Matthew West

=== ''Happy'' (2003–2004) ===

[[File:Matthew West-WWS 2005.jpg|thumb|Matthew West at a concert on [[tobyMac]]'s Winter Wonder Slam tour in December 2005]]
After signing with [[Universal South Records]] on August 23, 2002,<ref name="emicmg" /> West released his first non-independent studio album, ''[[Happy (Matthew West album)|Happy]]'', on December 26, 2003.<ref name="JFH-happy">{{cite web |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/Happy.asp |title=Matthew West, "Happy" Review |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout |author=DiBiase, John |date=December 26, 2003 |access-date=June 27, 2008}}</ref> The album's producers Kenny Greenberg and Jason Houser co-wrote the song "[[More (Matthew West song)|More]]" with West.<ref name="cmt-happy">{{cite web |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/reviews/2003/happy.html |title=Happy – Matthew West |work=[[Christianity Today|Christian Music Today]] |access-date=July 11, 2008}}</ref><ref name="top40-makeshistory">{{cite web |url=http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=15734 |title=Matthew West Makes 'History' June 21, 2005 |publisher=Top40-Charts.com |date=June 15, 2005 |access-date=July 11, 2008}}</ref> The track was his first and most successful radio single to date, staying at No. 1 on [[Radio & Records|R&R]]'s Christian Adult Contemporary chart for a record-breaking nine weeks.<ref name="2005 interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2005/matthewwest-0705.html |title=History in the Making |date=July 18, 2005 |access-date=July 1, 2008 |work=[[Christianity Today|Christian Music Today]]}}</ref> It was the most played Christian AC song of 2004<ref name="cmt-mattwest-bio" /> and went on to be labelled the Christian Song of the Year by [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|ASCAP]].<ref name="YMZ-bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/music_artist_more/west_matthew/ |title=Matthew West biography |publisher=Your Music Zone |access-date=June 27, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060531193045/http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/music_artist_more/west_matthew/ |archive-date = May 31, 2006}}</ref> Two additional songs, "The End" and "You Know Where to Find Me", were also released as singles off the album.<ref name="Happy singles">{{cite web |url=http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=12296 |title=Matthew West Tops '04 Reader Poll, Joins Winter Jam '05 |publisher=Top40-Charts.com |date=January 6, 2005 |access-date=July 9, 2008}}</ref> Beginning in late September 2004, West joined [[Avalon (American group)|Avalon]] and [[Mark Schultz (musician)|Mark Schultz]] on a 40-city fall tour, which concluded at the end of November.<ref name="happydays">{{cite web |url=http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=9942 |title=Happy days are here again! Matthew West in concert |publisher=Top40-Charts.com |date=September 28, 2004 |access-date=July 14, 2008}}</ref> In 2005, he was nominated for five [[GMA Dove Award|Dove Award]]s, including "New Artist of the Year" and "Song of the Year".<ref name="about.com">{{cite web |url=http://christianmusic.about.com/od/doves/a/aa36dovenoms.htm |title=36th Annual GMA Music (Dove) Awards |date=February 10, 2005 |publisher=[[About.com]] |access-date=June 27, 2008}}</ref> He won the "Recorded Music Packaging of the Year" Dove Award for his debut album ''Happy''.<ref name="history-emicmg">{{cite web|url=http://pressroom.emicmg.com/artists/MatthewWest/files/uploads/filedownloads/Matthew%20fact%20sheetfinal.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060916144927/http://pressroom.emicmg.com/artists/MatthewWest/files/uploads/filedownloads/Matthew%20fact%20sheetfinal.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 16, 2006 |title=Matthew West History |publisher=[[EMI]] [[Capitol Music Group|CMG.com]] |access-date=July 14, 2008 |year=2005 }}</ref>

In early 2005, he was on the WinterJam 2005 tour, hosted by [[NewSong]], with [[tobyMac]], [[Building 429]], [[Tait (band)|Tait]], and [[Rachael Lampa]].<ref name="2nd Album">{{cite web |url=http://www.breathecast.com/Christian.Music.Artist-Matthew.West/Article-237_382.htm |title=Many Anticipate on Matthew West's 2nd Album |publisher=BREATHEcast.com |date=February 17, 2005 |access-date=July 4, 2008}}</ref>