­ ­FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, August 18, 2008

Tour Brings Two of Christian Music's Most Influential Artists

Together for the First Time Ever

CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT:           MICHAEL W. SMITH & steven curtis chapman: The United Tour

WHEN:           October 10, 2008 – 8:00 PM

WHERE:        Aronoff Center for the Arts – Procter & Gamble Hall

PRICES:         $75.00 • $57.50 • $47.50 • $37.50

INFO:             Two of Christian Music's most recognized and beloved artists, Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman, join forces for their first live combined concert in "The United Tour.” Together, Chapman and Smith have garnered a staggering eight GRAMMY® awards, 96 Dove Awards, 77 No. 1 singles and more than 30 Gold and Platinum albums.  Both artists will perform music from their current and upcoming albums: Chapman's This Moment (10/23/07) and Smith's A New Hallelujah (10/28/08).

TICKET INFORMATION – on sale Friday, September 5!

·   www.CincinnatiArts.ORG 

·   (513) 621-ARTS [2787]

·   Aronoff Center Ticket Office

·   Group Sales (10 or more / 10% discount): (513) 977-4157

CINCINNATI, OH – Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman – two GRAMMY® award-winning and multi-Platinum selling artists – join forces for the "The United Tour," playing the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Friday, October 10 at 8:00 PM. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 5 and are available at www.CincinnatiArts.ORG , (513) 621-ARTS [2787], or the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. Group discounts are available by calling (513) 977-4112.

This unique tour showcases two of Christian Music's most recognized and beloved artists. Together, Chapman and Smith have garnered a staggering eight GRAMMY ® awards, 96 Dove Awards, 77 No. 1

singles, and more than 30 Gold and Platinum albums. The idea for the tour came together shortly after Chapman and Smith spent time together in the UK working on the "Compassionart project" that brought more than ten of Christian Music's most revered singers, songwriters, and worship leaders together to write and record a collection of songs for charity.

Both artists will perform music from their current and upcoming albums: Chapman's This Moment (10/23/07) and Smith's A New Hallelujah (10/28/08). This also marks the first tour for Chapman since his family's loss of their daughter Maria.

Pre-sale tickets for this landmark tour are available now on each artist's fan-sites: www.michaelwsmith.com and www.stevencurtischapman.com. In addition, Smith's long-time ministry partner, Compassion International (www.compassion.com), and Chapman's adoption ministry, Shaohannah's Hope (www.shaohannahshope.org), will benefit from the tour. (For further information on how to support either cause, please visit their respective websites.)

About Steven Curtis Chapman

Steven Curtis Chapman has sold more than ten million records, including two RIAA certified platinum albums and seven RIAA certified gold albums. Along with his Dove and GRAMMY ® awards, Chapman has won an American Music Award, has recorded 44 No. 1 US radio hits, and been awarded 54 Dove Awards, more than any other artist to date. Since his recording career began in 1987, Chapman has recorded sixteen projects with Sparrow Records.

He has performed at the White House and has appeared on multiple national programs via CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, CMT, FOX News, the Hallmark Channel, and E!, including Good Morning America, Larry King Live, CBS Sunday Morning, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and more. More than five years ago, Chapman and his wife MaryBeth created Shaohannah's Hope after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China. The ministry's goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and has provided grants to over 1700 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world.   For further information on Shaohannah's Hope, the adoption ministry of Steven Curtis Chapman, please visit: www.stevencurtischapman.com.

"Yours" will be the third single off This Moment, with an additional verse recently written and recorded that allowed Chapman to acknowledge his experience with losing a child. "Yours" follows the hit Christian and mainstream single "Cinderella," a song written by Chapman compelling us to cherish every moment to the fullest with those that we love, especially our children.

About Michael W. Smith

Throughout his 25-year career as a recording artist, Michael W. Smith has amassed an impressive catalog of achievements. His 20 albums have garnered multiple honors, including an American Music Award, 3 GRAMMY® Awards (from 13 nominations), 42 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, and 33 No. 1 radio hits. In addition, he holds 16 Gold and 5 Platinum albums for career sales approaching 15 million.

Smith has scored several film projects; written 11 books; been featured by numerous media outlets, including NBC's Today Show, Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, Larry King Live, FOX and Friends, Hannity and Colmes, USA Today, NY Times, The Washington Post, LA Times, and Newsweek; has been named one of People Magazine's Most Beautiful People; and has presented multiple times on the GRAMMY® Awards show.   His tours consistently rank among the best attended in the country, and he has performed to capacity crowds throughout the world. Constantly giving back to the community, one of his current projects is Rocketown – a nightclub for teens in his hometown of Nashville, Tenn. – which serves as safe place for young people to enjoy music and for artists to be discovered. He is married to Debbie Smith, and they are the proud parents of five children.

Michael W. Smith's 21st album, A New Hallelujah, was recorded live before more than 12,000 in attendance with a choir of 250 and a few very special guests, including The African Children's Choir and worship leader Israel Houghton. A New Hallelujah releases on October 28, 2008.

Smith's first worship album, simply titled Worship and released on September 11, 2001, has sold more than a million-and-a half copies. Its follow up, Worship Again, released on September 19, 2002, is nearing the 800,000 mark.

For up-to-date information on Michael W. Smith, including tour itinerary, please visit www.michaelwsmith.com or www.reunionrecords.com.  

2008-09 Season Sponsors:  THE UNION CENTRAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (Founding Season Sponsor), CADILLAC (Official Vehicle), DUKE ENERGY, P&G FUND, LOCAL12 WKRC, FIFTH THIRD BANK (Lifetime Endowment Partner)

CAA 2008-09 PRESENTING SPONSORS:  CityBeat, The Cincinnatian Hotel, Premier Pianos, Natorp’s

CAA 2008-09 PROMOTIONAL SPONSORS:  The Cincinnati Herald

The United Tour MEDIA SPONSOR –  STAR 93.3 FM

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