Ray Boltz

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Ray Boltz

| image =

| caption =

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name =

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|6|14}}

| birth_place = Muncie, Indiana, U.S.

| origin =

| genre = Contemporary Christian

| occupation = Singer, songwriter

| instrument = Vocals, piano, guitar

| years_active = 1986–2004, 2008–2023

| label =

| associated_acts =

| website = {{URL|http://rayboltz.com|RayBoltz.com}}

}}

Raymond Howard Boltz (born June 14, 1953) is an American retired{{cite web | url=https://www.rayboltz.com/about-page | title=About Page }} singer and songwriter who first came to notice in contemporary Christian music. Many of his songs tell stories of faith and inspiration.

Background

Raised by his parents William and Ruth Boltz in Muncie, Indiana, Ray Boltz is the middle of three children.{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Kim|date=|title=The Ray Boltz Story|url=https://www.learnreligions.com/ray-boltz-biography-708465|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Learn Religions|language=en}} Boltz was married to Carol (nee Brammer) Boltz{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/15/us/15religion.html | work=The New York Times | title=Christian Singer Resumes Career, Relieved of a Secret | first=Samuel G. | last=Freedman | date=2010-05-14}} for 33 years (1975-2008), and they have four children. Boltz graduated from Ball State University with a degree in business and marketing.

Boltz was unknown when he wrote "Thank You", which won the Song of the Year prize at the 1990 GMA Dove Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=15996 |title=Thank You Songfacts |publisher=Songfacts.com |date= |accessdate=2013-12-05}} His song "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb" also won a Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year, at the 25th GMA Dove Awards in 1994. After the release of Songs from the Potter's Field in 2002, and his last tour in 2004, Boltz retired from the music industry. He separated from his wife in 2005 before moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with their divorce being finalized in early 2008.

On September 12, 2008, during an interview with the Washington Blade, Boltz came out as gay.{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/print.cfm?content_id=13258|title=Key changes|last=DiGuglielmo|first=Joey|date=12 September 2008|work=Washington Blade|accessdate=2009-02-19}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Since then, Boltz has performed at several churches of the Metropolitan Community Church, a gay-affirming Christian denomination.{{cite news|last=Lopez |first=Rich |date=2009-09-10 |url=http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_11808.php |work=Dallas Voice |title=Ray of Light |accessdate=2009-01-01 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 2010, Boltz released the album True, which won Album of the Year at the OUTMusic Awards. Boltz lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with his husband Franco Sperduti, who is also his talent agent.

Discography

1986 Watch the Lamb
1988 Thank You
1989 The Altar
1991 Another Child to Hold
1992 Seasons Change
1994 Allegiance
1995 The Concert of a Lifetime (live, RIAA Gold)
1996 No Greater Sacrifice
1997 A Christmas Album: Bethlehem Star
1998 Honor and Glory
2000 The Classics
2001 Concert of a Lifetime for Kids [live]
2002 Songs from the Potter's Field
2004 The Unchanging Story
2010 True

=Compilation albums=

1994 Moments for the Heart (RIAA Gold Certified)
2001 Moments for the Heart, Vol. 1 & 2
2010 All The Best

= Charts =

class="wikitable" style="width:550px;"
style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"\|Year ! style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"\|Album ! style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"\|Chart ! style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"\|Position
style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"	1995 \|The Concert of a Lifetime \|Billboard 200 \|194
style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;" \|1996 \|No Greater Sacrifice \| Billboard 200 \|173
style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;" \|1997 \|A Christmas Album: Bethlehem Star \| Billboard 200 \| 169

class="wikitable" style="width:550px;"

style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|Year

! style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|Album

! style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|Chart

! style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|Position

style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"

1995

|The Concert of a Lifetime

|Billboard 200

|194

style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"

|1996