Amy Wolter / WordAmy Wolter / Word
Hit Me In The Heart
"I wrote my first song on a ukulele when I was nine," says WAL artist Amy Wolter of her early beginnings in songwriting. "The sad thing is, I can still remember it!"
"Newcomer" is far from the correct term to describe this versatile singer/songwriter. Aware of contemporary Christian music before there was much happening with the scene, Amy was playing piano in a band, changing the words of secular songs to give them a Christian message. Raised in a Mennonite church where only accapella singing was allowed, Amy like every kid in church, learned to sing harmony at a very early age. "Even now if you go to most Mennonite churches and sing hymn," she says, "you sing one of four parts. If you're a guy and you try to sing the melody, everyone knows you're a visitor!"
In college, Amy got into her second band and began to further develop her songwriting skills and vocal ability. After graduating from Junior College, Wolter wasn't sure what was next for her, but that summer she was asked to join Sapphire, in which she would play an integral part as co-lead singer and primary songwriter. The group's first album, Crystal Clear, was produced by Greg Nelson. The group's success brought them close together - so much so that Amy and Sapphire's bassist, Jim Wolter, eventually married.
In 1986, three years after members of Sapphire parted ways, Jim, Amy and friend Sean Murphy formed Fighter. The five-member band toured on their own, as well as doing dates with bands such as Whitecross, Petra, Geoff Moore, Idle Cure, Mylon and Broken Heart, Mark Farmer and others. Their ministry and live show was powerful and exciting. Fighter's two albums for Wonderland (The Waiting and Bang the Drum) garnered several top ten CCM hits. "Look Me in the Eye," "Radio Man" and "Alone With You" among those. In September of 1993, Fighter ended their successful seven year run in Sao Paulo, Brazil before a crowd of 110,000 people, with millions more watching by television. An incredible ending for the band Amy and Jim worked so hard for and cared so much about.
Now as she stands on the threshold of a solo career, Amy steps out with both excitement and anticipation. She states, "I've always enjoyed being part of a band, so it's a new deal for me. It's a little scary, but I'm anxious to see what God has in mind with all this."
For her debut solo project, Hit Me in the Heart, Wolter collaborated with several members of the New Power Generation, the band behind the artist formerly known as Prince. Drummer Michael B. and bassist Sonny T laid down solid rock grooves, while Morris Hayes added pop elements with his keyboard arrangements. That combination, along with the melodic guitar leads for Fighter's Bill Heller, makes for a big league sound! On top of that, is Wolter's distinctive vocal style. Her voice has been compared to singers such as Pat Benetar and Ann Wilson, yet it's different, like the way you identify the voices of Melissa Etheridge or Patty Smyth. Amy delivers these eleven songs with the main ingredients of great rock 'n roll - guts and passion.
So, what does Amy do when she's not writing or singing? Well, write and sing... jingles, that is. For the last 14 years, Amy's been in the jingle biz as a performer, writer and producer, selling everything from sparkling water to cellular phones. "Jingles as fun to write, but at the same time challenging," says Amy, "especially when a client has a very strange un-singable name, or when they demand you cram a long list of requirements into that precious 30 seconds." She must be pleasing her clients, though... her jingles have won over a dozen awards, and have been aired all over the country.
But have no fear. The songs on Hit Me in the Heart are longer than 30 seconds and don't try to sell you anything. They may change your life, they may heal and restore an old wound, or they may affirm a dream and bring you closer to Christ. Amy wants you to know she's just like you... trying to get through life for God, taking things day by day.
1994 Hit Me In The Heart
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