| Twila Paris | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Born | December 28 1958 |
| Genre(s) | Contemporary Christian |
| Instrument(s) | Voice, piano |
| Years active | 1980-present |
| Label(s) | Milk and Honey StarSong Benson Sparrow INO Mountain Spring Music |
| Website | TwilaParis.com |
Twila Paris Wright (born December 28 1958, in Fort Worth, Texas) is a Contemporary Christian songwriter, author, vocalist, and pianist.
Contents |
Biography
Musical career
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As of 2006, she has released nineteen albums. Thirty-two of her singles have reached the Number 1 position on Christian radio national airplay charts. These include "He Is Exalted", "God Is In Control", "We Bow Down" and "The Warrior Is A Child" (which was also recorded by Gary Valenciano, and became popular in the Philippines). She has received five GMA Dove Awards, and three American Songwriter Awards. In the 1990s, Paris released more contemporary Christian pop songs. But in recent years, she has focused on recording new versions of some of her worship standards and writing new praise and worship music. Her 2005 album He Is Exalted: Live Worship collects a number of favorite songs commonly used in praise and worship of Paris's and presents them in a more typical style of live worship music. After her song "He Is Exalted" was used in churches in Brasil, Paris re-recorded it in the style these churches were performing it in the Portuguese translation they were using. Although widely associated for much of her career with Star Song Communications, EMI switched her over to Sparrow Records in 1996, before her contract ended after 2003. In 2005, she switched to Michael Coleman's INO label. Twila released her latest recording, "Small Sacrifice," on December 26, 2007. It is available through her website and at Lifeway Christian Stores.
Musical influence
Paris is oft cited as one of the foremost trailblazers of the modern hymn style and one of the only living hymnists in the tradition of hymn-writing set forth in England and the United States decades prior. [1] Some of Paris' songs have been included in the hymnals by a variety of churches including the United Methodist church and various Charismatic churches. [2]
Personal life
Twila Paris is the daughter of Oren II and Rachel Inez Paris. Oren Paris II is the founder and Chancellor of Ecclesia College in Springdale, Arkansas. Twila has been married to Jack Wright for more than 20 years, and has a son. She has three siblings: Starla Novack (wife and mother of 3), Oren Paris III (President of Ecclesia College), and Angie Paris Snyder (producer and recording artist).
Discography
- Knowin' You're Around (1980)
- Keepin' My Eyes On You (1982)
- The Warrior Is A Child (1984)
- Kingdom Seekers (1985)
- Same Girl (1987)
- For Every Heart (1988)
- It's The Thought (1989)
- Cry For The Desert (1990)
- Sanctuary (1991)
- A Heart That Knows You (1992)
- Beyond A Dream (1993)
- The Time Is Now (1995)
- The Early Years (1996)
- Where I Stand (1996)
- Perennial: Songs For The Seasons Of Life (1998)
- True North (1999)
- Signature Songs (2000)
- Bedtime Prayers (2001)
- Greatest Hits: Time & Again (2001)
- House of Worship (2003)
- 8 Great Hits (2004)
- Simply (2005)
- He Is Exalted: Live Worship (2005)
- Ultimate Collection (2006)
- Looking Up (2006)
- Small Sacrifice (2007)
Books
- Making A Christmas Memory (1990) (With Jeanie Price)
- In This Sanctuary: An Invitation To Worship The Savior (1992) (co-authored with Dr. Robert Webber)
- Celebrate The Gift of Jesus Every Day (1993, 1994)
- Perennial: Mediations For The Seasons Of Life (1998)
- Bedtime Prayers and Lullabies (2001)
References
External links
- TwilaParis.com- Official Web Page
- Twila Paris Fanpage- Pictures, videos, and news.
- Twila Paris at MySpace
