Martha Munizzi
Martha Munizzi ist eine international anerkannte und preisgekrönte Gospel Sängerin, Songwriterin, Autorin und Schauspielerin.
Jugend
Martha Munizzi wurde in Florida in eine christliche musikalische Familie hineingeboren. Martha und ihre Zwillingsschwester Mary Alessi wuchsen als Tochter von Predigern in Lakeland (Florida) auf und reisten mit ihrer Familie, mit der sie geistliche Musik aufführten durch die Vereinigte Staaten und Kanada. Ihre ersten Auftritte hatte sie als 8 Jährige.
Martha, Mary und ihre ältere Schwester Marvelyne erbten das Talent ihrer Eltern und waren sehr musikalisch. Als Mary und Martha 12 Jahre alt waren ließ sich die Familie in Orlando (Florida) nieder, so das die Kinder eine normale Grundschule besuchen konnten.
Auf Drängen eines Freundes waren Mary und Martha mit 16 Jahren und Marveline (18 jährig) an der Gründung einer praise and worship band beteiligt. Hieraus entwickelte sich die Gruppe Testament die so populär wurde, das sie in ganz Florida in Kirchen, bei Konferenzen und bei anderen events auftrat.
Ein Jahr nach Beendigung der high school (1986), heiratete Martha Dan Munizzi, den Keyboard- und Bassspieler der Band Testament. 1993 wurden beide musikalische Leiter und Gründungsmitglieder einer neuen aufstrebenden Gemeinde in Orlando zu Beginn mit 250 Mitgliedern und einem Chor von etwa 30 Leuten. Innerhalb von 8 Jahren wuchs die Gemeinschaft auf 5000 Mitglieder und ein 200 Mitglieder umfassendes Music Team an. Dort blieben sie bis 2001.
Anschließend war sie für die Lakewood Church tätig, als Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff sich in Mutterschaftsurlaub befand.[1][2]
Musical career
Along with figures like Ron Kenoly, CeCe Winans, and Israel Houghton, Munizzi is pioneering cross-cultural worship music that not only connects with both black and white Christian congregations but also reaches the masses.[3]
Munizzi's songs are self-published under the name Say The Name Publishing/Martha Munizzi Music. She released her first Praise & Worship/Gospel album, Say the Name (2002), followed by The Best Is Yet to Come (2003) and When He Came (2004), both of which debuted high on Billboard's Gospel chart. The Best Is Yet to Come peaked at #2 on the Billboard Music Top Gospel Album charts in 2004 and remained on the charts for more than a year.
In 2004 Munizzi had two music albums in the top five on Billboard's Gospel charts at the same time (The Best Is Yet to Come at #2 and When He Came at #5) and Billboard Magazine named her as one of the top five Gospel Artists for 2004. Additionally, her project The Best Is Yet to Come was named one of the top ten selling Gospel projects for 2004.
In 2005 she signed a distribution deal with Integrity Media, Inc. Under this agreement her previously released albums The Best Is Yet To Come and Say The Name and all future releases were to be distributed to Christian retail outlets through Provident-Integrity Distribution and to general market outlets on the Epic Records (a division of Sony-BMG Distribution).[4]
In 2006 Munizzi released her next CD entitled No Limits Live. This CD debuted on Billboard's Top Gospel Charts at #1 and remained at the top of the charts for 6 weeks.
Munizzi has ministered with several popular Christian ministries including; Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, CeCe Winans, and Bishop T.D. Jakes. She has also appeared on Trinity Broadcasting Network's (TBN's) Praise The Lord, on the Daystar Television Network, on Life Today with James Robison, and on Black Entertainment Television's BET Celebration Of Gospel. Additionally she performed as a part of the 3rd annual "Sisters In The Spirit" tour with Yolanda Adams, Kelly Price, Juanita Bynum, Rizen and Sheila E in 2005. She was also a featured performer with Kirk Franklin at the "Imagine Me" all-star celebrity benefit concert on January 11, 2007 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.[5] The concert was a benefit for the Children's Defense Fund.
Munizzi also performed with the Gospel trio Virtue on their 2006 album Testimony on the song Praises to You. She also performs her song Glorious live on Donna Richardson-Joyner's 2006 exercise video entitled Sweating in the Spirit 2. Her twin sister, Mary Alessi, performs with her on her 2006 album No Limits Live.
Filmography
Filmauftritte
| Jahr | Titel | Rolle | Bemerkungen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Gospel | Sie selbst | Ihr Lied Glorious ist ein Hauptbestandteil des Film-Soundtracks |
Musik und Konzert Videos
| Jahr | Titel | Format | Bemerkungen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Best Is Yet To Come | DVD | Live Konzert Aufnahme |
| 2004 | Israel and New Breed: Live from Another Level | DVD | Gaststar |
| 2005 | The Gospel Live (The BET Concert) | DVD | Live Performance Glorious |
| 2006 | No Limits Live | DVD | Live Konzert Aufnahme |
Andere Projekte
| Jahr | Titel | Rolle | Bemerkungen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Sweating in the Spirit 2 | Sie selbst | Darbietung ihres Liedes Glorious live in der walking exercise routine |
Diskografie
Sie veröffentlichte mehrere Albums, so im Juli 2002 Say the Name, im Juli 2003 The Best Is Yet to Come, Oktober 2004 When He Came und im März 2006 No Limits Live.
Billboard Platzierungen
| Jahr | Album | Chart | Platz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Best Is Yet to Come | Billboard Top Gospel Albums | 2 |
| 2004 | The Best Is Yet to Come | Billboard Top Independent Albums | 13 |
| 2004 | The Best Is Yet to Come | Billboard Top Heatseekers | 8 |
| 2004 | The Best is Yet to Come | The Billboard 200 | 120 |
| 2004 | When He Came | Billboard Top Gospel Albums | 5 |
| 2004 | When He Came | Billboard Top Independent Albums | 32 |
| 2004 | When He Came | Billboard Top Heatseekers | 28 |
| 2006 | No Limits Live | Billboard Top Gospel Albums (debuted at #1) | 1 |
| 2006 | No Limits Live | The Billboard 200 | 60 |
Awards
Award Wins
| Year | Award-giving body | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Stellar Awards | Best New Artist of the Year Award - The Best Is Yet To Come |
| 2006 | Stellar Awards | Special Event CD of the Year - When He Came |
| 2006 | Oasis Awards | International Female Artist of the Year |
| 2007 | Christian Music Awards | Female Artist of the Year |
Award Nominations
Munizzi has been nominated for Grammy, Dove, Stellar and Soul Train Awards as both a performer and songwriter. In 2006, Munizzi was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. She has also been nominated for the 2007 Stellar Awards' Artist of the Year and Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year.[6]
| Year | Award-giving body | Award Category | Song /Album Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Dove Awards | Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | Because of Who You Are |
| 2004 | Dove Awards | Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year | Because of Who You Are |
| 2005 | Dove Awards | Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year | Say the Name |
| 2005 | Stellar Awards | Best New Artist of the Year Award (Winner) | The Best Is Yet To Come |
| 2005 | Stellar Awards | Female Vocalist of the Year | The Best is Yet to Come |
| 2006 | Stellar Awards | Special Event CD of the Year (Winner) | When He Came |
| 2006 | Oasis Awards | International Female Artist of the Year (Winner) | The Best is Yet to Come |
| 2006 | Grammy Awards | Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album | Say the Name |
| 2006 | Dove Awards | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | When He Came |
| 2006 | CCM Magazine Readers Choice Awards | Female Artist of the Year | No Limits Live |
| 2006 | CCM Magazine Readers Choice Awards | Praise & Worship CD of the Year | No Limits Live |
| 2006 | CCM Magazine Readers Choice Awards | Worship Artist of the Year | No Limits Live |
| 2007 | Stellar Awards | Artist of the Year | No Limits Live |
| 2007 | Stellar Awards | Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year | No Limits Live |
| 2007 | Dove Awards | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | No Limits Live |
| 2007 | Dove Awards | Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year | No Limits |
| 2007 | Christian Music Awards | Female Artist of the Year (Winner) | No Limits Live |
Personal life
Munizzi currently resides in Central Florida with her husband and manager Dan Munizzi and their 3 children.
See Also
External links
- Martha Munizzi - Official Website
- Cross Rhythms Artist Profile - Martha Munizzi
- Christianity Today Artist Profile and Interview - Martha Munizzi
References
- ↑ Lakewood Church: Lakewood Church Worship Service On-line Viewable Service # 153, Lakewood Church, Unknown. Abgerufen am 1. Februar 2007
- ↑ Lakewood Church: Lakewood Church Worship Service On-line Viewable Service # 154, Lakewood Church, Unknown. Abgerufen am 20. Februar 2007
- ↑ Tony Cummings: Cross-cultural worship is the name of the game for pioneering ISRAEL HOUGHTON, Cross Rhythms, 26. April 2006. Abgerufen am 23. Dezember 2006
- ↑ Martha Munizzi Signs With Integrity Music, 28. Mai 2005. Abgerufen am 5. Dezember 2006
- ↑ Kirk Franklin to Host Benefit Concert for Children's Defense Fund, breathecast.com, 8. Januar 2001. Abgerufen am 19. Januar 2007
- ↑ 22nd Annual Stellar Award Nominations (2007). Abgerufen am 5. Dezember 2006