Billy Sprague
Billy Sprague | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 17, 1952 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1984–present |
Billy Sprague (born July 17, 1952) is an American Christian pop singer, songwriter, and producer.
Sprague was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to William Sprague and Oteka (Barnes) Sprague.[1] He was raised in Borger, Texas. He attended Texas Christian University, graduating in 1979, then studied English in a Master's program at the University of Texas.[2] Starting in 1981 he played in Amy Grant's backup band, and also embarked on a songwriting career. His compositions would be recorded by Brown Bannister, Gary Chapman, Sandi Patty, Bebe and Cece Winans, Kathy Troccoli, and Debby Boone.[citation needed]
He began recording under his own name in 1984, releasing an album, "What a Way To Go", produced by Michael W. Smith. A second album, Serious Fun, followed in 1986, featuring production by Wayne Kirkpatrick and a song co-written by Chris Rodriguez. Sprague ceased recording and performing in 1989 after his fiance was killed in a car crash while driving to one of his concerts, not returning until 1992.[2] During this time he continued working as a producer, and produced the album Friends Forever Part 2, which won a Dove Award for Best Musical Album in 1990. Switching to Benson Records, Sprague released Torn Between Two Worlds in 1992 and The Wind and the Wave in 1993. In 1994, he married, and continued songwriting through the decade of the 1990s.[citation needed]
In 2015, Sprague released a new album, Songs In The Key Of Awe, after a successful fundraising campaign on Kickstarter.[3]
Discography[edit]
- What a Way to Go (Reunion Records, 1984)
- Serious Fun (Reunion, 1986)
- La Vie (Reunion, 1988)
- I Wish (Reunion, 1989)
- Torn Between Two Worlds (Benson Records, 1992)
- The Wind and the Wave (Benson, 1993)
- Soundtrack of My Soul (Mission Music, 2004)
- Songs In The Key Of Awe (Independent, 2015)
References[edit]
- ^ Oteka Barnes Sprague obituary, Dowdy Funeral Home, https://www.dowdyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Oteka-Sprague/#!/Obituary
- ^ a b Mark Allan Powell, Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. Hendrickson Publishers, 2002, pp. 856-857.
- ^ "Key Of Awe: Billy Sprague working on 'Songs In The Key Of Awe' album". Cross Rhythms. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
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