Michael W Smith Releases Second Instrumental Album 'Glory'
International multi-platinum selling singer Michael W. Smith released his 23rd career album and second instrumental project 'Glory' this week. The Grammy Award-winning artist recorded the album with a 65-piece orchestra at London's prestigious AIR Studios.
Michael will feature on 'The Sean Hannity Radio Show' today, 23rd November, from 3-6pm EST and on FOX News Channel's 'HANNITY' on Thanksgiving day at 9pm EST. 'Glory' is the highly anticipated follow-up to his 2000 Gold-selling first instrumental album 'Freedom'. Writing on Twitter, Michael said "Very emotional day...GLORY is officially released... Instrumental music is sometimes the only way I can attempt to describe that which words can not convey".
Michael W. Smith is also preparing to launch his highly-anticipated Christmas tour, 'It's A Wonderful Christmas: The Symphony Tour'. Featuring a full symphony orchestra each night, the tour kicks off on 26th November in Toledo, Ohio, and will span 13 performances in eight major markets including Dallas, Houston, St. Louis, Jacksonville and more.
With 16 gold, seven platinum and two double-platinum albums to his name, Michael has achieved career sales of 15 million. During the Christmas tour, the symphony will be conducted each night by the tour's musical director, producer/arranger David Hamilton, who has conducted numerous orchestras including the National Philharmonic and also worked closely with Smith on the 'Glory' project.
Discussing opening track 'Glory Overture' on the new album, Smith says "This is in many ways a tribute to the work of my favorite soundtrack composer John Williams (Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark). It's a fun, big piece of music that takes some adventurous left turns and then goes back to the main melodic theme. It's the right way to set the stage for this album, and the orchestra sounds fabulous. The room in London where we recorded is the same one often used by another great composer, Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, Inception). The building is actually an old church." Of closing piece 'Tribute / Agnus Dei', he says "Tribute was written and dedicated to President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara on their sixtieth wedding anniversary. I will never forget that moment playing it for them at the White House."
