Micah Stampley

Micah Stampley
Background information
Birth name Micah Keith Stampley
Born September 7, 1971
Los Angeles, U.S.
Genres CCM
Instruments Vocals, Keyboards
Years active 2005 – present
Labels Motown Gospel
Website www.micahstampley.org

Micah Keith Stampley[1] (born September 7, 1971 in Los Angeles, California) is an American gospel singer-songwriter and actor.[2]

Early life

Stampley was born the fifth child of Richard and Delmarie Stampley's eight children, and grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was a musical prodigy, who joined the church choir at four. He later appeared on the Buckskin Bill WAFB television show and at churches and various venues around Baton Rouge. By the age of seven he was directing the church choir and then learned to teach vocal arrangements and harmonies, taking part in musical productions.[3]

Stampley spent his youth soaking up the sounds of Andrae Crouch, Michael W. Smith and Shirley Caesar as well as Michael Jackson, Billy Ocean and Cyndi Lauper.[4]

The family later moved to Natchitoches, Louisiana where Stampley graduated from Natchitoches Central High School. During junior high school he sang the national anthem during the governor's inauguration and earned several music awards. By the age of 13, Stampley and his brother Nathaniel were both serving as ministers of music in their father's church.[3]

Music career

Stampley sang, between 1994 and 1997, in Rev. Earl Johnson's church in Pasadena, California. Then he went back to Louisiana, at his father's church music department. In 1998 he married Heidi Jones, a fellow gospel singer and nursing student. Heidi has been instrumental in her husband's career, writing several songs for his debut album. In 1999 the couple relocated to New Orleans when Stampley accepted a position as co-choir director and musician for Bishop Paul Morton's Greater St. Stephen's Church.

In 2003 Stampley became assistant minister of music at St. Agnes Baptist Church in Houston. Organist Marcus Dawson, an associate of Bishop T. D. Jakes, noticed Stampley's voice. The following January Stampley won the 2004 Stellar Award Gospel Star Search competition. Stampley signed a record contract with Jakes and Dawson, refusing some other labels.

In March 2005, his first album, The Songbook of Micah, debuted at number three of Billboard's chart, an astounding accomplishment for a new artist. It was the second highest debut in Billboard's history for a male gospel artist, putting him ahead of gospel greats Smokie Norful, Kirk Franklin, and Donnie McClurkin.[3]

Artistry

Voice
"Worthy to be praised"
From "worthy to be praised". Micah sings an f#5 in chest before hitting a soprano C later in the song
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Micah Stampley has a multi-octave voice spanning from bass-to-first soprano and is well known for that. His voice has literally staggering power and sensitivity.[4] Interestingly, he’s never had any formal vocal training.[5] He says about his own voice: “It’s just a sound that God has given me, I think He just kind of fine tuned my vocal chords and gave me this high register. I can sing bass and/or soprano naturally. It’s pretty amazing and to be honest, I can’t explain it. It’s just something that happens whenever I feel the presence of God come over me. I sing at heights that I never thought any man would sing.” [6]

His voice has often been compared with Grammy award winner Donnie McClurkin who is also known in the gospel community for his high notes. Both stars disagree to this but Donnie has expressed his profound admiration of Micah Stampley's outstanding vocal dexterity.[7] Micah has the stamina to hold notes for lengths of time without wavering in pitch or tone, seemingly effortlessly.

In 2005, Billboard magazine placed him on its Top 10 Gospel Music Artists list and AOL Black Voices included him on its roster of Top 11 Gospel Geniuses.[8]

Awards and Nominations

Personal life

As of 2006, Michah and Heidi Stampley have five children. They are the co-founders of Interface Entertainment and Operation I Believe, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, launched in 2006 with platforms that include humanitarian and outreach initiatives. Micah is a third-generation license preacher.[8]

He has been adopted by King Adamtey I of Ghana, as a son.[9]

Discography

Filmography

References

  1. ↑ "Songwriter/Composer: STAMPLEY MICAH KEITH". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  2. ↑ Stampley, Micah (September 8, 2014). "Micah Stampley". Micah Stampley. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Micah Stampley: Biography". Contemporary Black Biography. Gale Cengage. 2006 – via http://www.answers.com/topic/micah-stampley.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Micah Stampley ~ Biography". September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Micah Stampley Interview On TBN 8-16-10 Part 2 of 2". September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Micah Stampley Biography". Today's Christian Music. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Donnie McClurkin and Micah Stampley - Two High Octave Tenors Battle & Worship". September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Micah Stampley Set To Rlease New CD, One Voice In Stores August 23, 2011". September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Micah Stampley Newest Addition to the Music World Entertainment". September 12, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2014.