap and urban music group, released the song "Twenty Seven Million" on 27 February 2012, to raise awareness for the anti-human trafficking movement. The record, charted on the UK Singles Chart reaching No. 12. Redman toured internationally with the band, to raise awareness for the cause through worship.
Redman's songs have been covered by a number of contemporary Christian music (CCM) artists including Matt Maher, Michael W. Smith, Jeremy Camp, Rebecca St. James, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Tree63, Kutless, Stellar Kart, and Hillsong United. He has regularly collaborates with other Christian musicians including Chris Tomlin and Tim Hughes.
In 2019, Redman announced he had signed with Integrity Music, with new music coming in late 2019, and a new album in 2020.
Writing
He has authored and edited multiple books on Christian worship, including The Unquenchable Worshipper and the book Facedown which accompanied the album of the same name. His book Mirror Ball relays his thoughts and experiences of "living boldly and shining brightly for the glory of God." He and his wife co-wrote the book titled "Blessed Be Your Name" with the hopes to bring others to trust God and his goodness, no matter the circumstance.
Personal life
Redman was born and raised in Watford, England. The family had moved to a small commuter town named Chorleywood when he was around the age of two.His father passed away when he was just seven years old, and he and his brother were raised predominantly by his mother. His mother later remarried into an abusive relationship that took a great deal on the family. At the age of 10, he converted to Christianity after attending a mission service by Luis Palau at London's QPR football stadium and was encouraged by Mike Pilavachi, an Anglican Church youth leader to lead worship in his teens.
He married Beth Redman, who was also a songwriter and author. The couple has five children and resides in California.
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Peak chart position | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | US | USChrist. | Certifications | ||
| 1993 | Wake Up My Soul | — | — | — | |
| 1995 | Passion for Your Name | — | — | — | |
| 1997 | The Friendship and the Fear | — | — | — | |
| 1998 | Intimacy | — | — | — | |
| 1999 | The Heart of Worship (US release of Intimacy) | — | — | — | |
| 2000 | The Father's Song | — | — | — | |
| 2002 | Where Angels Fear to Tread | — | — | 38 | |
| 2006 | Beautiful News
| — | 156 | 8 | |
| 2009 | We Shall Not Be Shaken
| — | 136 | 13 | |
| 2011 | 10,000 Reasons
| 149 | 60 | 1 |
|
| 2015 | Unbroken Praise: At Abbey Road Studios
| 58 | 50 | 1 | |
| 2016 | These Christmas Lights
| — | — | 15 | |
| 2017 | Glory Song
| — | 112 | 2 | |
Live albums
| Year | Title | Peak chart position | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | US | USChrist. | ||
| 2004 | Facedown
| — | — | 19 |
| 2005 | Blessed Be Your Name: The Songs of Matt Redman Vol. 1
| — | — | 41 |
| 2013 | Your Grace Finds Me
| 68 | 28 | 1 |
| 2020 | Let There Be Wonder (Live)
| — | — | 10 |
Compilation albums
| Year | Title | Peak chart position | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | US | USChristian | |||
| 2010 | Ultimate Collection
| — | — | — | |
| 2012 | Sing Like Never Before: The Essential Collection
| — | — | 23 | |
Video albums and DVDs
- 2004: Facedown (DVD)
Singles
| Year | Song | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USBub. | USChrist | USChristAirplay | UK | ||||
| 2003 | "Blessed Be Your Name" | — | — | — | — | Where Angels Fear to Tread | |
| 2006 | "You Never Let Go" | — | 17 | — |
| Beautiful News | |
| 2011 | "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" | 3 | 1 | — |
| 10,000 Reasons | |
| "Never Once" | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2012 | "Twenty Seven Million" (with LZ7) | — | 45 | 12 | non-album single | ||
| 2013 | "Your Grace Finds Me" | — | 11 | 10 | — | Your Grace Finds Me | |
| 2014 | "Mercy" | — | 37 | 28 | — | ||
| 2015 | "It Is Well With My Soul" | — | 34 | 24 | — | Unbroken Praise | |
| "Unbroken Praise" | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2016 | "His Name Shall Be" | — | 35 | 21 | — | These Christmas Lights | |
| "Help from Heaven" (with Natasha Bedingfield) | — | — | 33 | — | |||
| 2017 | "Gracefully Broken" (with Tasha Cobbs Leonard) | — | 18 | 17 | — | Glory Song | |
| 2019 | "One Day (When We All Get to Heaven)" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "The Same Jesus" | — | — | 41 | — | Let There Be Wonder (Live) | ||
Appearances
- Collaborations on Passion event albums
- 2000: "Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?" on The Road to OneDay
- 2003: "O Come Let Us Adore Him" / "Come Let Us Return to the Lord" and "Blessed Be Your Name" on Sacred Revolution: Songs From OneDay 03
- 2004: "Father Let Me Dedicate" / "Here Is Love" on Passion: Hymns Ancient and Modern
- 2006: "You Never Let Go" on Everything Glorious
- 2008: "God of Our Yesterdays" / "Shine" / "Dancing Generation" on God of This City
- 2010: "You Alone Can Rescue" on Passion: Awakening
- 2011: "Set Free" (jointly with Chris Tomlin) on Passion: Here for You
- 2012: "Lay Me Down" (jointly with Chris Tomlin) / "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" on Passion: White Flag
- 2013: "Jesus, Only Jesus" /"Shout" (jointly with Chris Tomlin) on Passion: Let the Future Begin
- 2014: "Mercy" / "Worthy" on Passion: Take It All
- Appearances on Passion Live and Passion compilation albums
- 2000: OneDay: Live
- 2005: How Great Is Our God
- 2006: The Best of Passion (So Far)
- 2007: Live from Passion 07 Pt. 2
Awards
Grammy Award wins
- 2013: Best Contemporary Christian Music Song – "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)"
- 2013: Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance – "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)"
Dove Award wins
- 2005: Worship Song of the Year: "Blessed Be Your Name"
- 2006: Praise and Worship Album of the Year: Blessed Be Your Name: The Songs of Matt Redman Vol. 1
- 2007: Children's Music Album of the Year: VeggieTales Worship Songs
- 2007: Special Event Album of the Year: Passion: Everything Glorious
- 2009: Special Event Album of the Year: Passion: God of This City
- 2011: Worship Song of the Year – TIE: "Our God"
- 2011: Special Event Album of the Year: Passion: Awakening
- 2013: Song of the Year: "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)"
- 2013: Contemporary Christian Performance of the Year: "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)"
- 2013: Songwriter of the Year
Church of England
- 2016: Cranmer Award for Worship, "for his contribution to the worship life of the Church"
Published books
- The Unquenchable Worshipper (2001)
- Where Angels Fear to Tread (2002)
- The Heart of Worship Files (2003)
- Facedown (2004)
- Inside Out Worship (2005)
- Blessed Be Your Name (with Beth Redman) (2005)
- Mirror Ball (2011)
- 10,000 Reasons: Stories of Faith, Hope, and Thankfulness Inspired by the Worship Anthem (with Craig Borlase) (2017)
