Michael Puryear

Biography

Michael Puryear has over 40 years experience in the Music Industry, as a Songplugger, Music Publishing Executive and Songwriter.  As a Music Publisher, he has worked as a Publisher or Creative Director for such diverse writers as Marcus Hummon (God Bless the Broken Road/Ready to Run/Only Love, CBS recording artist), Steven Curtis Chapman (Capitol Christian Music Group recording artist), Ginny Owens (Rocketown Records recording artist), Archie Jordan (Almost Like a Song/What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life), Chapin Hartford (Meet in the Middle, Better Than a Hallelujah), John Tirro (So Much for Pretending), Greg Nelson (People Need the Lord), Dick and Mel Tunney (Let There Be Praise/How Excellent is Thy Name), Scott Krippayne (Word Records/Spring Hill Records recording artist), Kyle Matthews (We Fall Down/If You Want Me To/Everything and Nothing for Vince Gill, and was a Benson Records recording artist), Brian White (The Promise/If You’re Goin’ Thru Hell) Billy Smiley (Whiteheart, Starsong recording artist), Michael Anderson (Maybe It Was Memphis, Forefront recording artist) and Dwight Liles (We Are an Offering/Proclaim the Glory of the Lord). 

Michael, has written songs that’ve been recorded by Ginny Owens, Diamond Rio, The Martins, Larnelle Harris, Point of Grace, Glen Campbell, Gaither Vocal Band, Avalon, Brian Littrell (Backstreet Boys), Ricky Skaggs, Truth, Jim Ed Brown, Billy Jo Spears, Gold City Quartet, Brian Free and Assurance, Jim Nabors (Gomer) Michael Peterson, Travis Tritt, Jessy Dixon, The Singing Americans, Aaron Tippen, Phillips, Craig and Dean, Clay Crosse, John Conlee, Gordon Mote and Dallas Holm among others.  He received a Dove Award for the song “If We Only Had the Heart” by Bruce Carroll. 

Michael’s own Publishing Company, Final Four Music list cuts by Amy Grant (“Better Than a Hallelujah--nominated for a Grammy 2010), The Oak Ridge Boys, Donnie McClurkin, Michael W. Smith, Jessica Simpson, MN8 (Sony Work/UK), Vince Gill, Michael English, Bob Carlisle, Aaron-Geoffrey, Babbie Mason, Mark Lowry, Grover Levy, Ce Ce Winans, Alvin Slaughter, Take 6 and Rachel Lampa and more.

He worked with Lorenz Creative Services (Music Publishing division) from 1983-1990, BMG Music Publishing from 1990-2003, both as an employee and Joint Venture Partner.

He celebrated ASCAP’s Christian Publisher of the Year in 2001 as VP, BMG Music Publishing, Gospel Division:  He worked with Universal Music Publishing as a Joint Venture Partner to establish their 1st Christian Music Division:  He’s worked as a consultant to Hillsong Music, Opryland Music Group (now Sony Music Publishing) for veteran Jerry Bradley and West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

A graduate of Leadership Music 2002, Michael has been a GMA member and a NARAS member. Michael has been a featured speaker/panelist for Nashville Songwriter’s Assn., The Gospel Music Assn. Dove week, Taxi Road Rally, Austin Songwriter’s Group, Centricity Artist/Writer Seminar and Gospel Music’s Seminar in the Rockies (25 consecutive years) and GMA week industry panels.

Michael is married to Jan Puryear.  He has 3 sons, Dylan, Jordan and Brennan and 4 grandchildren.