Outstanding gospel songwriter Chris Rice became a recording artist as well in 1996 after signing a contract with Michael W. Smith's own record label and releasing his debut album, Deep Enough to Dream. The son of Christian-bookstore owners from Maryland, Rice was obviously involved in the gospel industry as a child, but was also influenced by friends and relatives close to him. His songwriting career began in the mid-'80s, a full decade before he became the 1995 Christian Songwriter of the Year (according to American Songwriter magazine) after writing Kim Boyce's "By Faith" (t...