Wayne Watson

Wayne Watson
Born (1954-10-05) October 5, 1954 (age 70)
Wisner, Louisiana, U.S.
GenresContemporary Christian, inspirational
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Voice, guitar, piano
Years active1978–present
Websitewaynewatson.com

Wayne Watson (born October 5, 1954)[1] is an American singer-songwriter in contemporary Christian music. Some of his songs have become CCM classics, including "Another Time, Another Place", "For Such a Time as This", "Friend of a Wounded Heart", "People of God", "Touch of the Master's Hand", "New Lives for Old", "Watercolour Ponies", and from the 1998 The Way Home album "Here in This Town". He has won eight GMA Dove Awards. He was born in Wisner, Louisiana, United States.[1]

Career history

Watson originally planned to pursue a career playing baseball, but while in college he began dabbling in music, and after graduation regularly performed in area churches. While leading worship at a Christian youth camp, the father of one of the children videotaped Watson's performance and sent it to a record company.[1]

Watson produced 23 No. 1 singles in Christian radio—including "Friend of a Wounded Heart", "When God's People Pray", "Almighty", "Be in Her Eyes", "Watercolour Ponies", "More of You", "Another Time, Another Place", and "Home Free" (which became the most played song on Christian radio in 1991).[citation needed]

His career credits include a dozen Dove Awards wins, including Male Vocalist of the Year in 1989, Song of the Year in that same year ("Friend of a Wounded Heart"), Pop Contemporary Song of the Year and Contemporary Album of The Year (1988) for Watercolour Ponies, and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year (1992) for "Home Free". He has been nominated for two Grammy Awards, for Best Male Gospel Performance in 1988 for Watercolour Ponies, and for Best Pop Gospel Album in 1993 for A Beautiful Place.

In the 1990s, he performed "Another Time, Another Place" with fellow artist Sandi Patty on NBC-TV's The Tonight Show—an event that was deemed[according to whom?] a defining moment in Christian music's move to wider audiences. In the late 1990s, his "For Such a Time as This" became a centerpiece theme of the CBS-TV series Touched by an Angel.

Watson is retired after many years of serving as the associate director of music at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.

On January 1, 2011, Watson was among seven artists inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.

Discography

Albums

Year Album US Christian Record Label Record Producer
1980 Workin' in the Final Hour Milk & Honey Greg Nelson
1982 New Lives for Old Wayne Watson, Brian Tankersley
1984 Man in the Middle
1985 Giants in the Land 22 DaySpring Wayne Watson, Scott Hendricks
1987 Watercolour Ponies 11 Paul Mills, Wayne Watson
1988 The Fine Line 13 Word/Epic
1990 Home Free 7
1992 How Time Flies Word/DaySpring
1993 A Beautiful Place 10 DaySpring Greg Nelson, Wayne Watson
1994 One Christmas Eve 10 Word
1995 Field of Souls 21 Warner Alliance Michael Omartian, David Pack, Wayne Watson
1998 The Way Home 8 Word/Epic Michael Omartian
2000 Wayne Watson 36 Word Michael Omartian, Jerry McPherson
2002 Living Room 6 Spring Hill/Word Neal Watson
2007 Even This Infinity Entertainment
2008 King of Kings (Christmas project) indie Jeremy Good, Wayne Watson
2016 Simple Life indie

Official compilations

  • 1985: Best of Wayne Watson (Milk & Honey)
  • 1991: The Early Works (Benson)
  • 1992: How Time Flies (Word)
  • 1995: The Very Best (Word)
  • 1999: Signature Songs (Greentree)
  • 2004: Signatures (Spring Hill)
  • 2007: The Definitive Collection (Word)

Appearances on other albums

  • 1985: An Evening in December; First Call & Friends (Word-A&M)
  • 1985: Together We Will Stand; We Will Stand; a Continental Singers project (Christian Artists Records)
  • 1989: Our Hymns (Word) "It Is Well with My Soul"
  • 1990: Another Time...Another Place; Sandi Patti (Word) (title song)
  • 1990: Handel's Young Messiah (Word) "He Was Despised"
  • 1991: Live with Friends; Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir (Word) "Almighty"
  • 1991: The New Young Messiah; (Sparrow) "Comfort Ye My People"
  • 1994: Saviour: Story of God's Passion for His People; (Word) "Man of Sorrows"
  • 1995: Christmas Carols of the Young Messiah; (Sparrow) "Angels Medley"
  • 1996: Tribute – The Songs of Andraé Crouch; (Warner Alliance) "Through It All"
  • 1997: Sing Me to Sleep, Daddy; (Brentwood Kids Company) (title song)
  • 1999: Touched by an Angel: The Christmas Album; (Sony) "For Such a Time as This"
  • 2000: Child of the Promise original cast recording (Sparrow) "Shepherds Recitative"
  • 2002: McPherson 1: Sunset Drive (Autumn Productions) "Watercolor Ponies" (guitar instrumental)

Video

  • 1987: Wayne Watson in Concert (Dayspring)
  • 1994: The New Young Messiah (Sparrow)
  • 1994: It's Time (Word Visual)
  • 1995: Christmas Carols of the Young Messiah (Chordant)

Awards

Dove Awards

  • 1988: Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: Watercolour Ponies
  • 1989: Song of the Year: "Friend of a Wounded Heart"
  • 1989: Male Vocalist of the Year
  • 1992: Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year: "Home Free"
  • 1992: Short Form Music Video of the Year: "Another Time, Another Place"
  • 1997: Special Event Album of the Year: Tribute – The Songs of Andrae Crouch (various artists)
  • 1998: Children's Music Album of the Year: Sing Me to Sleep Daddy (various artists)

References

  1. ^ a b c Ankeny, Jason. "Wayne Watson Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 23, 2010.