Esther Smith (musician)

Esther Smith (born December 9, 1937 as Esther Jones), is an American gospel musician and artist. She started her music career, in 1988, with the release of He Loves Me by Sound of Gospel. She has released seven more albums, since her first release, with two more labels A&M Records and Dorohn Records. Two albums have charted on the Billboard magazine charts, which have primarily come on the Gospel Albums chart.

Esther Smith
Birth nameEsther Jones
Born (1937-12-09) December 9, 1937
Guntown, Mississippi
OriginChicago, Illinois
GenresCCM, gospel, traditional black gospel, urban contemporary gospel, praise & worship
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, singer-songwriter
Years active1988–present
LabelsSound of Gospel, A&M, Dorohn

Early life

Smith was born Esther Jones on December 9, 1937 in Guntown, Mississippi, whose father abandoned the family because he was a womanizer, while her mother was a housekeeper to provide for Esther and two more siblings.[1] At 13 years old, Smith's mother was nearly killed by a boyfriend, so they moved to Chicago, Illinois, where Smith got involved in the church.[1] She left her mother's troubling home environment, and was raised by Mom and Dad Lockhart, which she became the lead singer of The Lockhart Singers.[1] When she reached 18 years old, she became a missionary, and put her musical aspirations on hiatus for a while.[1]

Music career

Her recording music career started in 1988, with Sound of Gospel releasing, He Loves Me.[2] She would release four more albums with the label, with one charting on the Billboard magazine Gospel Albums, and this was her 1990's Live in Concert release peaking at 23.[3] With A&M Records, she released one album in 1994, Born to Worship, yet this did not chart.[2][3] She would release two albums with Dorohn Records,[2] and one of those charted on the aforementioned chart in 2000,[3] You Love Me...Still,[2] at No. 19, and it placed on the Independent Albums at No. 50.[3]

Discography

Studio albums
List of selected studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions[3]
US
Gos
Live in Concert 23
You Love Me...Still
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Dorohn
  • CD, digital download
 19

References
  1. Carpenter, Bil (2005). Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 379–80. ISBN 9780879308414.
  2. "Esther Smith : Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  3. Billboard. "Esther Smith : Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
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