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Micah Stampley

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Micah Stampley
Background information
Birth nameMicah Keith Stampley
Born (1971-09-07) September 7, 1971 (age 53)
Los Angeles, U.S.
GenresCCM, gospel
Occupation(s)Recording artist, record executive
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards
Years active2005–present
LabelsEMI, Music World Entertainment, Motown Gospel, Interface Entertainment
Websitewww.micahstampley.org

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

Early life

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Micah Stampley was born on September 7, 1971[3] to Richard and Delmarie Stampley. The fifth of eight children, he exhibited his musical talent from the tender age of four. By age seven, he was directing the church choir and teaching vocal arrangements and harmonies. Micah grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[citation needed]

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]

Stampley graduated from Natchitoches Central High School where he earned several music awards. By age 13 he was serving as the minister of music together with his brother (who was his best friend) in their father's church.[citation needed]

Career

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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, he became the second male gospel artist to have a high debut on the Billboard's chat when his first album, The Songbook of Micah, debuted at number three of Billboard's chart[5]

In 2014 he shared the same stage with Donnie McClurkin and other prominent gospel ministers at the Experience, an annual event held in Nigeria. Over 600,000 people attended.[6]

On May 20, 2016, he released his next album: "To the King: Vertical Worship". This album featured hit songs from previous albums as well as fresh sounds like the hit single "Be Lifted" which was named as one of the top hot new songs in 2016 by BlackGospel.com.[7][8] The album debuted at number 2 on Billboard's Top Gospel Album Chart[9]

Artistry

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Voice

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"Worthy to be praised"
From "worthy to be praised". Micah sings an F#5 (@0:20) in chest before hitting a semitone above the soprano C (@0:29) later in the song
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Micah Stampley has a multi-octave vocal range spanning from bass-to-first soprano and is well known for that. His voice has literally staggering power and sensitivity.[4] He has never had any formal vocal training.[10] 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."[11]

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.[12] Micah has the stamina to hold notes for lengths of time without wavering in pitch or tone, seemingly effortlessly.[13]

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.[14]

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Result
2004 Stellar Awards Stellar Award Star Search Won
2006[15] Stellar Awards New Artist of the Year Nominated
Stellar Awards Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
2014 Dove Awards Contemporary Gosple/Urban Song of the Year (Our God)[16] Nominated
Dove Awards Contemporary/Gospel Urban Album of the Year (Love Never Fails)[16] Nominated
2015 Stellar Awards Contemporary CD of the year Nominated
Stellar Awards Praise and Worship Album of the year (Love Never Fails) Nominated
Stellar Awards Contemporary Male Vocalist of the year Nominated
2023 The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award Won

Personal life

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Micah and Heidi Stampley 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 licensed preacher.[14] Micah and Heidi Stampley are also co-owners of Orleans Foods Ltd. Co.[17] Currently, he serves as the Visionary Leader and Chief Worshipper of Shift Global, Inc.[18]

Discography

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Filmography

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  • Anchorman Part II
  • Appearing on TV in Tyler Perry's House of Pain
  • Necessary Roughness

References

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  1. ^ "Songwriter/Composer: STAMPLEY MICAH KEITH". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  2. ^ Stampley, Micah (September 8, 2014). "Micah Stampley". Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  3. ^ "Micah Stampley ~ Biography". April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Micah Stampley ~ Biography". September 8, 2014. Archived from the original on January 25, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  5. ^ "Micah Stampley". April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  6. ^ "The Experience". November 22, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  7. ^ "To the King – Vertical Worship". April 13, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  8. ^ "TOP 10 HOT NEW SONGS IN 2016". April 13, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  9. ^ "The Experience". June 6, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  10. ^ "Micah Stampley Interview On TBN 8-16-10 Part 2 of 2". September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  11. ^ "Micah Stampley Biography". Today's Christian Music. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  12. ^ "Donnie McClurkin and Micah Stampley – Two High Octave Tenors Battle & Worship". September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  13. ^ "Micah Stampley OUR GOD on Sundays BEST". April 9, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Micah Stampley Set To Release New CD, One Voice in Stores August 23, 2011". September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  15. ^ "Micah Stampley Interview & Bio". Micah Stampley. May 21, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  16. ^ a b "MOTOWN GOSPEL RECIEVES [sic] SIX GMA DOVE AWARD NOMINATIONS FOR TYE TRIBBETT, MICAH STAMPLEY and SHERI JONES – MOFFETT". November 11, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  17. ^ https://orleansfoodsltd.com/ [bare URL]
  18. ^ "Our Leadership".
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