Matthew James Redman (born 14 February 1974) is an English Christian worship leader, singer-songwriter and author. Redman has released 16 albums, written 8 books, and helped start three church-plants. He is best known for his two-time Grammy Award-winning single, "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)". Co-written with Jonas Myrin, the single reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Christian Songs chart in 2012.
Early life
Redman was born on 14 February 1974, and raised in Watford, England. The family had moved to Chorleywood, a small commuter town, when he was around the age of two. His father took his own life when Matt was seven years old, and he and his brother were raised predominantly by his mother.
Career
Christian church leadership
Redman converted to Christianity at the age of 10 and attended the Anglican church of St Andrew's Chorleywood, in Hertfordshire. It was there he learned to play guitar, and at the age of 20, he began leading worship services and released his first album. In 1993, Redman helped found alongside his youth leader, Mike Pilavachi, Soul Survivor, a global Christian movement and yearly music festival aimed at youth. From 1994 until 2002, Redman led worship services for Soul Survivor Church, Watford.
In 2002, after a sabbatical in America to record Where Angels Fear to Tread, Redman moved to Brighton. led by pastor Will Kemp.
In 2008, Redman, along with his wife Beth and their three children, moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to help plant Passion City Church with Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin. In August 2010, they returned to the UK with their children.
Music
Matt recorded his first album, Wake Up My Soul, at ICC studios in January and February 1994. The album had an impressive line-up of Christian musicians including Iona's Mike Haughton, percussionist Martin Neil, Split Level's Adrian Thompson, Helen Burgess and Les Moir on bass, and was produced by Martin Smith. Since then, Matt and Beth have co-created some of Redman's most successful songs including, "You Never Let Go", "Face Down" and "Let My Words Be Few".
thumb|Redman performing in May 2018|upright=1.4
In February 2011, Redman joined Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, and Nathan and Christy Nockels at LIFT – A Worship Leader Collective where his 2011 live album, 10,000 Reasons, was recorded. On 28 July 2012, "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)", the title track of Redman's new album, topped the Billboard Christian Songs chart, where it stayed for 13 weeks. It was his first No. 1 hit on American Contemporary Christian radio. The single went on to win two Grammy Awards, for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song and Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance Matt has also won thirteen Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards.
Redman's songs have been covered by a number of contemporary Christian music (CCM) artists including Matt Maher, Michael W. Smith, Jeremy Camp, Rebecca St. James, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Tree63, Kutless, Stellar Kart, and Hillsong United. He has regularly collaborates with other Christian musicians including Chris Tomlin and Tim Hughes.
Writing
He has authored and edited multiple books on Christian worship, including The Unquenchable Worshipper and the book Facedown which accompanied the album of the same name. He and his wife co-wrote the book titled "Blessed Be Your Name" with the hopes to bring others to trust God and his goodness, no matter the circumstance.
Personal life
He married Beth Redman, who is also a songwriter and author. The couple have five children. In April 2024 he released a short documentary entitled Let There Be Light in which he described his experience.
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart position
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"|UK<br>
! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"|US<br>
! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"|US<br>Christ.<br>
|-
| 1993
| style="text-align:left;"|Wake Up My Soul
| — || — || —
|
|-
| 1995
| style="text-align:left;"|Passion for Your Name
| — || — || —
|
|-
| 1997
| style="text-align:left;"|The Friendship and the Fear
| — || — || —
|
|-
| 1998
| style="text-align:left;"|Intimacy
| — || — || —
|
|-
| 1999
| style="text-align:left;"|The Heart of Worship <br>(US release of Intimacy)
| — || — || —
|
|-
| 2000
| style="text-align:left;"|The Father's Song
| — || — || —
|
|-
| 2002
| style="text-align:left;"|Where Angels Fear to Tread
| — || — || 38
|
|-
| 2006
| style="text-align:left;"|Beautiful News
- Label: sixstepsrecords
| — || 156 || 8
|
|-
| 2009
| style="text-align:left;"|We Shall Not Be Shaken
- Label: sixstepsrecords
| — || 136|| 13
|
|-
| 2011
| style="text-align:left;"|10,000 Reasons
- Label: Sparrow Records
| 149<br> || 60 || 1
|
- RIAA: Gold
- Released: January 31, 2020
| — || — || 10
|}
Compilation albums
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart position
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"|UK
! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"|US<br>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br>Christ<br>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br>Christ<br>Airplay<br>
! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"|UK<br> || — || —
|
| Where Angels Fear to Tread
|-
| 2006
| style="text-align:left;"|"You Never Let Go"
| — || colspan="2"| 17 || —
|
- RIAA: Gold
| Beautiful News
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2011
| style="text-align:left;"|"10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)"
| 3 || colspan="2"| 1 || —
|
- RIAA: 2× Platinum
- RMNZ: Platinum
| rowspan="2"| 10,000 Reasons
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|"Never Once"
| — || — || — || —
|-
| 2012
| style="text-align:left;"|"Twenty Seven Million"<br/><span style="font-size:85%;">(with LZ7)</span>
| — || colspan="2"| 45 || 12
|
| non-album single
|-
| 2013
| style="text-align:left;"|"Your Grace Finds Me"
| — || 11 || 10 || —
|
| rowspan=2| Your Grace Finds Me
|-
| 2014
| style="text-align:left;"|"Mercy"
| — || 37 || 28 || —
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2015
| style="text-align:left;"|"It Is Well With My Soul"
| — || 34 || 24 || —
|
| rowspan="2"| Unbroken Praise
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|"Unbroken Praise"
| — || — || — || —
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2016
| style="text-align:left;"|"His Name Shall Be"
| — || 35 || 21 || —
|
| rowspan="2"| These Christmas Lights
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|"Help from Heaven"<br><span style="font-size:85%;">(with Natasha Bedingfield)</span>
| — || — || 33 || —
|-
| 2017
| style="text-align:left;"|"Gracefully Broken"<br/><span style="font-size:85%;">(with Tasha Cobbs Leonard)</span>
| — || 18 || 17 || —
|
| rowspan="2"| Glory Song
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2019
| style="text-align:left;"|"One Day (When We All Get to Heaven)"
| — || — || — || —
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|"The Same Jesus"
| — || 46 || 34 || —
|
| rowspan="3"| Let There Be Wonder (Live)
- 2014: "Mercy" / "Worthy" on Passion: Take It All
;Appearances on Passion Live and Passion compilation albums
- 2000: OneDay: Live
- 2005: How Great Is Our God
- 2006: The Best of Passion (So Far)
- 2007: Live from Passion 07 Pt. 2
Awards
Grammy Award wins
- 2013: Best Contemporary Christian Music Song – "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)"
- 2013: Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance – "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)"
Dove Award wins
- 2005: Worship Song of the Year: "Blessed Be Your Name"
- 2006: Praise and Worship Album of the Year: Blessed Be Your Name: The Songs of Matt Redman Vol. 1
- 2007: Children's Music Album of the Year: VeggieTales Worship Songs
- 2007: Special Event Album of the Year: Passion: Everything Glorious
- 2009: Special Event Album of the Year: Passion: God of This City
- 2011: Worship Song of the Year – TIE: "Our God"
- 2011: Special Event Album of the Year: Passion: Awakening
- 2013: Song of the Year: "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)"
- 2013: Contemporary Christian Performance of the Year: "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)"
Published books
- The Unquenchable Worshipper (2001)
- Where Angels Fear to Tread (2002)
- The Heart of Worship Files (2003)
- Facedown (2004)
- Inside Out Worship (2005)
- Blessed Be Your Name (with Beth Redman) (2005)
- Mirror Ball (2011)
- 10,000 Reasons: Stories of Faith, Hope, and Thankfulness Inspired by the Worship Anthem (with Craig Borlase) (2017)