Contemporary gospel singer Babbie Mason was born and raised in Jackson, MI; the daughter of a pastor, she tenured for two decades as a church pianist and choir director, also working as a public school teacher before founding her own ministry in 1984. A year later, Mason took top honors in the vocal and songwriting categories at the annual Christian Artists' Music Seminar; six years later, she rose to fame with the Dove Award-nominated With All My Heart, topping the CHR charts with the single "Each One Reach One." Like its predecessor, 1992's A World of Difference scored a Dove nomination for Inspirational Album of the Year, topping the charts with the title track; Mason also hit number one with the singles "God Has Another Plan," "The Only Hope," "For the Cause of Christ," "This Heart of Mine" and "Love Is the More Excellent Way." In 1996, she signed to Sony to release Heritage of Faith, followed a year later by Praise Celebration; No Better Place, Mason's debut for new label Spring Hill, appeared in 1999. ~ Jason Ankeny