With musical influences of Michael English, Darrell Evans and Michael O'Brien, Matt's 10 years of music ministry have lead him to this place. Opening in concert for artists such as Sara Groves and Mark Schultz, Matt is no stranger to the experience of this type of ministry. Music has been a huge part of Matt's life from the time he was very young. His parents recall him spending many hours sitting with headphones on his head listening to endless hours of music. Matt would sit soaking in every note, every tone, loving every minute of it. If only it was this easy to calm every child down! Still to this day, if Matt hears any music floating through the air, you can see the change in his face, studying every aspect of it. When asked who he looked up to musically as he was growing up, he replied, "Michael English and Keith Green. Michael English had a voice that just stuck out to me more than any other voice. I could feel the power of the anointing when he sang. Keith Green had an incredible ability to write songs." Matt grew up singing as well as playing the piano and violin. He also had other talents. Athletic talent. One of his favorite sports was basketball. This carried over from high school to college. When he went to Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, he was enlisted on the basketball team. He majored in Communications and minored in Music, still unsure of what he wanted to do with his talents in music. Deep down he felt that was where the Lord was calling him, but he continued to hold on to basketball. He participated in worship teams on campus and involved himself in a community church. Matt's junior year in college, he decided it was time to give up basketball. He knew his true calling. When was it exactly he knew? "College. It hit me when I was leading worship for a chapel service at Evangel. The Holy Spirit moved in a mighty way and I was so humbled by His presence I could feel Him calling me at that moment. I knew that this is what I was going to be doing for the rest of my life." Matt met his wife, Danielle, at Evangel the end of their freshman year and they were married by their senior year. After graduating from college, they decided to move to Maine, where Matt was born and raised, to pursue recording his music. Still unsure of what venue to pursue, he joined his church's worship team, helping to lead vocally as well as on the piano. Matt also joined his wife in leading his youth's worship team as well as currently being an adult youth leader. What else defines Matt Earle? "Here's my order of merit. God, wife, music." Agreeing with these, those around him would also say his humor. You will never find an event "uneventful" when Matt Earle is around. He can make the worst day a whole lot better with his incredible personality, laughter and goofiness. Despite his goofiness, anyone who knows Matt knows his seriousness about the Lord. Recent circumstances have helped to lead and challenge Matt and Danielle. In February 2005, Matt and Danielle's lives came to a new point. Danielle was 8 months pregnant expecting identical twin boys. But in one night, their lives changed forever. An unexpected turn in the pregnancy found them rushing to the hospital in the middle of the night with Danielle needing to have an emergency c-section. They immediately lost Ryan while Nathan was resuscitated and stayed with them for 6 days before he went to be with the Lord and his brother. Ask them and they will tell you that the Lord has helped them through this time in their lives. They know the Lord has a plan in all that has happened and continuously rely on Him for the peace and comfort they need. Track #11 on Matt's debut CD will give you a piece of their hearts surrounding their boys. It seems all this time has brought them together, prepared them in many ways and is now freeing them by opening doors while feeling peace about it. Peace even in what may seem the hardest of times. The Lord has placed a calling on each individual life, but until the Lord releases the gate, the time before is the only preparation we'll have. Why now? "Because now is the time. The Lord was preparing me for this. Now I'm ready. There was a time required for preparation for my heart, musically, mentally and spiritually."