Though
Micah Stampley was born in Los Angeles, California, his family moved
back to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, soon after his birth. He and his 7
siblings were raised in a Christian atmosphere, being children of
Pastor Richard and Delmaire Stampley. Richard Stampley also worked as
a free-lance carpenter, whose gifts included making fine furniture and
cabinetry. Delmaire Stampley was a devoted mother and homemaker.
Micah
Stampley and his siblings were blessed by love, guidance and strong
extended family support, exposure to the Lord, a firm Christian
foundation and Christian life style. Micah shared who he considered to
be his closest spiritual influences:"My Grandfather "James Stampley
Sr., my father and mother "Richard Sr. and Delmaire Stampley"; King of
Ghana Africa "His majesty Dr. Kingsley Fletcher."
Many
seeds of faith were planted in Micah in his growing up years, and
opportunities to get to know of the Lord through service and music were
available. His personal relationship with the Lord on an adult level
was the result of a growing process that most of us go through. The
Lord is faithful to prepare us to handle whatever tasks He has in mind
for us.
Micah shares with ChristianMusic.com;
"Yes, I am the product of a Christian home and I remember being in
church quite a bit as a child, but my relationship with God wasn't
taken seriously and/or developed until I matured in age, mentally and
spiritually."
The
musical talent was very much evident in the family and extended family,
which in turn encouraged the Stampley children to develop their gifts.
Micah shares with ChristianMusic.com, "Most of my family is musically
inclined. My influences were mainly my surroundings and relatives."
Micah's
musical influences growing up also included other artists: "The Hawkins
Family, Sonic Flood, Daryl Coley, Shirley Ceaser, Michael W. Smith,
Sandy Pattie, The Winans Family, Steven Curtis Chapman, Third Day,
Andre Crouch, New Song and many many more."
Micah
Stampley's considerable musical gifts appeared very early in his life.
At the tender age of 4, Micah joined the church choir because of his
precocious gift for singing and performing. At age 7, Micah became the
choir director at his father's church. He had to stand on a table so
the choir could see him.
ChristianMusic.com asked Micah Stampley about his early musical training.
"I
didn't have any professional training as it relates to music; however,
my church's music ministers and musicians had a great impact on my
life. Everything else was taught to me by God.'
When did you start playing the piano/ guitar / etc. writing songs?
"My
writing was developed at the age of 11-10 years old. I've been singing
for as long as I remember and my first instrument was the drums. Then,
I started on piano after my dad began to pastor; the church couldn't
afford a musician, so I had to learn how to play."
How did the Lord prepare you for your life of service through music?
Micah
reflects, "God processed me before he gave me this ministry. I'm so
grateful for this, because now I know how to sustain without
compromise."
At
the age of 13, in partnership with his brother Nathaniel, Micah became
his church's official music minister, starting his years of service
through music. By this time, he had been writing songs for three years,
partnered with Nathaniel; a brother that he was really close to, who
shared his passion for music.
Greatly
motivated by his passion for music, Micah learned and evolved his
musical gifts through the process of providing music for praise and
worship for his church throughout his teen years, until his 21st year.
His voice had also evolved and his ability to sing multi--octaves
became more and more evident and strong. His gift of singing and his
passion for music were put to good use in serving the Lord to bless
others.
Sometimes
the Lord uses the tragedy which befalls us in our life journey to draw
us closer to Him, giving us more mental and spiritual maturity. At the
ages of 19 and 21, Micah suffered devastation and pain when he and his
family lost two brothers, which hit him hard.
Micah
shares with ChristianMusic.com about these difficult experiences which
ultimately changed his thinking, and led him to a deeper heart
commitment and a solid dedication to the Lord in a personal
relationship with Him.
Micah offers this personal testimony:
"I lost 2 brothers in the 90's and both were killed by gun; Robert
(1992) and Nathaniel (1994). I realized that if I wouldn't live for God
then I probably wouldn't live to see the age of 22."
"Once
my heart turned toward God for good and I answered His call with "YES"
everything changed. Not just saying yes with my mouth, but saying it
with my heart; my "YES" changed the coarse of my life!"
After
the death of Nathaniel, Micah answered the call from God with his whole
heart. Micah faithfully followed the Lord's leadings and traveled on
crusades with evangelist, Rev. Earl Johnson. He also tried being a
part of several Gospel musicals in the Los Angeles area. During these
musicals, he met the love of his life, Heidi Jones, whom he married
about a year later. He eventually healed enough to once again come back
to his father's church and oversee the musical program.
Heidi
Stampley, a registered nurse, not only became Micah's music writing
partner, but she had the entrepreneurial spirit to later become
Vice-President of their own record label, Levitical Records, and has
always been a strong supporter for Micah's considerable musical talent.
Micah's
musical gifts were noticed and appreciated. In 2004, Micah won Stellar
Award's National Star Search, and shortly after was offered a record
deal with Bishop Jakes. This opportunity gave Micah much more exposure
to the Gospel music audience, as well as giving him the opportunity to
release a debut album, THE SONG BOOK OF MICAH.
Bishop
Jakes remarked, "Micah Stampley has he kind of talent seldom
experienced in Gospel music; coupled with that special God-given
anointing that causes our souls to soar. Listening to him is an
experience you will always remember."
THE
SONG BOOK OF MICAH hit the music charts as "the second highest debut of
a Male Gospel Artist in the history of Billboard." Micah Stampley was
honored with two 2006 Stellar Award Nominations: "Male Vocalist of the
Year" and "New Artist of the Year."
Micah
and Heidi formed their own record Label, Levitical Records, and
released Micah's second album, A FRESH WIND: THE SECOND SOUND, which
has earned two more honors for the 2008 Stellar Awards: "Contemporary
Male Vocalist of the Year", and "Praise and Worship CD of the Year."
Micah
responds to his good news, saying, "To God be the Glory!!!!This CD was
the first released on my own label so I am grateful to God for this
honor!"
A FRESH WIND: THE SECOND SOUND,
a collection of songs which will soon be explored on
ChristianMusic.com's Music Reviews section, is described by Micah
Stampley as being "songs of the Lord," which have broad appeal and
should bless listeners who enjoy great praise and worship songs which
uplift and bring the listener closer to the Lord through music, and
would find a home in a wide variety of church services.
Micah
explains, "Most of the time I find that the "industry" does not know
how to categorize me to a specific genre. I write and sing how God
gives it to me and they are songs that any race, nationality or culture
can sing and/or receive from."
The
themes found in these stunning praise and worship songs explore AND
express "the emptiness of life without Christ as our anchor, and
celebrate, worship and praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for the
hope and security that can only be found in the clutch of His Hand."
The Stampley Family
Micah and Heidi do have a goal, a vision, a dream which they make clear on their Myspace page.
“My
vision and my wife’s as well, is to go beyond the arts as our sole
means of ministry. The music is key to the ministry, and it’s where
I’ve invested the greatest part of my life. But great songs about Jesus
are not going to fill the stomach of someone who hasn’t eaten in days.
Our dream is that these songs, and my albums, and whatever is to
follow, will become part of a much bigger and multi-faceted ministry."
Micah
Stampley has been mightily blessed with a loving, talented wife, 5
beautiful children, opportunities to find success in his songs and
ministry for the Lord in Gospel music, and has been given the desires
of his heart by the Lord. He no longer prays for opportunities, but to
just be ready for "whatever he has in store for us in the days and
years to come."
Article written By: Julie Carr - ChristianMusic.com
Sources Include: ChristianMusic.com Interview, Promotional materials,
Micah Stampley Myspace and Stampley website
