Michael English

Michael English

Michael English is one of the premier solo singers in Southern Gospel and Contemporary Christian music. Born April 12, 1953 in Kenansville, North Carolina into a family gospel group, he was raised in North East, near Wallace, North Carolina. The family group, known as The Singing Samaritans, was led by his parents, Aubine and Grace English.

After high school, Michael joined the Singing Americans then, in 1982 joined the Goodmans then the Gospel Couriers before he rejoined The Singing Americans and recorded his signature song, “I Bowed On My Knees (And Cried Holy).”

In 1985 he joined The Gaither Vocal Band as lead singer while former lead singer Gary McSpadden moved to baritone. Bill Gaither encouraged him to pursue a solo career, which led to English singing with Warner Alliance in 1991. With his debut album, Michael English won Gospel Music Association Dove Awards for Male Vocalist and New Artist.

In 1994 English left the Gaither Vocal Band to concentrate on his solo career and at the Gospel Music Association Awards Show received four Doves, including Artist of the Year.

That same year he signed with Curb Records and pursued a career in mainstream pop. His duet with Wynonna Judd, “Healing” and “You Love Amazes Me,” his single from his 1996 album Freedom, showed him to be a premier pop as well as gospel vocalist.

Michael English kept his hand in gospel music, co-producing The Martins, who won Dove Awards for Southern Gospel Album of the Year in 1996 and 1997. He also produced albums on The Stamps Quartet, The Gaither Vocal Band and served as a background singer on several Christian albums.

In 1996 he reunited with Ed Hill, Rick Strickland, Dwayne Burke and Milton Smith and The Singing Americans sang at the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion. He was invited by J.D. Sumner to perform with the Stamps on the Grand Ole Opry and the National Quartet Convention.

Michael English released the album Gospel on Curb Records, produced by Rascal Flatts member Jay Demarcus with Flatt’s lead singer Gary Le Vox singing background vocals.

Michael English appeared on the Gaither Homecoming show and his Curb album Heaven to Earth premiered on the Trinity Broadcasting Network’s “Praise the Lord” show. In 2009 English rejoined the Gaither Vocal Band, making it a quintet as he sang lead.

Michael English’s autobiography, The Prodigal Returns Home, was published in April, 2007.

I Bowed On My Knees

Mary Did You Know