Laura Story
Laura Mixon Story Elvington is an American contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter.
Her single off the album Blessings became her first to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart. The single eventually went on to win the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song.
Career
Story began her career in 1996 when she met Shane Williams, from the band Silers Bald, at Columbia International University. Williams asked Story to join the band and she became their bass player. Story released four independent albums with the band.When the band was about to sign a deal with Essential Records, Story's manager suggested she record a solo album. In 2002, Story left Silers Bald and began working on her first album, Indescribable, which was released independently that same year. In 2004, the title track of her album was recorded by Chris Tomlin in his album, Arriving. Tomlin's version peaked at No. 2 on Billboards Hot Christian Songs and was included in the compilation album Passion: How Great Is Our God. The band Avalon also recorded a version of the song for the ' album.
Story released her second independent album in 2005, titled There Is Nothing. The album was produced by Ed Cash and Mitch Dane. During that year, she also married Martin Elvington, and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to become an associate worship leader at Perimeter Church.
In 2006, Story signed a record contract with INO Records and two years later, released her third album, Great God Who Saves. The album was also produced by Ed Cash. In 2010, she was nominated for a Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year at the 41st GMA Dove Awards. Story released her fourth album, Blessings, in May 2011. Story released her fifth studio album, God of Every Story'', on September 30, 2013.
''Blessings''
In May 2011 Story released her fourth album, Blessings. To date, the album has become her biggest commercial success having debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart, giving Story her highest placement ever on the album chart. In June 2011, the first single off the album, also titled "Blessings", reached No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart, giving Story her first number one hit. In an interview, Story explains "Blessings is just a bunch of songs about worshiping when life is hard". After her husband Martin Elvington was diagnosed with a brain tumor, she asked "Why didn't you just fix it, God? You're all powerful and all loving… just fix it." Later after mentioning her desire to return to a normal life, her sister said "You know, I think the detour is actually the road." She realized that "Spending time with Martin obviously makes me happy, but it makes me a better person. That's the blessing of it."After the success of Story's Grammy-winning song, Blessings, a 30-day devotional book was released entitled What If Your Blessings Come Through Raindrops?. Each chapter contains thoughts, prayers and quotes along with a journaling page for the reader to recall blessings they have seen in their own lives.
Discography
Solo albums
- Great God Who Saves also charted on the Billboard Heatseekers Album chart peaking at No. 25.
- Blessings also charted on the Billboard Folk Albums chart peaking at No. 3 and on the Billboard 200 chart peaking at No. 30.
With Silers Bald
Singles
- "Blessings" also charted on the Billboard Heatseekers Song chart peaking at No. 18.
Awards and nominations
Grammy Awards
Year | Award | Result |
2012 | Best Contemporary Christian Music Song |
GMA Dove Awards
Year | Award | Result |
2006 | Song of the Year | |
2006 | Worship Song of the Year | |
2009 | Female Vocalist of the Year | |
2009 | Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year | |
2009 | Inspirational Album of the Year | |
2009 | Praise & Worship Album of the Year | |
2010 | Female Vocalist of the Year | |
2011 | Female Vocalist of the Year | |
2012 | Artist of the Year | |
2012 | Female Vocalist of the Year | |
2012 | Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year | |
2012 | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year | |
2012 | Song of the Year | |
2015 | Inspiration Recorded Song of the Year | |
2016 | Inspiration Recorded Song of the Year | |
2016 | Christmas Album of the Year |