Kirk Franklin
Encyclopedia
Kirk Dwayne Franklin is an American Gospel music
musician, choir director, and author, and is most notably known for leading urban contemporary gospel
choir
s such as The Family, God's Property
and One Nation Crew
(1NC).
, Franklin was raised by his great aunt Gertrude, having been abandoned as a baby by his mother. Gertrude collected and resold aluminum cans to raise money for Kirk to take piano lessons from the age of four. Kirk excelled in music, being able to read and write music, while also play by ear.
He received his first contract offer at the age of seven, which his aunt turned down. He joined the church choir and became music director of the Mt. Rose Baptist Church adult choir
at the age of eleven.
Despite his strict religious upbringing, Franklin rebelled in his teenage years, and in an attempt to keep him out of trouble, his great aunt arranged an audition for him at a professional youth conservatory associated with a local university. He was accepted and, while his life seemed to be on track for a while, the announcement of a girlfriend's pregnancy and his eventual expulsion from school for behavioral problems proved otherwise.
After the shooting death of a friend, Franklin returned to the church, where he began to direct the choir once again. He also co-founded a gospel group, The Humble Hearts, which recorded one of Franklin's compositions and got the attention of gospel music legend Milton Biggham. 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, just 20 years old at the time, to lead the choir at the 1990 Gospel Music Workshop of America
Convention, a major industry gathering.
, formed from neighborhood friends and associates. In 1992, Vicki Mack-Lataillade, the co-founder of fledgling record label GospoCentric, heard one of their demo tapes and was so impressed she immediately signed up Kirk & The Family to a recording contract.
In 1993, the group, now known as "Kirk Franklin & The Family," released their debut album, Kirk Franklin & The Family
. It spent almost two years on the Gospel music charts and charted on the R&B charts, eventually earning platinum sales status. It remained at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart for 42 weeks. It was the first gospel music album to sell over a million units.
Two years later, after releasing a 1994 Christmas album entitled Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas
, the group released Whatcha Lookin' 4
in 1995. The album was certified 2x platinum and earned Franklin his first Grammy Award
for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album
.
1997 brought another album, a collaboration with the vocal ensemble God's Property
, aptly named God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation
. The lead single, "Stomp", featuring Cheryl "Salt" James
(of Salt-N-Pepa
), was a huge hit, enjoying heavy rotation on MTV
and other music channels, and charting at No. 1 on the R&B Singles Airplay chart for 2 weeks, even making it in to 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 Pop charts, and would go on to be certified 3x platinum. It also brought Franklin another Grammy for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, as well as three Grammy nominations.
On November 2, 1998, God's Property sued Franklin. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court
, alleges that Franklin induced God's Property founder Linda Searight into signing an "onerous and one-sided" contract with B-Rite Music
.
The Nu Nation Project
was released in 1998. The first single, an interpretation of the Bill Withers
song "Lean on Me
" and produced by Franklin and pop producer Dan Shea
, controversially 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 contained a version of another Withers song "Gonna Be a Lovely Day
". The Nu Nation Project
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.
In, 2000, The Family filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit for royalties for their work on The Nu Nation Project against Franklin and GospoCentric Records. 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 was released that same year.
On January 16, 2010 at the 25th Annual Stellar Awards show taping, in Nashville, Tennessee, Kirk Franklin & The Family reunited briefly on stage to perform songs made popular by them in the 1990s.
. The soundtrack featured gospel artists Mary Mary
, Crystal Lewis
, and 1NC, as well as secular artists Az Yet
, Jill Scott
, Shawn Stockman
of Boyz II Men
and others. A notable song from the soundtrack was "Thank You" (Kirk Franklin feat Mary Mary
).
2002's The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
topped the Gospel Albums chart for 29 weeks, was No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and was certified Platinum. The album featured collaborations with Bishop T.D. Jakes, Shirley Caesar
, Tobymac
, Crystal Lewis
, Jaci Velasquez
, Papa San
, Alvin Slaughter
, and Yolanda Adams
. This was Kirk's first major release not to garner him a Grammy Award.
On October 4, 2005, Hero was released in the United States. The album was certified Gold on and Platinum on by the Recording Industry Association of America
. It made No. 1 on both the Billboard Top Christian and Top Gospel albums. The first single, "Looking for You
", was a hit, as was the follow-up "Imagine Me", which made it onto the R&B Charts. In December 2006, Kirk Franklin won two 2007 Grammy Awards for Hero. Additionally, Hero was the 2007 Stellar Awards
CD of the Year.
Kirk Franklin's 10th album, The Fight of My Life
, was released in the United States on . The album debuted on the Billboard 200
at No. 33 with 74,000 copies sold in the first week. It reached No. 1 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
Chart. The first single, "Declaration (This is It)
," was released on and peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart. The album features guest appearances from Rance Allen, Isaac Carree, TobyMac
, Da' T.R.U.T.H., Doug Williams, and Melvin Williams.
The song "Jesus" was released as the album's second single in 2008 and was sent to Urban AC radio on July 15, 2008. In January 2010 after Haiti had a devastating earthquake, Kirk Franklin got an ensemble of gospel artists together to sing the song he wrote, called "Are You Listening". They included: Yolanda Adams
, Jeremy Camp
, Shirley Caesar
, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Natalie Grant
, Fred Hammond
, Tamela Mann
, 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
.
Kirk is currently host and co-executive producer of the BET original series, "Sunday Best." Kirk Franklin's eleventh studio studio album called Hello Fear
was released on March 22, 2011. The first single off the album is "I Smile", which peaked at No. 85 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his first appearance on that chart in 6 years. On the album he features the likes of Marvin Sapp
, Mali Music
, Marvin Winans
, John P. Kee
and Rance Allen.
.
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
musician, choir director, and author, and is most notably known for leading urban contemporary gospel
Urban contemporary gospel
Traditional black gospel is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
s such as The Family, God's Property
God's Property
God's Property is a gospel choir, most notably known for its collaborations with Kirk Franklin and other recording artists.-Musical career:The choir began to collaborate with Kirk Franklin in 1993 and sang backup on his 1995 album, Whatcha Lookin' 4...
and One Nation Crew
One Nation Crew
One Nation Crew was a gospel vocal group assembled by Kirk Franklin for a full-length album and tour. The group had ten members of various musical backgrounds and remained an outfit for only one album. That album, Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC , was produced by Franklin and Al West, and reached #58...
(1NC).
Early years
A native of Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, Franklin was raised by his great aunt Gertrude, having been abandoned as a baby by his mother. Gertrude collected and resold aluminum cans to raise money for Kirk to take piano lessons from the age of four. Kirk excelled in music, being able to read and write music, while also play by ear.
He received his first contract offer at the age of seven, which his aunt turned down. He joined the church choir and became music director of the Mt. Rose Baptist Church adult choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
at the age of eleven.
Despite his strict religious upbringing, Franklin rebelled in his teenage years, and in an attempt to keep him out of trouble, his great aunt arranged an audition for him at a professional youth conservatory associated with a local university. He was accepted and, while his life seemed to be on track for a while, the announcement of a girlfriend's pregnancy and his eventual expulsion from school for behavioral problems proved otherwise.
After the shooting death of a friend, Franklin returned to the church, where he began to direct the choir once again. He also co-founded a gospel group, The Humble Hearts, which recorded one of Franklin's compositions and got the attention of gospel music legend Milton Biggham. 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, just 20 years old at the time, to lead the choir at the 1990 Gospel Music Workshop of America
Gospel Music Workshop of America
Gospel Music Workshop of America is an international music convention founded by Rev. James Cleveland along with Albertina Walker in 1967.-GMWA membership:...
Convention, a major industry gathering.
Kirk Franklin & The Family (1990s–2000)
In 1992, Franklin organized "The Family", which is a seventeen-voice choirChoir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, formed from neighborhood friends and associates. In 1992, Vicki Mack-Lataillade, the co-founder of fledgling record label GospoCentric, heard one of their demo tapes and was so impressed she immediately signed up Kirk & The Family to a recording contract.
In 1993, the group, now known as "Kirk Franklin & The Family," released their debut album, Kirk Franklin & The Family
Kirk Franklin & the Family
Kirk Franklin & the Family is the first album released by Kirk Franklin. This is also the first album by Franklin in collaboration with the vocal ensemble, The Family. The U.S...
. It spent almost two years on the Gospel music charts and charted on the R&B charts, eventually earning platinum sales status. It remained at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart for 42 weeks. It was the first gospel music album to sell over a million units.
Two years later, after releasing a 1994 Christmas album entitled Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas
Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas
Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas is a studio album by Kirk Franklin.-Synopsis:Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas is the 2nd album by Franklin and is also the second album released by Franklin in collaboration with The Family Choir. The U.S...
, the group released Whatcha Lookin' 4
Whatcha Lookin' 4 (album)
Whatcha Lookin' 4 is an American Gospel music album released in 1996 by Kirk Franklin & the Family on GospoCentric Records.-Background:Whatcha Lookin' 4 is the third album released by Kirk Franklin. It is also the third and final album by Franklin in collaboration with The Family Choir. It also...
in 1995. The album was certified 2x platinum and earned Franklin his first Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album
Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album
The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album has been awarded since 1991. An similar award, the Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary, was awarded from 1978 to 1983...
.
1997 brought another album, a collaboration with the vocal ensemble God's Property
God's Property
God's Property is a gospel choir, most notably known for its collaborations with Kirk Franklin and other recording artists.-Musical career:The choir began to collaborate with Kirk Franklin in 1993 and sang backup on his 1995 album, Whatcha Lookin' 4...
, aptly named God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation
God's Property (album)
God's Property is a collaboration studio album by Kirk Franklin and God's Property. It is the 4th album by Franklin. It is also the first album released by Franklin in collaboration with the choir. The U.S. release on Interscope Records occurred on...
. The lead single, "Stomp", featuring Cheryl "Salt" James
Cheryl James
Cheryl R. James , better known as Salt, is an American rapper and actress. She is a member of the rap trio Salt-N-Pepa, which also includes Pepa and Spinderella...
(of Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip hop trio from Queens and Brooklyn, New York, that was formed in 1985. The group, consisting of Cheryl "Salt" Renee James, Sandra "Pepa" Denton, and Deidra "DJ Spinderella" Roper, was one of the first all-female rap crews....
), was a huge hit, enjoying heavy rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and other music channels, and charting at No. 1 on the R&B Singles Airplay chart for 2 weeks, even making it in to 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 Pop charts, and would go on to be certified 3x platinum. It also brought Franklin another Grammy for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, as well as three Grammy nominations.
On November 2, 1998, God's Property sued Franklin. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
, alleges that Franklin induced God's Property founder Linda Searight into signing an "onerous and one-sided" contract with B-Rite Music
GospoCentric Records
GospoCentric Records is an Inglewood, California based Gospel music record label started as an independent label by Vicki Mack Lataillade and Claude Lataillade in 1993. The label rose to prominence in the 90's largely on the runaway success of gospel artist Kirk Franklin. The label has grown to...
.
The Nu Nation Project
The Nu Nation Project
The Nu Nation Project is the fifth studio album by Kirk Franklin. It is his last CD with The Family and God's Property, the first to feature One Nation Crew, and the only one to feature Nu Nation. The U.S. release on Interscope Records occurred on ....
was released in 1998. The first single, an interpretation of the Bill Withers
Bill Withers
William Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"...
song "Lean on Me
Lean on Me (song)
"Lean on Me" is a song written and released by Bill Withers in 1972.It was his first and only number one on both the soul singles and the Billboard Hot 100. It is ranked number 205 on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Numerous cover versions have been recorded, and it is one of...
" and produced by Franklin and pop producer Dan Shea
Dan Shea (record producer)
Dan Shea is an American record producer and composer who has worked with numerous artists including Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Santana, Barbra Streisand, Jessica Simpson. Sara Evans, Rob Thomas, Marc Anthony, Boys II Men, Martina McBride, Kenny G., Ricky Martin, Bono,...
, controversially featured several mainstream artists, including R. Kelly
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
, Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
and Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
of U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
. Together with Crystal Lewis
Crystal Lewis
Crystal Lewis is an American contemporary Christian/Gospel vocalist, songwriter and author.-Early years:Lewis grew up singing in her father's church...
, and the Family, "Lean On Me" and the second single "Revolution" (featuring Rodney Jerkins
Rodney Jerkins
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. Jerkins received two Grammy nominations in 2011.-Biography:...
) were considerable hits, and the album contained a version of another Withers song "Gonna Be a Lovely Day
Lovely Day (song)
"Lovely Day" is a song by American soul and R&B singer Bill Withers. Published in 1977 , the song was written by Withers and Skip Scarborough and appears on Withers' 1978 album Menagerie....
". The Nu Nation Project
The Nu Nation Project
The Nu Nation Project is the fifth studio album by Kirk Franklin. It is his last CD with The Family and God's Property, the first to feature One Nation Crew, and the only one to feature Nu Nation. The U.S. release on Interscope Records occurred on ....
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.
In, 2000, The Family filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit for royalties for their work on The Nu Nation Project against Franklin and GospoCentric Records. 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
Kirk Franklin presents 1NC
Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC is a studio album by Kirk Franklin with the One Nation Crew.-Synopsis:Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC is the 6th album released by Kirk Franklin. This is also the first album by Franklin on B-Rite Records, and his first album released in collaboration with 1NC. The U.S....
, which he did in collaboration with One Nation Crew
One Nation Crew
One Nation Crew was a gospel vocal group assembled by Kirk Franklin for a full-length album and tour. The group had ten members of various musical backgrounds and remained an outfit for only one album. That album, Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC , was produced by Franklin and Al West, and reached #58...
, and was released that same year.
On January 16, 2010 at the 25th Annual Stellar Awards show taping, in Nashville, Tennessee, Kirk Franklin & The Family reunited briefly on stage to perform songs made popular by them in the 1990s.
Solo artist (2000–present)
In 2001, Franklin ventured into new territory, scoring and producing the soundtrack for the film Kingdom ComeKingdom Come (2001 film)
Kingdom Come is a 2001 comedy-drama film, written by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones, and directed by Doug McHenry. This film stars LL Cool J, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A...
. The soundtrack featured gospel artists Mary Mary
Mary Mary
Mary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell . The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz...
, Crystal Lewis
Crystal Lewis
Crystal Lewis is an American contemporary Christian/Gospel vocalist, songwriter and author.-Early years:Lewis grew up singing in her father's church...
, and 1NC, as well as secular artists Az Yet
Az Yet
Az Yet is an American R&B group from Philadelphia, best known for their hit "Last Night" and their cover of the Chicago song "Hard to Say I'm Sorry."-Formation:...
, Jill Scott
Jill Scott
Jill Scott is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter, poet, and actress. In 2007, Scott made her cinematic debut in the films Hounddog and in Tyler Perry's feature film, Why Did I Get Married? That year, her third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, was released on...
, Shawn Stockman
Shawn Stockman
Shawn Patrick Stockman is an American R&B singer, best known as a member of the vocal group Boyz II Men. He is also a judge on the television show The Sing-Off, alongside Sara Bareilles and Ben Folds....
of Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
and others. A notable song from the soundtrack was "Thank You" (Kirk Franklin feat Mary Mary
Mary Mary
Mary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell . The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz...
).
2002's The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin is a studio album by Kirk Franklin.-Synopsis:The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin is the 7th album released by Kirk Franklin. The U.S...
topped the Gospel Albums chart for 29 weeks, was No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and was certified Platinum. The album featured collaborations with Bishop T.D. Jakes, Shirley Caesar
Shirley Caesar
Shirley Ann Caesar is an American Gospel music singer, songwriter and recording artist whose career has spanned six decades...
, Tobymac
TobyMac
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
, Crystal Lewis
Crystal Lewis
Crystal Lewis is an American contemporary Christian/Gospel vocalist, songwriter and author.-Early years:Lewis grew up singing in her father's church...
, Jaci Velasquez
Jaci Velasquez
Jacquelyn Davette Velasquez is an American Contemporary Christian and Latin Pop singer—in both English and Spanish languages....
, Papa San
Papa San
Tyrone Thompson, better known as Papa San, is a Jamaican reggae, dancehall and gospel singer.- Biography :Born in 1966, he was raised by his Rastafarian grandmother and turned to Christianity in 1997...
, Alvin Slaughter
Alvin Slaughter
Alvin Slaughter is an American gospel musician, worship leader, singer-songwriter.Slaughter is based out of New York City, where he was a member of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir until the early 1990s, when he was signed by Integrity Music and began his solo career. He has been nominated for several...
, and Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams is an American Grammy- and Dove-award-winning Yolanda Adams is an American [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]- and [[Dove Awards|Dove]]-award-winning...
. This was Kirk's first major release not to garner him a Grammy Award.
On October 4, 2005, Hero was released in the United States. The album was certified Gold on and Platinum on by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
. It made No. 1 on both the Billboard Top Christian and Top Gospel albums. The first single, "Looking for You
Looking for You
"Looking For You" is a gospel song by Kirk Franklin from his 2005 album Hero.The song contains a sample from "Haven't you Heard" which was written by Patrice Rushen, Charles Mims Jr, Sheree Brown, and Freddie Washington.-Charts and succession:...
", was a hit, as was the follow-up "Imagine Me", which made it onto the R&B Charts. In December 2006, Kirk Franklin won two 2007 Grammy Awards for Hero. Additionally, Hero was the 2007 Stellar Awards
Stellar Awards
The Stellar Awards is the first Gospel Music Awards show in the country, honoring Gospel Music Artists, writers, and industry professionals for their contributions to the Gospel Music Industry. The Stellar Awards ranks high in status as the only Gospel Music television awards program syndicated in...
CD of the Year.
Kirk Franklin's 10th album, The Fight of My Life
The Fight of My Life (album)
The Fight of My Life is an American Gospel music album by Kirk Franklin on GospoCentric Records.-Synopsis:Produced by Franklin, The Fight of My Life is an American [[Gospel music]] album by [[Kirk Franklin]] on [[GospoCentric Records]]....
, was released in the United States on . The album debuted on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at No. 33 with 74,000 copies sold in the first week. It reached No. 1 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
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
Chart. The first single, "Declaration (This is It)
Declaration (This is It)
"Declaration " is an Gospel song by Kirk Franklin from his 2007 album The Fight of My Life. The song contains samples of and interpolations of "This Is It" by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins who are credited with Franklin as composers of the song.-Charts and succession:"Declaration " became a...
," was released on and peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart. The album features guest appearances from Rance Allen, Isaac Carree, TobyMac
TobyMac
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
, Da' T.R.U.T.H., Doug Williams, and Melvin Williams.
The song "Jesus" was released as the album's second single in 2008 and was sent to Urban AC radio on July 15, 2008. In January 2010 after Haiti had a devastating earthquake, Kirk Franklin got an ensemble of gospel artists together to sing the song he wrote, called "Are You Listening". They included: Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams is an American Grammy- and Dove-award-winning Yolanda Adams is an American [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]- and [[Dove Awards|Dove]]-award-winning...
, Jeremy Camp
Jeremy Camp
Jeremy Thomas Camp is a contemporary Christian musician from Lafayette, Indiana. Camp has released seven albums, four of them RIAA-certified as Gold and two are live albums, and 17 number-one hit songs...
, Shirley Caesar
Shirley Caesar
Shirley Ann Caesar is an American Gospel music singer, songwriter and recording artist whose career has spanned six decades...
, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Natalie Grant
Natalie Grant
Natalie Grant is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. Her work has gained prominence, including four consecutive Dove Awards for best female artist, and with her signature song, Held...
, Fred Hammond
Fred Hammond
Fred Hammond is a gospel music singer, bass guitar player, and record producer.-Musical career:Hammond has been active both as a member of the gospel performing group Commissioned, and as a solo artist...
, Tamela Mann
Tamela Mann
Tamela J. Mann is an American actress and gospel singer, known for her role as Cora in Tyler Perry's plays, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea's Family Reunion, Madea's Class Reunion, Meet the Browns, and What's Done in the Dark...
, David Mann, Mary Mary
Mary Mary
Mary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell . The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz...
, Donnie McClurkin
Donnie McClurkin
Donald Andrew McClurkin, Jr. is an American gospel music singer and minister. He has won three Grammy awards, ten Stellar awards, two BET awards, two Soul Train awards, one Dove award and one NAACP Image award for his work....
, Bishop Paul S. Morton, J. Moss, Smokie Norful
Smokie Norful
Rev. W.R. "Smokie" Norful, Jr. is an American gospel singer and pianist, best known for his 2002 album, I Need You Now and his 2004 release, Nothing Without You, which won a Grammy at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 2004.-Early life:Norful, a minister who...
, Marvin Sapp
Marvin Sapp
Pastor Marvin Louis Sapp is an American Gospel music singer-songwriter who recorded with the group Commissioned during the 1990s before beginning a record-breaking solo career...
, Karen Clark-Sheard, Kierra Sheard
Kierra Sheard
Kierra "Kiki" Sheard is an American gospel recording artist. She is the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard and the granddaughter of gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark.-Early life:Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in the suburb of West Bloomfield, Sheard spent her formative years...
, BeBe Winans
BeBe Winans
Benjamin "BeBe" Winans is a gospel and R&B singer. He is a member of the noted Winans family, most members of which are also gospel artists.-The PTL Club:...
, Cece Winans
CeCe Winans
Priscilla "CeCe" Marie Winans Love is an American Gospel singer, who has won numerous Grammy and Stellar Awards.-Early life:CeCe Winans was born in Detroit, Michigan, to David and Delores Winans, on October 8, 1964...
, and Marvin Winans
Marvin Winans
Marvin Lawrence Winans is an American gospel singer and member of the musical Winans family. He is also known for his recurring role in the hit show Tyler Perry's House of Payne.-Personal life:...
.
Kirk is currently host and co-executive producer of the BET original series, "Sunday Best." Kirk Franklin's eleventh studio studio album called Hello Fear
Hello Fear
Hello Fear is the eleventh album overall by Kirk Franklin released through Verity Records. It is his first studio album in four years. The first single "I Smile" reached number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his first single in six years to appear on that chart; last single to do so was...
was released on March 22, 2011. The first single off the album is "I Smile", which peaked at No. 85 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his first appearance on that chart in 6 years. On the album he features the likes of Marvin Sapp
Marvin Sapp
Pastor Marvin Louis Sapp is an American Gospel music singer-songwriter who recorded with the group Commissioned during the 1990s before beginning a record-breaking solo career...
, Mali Music
Mali Music
Mali Music is a 2002 album by musician Damon Albarn in collaboration with Malian musicians Afel Bocoum, Toumani Diabaté & Friends, and also featuring a cameo from Ko Kan Ko Sata.- Track listing :# Spoons# Bamako City# Le Relax...
, Marvin Winans
Marvin Winans
Marvin Lawrence Winans is an American gospel singer and member of the musical Winans family. He is also known for his recurring role in the hit show Tyler Perry's House of Payne.-Personal life:...
, John P. Kee
John P. Kee
John P. Kee is an American gospel singer and pastor.-Early life:John P. Kee was born the 15th out of 16 children in Durham, North Carolina. At an early age he began to develop his musical talent both instrumentally and vocally...
and Rance Allen.
Personal life
On January 20, 1996, Franklin married long-time friend Tammy Collins. When they wed, they each had one child from previous relationships: Kirk's son Kerrion, born in 1988, and Tammy's daughter Carrington, born in 1989. As a couple, they have two children: Kennedy, born in 1997, and Caziah, born in 2000. In 2006, Franklin appeared with his wife on "The Oprah Winfrey ShowThe Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
.