Matt Brouwer
{{short description|Canadian singer and songwriter|}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Matt Brouwer
| image = MattBrouwerJunoAwards2010-1.jpg
| caption = Matt Brouwer at the 2010 Juno Awards in St. John's, Newfoundland
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|02|28}}
| birth_place = Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
| death_date =
| origin = Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
| instrument = Vocals, guitar, piano
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
| years_active = {{Start date|2001}}–present
| label = Reunion, Black Shoe
| website = {{URL|mattbrouwer.com}}
}}
Matt Brouwer (born February 28, 1976{{cite web|url=https://www.mattbrouwer.com/bio|title=Matt Brouwer – Singer-Songwriter – BIO|website=Matt Brouwer – Singer-Songwriter|accessdate=October 2, 2018}}) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. While in college, he and fellow students founded the band Monday Night Worship (MNW).{{cite web | url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p480850|pure_url=yes}} | publisher=Allmusic | accessdate=May 10, 2009 | date= | first=Ashleigh | last=Kittle | title=Biography}} Because of the spiritual content of his lyrics he was 'discovered' by a Nashville record company in 2000, and in 2001 recorded his solo debut CD Imagerical. The album was released on May 29, 2001, on Reunion Records. He then formed his own label called Black Shoe Records and released albums titled Unlearning in 2005, Where's Our Revolution (Universal) in 2009, and Till The Sunrise in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/matt-brouwer-mn0000389763/biography|title=Artist Biography - allmusic.com|website=www.allmusic.com|accessdate=October 10, 2018 }}. Brouwer's music is known for its Contemporary Christian message as he shares his life's story of tragedy (the death of his father) and hope (his spiritual pilgrimage) with his listeners.[http://www.extreme-dreams.net/ Kathy Douglas (c/o Extreme Dreams Management)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705131235/http://www.extreme-dreams.net/ |date=July 5, 2008 }}.
Early years
Matthew Paul Brouwer was born in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. His dad ran a dairy farm and his mother worked as a teacher. When Brouwer was three years old his father was killed in a car accident. Brouwer is one of 7 siblings.
While attending college, Brouwer co-founded a group known as Monday Night Worship (MNW). "It started with a conversation a group of us (students) had about our hunger to not only know about God, but to begin a journey of actually knowing Him," said Brouwer. MNW released two independent CDs featuring songs written and sung by Brouwer, many of which were also featured on his solo debut CD, Imagerical. Brouwer and other members of the college group eventually parted ways or were signed to Provident Label Group as separate acts.{{cite web|url=http://www.christianbook.com/html/authors/4584.html|title=Christian Music Artist Index - Christianbook.com|website=www.christianbook.com|accessdate=October 2, 2018}}
Musical career
Matt Brouwer's first single, "Water", was a hit on CCM radio's CHR chart, reaching No. 2 on R&R in 2001. The follow-up singles, "A New Song", and "Sanity", were top 20 and top 10 hits respectively as well. Brouwer hit the airwaves again with a cover of Sheryl Crow's "I Shall Believe", which graced Billboard{{'}}s Christian chart in 2005.Billboard Magazine, 2005. The hit "Sometimes" from Where's Our Revolution did even better, charting in the top 20 on Billboard in 2010. An acoustic cover version of the Goo Goo Dolls song, "Better Days", also charted for Brouwer on the Billboard chart in 2011.[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=matt brouwer|chart=all}}] Brouwer's CD Imagerical was nominated for Best Gospel Album at the 2002 Canadian JUNO Awards.[http://www.junoawards.ca/archive_past.php Juno Awards archive] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224181313/http://www.junoawards.ca/archive_past.php |date=February 24, 2007 }} He won a JUNO Award in 2010 for the album Where's Our Revolution; it was named best Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the year.{{Cite web|url=http://junoawards.ca/nominees/|title=Winners + Nominees}} He has been nominated for 15 GMA Canada Covenant Awards, winning three. His songs have been featured in the Canadian produced hit teen television drama Degrassi.{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/degrassi-the-next-generation/degrassi-season-10-music-guide/topic/4421-2123172/msgs.html|title=All Communities Feed - TV.com|last=TV.com|website=www.tv.com|accessdate=October 2, 2018|archive-date=May 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529101054/http://www.tv.com/degrassi-the-next-generation/degrassi-season-10-music-guide/topic/4421-2123172/msgs.html|url-status=dead}}
Personal life
Matt Brouwer married Hannah Dawn Ficker on August 29, 2010, in Houston, Texas. The couple met during a trip Brouwer took to Guatemala, where Hannah's family serves in medical missions.{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/7411642.html|title=Love story: From geographically undesirable to inseparable|newspaper=Chron |date=February 6, 2011|publisher=|accessdate=October 2, 2018}} The couple has 3 children.{{cite web|url=http://www.mattbrouwer.com/blog.php/2013/07/25/all-thing-new/|title=Matt Brouwer Blog Post - mattbrouwer.com|publisher=|accessdate=October 2, 2018|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070358/http://www.mattbrouwer.com/blog.php/2013/07/25/all-thing-new/|url-status=dead}}
Discography
=Albums=
- Imagerical (Reunion Records, 2001, review{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=matt brouwer|chart=all}} |publisher=Billboard |accessdate=February 15, 2009 |first=Stephen Douglas |last=Losey |title=(Review) Imagerical |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125042726/http://www.billboard.com/artist/309996/matt%20brouwer/chart |archivedate=November 25, 2016 }}) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/47203906?tab=details OCLC: 47203906.]
- Unlearning (Black Shoe Records, 2005, review{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/unlearning-mw0000416429 | publisher=allmusic.com | accessdate=July 27, 2015 | first=Jackie | last=Chapman | title=Unlearning Review}}) [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/124054696 OCLC: 137341514.]
- The B-Sides Recording, Vol. 1 (Black Shoe Records, 2006)
- Where's Our Revolution (Black Shoe Records, 2009, review{{cite web | url=http://www.breathecast.com/Christian.Music.News-Matt.Brouwer...Wheres.Our.Revolution/2_3673.htm/index.jsp?pid=444743&aid=477700 | publisher=Breathecast | accessdate=March 6, 2010 | date= | first=C.W. | last=Ross | title=(Review) Where's Our Revolution}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}) [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/429043209 OCLC: 316822224.]
- A Merry Little Christmas (Matt Brouwer) (Black Shoe Records, 2010, review{{cite web | url=http://www.crosswalk.com/culture/music/christmas-music-wrap-up-2008-11620632.html | publisher=crosswalk.com | accessdate=December 1, 2015 | first=Russ | last=Breimeier | title=Christmas Music Wrap Up | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104004007/http://www.crosswalk.com/culture/music/christmas-music-wrap-up-2008-11620632.html | archive-date=November 4, 2016 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }} [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/881658967 OCLC: 881658967.]
- Till The Sunrise (Black Shoe Records, 2012, review{{cite web | url=http://www.crosswalk.com/culture/music/reviews/faith-marriage-inspire-i-till-the-sunrise-i.html |publisher=crosswalk.com | accessdate=October 28, 2012 | first=Lindsey | last=Williams | title=Faith, Marriage Inspire "Till The Sunrise"}}) [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/828529155 OCLC: 828529155.]
- Writing to Remember (Black Shoe Records, 2014, review{{cite web | url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/news/Writing_To_Remember/55289/p1/ |publisher=crossrhythms.co.uk.com |accessdate=January 13, 2015 | title=Writing To Remember.}})
- Best Days Ahead (Matt Brouwer Productions, 2024)
=Notable appearances=
- Vocals on Jill Paquette's debut album Jill Paquette (Reunion, 2003)
- "Better Days" appeared on the TV show Jericho, Episode 1 (Pilot)
=Songs on compilations=
- Rock on Worship, "Water" (Madacy, 2002)
- Sea to Sea: I See The Cross, "Home" (CMC, 2005)
- Sea to Sea: The Voice of Creation, "Your Name" (CMC, 2007)
- GMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary Collection, "Water" (CMC, 2008)
- Sea to Sea: Christmas, "A Holly Jolly Christmas" (Lakeside, 2009)
Awards and recognition
- 2009 Folk/Roots Song of the Year: The Other Side (with Amy Grant and Vince Gill)
- 2009 GMA Canada/Blessings Christian Marketplace Fan's Choice AwardBrouwer also received five GMAC nominations in 2009, for Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year: Where's Our Revolution, Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: Where's Our Revolution, Recorded Song of the Year: "Come Back Around", and Video of the Year: "I Shall Believe". [http://www.gmacanada.ca/go/site/news/C45 GMAC 2009 Covenant Award Nominees] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628051602/http://www.gmacanada.ca/go/site/news/C45 |date=June 28, 2009 }}. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
- 2012 Inspirational Song of the Year: "Ocean"
- 2010 nominee, Gospel Recording of the Year: Where's Our Revolution[http://www.ecma.com/news.asp?section=19&id=92 East Coast Music Awards official site] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710165750/http://www.ecma.com/news.asp?section=19&id=92 |date=July 10, 2011 }}. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
- 2013 nominee, Gospel Recording of the Year: Till The Sunrise[http://www.ecma.com/ecmw/awards East Coast Music Awards Official site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708114728/http://www.ecma.com/ecmw/awards |date=July 8, 2013 }}. Retrieved February 19, 2013
- 2002 nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Imagerical
- 2010, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Where's Our Revolution
;Shai Awards (formerly the Vibe Awards)
- 2002 Male Vocalist of the Year
- 2002 Worship Album of the Year: Imagerical
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://mattbro.com/ Matt Brouwer official website]
- [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=matt brouwer|bio=true}} Bio at Billboard magazine]
- [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=matt brouwer|chart=all}} Billboard 2010 chart]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brouwer, Matt}}
Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters
Category:Canadian people of German descent
Category:Canadian performers of Christian music
Category:Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year winners
Category:Singers from Nova Scotia
Category:People from Truro, Nova Scotia