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"Even in the shadow of death I will praise you.
Even in the valley I will say,
'Holy, my God, you are worthy of all my praise.'"
Songwriter, singer and worship leader, Audrey Hatcher Woodhams penned the lyrics and music to the song "All My Praise" with her acoustic guitar in an honest moment of prayer. She had crafted numerous songs before - songs like "I Need You" that led fellow worshipers in surrender and "The Nunnery" that united audiences in laughter - songs that quickly caught the attention of Nashville's music community. She had written so many well-loved songs by 2001 that she released her first independent studio album 1553 Delmar to a full house at Nashville's legendary Exit/In and became a staff songwriter for the Gospel Division of BMG/Brentwood Benson Music Publishing. Now with the success of "All My Praise," and her fourth album Mysterious You set for release September 8, 2006, Audrey is experiencing an ignition of popularity and ministry, and a unique connection with audiences far outside her Virginia hometown and Tennessee roots.
Dove Award winning trio, Selah, recorded "All My Praise" on their 2004 album Hiding Place. In the spring of 2005, the song spent five weeks at #1 on the Inspirational Charts, and climbed to the Top 10 on the Adult Contemporary charts. In February of 2006, the song earned Hatcher Woodhams her first Dove Award Nomination for Best Inspirational Song of the Year. As radio stations increasingly aired Selah's moving recording of "All My Praise," Audrey continued playing live across the country, meeting new people who told her about the significant role of her music and message in their lives.
After performing a youth benefit concert in Mt. Vernon, IL, Audrey met a woman in Stage IV breast cancer preparing to start her first round of chemotherapy the next morning. After the scary diagnosis, this woman found hope and encouragement from God through the song "All My Praise." She listened to the concert that night and marveled that the Lord would encourage her on the eve of her difficult treatment directly through the woman who wrote the song that was comforting her.
Audrey heard moving stories like this one in response to 1553 Delmar as well. In the summer of 2004, Audrey received a letter from a chaplain in the US Army whom she had never met. While stationed in Iraq, he and his battalion saved their batteries during the day in order to play her album at night. He sought her out and wrote to express his appreciation for her talent and return the encouragement that she had given to them.
Since the release of 1553 Delmar, Audrey has added three more albums to her repertoire, much to the delight of her growing audience. In March of 2004, Audrey provided fans a seven song CD entitled Unreleased featuring her solo version of "All My Praise", the awe-inspiring song "Somebody" and the must-sing-to praise song "Surrounded" produced by Jimmy Collins (Matthew West, Plumb). Later that fall Audrey delivered such an exceptional set to 3,000 enthusiastic students in Wheaton, IL, the recording easily became her third album, Audrey Hatcher: Live at Wheaton College, released in February of 2005.
Audrey's newest offering, Mysterious You, continues her tradition of insightful lyrics, distinct vocals and passion for a powerful God. Presented in her signature acoustic folk/rock sound produced by Steven Leiweke (Erin O'Donnell, Plumb, Joel Engel, Spin Worship), Mysterious You features live show hits "Liars and Thieves" and "I Hear You" as well as new favorites "Spirit Move" and "You're Beautiful." Regarding these latest tracks Audrey says, "Of all my albums so far, I'm happy to say this one is the most about God and the least about me. Every song is God-ward, worshiping Him, learning to trust and believe His love even in the midst of His mysteriousness. I hope that when people hear them they are uplifted and that they want to move closer to Him."
And with that passion, Audrey blazes the touring trails. "I just believe in what God wants to do through these new songs," she conveys. "Writing them and singing them even just around the house, He has used these songs to encourage me so much already. I want to sing them and offer this album to as many people as possible, for us all to be encouraged in the Lord."
And now newly married, Audrey and her husband, Doug Woodhams, join together in this ministry. "In seeking the Lord for the next step, Doug and I sense God's leading to join in this ministry together," says Audrey. "Behind the scenes, Doug is a tremendous support."
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