by Chris True BA Christian (Catholic) singer and songwriter who was born in Newfoundland, Canada, it was not until family upheaval led Matt Maher to the desert climes of Arizona that he would find his calling and begin a musical career that would find him composing work for genre artists such as Bethany Dillon and Chris Tomlin, as well as releasing albums and playing shows across the southwest -- and eventually the world. Having been asked to take on the mantle of youth pastor and music director at his church, Maher -- who was also a scholarship winner for studies in jazz piano at Arizona State University -- would develop his skills quickly, leading to a working relationship with songwriter Tom Booth after moving to Mesa. In 2001, Maher released the first of three independent albums, The End and the Beginning, which was followed by 2003's Welcome To Life and 2006's Overflow. His eventual publishing deal with EMI led to further exposure, and he soon found himself with a record deal with Essential. That relationship allowed Maher to record and release his first ‘official' album, April 2008's Empty and Beautiful. A number two hit on the Gospel charts, Empty and Beautiful would lead to Maher playing more and more shows outside of his Arizona fan base, including plans to tour Europe and Australia in 2008.