Blessing Offor is a Nigerian-born American gospel and contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter.
Blessing Offor | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.[citation needed] |
| Genres | Gospel, Contemporary Christian Music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | Capitol CMG |
| Website | blessingoffor |
Early life and career
editOffor was born blind in one eye and with limited vision in the other due to congenital glaucoma. He and his uncle migrated to Connecticut, United States when Offor was six years old to treat the glaucoma and preserve his remaining eyesight.[1] When he was 10, he went completely blind due to an accident. He started composing music on piano and learned to play songs from Stevie Wonder and Sam Cooke, his musical influences. He carried on with his career as a gospel musician and moved to Nashville to pursue music more.[2]
Offor played at bars in his young adult years before competing on The Voice during its seventh season in 2014, where he joined team Pharrell Williams and later Adam Levine, before getting eliminated in the show's third round.[3][4]
Offor regularly performs at the Kennedy Center to help spread awareness about artists with disabilities. In 2022 he released the single "Brighter Days", accompanied by an album of the same name.[5] The song reached 17 on the Billboard Top 20 at the time.[6] It also reached No. 25 on the mainstream Adult Contemporary chart.[7] It additionally reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top TV songs chart.[8]
In 2023, Offor released a duet with fellow Christian singer, TobyMac called "The Goodness", and a solo single "My Tribe", which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Christian AirPlay for seven weeks.[9][10][11] "My Tribe" pays tribute to his sister, Mercy, who died December 29, 2022, and to his home country, Nigeria.[12]
Later that year, his song "Believe" reached number 23, on Christian Top 40[13][14] and in November 2023 was nominated for the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. Offor also received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album with his album, My Tribe. It reached No. 6 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and No. 20 on the Top Current Digital Album Sales and Official Charts UK Top Christian/Gospel charts.[15][16] Later that year, his song "Wonderful Christmastime", a Paul McCartney cover, reached #1 on the Billboard AC Monitered and Airplay charts.
Awards and nominations
editIn 2010, he won the International Young Soloists Award from VSA.[17]
GMA Dove Awards
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Blessing Offor | New Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2023 | "Brighter Days" | Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year | Won | |
| My Tribe | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year | Nominated | ||
| "The Goodness" (with TobyMac) |
Short Form Video of the Year (Performance) | Won |
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ |
US Current |
UK Christ | |||
| Guilty Pleasure |
|
— | — | — | |
| Roots |
|
— | — | — | |
| Brighter Days |
|
— | — | — | |
| My Tribe | 6 | 20 | 20 | ||
Extended plays
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| How Much You Mean to Me |
|
| Snow Globe |
|
| Covers |
|
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Air |
US TV |
US AC |
US Pop |
US Christ |
US Christ Air | |||
| "Say Yes" | 2008 | — | — | — | — | — | Guilty Pleasure | |
| "Loving Eachother" | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | Roots | |
| "Songs for Guiding Eyes" | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Hey World" (with Lee Brice) |
2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Hey World |
| "Tin Roof" | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Brighter Days |
| "Brighter Days" | — | 5 | 25 | 17 | 2 | 2 | Brighter Days
My Tribe | |
| "Your Love" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | 30 | 18 | My Tribe |
| "Feel Good" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Won't Be Long Now" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "My Tribe" | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | ||
| "Rollin'" | — | — | — | — | 22 | — | ||
| "The Goodness" (with TobyMac) |
— | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | Life After Death | |
| "Look Up to the Sky" (with Lathan Warlick) |
2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Lets Be Honest EP |
| "Thats the Thing About Praise" (with Benjamin William Hastings) |
— | — | — | — | 21 | 14 | Benjamin William Hastings | |
| "Autobahn" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | TBA |
| "Jordans" | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | ||
| "All Over the World" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
Other charted songs
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Air |
US AC |
US Christ |
US Christ Air | |||
| "Believe" | 2022 | — | — | 9 | 7 | Brighter Days
My Tribe |
| "Godspeed" (Frank Ocean cover) |
2023 | — | — | 33 | — | Covers |
| "Wonderful Christmastime" (Paul McCartney cover) |
1 | 1 | 17 | — | Snow Globe | |
| "Snow Globe" | 2024 | — | — | — | 27 | |
References
edit- ^ "Blessing Offor". Capitol Christian Music Group. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Law, Jeannie Ortega; Reporter, Christian Post (March 11, 2022). "Blind musician Blessing Offor says he's 'living the dream,' wakes up grateful for each day". The Christian Post. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Starkey, Mei Ling (April 24, 2015). "The Voice Contestant Blessing Offor Exclusive Interview". Risen Magazine. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "'The Voice' Performer Blessing Offor Is Sent Home & This Season Loses Its "Something Special"". Bustle. November 4, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Bennett, Laura (April 6, 2022). "Blessing Offor's 'Brighter Days' Were Hard-Won But Faith-Building". Hope 103.2. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ devops (November 28, 2013). "Christian Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Clarks, Jessie (December 6, 2024). "Blessing Offor Releases 'Covers' EP". TCB. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ Rutherford, Kevin (November 24, 2021). "Taylor Swift's 'Exile' Rules Top TV Songs Chart After 'You' Appearance". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ Nicholson, Jessica (January 12, 2023). "Blessing Offor Talks Christian Music Success & Debut Album 'My Tribe': 'I Didn't Give Myself Permission to Quit'". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ devops (November 28, 2013). "Christian Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ devops (January 2, 2013). "Hot Christian Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Palsa, Nicole (February 1, 2023). "Blessing Offor Reflects On Releasing Debut Album, 'My Tribe,' After Sudden Loss Of His Sister: 'An Emotional Challenge'". Country Now. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Christian Top 40". www.topchristianhits.org. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Blessing Offor "Brighter Days" hits Billboard Top 10, releases "Believe" in studio performance". www.breathecast.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Blessing Offor Appears on Today with Hoda and Jenna; Covers Ep Out Friday". www.jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ Hollabaugh, Lorie (January 31, 2023). "Blessing Offor's 'My Tribe' Is Capitol CMG's Most Streamed Debut From Male Solo Artist". MusicRow.com. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ Fredricksen, Lynn (May 3, 2010). "Local artist wins international award". New Haven Register. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "2022 Nominees | The 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards". GMA Dove Awards. August 10, 2022. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ "2023 Nominees". GMA Dove Awards. August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.