American choir manager and singer-songwriter from Texas

Kirk Franklin
Kirk Franklin at JoyFest '17.jpg

Kirk Franklin in 2017
Born

Kirk Dewayne Franklin


(1970-01-26) January 26, 1970 (historic period 52)

Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Education Oscar Dean Wyatt High School
Occupation
  • Choir director
  • singer
  • dancer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • author
Organization Franklin Imagine Group
Spouse(s)

Tammy Collins

​

(m. 1996)​
Children 3
Awards Full list
Musical career
Genres Christian hip hop, soul, contemporary gospel
Instruments Pianoforte, vocals
Years active 1992–present
Labels
  • RCA Inspiration
  • Fo Yo Soul
  • Zomba
  • RCA
  • B-Rite
  • GospoCentric
  • Sparrow[ane]
Associated acts The Family unit, God's Property, 1NC
Website kirkfranklin.com

Musical artist

Kirk Dewayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American choir director, gospel singer, dancer, songwriter, and author. He is all-time known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Belongings, and I Nation Coiffure (1NC) among many others. He has won numerous awards, including xvi Grammy Awards. Multifariousness dubbed Franklin as a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel",[two] and is 1 of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

Early on life [edit]

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Franklin was raised by his aunt, Gertrude, having been abased as a infant by his female parent.[iii] Gertrude recycled aluminum cans to raise coin for Kirk to take piano lessons from the age of four. Kirk excelled and was able to read and write music while also playing by ear.[ citation needed ]

At the age of seven, Franklin received his starting time contract which his aunt turned down.[iv] He did join the church choir and became music manager of the Mt. Rose Baptist Church developed choir at 11 years of historic period.[5]

In his teenage years, Franklin rebelled against his strict religious upbringing, and in an attempt to keep him out of problem, his grandmother arranged an audition for him at a professional youth conservatory associated with a local university. He was accepted, but later he had to bargain with a girlfriend's pregnancy and his eventual expulsion from school for bad beliefs.[6]

Franklin studied music with Jewell Kelly and the Singing Chaparrals at Oscar Dean Wyatt High School. He continued under her tutelage and ultimately became the pianist for the choir.[6]

When he was aged xv he witnessed the death of a friend by shooting,[7] [8] later which Franklin returned to the church building, where he again directed the choir. He also co-founded a gospel group The Humble Hearts, which recorded one of Franklin'due south compositions and got the attending of gospel music legend Milton Biggham, musical director of the Georgia Mass Choir. Impressed, Biggham enlisted him to lead the DFW Mass Choir in a recording of Franklin's song "Every Day with Jesus". This led to Biggham hiring Franklin, only twenty years old at the time, to lead the choir at the 1990 Gospel Music Workshop of America Convention, an manufacture gathering.[iv]

Career [edit]

Choirs (1992–2000) [edit]

In 1992, Franklin organized "The Family", which was a 17-vox choir, formed from neighborhood friends and associates.[7] In 1992, Vicki Mack-Lataillade, the co-founder of fledgling GospoCentric Records label, heard i of their demo tapes and was so impressed she immediately signed up Kirk & The Family to a recording contract.[9]

In 1993, the group, at present known as "Kirk Franklin & The Family unit," released their debut album, Kirk Franklin & The Family.[10] It spent nearly two years on the gospel music charts and charted on the R&B charts, eventually earning platinum sales status. It remained at No. i on the Billboard Meridian Gospel Albums chart for 42 weeks. Information technology was the beginning gospel music album to sell over a meg units.[ commendation needed ]

Ii years afterward, subsequently releasing a 1995 Christmas album entitled Kirk Franklin & the Family unit Christmas, the group released Whatcha Lookin' 4 in 1996. The album was certified 2x platinum and earned Franklin his first Grammy Accolade for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. 1997 brought another anthology, a collaboration with the vocal ensemble God's Property, aptly named God'due south Property from Kirk Franklin'southward Nu Nation. The atomic number 82 unmarried, "Stomp", featuring Cheryl "Salt" James (of Salt-N-Pepa), was a big hit, enjoying heavy rotation on MTV and other music channels and charting at No. one on the R&B Singles Airplay chart for 2 weeks, even making it into the Top 40. God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation was No. 1 on the R&B Albums chart for 5 weeks, No. 3 on the Popular charts, and would go on to be certified 3x platinum. It also brought Franklin another Grammy for Best Gimmicky Soul Gospel Album, too equally three Grammy nominations.

In 1996, Franklin's song "Joy" was recorded by Whitney Houston and the Georgia Mass Choir. With product past Houston and Mervyn Warren, the composition was included on the best-selling gospel anthology of all time, soundtrack to The Preacher'southward Wife.

On November two, 1998, God's Property sued Franklin. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that Franklin induced God'due south Property founder Linda Searight into signing an "onerous and one-sided" contract with B-Rite Music.[ citation needed ]

The Nu Nation Project was released in 1998.[11] The starting time single, "Lean on Me", produced by Franklin and popular producer Dan Shea, featured several mainstream artists, including R. Kelly, Mary J. Blige and Bono of U2 together with Crystal Lewis and The Family. "Lean on Me" and the second single "Revolution" (featuring Rodney Jerkins) were considerable hits, and the album independent a version of a Neb Withers vocal "Gonna Exist a Lovely Mean solar day". The Nu Nation Projection went on to top the Billboard Contemporary Christian Albums chart for 23 weeks and the Billboard Gospel Albums chart for 49 weeks, and brought Franklin his third Grammy.

Besides in 1998, Franklin had fabricated a invitee appearance on the hit television set sitcom Sister, Sister.[12]

In 2000, members of The Family filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit for royalties for their work on The Nu Nation Projection confronting Franklin and GospoCentric Records.[eight] This saw the end of the "Kirk Franklin & The Family" records, as Kirk went on to become a solo artist, except for his CD Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC, which he did in collaboration with One Nation Crew and recording the live portion 'Rebirth' in June 2000 at Lakewood Church with The Vocals of Life which were both washed that same twelvemonth.

On January 16, 2010 at the 25th Annual Stellar Awards evidence taping in Nashville, Tennessee, Kirk Franklin & The Family unit reunited briefly on stage to perform songs made popular past them in the 1990s.[ citation needed ]

Solo artist (2001–present) [edit]

In 2001, he produced the soundtrack for the film Kingdom Come up. The soundtrack included gospel artists Mary Mary, Trin-i-tee 5:vii, Crystal Lewis, and Franklin's group 1NC, besides as mainstream artists Az Yet, Jill Scott, Tamar Braxton, Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men and others.

The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin was released in February 2002 subsequently Franklin worked on more songs and modified the original alive recorded songs from 2000 to October 2001. It topped the Gospel Albums chart for 29 weeks, was No. ane on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums nautical chart, and was certified Platinum. The anthology featured collaborations with Bishop T.D. Jakes, Shirley Caesar, Willie Neal Johnson, TobyMac, Crystal Lewis, Jaci Velasquez, Papa San, Alvin Slaughter, and Yolanda Adams.

On October four, 2005, Hero was released in the The states. The album was certified Golden on Dec 2, 2005 (2005-12-02), and Platinum on December fourteen, 2006 (2006-12-xiv), by the Recording Industry Clan of America.[13] Information technology reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Top Christian and Acme Gospel albums. The first single, "Looking for You", was a hitting, every bit was the follow-up "Imagine Me", which made it onto the R&B charts. At the 2007 Grammy Awards, Franklin won two Grammys for Hero. Additionally, Hero was the 2007 Stellar Awards CD of the Twelvemonth.[14]

Franklin'south tenth album, The Fight of My Life, was released in the Usa on December 18, 2007 (2007-12-eighteen). The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 33 with 74,000 copies sold in the showtime week.[15] Information technology reached No. ane on both the Billboard Top Gospel and Top Christian albums charts, and also peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Nautical chart.[16] [17] The offset unmarried, "Declaration (This is It)," was released on October 23, 2007 (2007-ten-23), and peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart.[17] The album features guest appearances from Rance Allen, Isaac Carree, TobyMac, Da' T.R.U.T.H., Doug Williams (singer) and Melvin Williams (vocaliser). The song "Jesus" was released as the album's 2nd single in 2008 and was sent to Urban AC radio on July 15, 2008. In January 2010, afterward Haiti had a devastating earthquake, Franklin got an ensemble of gospel artists together to sing the song he wrote, called "Are Y'all Listening". They included Yolanda Adams, Jeremy Camp, Shirley Caesar, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Natalie Grant, Fred Hammond, Tamela Isle of man, David Mann, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, Bishop Paul S. Morton, J. Moss, Smokie Norful, Marvin Sapp, Karen Clark-Sheard, Kierra Sheard, BeBe Winans, CeCe Winans, and Marvin Winans.[ citation needed ]

In 2005, Franklin appeared with his wife on The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss how he ended his pornography addiction.[18] In 2010, he published The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Higher up Life's Storms, a book in which he recounts the family difficulties experienced during his childhood, and how he got out of a sexually active life and an habit to pornography.[xix]

Franklin served every bit the host and co-executive producer of the BET original series Sunday Best and the musical co-host of GSN's The American Bible Claiming with Jeff Foxworthy.[20] Franklin'south 11th studio album chosen Hello Fear was released on March 22, 2011.[21] The album features Marvin Sapp, Republic of mali Music, Marvin Winans, John P. Kee, and Rance Allen. The first unmarried, "I Smile", peaked at No. 85 on the Billboard Hot 100, making information technology his first appearance on that chart in half-dozen years.[ citation needed ]

In 2013, Franklin started his own tape label imprint, Fo Yo Soul Recordings, which is in association with RCA Records, and he has signed acts such as The Walls Group and artists like Tasha Folio-Lockhart.[22] These ii artists received ten Stellar Honour nominations at the 30th Stellar Awards.[22] The Walls Group won seven awards, while Folio-Lockhart won iii of her own, and Franklin won two more for his characterization.[22]

In September 2015, Franklin announced his 12th studio anthology, Losing My Religion, and the anthology was released on Nov 13, 2015. The beginning single off the anthology, "Wanna Be Happy?", was released on Baronial 28, 2015.[23] [24] [25] Information technology was at this point that Vinson Cunningham referred to him equally a hype man when writing for the New Yorker.[26]

Franklin contributed to Tori Kelly'south Hiding Place album, released September fourteen, 2018. They had intended to collaborate on ane song, but it turned into a larger project.[27]

On January 25, 2019, Franklin released his new single "Love Theory" and official music video for the song. "Love Theory" is the first single from his 13th studio album, Long Live Love.[28] [29] Franklin released his 2nd single, "But for Me", in Apr 2019.[ citation needed ] His third single, "OK", was released in May 2019.[ citation needed ] Long Live Love was released on May 31.[ citation needed ]

In February 2019, it was announced that BET's gospel music reality singing competition, Sunday Best would render from a four-year hiatus. Franklin volition reprise his role as host.[30]

After Trinity Broadcasting Network aired the 2019 GMA Pigeon Awards on October 20, 2019, Franklin commented that his acceptance speech was edited to remove comments he made in relation to the killing of Atatiana Jefferson by a police officer. He stated that he was boycotting the honour show going forward every bit it was not the offset time they had edited his acceptance speech to remove "reflections on police violence confronting Black Americans". GMA president, Jackie Patillo, apologized to Franklin and GMA made an unedited version of the speech available only stated that it was an unintentional activity and that they were attempting to reduce the running time to encounter a ii-hr time-slot. Several other artists supported Franklin's boycott.[31] [32]

In 2021, he was amidst the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.[33]

On May 21, 2021, Franklin and American rapper Lil Babe released the song "Nosotros Win" for the soundtrack to the 2021 film Space Jam: A New Legacy.[34]

Personal life [edit]

Kirk with his wife in 2006

On Jan twenty, 1996, Franklin married long-time friend Tammy Collins.[4] When they wed, they each had one child from previous relationships. As a couple, they have ii children together. Carrington became engaged to Maxx Nakwaasah in October 2015.[35]

In March 2021, Franklin'due south oldest son, Kerrion, released an audio recording of a individual conversation between him and his father in which both can be heard using profanities. Franklin later on apologized to his fans and followers.[36] [37]

Discography [edit]

Kirk Franklin & The Family [edit]

  • Kirk Franklin & The Family (1993)
  • Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas (1995)
  • Whatcha Lookin' 4 (1996)

Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation [edit]

  • God's Holding from Kirk Franklin'southward Nu Nation (1997)
  • The Nu Nation Project (1998)

Kirk Franklin and ane Nation Crew [edit]

  • Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC (2000)

Kirk Franklin [edit]

  • The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin (2002)
  • Hero (2005)
  • The Fight of My Life (2007)
  • Hullo Fear (2011)
  • Losing My Religion (2015)
  • Long, Alive, Love (2019)

Awards [edit]

Franklin has received many awards, including Grammy Awards, GMA Dove Awards, BET Awards, Soul Railroad train Music Awards and Stellar Awards.

He received 16 Grammys [38] and 22 Dove Awards.[39]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Artists - Fo Yo Soul". foyosoulrecordings.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved October ten, 2015.
  2. ^ "Hopeville Tour". GARY JACKSON. January 26, 2003. Retrieved Jan 5, 2018.
  3. ^ Don Cusic, Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Stone, and Worship: Pop, Rock, and Worship, ABC-CLIO, The states, 2009, p. 197
  4. ^ a b c "Kirk Franklin: The Nu Nation Project". Exodus news. Oct 20, 1998. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010.
  5. ^ PEOPLE STAFF, Apostle of Gospel, People, U.s., July viii, 1996
  6. ^ a b Franklin, Kirk (1998). Church building Boy. ISBN0-8499-4050-8.
  7. ^ a b Westward. K. McNeil, Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, Routledge, Us, 2013, p. 132
  8. ^ a b Kirk Franklin. Stone on the Net. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  9. ^ "Kirk Franklin". BET. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  10. ^ Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 268
  11. ^ Free Music: The Nu Nation Project by Kirk Franklin. Rhapsody Online
  12. ^ "Sister, Sis (TV Series) : My Father'southward House (1998) : Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  13. ^ "Home". RIAA.
  14. ^ "22nd Annual Stellar Award Winners". GospelFlava.com. 2007.
  15. ^ Walsh, Chris M. (December 27, 2007). "Groban, Blige Savor Huge Weeks on Anthology Chart". Billboard.
  16. ^ "allmusic (Kirk Franklin – Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums".
  17. ^ a b "Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – Kirk Franklin". Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  18. ^ "Porn Epidemic". Harpo Productions, Inc. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  19. ^ Jeannie Police,Gospel Star Kirk Franklin Shares 'Pattern' For Life, npr.org, USA, May 21, 2010
  20. ^ "Kirk Franklin". kirkfranklin.com . Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  21. ^ "Amazon.com: Hello Fear: Kirk Franklin: Music". Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  22. ^ a b c Thomasos, Christine (January 16, 2015). "Kirk Franklin More than Excited Well-nigh Tasha Page-Lockhart, The Walls Group Stellar Honor Nominations Than His First Win". The Christian Post . Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  23. ^ "Kirk Franklin Announces New Album 'Losing My Faith'". Gospel Axial . Retrieved October ten, 2015.
  24. ^ "Kirk Franklin Is Losing His Religion and Wants to Aid Others Do the Same". The Christian Postal service . Retrieved October ten, 2015.
  25. ^ "Kirk Franklin". Billboard. Baronial 27, 2015. Retrieved October x, 2015.
  26. ^ Cunningham, Vinson (January ix, 2017). "How Kirk Franklin Is Pushing the Boundaries of Gospel". The New Yorker.
  27. ^ Longs, Herb (Baronial 25, 2018). "Tori Kelly Debuts 'Never Alone' (Feat. Kirk Franklin)". thechristianbeat.org . Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  28. ^ "Kirk Franklin Launches New Single 'Love Theory'". CCM Mag . Retrieved Jan 25, 2019.
  29. ^ "Kirk Franklin Shares His 'Love Theory'". Soul Bounciness . Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  30. ^ "BET Sunday All-time returns Spring 2019!!!". UGospel Magazine . Retrieved Apr 12, 2019.
  31. ^ "Black Musicians Are Standing Backside Kirk Franklin's Cold-shoulder Of Evangelical Tv set Network". HuffPost. Oct 29, 2019.
  32. ^ "GMA Pres Jackie Patillo Apologizes to Kirk Franklin for Dove Awards Speech Editing 'Missteps'". Billboard. October 29, 2019.
  33. ^ Saint-Vil, Sweenie (May vii, 2021). "Diddy, Beyoncé and more than to be inducted into Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame". Defection . Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  34. ^ "Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin Team Upwards for 'Space Jam' Soundtrack". Rap-Upwards. May xx, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  35. ^ "The Undercover of His Success". Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved May 24, 2008.
  36. ^ Mamo, Heran (March 17, 2021). "Kirk Franklin Interview After Leaked Call With Son". Billboard . Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  37. ^ Constabulary, Jeannie (March eighteen, 2021). "Kirk Franklin gives showtime interview since leaked telephone call with son: 'I am disappointed in myself'". The Christian Postal service . Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  38. ^ National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Kirk Franklin, grammy.com, U.s., retrieved Dec 5, 2020
  39. ^ Gospel Music Association, Past winners : Kirk Franklin, doveawards.com, USA, retrieved December 5, 2020

Further reading [edit]

  • Franklin, Kirk (1998) [1998-10-one]. Church building Boy . Thomas Nelson. ISBN0-8499-4050-8.
  • Waldron, Clarence (Oct 29, 2007). "Kirk Franklin's new mission: finding gospel's next superstar and boosting the music's appeal". Jet. 112 (17): lx(5).
  • Slagle, Dana (Dec 26, 2005). "Kirk Franklin healed from 20-year addiction; filled with Christmas joy". Jet. 108 (26): 52(half dozen).
  • "Kirk Franklin's Joyful Dissonance". Guideposts. 1997.

External links [edit]

  • Official website
  • Kirk Franklin at IMDb
  • Kirk Franklin at AllMusic
  • 1 Nation Crew at AllMusic
  • Another Kirk Franklin's Biography
  • Fo Yo Soul Recordings profile
  • Kirk Franklin 2016 Radio Interview at Soulinterviews.com

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