Blessing Offor
{{Short description|American Gospel musical artist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| origin = Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
| genre = Gospel, Contemporary Christian Music
| occupation = Singer-songwriter, musician
| years_active = 2007–present
| label = Capitol CMG
| website = {{URL|blessingoffor.com}}
}}
Blessing Offor is a Nigerian-born American gospel and contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter.
Early life and career
Offor was born blind in one eye and with limited vision in the other due to congenital glaucoma. He and his uncle migrated to Connecticut, United States when Offor was six years old to treat the glaucoma and preserve his remaining eyesight.{{Cite web |title=Blessing Offor |url=https://www.capitolcmglabelgroup.com/artist/blessing-offor-0/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Capitol Christian Music Group}} When he was 10, he went completely blind due to an accident. He started composing music on piano and learned to play songs from Stevie Wonder and Sam Cooke, his musical influences. He carried on with his career as a gospel musician and moved to Nashville to pursue music more.{{Cite web |last1=Law |first1=Jeannie Ortega |last2=Reporter |first2=Christian Post |date=2022-03-11 |title=Blind musician Blessing Offor says he's 'living the dream,' wakes up grateful for each day |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/blind-musician-blessing-offor-says-hes-living-the-dream.html |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=The Christian Post}}
Offor played at bars in his young adult years before competing on The Voice during its seventh season in 2014, where he joined team Pharrell Williams and later Adam Levine, before getting eliminated in the show's third round.{{Cite web |last=Starkey |first=Mei Ling |date=2015-04-24 |title=The Voice Contestant Blessing Offor Exclusive Interview |url=https://www.risenmagazine.com/the-voice-contestant-blessing-offor-exclusive-interview/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Risen Magazine}}{{Cite web |title='The Voice' Performer Blessing Offor Is Sent Home & This Season Loses Its "Something Special" |url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/47368-the-voice-performer-blessing-offor-is-sent-home-this-season-loses-its-something-special |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Bustle|date=November 4, 2014 }}
Offor regularly performs at the Kennedy Center to help spread awareness about artists with disabilities. In 2022 he released the single "Brighter Days", accompanied by an album of the same name.{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Laura |date=2022-04-06 |title=Blessing Offor's 'Brighter Days' Were Hard-Won But Faith-Building |url=https://hope1032.com.au/stories/faith/2022/blessing-offors-brighter-days-were-hard-won-but-faith-building/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Hope 103.2}} The song reached 17 on the Billboard Top 20 at the time.{{Cite magazine |last=devops |date=2013-11-28 |title=Christian Airplay |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-airplay/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |magazine=Billboard}} It also reached No. 25 on the mainstream Adult Contemporary chart.{{Cite web |last=Clarks |first=Jessie |date=2024-12-06 |title=Blessing Offor Releases 'Covers' EP |url=https://www.thechristianbeat.org/blessing-offor-releases-covers-ep/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=TCB |language=en-US}} It additionally reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top TV songs chart.{{Cite web |last=Rutherford |first=Kevin |date=2021-11-24 |title=Taylor Swift’s ‘Exile’ Rules Top TV Songs Chart After ‘You’ Appearance |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-exile-top-tv-songs-chart-you-1235002557/ |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}
In 2023, Offor released a duet with fellow Christian singer, TobyMac called "The Goodness", and a solo single "My Tribe", which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Christian AirPlay for seven weeks.{{Cite magazine |last=Nicholson |first=Jessica |date=2023-01-12 |title=Blessing Offor Talks Christian Music Success & Debut Album 'My Tribe': 'I Didn't Give Myself Permission to Quit' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/features/blessing-offor-interview-my-tribe-debut-album-1235198419/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |magazine=Billboard}}{{Cite magazine |last=devops |date=2013-11-28 |title=Christian Airplay |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-airplay/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |magazine=Billboard}}{{Cite magazine |last=devops |date=2013-01-02 |title=Hot Christian Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-songs/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |magazine=Billboard}} "My Tribe" pays tribute to his sister, Mercy, who died December 29, 2022, and to his home country, Nigeria.{{Cite web |last=Palsa |first=Nicole |date=2023-02-01 |title=Blessing Offor Reflects On Releasing Debut Album, 'My Tribe,' After Sudden Loss Of His Sister: 'An Emotional Challenge' |url=https://countrynow.com/blessing-offor-reflects-on-releasing-debut-album-my-tribe-after-sudden-loss-of-his-sister-an-emotional-challenge/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Country Now}}
Later that year, his song "Believe" reached number 23, on Christian Top 40{{Cite web |title=Christian Top 40 |url=http://www.topchristianhits.org/christian_top_40.html |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.topchristianhits.org}}{{Cite web |title=Blessing Offor "Brighter Days" hits Billboard Top 10, releases "Believe" in studio performance |url=https://www.breathecast.com/news/blessing-offor-brighter-days-hits-billboard-top-10-releases-b.html |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.breathecast.com}} and in November 2023 was nominated for the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. Offor also received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album with his album, My Tribe. It reached No. 6 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and No. 20 on the Top Current Digital Album Sales and Official Charts UK Top Christian/Gospel charts.{{Cite web |title=Blessing Offor Appears on Today with Hoda and Jenna; Covers Ep Out Friday |url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2024/12/03.BlessingOfforAppearsonTodaywithHodaandJennaCoversEPOutFriday.asp |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=www.jesusfreakhideout.com}}{{Cite web |last=Hollabaugh |first=Lorie |date=2023-01-31 |title=Blessing Offor's 'My Tribe' Is Capitol CMG’s Most Streamed Debut From Male Solo Artist |url=https://musicrow.com/2023/01/blessing-offors-my-tribe-is-capitol-cmgs-most-streamed-debut-from-male-solo-artist/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=MusicRow.com |language=en-US}} Later that year, his song "Wonderful Christmastime", a Paul McCartney cover, reached #1 on the Billboard AC Monitered and Airplay charts.
Awards and nominations
In 2010, he won the International Young Soloists Award from VSA.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Local-artist-wins-international-award-14535085.php |title=Local artist wins international award |date=2010-05-03 |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=New Haven Register |last=Fredricksen |first=Lynn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402110242/https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Local-artist-wins-international-award-14535085.php |archive-date=2023-04-02 |url-status=live }}
= GMA Dove Awards =
{{awards table}}
!{{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
| 2022
| Blessing Offor
| New Artist of the Year
| {{Nominated}}
| {{center|{{cite web |url= https://doveawards.com/2022-nominees/ |title= 2022 Nominees {{!}} The 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards |date= August 10, 2022 |website= GMA Dove Awards |access-date= August 18, 2022 |archive-date= August 11, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220811072953/https://doveawards.com/2022-nominees/ |url-status= live}}}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2023
| "Brighter Days"
| Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="3" | {{center|{{cite web |url= https://doveawards.com/awards/2023-nominees |title= 2023 Nominees |date= August 9, 2023 |website= GMA Dove Awards |access-date= September 11, 2023 |archive-date= August 12, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230812191018/https://doveawards.com/awards/2023-nominees |url-status= live}}}}
|-
| My Tribe
| Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| "The Goodness"
{{small|(with TobyMac)}}
| Short Form Video of the Year (Performance)
| {{Won}}
|}
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:14em;" | Title
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Details ! colspan="3" | Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Certifications |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:85%;" | US Christ ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:85%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:85%;" | UK |
| scope="row" | Guilty Pleasure
|
| — | — | — | |
| scope="row" | Roots
|
| — | — | — | |
| scope="row" | Brighter Days
|
| — | — | — | |
| scope="row" | My Tribe
| | 6 | 20 | 20 | |
= Extended plays =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Details |
|---|
| scope="row" | How Much You Mean to Me
|
|
| scope="row" | Snow Globe
|
|
| scope="row" | Covers
|
|
| scope="row" | Morning
|
|
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:14em;" | Title
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Year ! colspan="6" |Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" |Certifications ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:85%;" | US
! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:85%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:85%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:85%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:85%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:85%;" | US |
| scope="row" | "Say Yes"
| 2008 |— |— |— | — | colspan="2" |— | |Guilty Pleasure |
| scope="row" | "Songs for Guiding Eyes"
| rowspan="2" |2013 |— |— |— |— | colspan="2" | — | |{{non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "Loving Each Other"
|— |— |— | — | colspan="2" | — | | rowspan="2" |Roots |
| scope="row" | "This Life"
|2015 |— |— |— |— |13 |5 | |
| scope="row" | "Hey World" (with Lee Brice) |2020 |— |— |— | — | — |— | |
| scope="row" | "Tin Roof"
| rowspan="2" |2021 |—{{Efn|"Tin Roof" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100|group=upper-alpha}} |— |— | — | 17 |2 | |
| scope="row" | "Brighter Days"
|— |5 |24 | 17 | 2 |2 |
----My Tribe |
| scope="row" | "Your Love"
| rowspan="6" |2022 |— |— |— | — |30 |18 | | rowspan="5" |My Tribe |
| scope="row" | "Feel Good"
|— |— |— | — |— |— | |
| scope="row" | "Won't Be Long Now"
|— |— |— | — |— |— | |
| scope="row" | "My Tribe"
|— |— |— | — | — |2 | |
| scope="row" | "Rollin'"
|— |— |— | — |22 |— | |
| scope="row" | "The Goodness" (with TobyMac) |— |— |— |— | 1 | 1 | |
| scope="row" | "Look Up to the Sky" (with Lathan Warlick) | rowspan="2" |2023 |— |— |— | — | — |— | |Lets Be Honest EP |
| scope="row" | "Thats the Thing About Praise" (with Benjamin William Hastings) |— |— |— | — | 21 |14 | |
| scope="row" | "Somebody's Child" {{small|(with Dolly Parton)}} | rowspan="4" |2024 |— |— |— |— | 41 | — | | Morning |
| scope="row" | "Autobahn"
|— |— |— |— | — | — | | {{non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "Jordans"
|— |— |— |— | 44 |16 | | rowspan="3" | Morning |
| scope="row" | "All Over the World"
|— |— |— | — |— |— | |
| scope="row" | "Lift Me Up"
| 2025 |— |— |— | — |— |— | |
= Other charted songs =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:14em;" | Title
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Year ! colspan="4" |Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:85%;" | US Air ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:85%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:85%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:85%;" | US |
| scope="row" | "Believe"
|2022 |— |— | 9 |7 ----My Tribe |
| scope="row" | "Godspeed" {{Small|(Frank Ocean cover)}} | rowspan="2" |2023 |— | — |33 |— |
| scope="row" | "Wonderful Christmastime" (Paul McCartney cover) |1 | 1 | 17 |1 | rowspan="2" |Snow Globe |
| scope="row" | "Snow Globe"
|2024 |— |— | 24 |27 |
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Offor, Blessing}}
Category:American gospel singers
Category:Nigerian gospel singers
Category:Nigerian male singers
Category:American male singers
Category:Musicians from Nashville, Tennessee
Category:Performers of Christian music