Michael English is an American contemporary Christian singer and record producer from the United States. He is a member of the Gaither Vocal Band and also hosts a programme on TBN. He begins recording music in childhood and becomes known in gospel music through work as a solo artist and with several groups.

Early career

English performs in his family group, The Singing Samaritans, from 1972 to 1980. After graduating from high school, he joins The Singing Americans, where he shortens his name to Mike English before later returning to Michael. He leaves that group in 1982 and joins The Goodmans, then spends about six months with The Gospel Couriers before rejoining The Singing Americans.

With The Singing Americans, he achieves his first major success in southern gospel with a live version of I Bowed On My Knees (And Cried Holy), which becomes his signature song. His final album with the group, Black and White, includes Welcome To Heaven, one of the songs he is well known for at that stage.

Gaither Vocal Band and solo work

English joins The Gaither Vocal Band in 1984 as lead singer, replacing Gary McSpadden. Bill Gaither later encourages him to pursue a solo career, and he signs his first solo recording contract with Warner Alliance in 1991 while continuing to sing lead with the group. His debut solo album, Michael English, wins Dove Awards for Male Vocalist and New Artist in 1992. He later receives four Dove Awards in 1994, including Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year.

Career interruption and mainstream recordings

His Christian music career stops abruptly in 1994 after he confesses to an extramarital affair with gospel singer Marabeth Jordan. He leaves The Gaither Vocal Band, is dropped by his label, and returns his Dove Awards to the Gospel Music Association. Christian radio stations remove his songs from rotation, and he does not perform gospel music for three years after the scandal.

In 1994 he signs with Curb Records to record mainstream pop music. A duet with Wynonna Judd, Healing, appears in the film Silent Fall and introduces him to a wider audience. His second pop album, Freedom, is released in 1996, and its first single, Your Love Amazes Me, becomes the number one adult contemporary song of 1996.

Return to gospel music

English is reintroduced to southern gospel audiences in 1996 when promoter and historian Charles Waller reunites him on stage with Ed Hill, Rick Strickland, Dwayne Burke and Milton Smith as the Singing Americans at the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion. Later that year, JD Sumner invites him on stage at the National Quartet Convention in Kentucky, where he shares his testimony and sings I Bowed on My Knees.

In 1998, Curb Records releases Gospel, produced by English and featuring his own band, with co-production from Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts. Gary LeVox also contributes background vocals. Bill Gaither invites him to appear in the filming of Homecoming in 1999, leading to the release of the videos Good News, Harmony in the Heartland and What a Time. He records Heaven to Earth in 2000, and premiers the album on Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Praise the Lord, where he speaks about his addiction to painkillers and subsequent treatment and rehabilitation.

Later releases and writing

English continues to record and tour, with later releases including A Michael English Christmas and Michael English Greatest Hits: In Christ Alone. He releases his autobiography, The Prodigal Comes Home, in 2007.

Personal life

English marries Lisa Bailey while he is still with The Goodmans, and they have a daughter, Megan. They later divorce. In 2002 he marries Marcie Stambaugh in Nashville, Tennessee, and they have a daughter, Issabella Grace, in 2004.

Discography

Michael English, Hope, Michael English (Curb Records release), Freedom, Gospel, Heaven to Earth, A Michael English Christmas, Michael English Greatest Hits: In Christ Alone, The Prodigal Comes Home.