- Matt Brouwer
-
Matt Brouwer 
Matt Brouwer at the 2010 Canadian JUNO AwardsBackground information Born February 28, 1980 Origin Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada Genres Singer/songwriter, Pop, Adult Alternative, CCM. Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano Years active 2001 - present Labels Reunion Records, Black Shoe Records Website www.mattbro.com Matt Brouwer is a Juno Award winning Canadian singer/songwriter who got his start in the music industry while studying music at school in Alberta, Canada. While in college he and fellow students founded the band Monday Night Worship (MNW).[1] Because of the spiritual content of his lyrics he was 'discovered' by a Nashville record company in 2000, and in 2001 recorded his solo debut CD Imagerical. The album was released on May 29, 2001 on Reunion Records. He then formed his own label called Black Shoe Records and released an album titled Unlearning in 2005 and Where's Our Revolution (Universal) in 2009. Brouwer's music has been hailed for its relentless vulnerability as he shares his life's story of tragedy (the death of his father) and hope (his Spiritual pilgrimage) with his listeners.[2]
Contents
Early Years
Matthew Paul Brouwer was born in Truro, Nova Scotia Canada. His Mother is a teacher and his Father ran a dairy farm. When Matt was 3 years old his father was killed in a car accident. The loss of his Dad at an early age had an emotional impact on the singer and is a theme that has permeated many of Brouwer's songs. During college Brouwer found music to be more than a comforting hobby as he co-founded a group of Spiritually curious musicians known on campus as MNW. "It started with a conversation a group of us (students) had about our hunger to not only know about God, but to begin a journey of actually knowing Him," says Matt. MNW released 2 independent CD's featuring songs written and sung by Brouwer, many of which were also featured on his debut CD, Imagerical which was released a year later as Brouwer and several other members of the college group were signed to Provident Label Group as separate acts.[3]
Musical career
Matt Brouwer's first single, Water, was a hit on CCM radio's CHR chart reaching #2 on R&R, and he hit the airwaves again with a cover of Sheryl Crow's I Shall Believe which graced Billboard's Christian chart in 2005.[4] The hit "Sometimes" from "Where's Our Revolution" did even better, charting in the top 20 in Billboard in 2010.[5] Brouwer's CD, Imagerical was nominated for Best Gospel Album at the Canadian JUNO Awards.[6] and he won a JUNO Award in 2010 for the album Where's Our Revolution as it was named best Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the year.[7] He has won several GMA Canada Covenant Awards, and his songs have been featured on TV in the Canadian produced hit teen drama Degrassi.[8]
Personal life
Matt Brouwer married Hannah Dawn Ficker August 29, 2010 before an intimate gathering of family and close friends at The Woodlands United Methodist Church in Houston. The couple met during a trip Brouwer took to Guatemala, where Hannah's family serves in medical missions.[9]
Discography
Albums
- Imagerical (Reunion Records, 2001, review[10]) OCLC: 47203906.
- Unlearning (Black Shoe Records, 2005, review[11]) OCLC: 137341514.
- B-Sides Recording, Vol. 1 (Black Shoe Records, 2006)
- Where's Our Revolution (Black Shoe Records, 2009, review[12]) OCLC: 316822224.
Notable appearances
- vocals on Jill Paquette's debut album Jill Paquette (Reunion, 2003)
Songs on compilations
- Rock On Worship, "Water" (Madacy, 2002)
- Sea to Sea: I See The Cross, "Home" (CMC, 2005)
- Sea to Sea: The Voice of Creation, "Your Name" (CMC, 2007)
- GMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary Collection, "Water" (CMC, 2008)
- Sea to Sea: Christmas, "A Holly Jolly Christmas" (Lakeside, 2009)
Awards and recognition
- 2007 nominee, Praise And Worship Album Of The Year: The B-Sides Recording, Volume 1
- 2008 nominee, Male Vocalist Of The Year
- 2008 nominee, Pop/Contemporary Song Of The Year: Beautiful Now
- 2009 Folk/Roots Song Of The Year: The Other Side (with Amy Grant and Vince Gill) *won
- 2009 GMA Canada/Blessings Christian Marketplace Fan's Choice Award *won [13]
- Independent Music Awards
- 2010 nominee, CCM Song Of The Year: Sometimes
- 2010 nominee, CCM Album Of The Year: Where's Our Revolution[14]
- East Coast Music Awards
- 2010 nominee, Best Gospel Album: Where's Our Revolution[15]
- Juno Awards
- 2002 nominee, Best Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album: Imagerical
- 2010, Best Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album: Where's Our Revolution *won
References
- ^ Kittle, Ashleigh. "Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p480850. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
- ^ Kathy Douglas (c/o Extreme Dreams Management).
- ^ http://www.christianbook.com/html/authors/4584.html
- ^ Billboard Magazine, 2005.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Juno Awards archive
- ^ [2]
- ^ http://www.tv.com/degrassi-the-next-generation/degrassi-season-10-music-guide/topic/4421-2123172/msgs.html
- ^ http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/7411642.html
- ^ Losey, Stephen Douglas. "(Review) Imagerical". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?pid=444743&aid=477700. Retrieved 2009-02-15.[dead link]
- ^ Breitinger, Kevin. [hhttp://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/matt_brouwer__unlearning/index.jsp?pid=444743&aid=477700 "(Review) Unlearning"]. Suite101. hhttp://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/matt_brouwer__unlearning/index.jsp?pid=444743&aid=477700. Retrieved 2006-11-10.
- ^ Ross, C.W.. "(Review) Where's Our Revolution". Breathecast. http://www.breathecast.com/Christian.Music.News-Matt.Brouwer...Wheres.Our.Revolution/2_3673.htm/index.jsp?pid=444743&aid=477700. Retrieved 2010-03-06.[dead link]
- ^ Matt Brouwer also received five GMAC nominations in 2009, for: Male Vocalist Of The Year, Album Of The Year: Where's Our Revolution, Pop/Contemporary Album Of The Year: Where's Our Revolution, Recorded Song Of The Year: "Come Back Around", and Video Of The Year: "I Shall Believe". GMAC 2009 Covenant Award Nominees. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ Independent Music Awards official site. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ East Coast Music Awards official site. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
External links
Categories:- Living people
- Musicians from Nova Scotia
- Canadian singer-songwriters
- Canadian male singers
- Canadian performers of Christian music
- Juno Award winners
- 1980 births
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