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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 1996)
Page mber2,199S Aggielife Monday Page 7 September 2, 1996 V &M senior English major sweeps ospel Music Association Awards By Aaron Meier The Battalion n the near future, Texas A&M may have its own successful musician. Michael Armstrong, senior English major, is current- one of the nation’s most sought fter talents in Christian music. A friend encouraged Armstrong enter the Gospel Music ssociation Awards (GMA), a com- etition for aspiring performers and ngwriters. The day the application /as due, Armstrong hesitantly sent in, and was selected to compete in e regional competition in Dallas. “I didn’t want to enter it, but I It I should," Armstrong said. At the regional competition, imstrong swept the awards by inning the songwriter category nd the spotlight category for his riginal song, “Second First Time.” The songwriter award criteria strictly based on the content of re song. Judges consider an rtist’s melody, harmony and Tics. The spotlight award is a erformance award where vocal bility, stage presence and overall resentation are emphasized. Amy Nobles, a senior education rajorand close friend of Armstrong, tended the Dallas competition. “His winning both categories nk peopbi -las shocking and unheard of," re in andnifi iobles said. Thi Baitauo' rs Gooked d some food unct impem ice. Most of thi steurized. Ihe ), cappuccint k lemonade od in the pul ■re than m. h and play an but no conn- *nior chanio. s drawn otk s rich.” bar to hiv Armstrong is the first person It win both categories at the igional competition. In late April, Armstrong com- ted in a nation-wide competi- bn that catapulted his career in jiristian music. Armstrong iceived first place in the song- Jriter category and placed in the the alterna5'i|p five in the spotlight category. Jars of Clay, whose debut single lood” became a Top 40 hit this st summer, was once a winner the spotlight category. Armstrong’s recognition by the won him immediate atten- n by the music industry. “In three days, I got over 50 mainstrean- z said, cal bands rp :ic acts, nay let sm nr Anz sail e Eccell rating a bani a restauranl /erything fin lan just gettrsi Path is limit ened as peofj i. e to comfli ;over of ;ed Path, re old fritft ;o share stoit . Crooked U vel memoies dventures. 5 or end, rat® ists and tutt guides, ma- zvn road wh business cards from potential publishers,” he said. In two weeks, he will fly to Nashville to sign a contract with a music publisher. Armstrong said he will be signed as a songwriter, and, after proving his writing abil ity, he hopes to to sing and record his own music. Nobles said she has found Armstrong’s success as a Christian singer exciting and a tribute to his musical talent. “Michael went from not know ing a thing about Christian music, to being famous across the coun try in just four years,” Nobels said. Armstrong’s music experience started in high school, where he learned the George Strait song "Amarillo by Morning.” As a high school senior, Michael’s two older sisters, Kathryn and Kelly, returned from A&M as born-again Christians. Their dedication to Jesus led him to “sell out to the Lord.” Armstrong first became involved in Christian music as a freshman attending Central Baptist Church. He then became involved in Breakaway, a large Bible study, where he is now a worship leader. Armstrong has watched other artists to see how they approach music production. Armstrong said the proliferation of soul searching in main stream music, such as Joan Osborne's “St. Teresa” and “One of Us” and Dishwalla’s "Counting Blue Cars,” is a sign that artists have been looking for a spiritual awakening. Armstrong also said some Christian musicians have not been successful at spreading the message they advertise. “Neither their music, nor the things they say at live perfor mances, demonstrate they are Christians,” Armstrong said. Armstrong said the wide spec trum of Christian artists helps attract more listeners. The Christian spectrum reaches from the rap style of DC Talk and the heavy metal sound of Stryper to the mainstream contemporary Christian music of Steven Curtis Chapman. These different styles help break the stereotype of the usual Christian-music listener. “Some of my friends would never go to a Steven Curtis Chapman concert, but they would all go a DC Talk con cert,"Armstrong said. This semester, Armstrong plans to take it easy and relax more than in previous semesters. He will get his senior ring Sept. 12, and plans on dunking it, but not in the traditional pitcher of beer. Armstrong plans on going to Swensen’s where he will dunk his ring in a mammoth ice cream sun dae known as an Earthquake. He hopes to avoid brain freeze by hav ing a couple of friends help him fin ish the eight scoops of ice cream in 9.6 minutes, not 96 seconds. TiitiNDEitfuniiiSuits FRESH. FAST, & HEALTHY $2.69 Meal Deal Today's Special 6" Sub Chips & Drink Albertson^ next to The Cork 2205 Longmire 693-6494 Randall's Center next to Marco's 607 E. University 691-2276 Campion frliHrMJrraiillg CLINIC FREE CONSULTATION $42 SPECIAL Exam & Necessary X-Ray’s Dr. Angela Danna-Kropik 1907 A Texas Avenue South (Between Harvey & Holleman) ¥ Headaches flow Back Pain 9Sports Related Injuries , 693 6500 Tim Moog, The Battalion Michael Armstrong, who had to be persuaded by friends to enter the GMA Awards, will fly to Nashville in two weeks to sign a con tract with a music publisher as a songwriter. Ya’ll Come, Ya Hear? 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