Nashville-based CCM artist Matthew West grew up in the Chicago suburbs with dreams of a career in baseball with his beloved Chicago Cubs, but while he excelled at the sport in high school, it was music that would ultimately be his calling. West received a four-year music scholarship at Millikin University and graduated in 1999. As an independent musician, he released three albums -- September Sun (1997), Every Step of the Way (1998), and Sellout (2002) -- all of which included more than a few songs penned at his father's church. His keen ear for melody, expert guitar playing, and accessible brand of spiritual pop eventually drew interest from Universal South Records, which signed the artist and released his major-label debut, the Dove Award-winning Happy, followed by History in 2005 and Something to Say in 2008. West has also penned songs for numerous acts, both secular and non-secular, including Rascal Flatts, Point of Grace, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Jump5. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide