He would eventually become
Grant's opening act and
recorded his first Grammynominated solo album The
Michael W. Smith
Project (which he also
produced himself) in 1983 on
the Reunion Records label.
This album contained the first
recording of his hit "Friends",
which he co-wrote with his
wife Deborah. By the time
Smith's second album Michael
W. Smith 2 was released in
1984, he was headlining his
own tours. In 1986, Smith
released The Big
Picture, produced by John
Potoker.
Michael W. Smith and Toby
Mac with evangelist Billy
Graham in 1994.
he released Change Your
World, which included the No.
1 adult contemporary hit "I
Will Be Here for You". In
1993 Smith released his first
box set,The Wonder Years and
his first greatest hits
album, The First Decade
(1983–1993). The latter also
includes two new songs, "Do
In 1990, Smith released Go
West Young Man, his first
mainstream effort, w hich
included the
mainstream crossover hit single
"Place in This World". The
song peaked at No. 6 on
the Billboard Hot 100. In 1992,
After the release of his 1988
effort, i 2 (EYE), Smith once
again collaborated with Grant
for her "Lead Me On World
Tour". The following year,
Smith recorded his
first Christmas album, simply
titled Christmas (1989).