Martha Munizzi

Martha Denise Munizzi (born Martha Denise Stallings on February 26, 1968) is an American Gospel music singer, songwriter, author, and actress.

Martha Munizzi
Background information
Birth nameMartha Denise Stallings
Born (1968-02-26) February 26, 1968
OriginLakeland, Florida, United States
GenresPraise & Worship,
Gospel, Contemporary Christian
Years active1987 - Present
LabelsMartha Munizzi Music, Integrity Media, Inc., and Columbia Records (a division of Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Associated actsMary Alessi
Israel Houghton
Websitewww.marthamunizzi.com

Early years

A native of central Florida, Martha Munizzi was born into a Christian musical family. The daughter of evangelists, Martha and her twin sister Mary Alessi were born in Lakeland, Florida and grew up traveling and ministering through music with her family. She began performing at age 8, touring the country with her family in concerts and crusades around the United States and Canada.

Martha, Mary, and their older sister Marvelyne were born with their parents' talent for music and became a part of the traveling family group as kids. The family settled in Orlando, Florida when Mary and Martha were 12, so that the children could attend formal, public school.

At age 16, Mary, Martha and Marveline (age 18) helped form a praise and worship band at the urging of a church friend. That group evolved into Testament and became popular enough to travel around the state of Florida performing in churches and at conferences and other events.

One year after completing high school (1986), Martha married Dan Munizzi, who was a keyboard and bass player in the band Testament.[1] In 1993 she and Dan became the music directors and founding members of a new, fledgling church in Orlando, Florida initially leading a congregation of 250 and a choir of about 30 people that eventually grew in 8 years into a 5000-member congregation and a 200-member music team. They remained there until 2001.

She led worship at Lakewood Church while Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff was on maternity leave.[2][3]

Musical career

Along with figures like Ron Kenoly, CeCe Winans, and Israel Houghton, Munizzi is pioneering cross-cultural worship music that not only connects with both black and white Christian congregations but also reaches the masses.[4]

Munizzi's songs are self-published under the name Say The Name Publishing/Martha Munizzi Music. She released her first Praise & Worship/Gospel album, Say the Name (2002), followed by The Best Is Yet to Come (2003) and When He Came (2004), both of which debuted high on Billboard's Gospel chart. The Best Is Yet to Come peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Music Top Gospel Album charts in 2004 and remained on the charts for more than a year.

In 2004 Munizzi had two music albums in the top five on Billboard's Gospel charts at the same time (The Best Is Yet to Come at No. 2 and When He Came at No. 5) and Billboard Magazine named her as one of the top five Gospel Artists for 2004. Additionally, her project The Best Is Yet to Come was named one of the top ten selling Gospel projects for 2004.

In 2005 she signed a distribution deal with Integrity Media, Inc. Under this agreement her previously released albums The Best Is Yet To Come and Say The Name and all future releases were to be distributed to Christian retail outlets through Provident-Integrity Distribution and to general market outlets on the Epic Records (a division of Sony-BMG Distribution).[5]

In 2006 Munizzi released her next CD entitled No Limits Live. This CD debuted on Billboard's Top Gospel Charts at No. 1 and remained at the top of the charts for 6 weeks.

Munizzi has ministered with several popular Christian ministries including; Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, CeCe Winans, and Bishop T.D. Jakes. She has also appeared on Trinity Broadcasting Network's (TBN's) Praise The Lord, on the Daystar Television Network, on Life Today with James Robison, and on Black Entertainment Television's BET Celebration Of Gospel. Additionally she performed as a part of the 3rd annual "Sisters In The Spirit" tour with Yolanda Adams, Kelly Price, Juanita Bynum, Rizen and Sheila E in 2005. She was also a featured performer with Kirk Franklin at the "Imagine Me" all-star celebrity benefit concert on January 11, 2007 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.[6] The concert was a benefit for the Children's Defense Fund.

Munizzi also performed with the Gospel trio Virtue on their 2006 album Testimony on the song Praises to You. She also performs her song Glorious live on Donna Richardson-Joyner's 2006 exercise video entitled Sweating in the Spirit 2. Her twin sister, Mary Alessi, performs with her on her 2006 album No Limits Live.

The CD/DVD project, Change the World was released on April 1, 2008. The project was recorded on December 7, 2007 and features Israel Houghton, Mary Alessi, Micah Stampley, Bishop Joseph Garlington, and Ricardo Sanchez.[7]

On April 24, 2011 Martha Munizzi released Make it Loud her first self-produced CD. The new project features William McDowell, Michael Gungor, Jonathan Stockstill, Lori Morrison, Daniel Eric Groves and the debut of Danielle Munizzi, daughter of Martha and Dan Munizzi.[8]

Film appearances

''The Gospel'' (performs the song "Glorious" in the film and on the film's music soundtrack)

Music concert videos

''The Best Is Yet To Come''

  • Released: 2003
  • Format: DVD
  • Label: chamara

''Israel and New Breed: Live from Another Level'' (Guest appearance)

  • Released: 2004
  • Format: DVD

''The Gospel Live (The BET Concert) (Performs song "Glorious" live)

  • Released: 2005
  • Format: DVD

''No Limits Live'' (Live concert recording)

  • Released: 2006
  • Format: DVD

Other project appearances

''Sweating in the Spirit 2'' (Performs her song "Glorious" live in the walking exercise routine)

  • Released: 2006
  • Format: DVD

Albums

''Say the Name''

  • Released: July 16, 2002 (2002-07-16)
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Martha Munizzi Music

''The Best Is Yet to Come''

  • Released: July 8, 2003 (2003-07-08)
  • Format: CD, DVD
  • Label: Martha Munizzi Music
  • Chart position: No. 2 - Top Gospel Albums, No. 13 - Top Independent Albums, No. 8 - Billboard Top Heatseekers, No. 179 - The Billboard 200, No. 6 - Billboard Top Christian Albums [10]

''When He Came'' (Christmas Album)

  • Released: October 19, 2004 (2004-10-19)
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Martha Munizzi Music
  • Chart position: No. 5 - Billboard Top Gospel Albums, No. 32 - Billboard Top Independent Albums, No. 28 - Billboard Top Heatseekers, No. 22 - Billboard Top Christian Albums [10]

''No Limits: Live''

  • Released: March 14, 2006 (2006-03-14)
  • Format: CD, DVD
  • Label: Martha Munizzi Music
  • Chart position: No. 1 - Billboard Top Gospel Albums (debuted at No. 1), No. 60 - The Billboard 200, No. 2 - Billboard Top Christian Albums [10]

''Change The World'' (Includes a Bonus DVD featuring: "Invincible God", "Dance", and "Change The World")

  • Released: April 1, 2008 (2008-04-01)
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Martha Munizzi Music
  • Chart position: No. 4 - Billboard Top Gospel Albums (debuted at No. 4), No. 135 - The Billboard 200, No. 3 - Billboard Top Christian Albums [10]

''Make It Loud''

  • Released: April 26, 2011 (2011-04-26)
  • Format: CD
  • Label: MmMG
  • Chart position: No. 6 - Billboard Top Gospel Albums, No. 141 - The Billboard 200, No. 27 - Top Independent Albums [10]

Award wins
YearAward-giving bodyAward
2005Stellar AwardsBest New Artist of the Year Award - The Best Is Yet To Come
2006Stellar AwardsSpecial Event CD of the Year - When He Came
2006Oasis AwardsInternational Female Artist of the Year
2007Christian Music AwardsFemale Artist of the Year
2009GMA Dove AwardsContemporary Gospel Album of the Year - Change The World

Award nominations

Munizzi has been nominated for Grammy, Dove, Stellar and Soul Train Awards as both a performer and songwriter. In 2006, Munizzi was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. She has also been nominated for the 2007 Stellar Awards' Artist of the Year and Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year.[11]

YearAward-giving bodyAward CategorySong /Album Title
2003Dove AwardsContemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the YearBecause of Who You Are
2004Dove AwardsContemporary Gospel Song of the YearBecause of Who You Are
2005Dove AwardsContemporary Gospel Song of the YearSay the Name
2005Stellar AwardsBest New Artist of the Year Award (Winner)The Best Is Yet To Come
2005Stellar AwardsFemale Vocalist of the YearThe Best is Yet to Come
2006Stellar AwardsSpecial Event CD of the Year (Winner)When He Came
2006Oasis AwardsInternational Female Artist of the Year (Winner)The Best is Yet to Come
2006Grammy AwardsBest Traditional Soul Gospel AlbumSay the Name
2006Dove AwardsContemporary Gospel Album of the YearWhen He Came
2006CCM Magazine Readers Choice AwardsFemale Artist of the YearNo Limits Live
2006CCM Magazine Readers Choice AwardsPraise & Worship CD of the YearNo Limits Live
2006CCM Magazine Readers Choice AwardsWorship Artist of the YearNo Limits Live
2007Stellar AwardsArtist of the YearNo Limits Live
2007Stellar AwardsContemporary Female Vocalist of the Year No Limits Live
2007Dove AwardsContemporary Gospel Album of the YearNo Limits Live
2007Dove AwardsContemporary Gospel Song of the YearNo Limits
2007Christian Music AwardsFemale Artist of the Year (Winner)No Limits Live
2009Dove AwardsContemporary Gospel Album of the YearChange The World
2009Dove AwardsContemporary Gospel Song of the YearFavor Of God

Personal life

Munizzi married Dan Munizzi in 1987 and have three children Danielle, Nicole, and Nathan. Martha and Dan currently pastor Epic life church in Orlando, FL.

See also

References
  1. "Martha Munizzi". Marha Munizzi.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  2. Church, Lakewood. "Lakewood Church Worship Service On-line Viewable Service # 153". Lakewood Church. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  3. Church, Lakewood. "Lakewood Church Worship Service On-line Viewable Service # 154". Lakewood Church. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  4. Cummings, Tony (2006-04-26). "Cross-cultural worship is the name of the game for pioneering ISRAEL HOUGHTON". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 2006-12-23.
  5. "Martha Munizzi Signs With Integrity Music". 2005-05-28. Retrieved 2006-12-05.
  6. "Kirk Franklin to Host Benefit Concert for Children's Defense Fund". breathecast.com. 2001-01-08. Archived from the original on 2007-01-21. Retrieved 2007-01-19.
  7. www.marthamunizzi.com
  8. "Make It Loud". New Release Tuesday. 2011-04-26. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
  9. The Gospel at IMDb
  11. "22nd Annual Stellar Award Nominations (2007)". Retrieved 2006-12-05.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.