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.
Early life Redman was born on 14 February 1974, and raised in Watford, England. The family had moved to Chorleywood, a small commuter town, when he was around the age of two. His father took his own life when Matt was 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 toll 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.
Career
Christian church leadership
Redman 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 alongside his youth leader, Mike Pilavachi, Soul Survivor, a global Christian movement and yearly music festival aimed at youth. From 1994 until 2002, Redman led worship services for Soul Survivor Church, Watford.
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 2002, Redman co-wrote with his wife Beth, the 2002 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. 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 He married Beth Redman, who is also a songwriter and author. The couple have five children.
On 13 July 2023, following reports of allegations of abuse committed by Mike Pilavachi, Redman released a statement in which he identified himself as one of Pilavachi's alleged victims. In his statement, Redman said, "I have spent years trying to fully heal from my time at Soul Survivor". In April 2024 he released a short documentary entitled Let There Be Light in which he described his experience.
Discography
Albums Studio albums Year Title Peak chart position CertificationsUKUS USChrist. 1993Wake Up My Soul — — — 1995Passion for Your Name — — — 1997The Friendship and the Fear — — — 1998Intimacy — — — 1999The Heart of Worship (US release of Intimacy) — — — 2000The Father's Song — — — 2002Where Angels Fear to Tread — — 38 2006Beautiful News Label: sixstepsrecords — 156 8 2009We Shall Not Be Shaken Label: sixstepsrecords — 136 13 201110,000 Reasons Label: Sparrow Records 149 60 1 RIAA: Gold 2015Unbroken Praise: At Abbey Road Studios Label: sixstepsrecords 58 50 1 2016These Christmas Lights Label: sixstepsrecords — — 15 2017Glory Song Label: Sparrow/sixstepsrecords — 112 2 2020Let There Be Wonder (Acoustic) Label: Integrity Music — — — 2023Lamb of God Label: Integrity Music — — — 2025Life & Breath Label: Integrity Music — — —
Live albums Year Title Peak chart positionUKUSUSChrist. 2004Facedown Label: sixstepsrecords — — 19 2005Blessed Be Your Name: The Songs of Matt Redman Vol. 1 Label: sixstepsrecords — — 41 2013Your Grace Finds Me Label: sixstepsrecords 68 28 1 2020Let There Be Wonder Label: Integrity Music Released: January 31, 2020 — — 10
Compilation albums Year Title Peak chart positionUKUSUSChristian 2010Ultimate Collection Label: Sparrow — — — 2012Sing Like Never Before: The Essential Collection Label: Sparrow — — 23
Video albums and DVDs 2004: Facedown (DVD)
Singles Year Song Peak chart positions Certifications Album USBub. USChrist USChristAirplayUK 2003"Blessed Be Your Name" — — — — Where Angels Fear to Tread 2006"You Never Let Go" — 17 — RIAA: Gold Beautiful News 2011"10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" 3 1 — RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Silver RMNZ: Platinum 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" — 46 34 — Let There Be Wonder (Live) 2020"We Praise You"(with Brandon Lake) — — — — 2020"Upon Him" — — — —
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)
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