Michael W. Smith

=== Mainstream venture and inspirational pop albums (1990–1999) ===

[[File:Graham Crusade Smith.JPG|thumb|Michael W. Smith and [[TobyMac]] with evangelist [[Billy Graham]] in 1994]]
In 1990, Smith released ''[[Go West Young Man (Michael W. Smith album)|Go West Young Man]]'', his first mainstream effort, which included the mainstream [[crossover (music)|crossover]] hit single "[[Place in This World]]". The song peaked at No. 6 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. In 1992, he released ''[[Change Your World (Michael W. Smith album)|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 (Michael W. Smith box set)|The Wonder Years]]'' and his first greatest hits album, ''[[The First Decade (1983–1993)]]''. The latter also includes two new songs, "Do You Dream of Me?" and "Kentucky Rose".

In 1994, Smith appeared as a guest pianist on the album ''[[Swing, Swang, Swung]]'' by [[Christian rock]] band [[Guardian (band)|Guardian]].<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=[[Swing, Swang, Swung]] |others=[[Guardian (band)|Guardian]] |year=1994 |type=Liner notes |publisher=Myrrh |id=7012529261 |location=Los Angeles}}</ref>

In 1995, Smith released his eighth album ''[[I'll Lead You Home]]'', which combines the pop style of his secular albums with a touch of religious feel. ''[[Live the Life]]'' (1998) and ''[[This Is Your Time (Michael W. Smith album)|This Is Your Time]]'' (1999) follow the same style. In 1998, Smith also released his second Christmas album, ''[[Christmastime (Michael W. Smith album)|Christmastime]]''.

Smith collaborated with [[Jim Brickman]] on "Love of My Life", a romantic love song for Brickman's album ''Destiny'' in 1999. The song went to chart at No. 9 on the [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks]]. Also in 1999, he became the first Christian artist to receive the [[ASCAP]] "Golden Note" Award for lifetime achievement in songwriting.<ref name=goldennote /><ref>{{cite news|title=Greater Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky Mission|url=http://www2.cincinnati.com/billygraham/guests.html|newspaper=Cincinnati.com|access-date=May 21, 2015|quote=He is also the first Christian artist to receive the ASCAP "Golden Note" Award for lifetime achievement in songwriting}}</ref>