Billy Sprague

Billy Sprague (born July 17, 1952) is an American Christian singer, songwriter, producer and author, whose had a long solo career in addition to having many songs recorded by other artists. Sprague is a three-time Dove Award winner as a songwriter and producer. His most famous Dove Award winning song is "Via Dolorosa," which he co-wrote with fellow songwriter Niles Borop and was first recorded by Sandi Patty.

Sprague was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to William Sprague and Oteka (Barnes) Sprague. He was raised in Borger, Texas. He attended Texas Christian University, graduating in 1979, then studied English in a Master's program at the University of Texas. Starting in 1981 he played in Amy Grant's backup band, and also embarked on a songwriting career. His compositions would be recorded by Patty, Gary Chapman, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Kathy Troccoli, Debby Boone and many others.

He began recording under his own name in 1984, releasing his debut album, What a Way To Go, produced by Michael W. Smith. Sprague's second album, Serious Fun, followed in 1986, featuring production by Reed Arvin, who is best known for producing albums for Reunion Records label mate Rich Mullins. After the release of his third album La Vie and his first "best of" collection I Wish, Sprague ceased recording and performing in 1989 after his fiancé was killed in a car crash while driving to one of his concerts, not returning until 1992.

During this time he continued working as a producer, and produced the musical album Friends Forever Part 2, which won a Dove Award for Musical Album of the Year in 1990. In the early 1990s, Sprague returned to recording signing with Benson Records and released two more albums, Torn Between Two Worlds and The Wind and the Wave. In 1994, he married, and continued songwriting through the decade of the 1990s.

In 2024, Sprague launched his website, www.billysprague.com, for books and out-of-print music not available on any streaming platform.

More information on Billy Sprague at Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Sprague

Discography

What a Way To Go (1984)

Serious Fun (1986)

La Vie (1988)

I Wish (1989) (compilation album)

Torn Between Two Worlds (1992)

The Wind and the Wave (1993)

Signature Songs (1999) (Benson Records compilation album)

Soundtrack of My Soul (2004)

Songs to a Grieving Heart (2005)

The Goodness (2011)

Songs in the Key of Awe (2014)

Hope Rope (2024) (children's music album)

Collaboration albums

Coming From Somewhere Else (2000) (with Wayne Kirkpatrick, Gordon Kennedy

and Phil Maderia)

Return of the Killer B's (2002) (live album with Bruce Carroll and Bob Bennett)