Biography
Gary Chapman (born August 19, 1957 in Waurika, Oklahoma) is an American singer/songwriter and former television talk show host.
The son of an Assemblies of God pastor, Gary Chapman grew up in De Leon, Texas. He performed in bands throughout high school and college. After college, he moved to Nashville and was hired as bass player for The Rambos. In 1979, his song "Father's Eyes" was recorded as the title track to Amy Grant's second album. In 1982, his song "Finally" recorded by T.G. Sheppard reached #1 on the country music charts. He also received a Dove Award as Songwriter of the Year from the Gospel Music Association. That same year, he married Grant.
During the rest of the 1980s and the early 1990s, Chapman continued to write, record, and produce music, while touring as an opening act and bass player for Grant. His career reached new heights in the mid 1990s. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 1994. The Light Inside also resulted in a Dove Award nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year. and also yielded a Contemporary Christian Music chart #1 song, "Sweet Glow of Mercy." He won a second Dove Award in 1994 for co-producing the album, Songs From The Loft, featuring various artists.
In April 1996, Chapman was honored as Male Vocalist of the Year by the GMA. His 1996 album, Shelter, delivered another #1, "One of Two," with "Man After Your Own Heart" resulting in a Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year and being featured on the Dove Award winning Special Event Album of the Year, My Utmost For His Highest. Shelter also received a 1997 Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.
In 1996, Chapman was selected as the host of The Nashville Network’s music and talk show, "Prime Time Country." The show experienced improved ratings, but was canceled in 1999.
At the 1998 Dove Awards, his album featuring other artists, Hymns From The Ryman, won Country Album Of The Year.
Chapman and Grant were divorced in 1999. He married Jennifer Pittman in July, 2000.
Chapman was arrested in 2006 for DUI, and after another divorce, recently remarried again, while also caring for his terminally ill father. Despite the many ups and downs of his life, about which he frequently blogs openly on his myspace page, he is still recording and making music.
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