Editing Michael W. Smith (section)

== Early life ==

Michael Whitaker Smith was born to Paul and Barbara Smith in [[Kenova, West Virginia]]. His father was an oil refinery worker at the Ashland Oil Refinery, in nearby [[Catlettsburg, Kentucky]]. His mother was a caterer.<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web |url= {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p2400/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Michael W. Smith: Biography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=August 15, 2009 |author=Sandra Brennan}}</ref> He inherited his love of baseball from his father, who had played in the [[minor league baseball|minor leagues]]. As a child, he developed a love of music through his church. He learned piano at an early age and sang in his church choir. At the age of 10, he had "an intense spiritual experience" that led to his becoming a devout [[Christians|Christian]]. "I wore this big cross around my neck," he would recall, "It was very real to me."<ref name="long">{{cite journal|last=Long|first=Jim|title=Michael W. Smith Looks Back|journal=Christianity Today|date=March 1988|volume=46|issue=8|page=56}}</ref> He became involved in Bible study and found a group of older friends who shared his faith.<ref name="long" />

After his older Christian friends moved away to college, Smith began to struggle with feelings of loneliness and alienation. After graduating from high school, he gravitated toward alcohol and drugs.<ref name="Allmusic"/> He attended [[Marshall University]] while developing his songwriting skills but dropped out after one semester. He also played with various local bands around [[Huntington, West Virginia]]. During that time, his friend [[Shane Keister]], who worked as a session musician in Nashville, encouraged him to move to Nashville, the Country Music capital, and pursue a career in music.<ref name="long" />

In 1978, Smith moved to Nashville, taking a job as a landscaper to support himself. He played with several local bands in the Nashville club scene. He also developed a problem with substance abuse.

{{quote|I really started losing touch when I moved to Nashville, around April of '78. I was smokin' marijuana, drinking, doing some other drugs; just being crazy, you know. My mom and dad knew what I was doing. But they never hassled me; they just prayed for me. And I felt convicted by God. Every time I'd wake up I knew: This isn't me. But I couldn't change myself.<ref name="long" />}}

After a breakdown in November 1979, Smith decided to recommit to Christianity. The next day he auditioned for a new contemporary Christian music (CCM) group, Higher Ground, as a keyboardist and got the job. His lead vocals were heard on much of CCM radio with the single, "I Am". It was on his first tour with Higher Ground, playing mostly in churches, that Smith was finally able to put the drugs and alcohol behind him.<ref name="long" />