Former Country Music Artist Lionel Cartwright is Now a Worship Pastor

Fans of country music in the 90s will remember Lionel Cartwright for his #1 hit "Leap of Faith."  He also charted in the Top Ten on the same chart with "Give Me His Last Chance", "I Watched It All (On My Radio)" and "My Heart Is Set on You". Cartwright is currently serving as the worship pastor at HopePark Church in Nashville.

So, what are the songs Cartwright has been teaching the church since he became the worship pastor?  According to the church's website, here are some of the songs the church has sung to recently. Third Day's "Soul on Fire," Robbie Seay Band's "Song of Hope," Hillsong Worship's "All Things New" and James Taylor's "Shed a Little Light."

Cartwright started off as a demo singer in Nashville. Later, he was spotted by producer Tony Brown (Reba McEntire, George Strait) while performing in Knoxville, Tennessee. Brown thought that Cartwright needed more experience before being signed to a record deal. Ny 1986, Cartwright was signed to MCA.

Cartwright's self-titled debut album was released in 1989 under the production of Tony Brown. Lead-off single "You're Gonna Make Her Mine" charted at No. 45 on the country charts, followed by three straight Top 20 hits: "Like Father, Like Son" at No. 14, "Give Me His Last Chance" at No. 3 and "In My Eyes" at No. 12.[3] Cartwright wrote nine of the album's ten songs, and played guitar, fiddle, piano and mandolin on it.

His next album, I Watched It on the Radio, followed in 1990. It was led off by the No. 8 "I Watched It All (On My Radio)", which he co-wrote with Don Schlitz. After it came the No. 7 "My Heart Is Set on You" and No. 31 "Say It's Not True". The album was also his highest peak on Top Country Albums, at No. 21. Brown produced this album as well.

Chasin' the Sun was the title of his third and final MCA release, which was issued in 1991. Unlike with his first two albums, Cartwright worked with several producers and studio musicians. Although the album produced his only Number One country hit in its lead-off single "Leap of Faith", the other two singles were not as successful: "What Kind of Fool" reached No. 24 and "Family Tree" missed the Top 40, with a No. 62 peak.

After the latter, he charted with two more singles ("Be My Angel" and "Standing on the Promises") which were never included on an album, and left MCA in 1992. He wrote "If That's What You Call Love" on Kathy Mattea's 1997 album Love Travels.

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