recognised as having the most number of songs by a Ghanaian Gospel Artist. They released their maiden album Anwanwa Do in 1990, which gained them prominence throughout Ghana. As of 2019, they had realised 12 albums. The trio celebrated their 30th Anniversary in the Ghanaian music industry in 2019.

History

1989-1999: Formation, maiden album and popularity

Daughters Of Glorious Jesus started as part of the choir of Resurrection Power and Living Bread Ministries then headed by the Rev. Akwasi Amoako in 1987. Later, the General Overseer of the Church, Bishop Akwasi Asare Bediako, saw their potential and encouraged them to form a group in 1989. The group proceeded to sing at church crusades and conventions. In 1990, their first album ?Anwanwa Din’ was released.

In 1991, they released ?Mebo Yesu Din Daa’ which won them the Entertainment and Critics Association of Ghana award for Best Gospel Group in 1992. They followed it up with a remix of their maiden album, ?Anwanwa Din’. DoG-J released ?Mesom Awurade Daa’ in 1994. This album won Appiadu their award for Best Female Vocalist Award in 1996.

Daughters Of Glorious Jesus then released ?Asomdwe Hene, and ?Ngyae Mpae Bo Da’, which featured Sarpong as the lead vocalist. In 1996, they released Asomdwe Hene album. In an interview in May 2019, they recounted how before of that album they nearly died whilst on a crusade with Resurrection Power and Living Bread Ministry in Walewale in the then Northern Region, they nearly drowned in the Black Volta after a canoe they occupied tipped over, fortunately for them they were saved by divers from a nearby town.

2000-2010: Continuous success, prime years and Aseda album

In 2000, the hit album ?Nea yehu’ was released. The album got the group nominations at the 2001 Ghana Music Awards, and 2003 Ghana Gospel Music Awards. In 2003, they released their most successful album; ?Aseda’ which had all eight tracks on it enjoying massive airplay. The album won the group at a ceremony in Accra the Our Music Award for 2003.

In 2004, ?Aseda’ swept five awards at the Ghana Music Awards, the most to have been swept by a gospel artist on one awards night. It was also the first time a gospel artist won any of the three top awards. With ?Aseda’, DoG-J took two awards at the 2004 Ghana Gospel Music Awards. The video for ?Bebre’ won them the Best Gospel Video Award at the 2010 4syte Music Video awards. In 2007, they came out with ?Daughters’ Praise’ vol. 1 and 2, which comprised revised renditions of some of their old songs. In 2009, the much awaited ?Trimude’ was released.

2011-present :After prime years

Glorious 30 anniversary

In 2019, the trio launched their 30th anniversary to mark 3 decades of starting their musical career and the impact their ministry had made of lives dubbed the Glorious 30 anniversary, as part of the anniversary the group celebrated with activities including a gala dubbed the Glorious 30 Gala Glorious 30 Gala and Dinner, concerts across the country including DaughtersTribute Concert, musical tours across Ghana dubbed Glorious 30 Tour, sanitation campaigns, orphanages visits and others. By 2020, they had released 12 albums.

Notable songs

Daughters Of Glorious Jesus' songs include Odo ben ni, Ene manya enigye, Yewo Yesu bi, Yesu fata Ayeyi, Aseda Ben (from the Mesom Awurade Daa album) Fawasem to Awurade anim, Ben Awurade, Okasapreko, Nea yehu, Asomdwee Hene, Towoboase, Onokwafo Nyame, Yesu fata Ayeyi, Yeyi w’aye, Yewo Yesu bi, Hwan koraa na ote se wo, Oteeneeni, Onam ne wuo so, He paid the Debt, I have Decided to Follow Jesus, Jesus is King, Wo ntaban, Aseda Ben (from the Aseda album), Bebree, Odomfo, Yesu mo, Ahintabea, Agya woso, Adedie, Obi dowo, Onyame wo ho, Meda w’oase, and Osaberima kese.

Group composition

The Daughters Of Glorious Jesus group is an all female trio group which consists of Cynthia Appiadu as the lead singer, Edna Sarpong and Monica Owusu Ansah.

Daughters Of Glorious Jesus is known for its three part harmony. Appiadu, the lead vocalist is a soprano with a wide vocal range. She also plays the drum, and other traditional musical instruments. She also writes and composes most of their songs. DoG-J sings in both Twi and English.

DoG-J performs with live band on stage, and sometimes a cappella. They are known for their funky style, and ability to fuse highlife with the western style of music.

Other ventures

Priseine Hub record label

In October 2020, they signed the first artist to their record label Priseine Hub Ltd. The new artist is Afia Sika, who had supported the group as a backing vocalist for 15 years.

Our Story

The group launched a book titled ''Our Story'' in September 2019. The bible which encapsulate their journey to stardom has 229 book pages and features nine chapters has nine chapters, titled; Five Little Voices, Resurrection Power, The Mentor, Don’t Mind for T’adi, The Wonderful Name, All things Shall Be Added, Light Affliction, These Signs Shall Follow Them and Besides Every Successful Woman.

Daughters 3 Foundation

As part of the groups anniversary the group launched a foundation called the Daughters 3 Foundation, a non-governmental organization (NGO) to help the less privileged in the society.

Personal life

All three of the members are married and are Christians who worship as Charismatics. They attributed their success to God and support from their husbands. The trio have also in many ways mentioned the Ministers of God, Bishop Akwasi Asare Bediako, Rev. Akwasi Amoako and his wife as the key people who mentored them and even named their group.

Discography

Studio albums

The trio have 12 albums;

• Anwanwa Din (1990)
• Yesu Mebo Wo Din Daa (1991)
• Anwanwa Din remix (1992)
• Mesom Awurade Daa (1994)
• Ngyae Mpaebo (1995)
• Asomdwe Hene (1996)
• Nea Yehu Yi(2000)
• Aseda (2003)
• Daughters' Praise Vol. 1 & 2 (2007)
• Trimude (2009)
• Wonnim a Ennye Yie (2014)
• Abba Father (2017)

Honors

In March 2021, the group were honored by the organizers of 3Music Awards in an event called 3Music Women's Brunch. They were honored for their accomplishments in the entertainment industry along with Theresa Ayoade, Grace Omaboe, Akosua Adjepong, Dzifa Gomashie, Tagoe Sisters, Asabea Cropper and others.

References

External links

• Daughters of Glorious Jesus on Facebook
• Daughters of Glorious Jesus on iTunes
• Daughters of Glorious Jesus's channel on YouTube

Tauren Gabriel Wells is an American singer, songwriter, and multi instrumentalist from Houston, Texas who is known for making contemporary Christian music.

Biography

Wells was a founding member of Royal Tailor along with DJ Cox and Blake Hubbard while they were attending Indiana Bible College in 2004. Jarred Ingram later joined.

In 2016, Wells signed to Provident Label Group - Reunion Records as a solo artist, and he released his first solo single, "Undefeated", in May 2016. It marked a distinct shift from the glossy pop rock sound of Royal Tailor to a more electronic sound. It also featured Reach Records rapper KB and served as the soundtrack for Dude Perfect's "World Records Edition" video on YouTube. Wells released his second solo single, "Love Is Action", in August 2016 and his first solo EP, Undefeated EP, on September 12, 2016. "Love Is Action" was No. 1 on Christian Hot AC/CHR Radio for nine weeks.

In January 2017, Wells released "Hills and Valleys", which reached No. 8 on the Christian Airplay Chart and No. 3 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. The full-length Hills and Valleys was released digitally on June 23 and was released physically on July 21. The fourth single, "When We Pray", was released on October 20, 2017; it peaked at No. 7. He was featured on Crowder's "All My Hope". The single peaked at No. 3 on the Christian Songs chart and No. 1 on the Christian Airplay chart, becoming his first number one.

In 2018, Wells received Grammy nominations for Best Contemporary Christian Performance/Song and Contemporary Christian Album of the Year, but did not win either.

In 2018, he became a worship leader at Lakewood Church, Houston, Texas.

The fifth single, "Known", was released on June 23, 2018. The song peaked at No. 3 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart, becoming his fourth Top 10 single from that chart. It was a huge success on Christian radio, reaching number one on multiple charts including Christian Airplay and Christian AC Songs. It was nominated for the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song. It was also nominated for Top Christian Song at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.

In late 2019, he released "Miracle", "Perfect Peace", and "Like You Love Me" leading up to Citizen of Heaven, which was released in 2020. It also featured the songs "Famous for (I Believe)", "Millionaire (Good Like That)", and "Close".

In early 2022, he released "Fake It", "Empty", and "Come Home" which were all singles leading up to the release of his 3rd studio album, titled Joy in the Morning.

Personal life

Wells married his wife Lorna Brittany (née Macey) Wells in 2011. Wells served on the staff of his father-in-law's church in Houston known as Royalwood Church until 2018. Wells and his wife Lorna started the Prisma Worship Arts School, to train musicians. They have 4 children.

Through the school, Prisma offers private coaching in piano, drums, guitar, bass, voice, violin, viola, and cello.

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Extended plays

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Promotional singles

Other charted songs

As lead artist

As featured artist

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Billboard Music Awards

GMA Dove Awards

References

External links

• Official website

Toby McKeehan (born Kevin Michael McKeehan; October 22, 1964), better known by his stage name TobyMac (styled tobyMac or TOBYMAC), is an American contemporary Christian music singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He was first known for being a member of the Christian rap and rock trio DC Talk, staying with them from 1987 until they went on hiatus in 2000. He has since continued a successful solo career with the release of nine studio albums: Momentum (2001), Welcome to Diverse City (2004), Portable Sounds (2007), Tonight (2010), Christmas in Diverse City (2011), Eye on It (2012), This Is Not a Test (2015), The Elements (2018), and Life After Death (2022) as well as five remixed albums: Re:Mix Momentum (2003), Renovating Diverse City (2005), Dubbed and Freq'd: A Remix Project (2012), Eye'm All Mixed Up (2014) and The St. Nemele Collab Sessions (2019). He also has two full-length Christmas albums: Christmas in Diverse City (2011) and Light Of Christmas (2017). He became the third Christian artist to have a No. 1 debut on Billboard 200 chart with Eye on It.

Between DC Talk and his own solo career, he has sold more than 10 million albums and won seven Grammy Awards. He has had six No. 1 hit CHR singles including "Gone", "Made to Love", and "Lose My Soul". Six singles have gone to No. 1 on Billboard's Christian Songs chart, making him one of the artists with the most No. 1 hits on that chart. His live concert CD+DVD combo album, Alive and Transported, was released in 2008 and received the Grammy Award for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009. His fifth studio album, Eye on It, received a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 2013 Grammys, along with his sixth album, This Is Not a Test winning the same award at the 2016 Grammys.

Musical career

DC Talk (1987-2001)

TobyMac formed DC Talk with Michael Tait in 1987 at Liberty University. He and Tait released Christian Rhymes to a Rhythm in 1988 and recruited classmate Kevin Max Smith to join the group. The trio then signed with Forefront Records and set out on tour after they released DC Talk in 1989. In 1990, they released Nu Thang, their first gold album which was followed with a tour. The follow-up, Free at Last, was certified platinum and the band gained popularity after they performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Arsenio Hall Show.

In 1994, with Todd Collins and Joey Elwood, he founded the first Christian hip-hop label Gotee Records.

They released their next album, Jesus Freak, in 1995, which went multi-platinum and led to the Jesus Freak World Tour and a tour CD, Welcome to the Freak Show. Following the release of "Between You and Me" which reached No. 29 on the Hot 100 in 1996, the group released Supernatural, which would be their last album. The album was certified platinum.

DC Talk disbanded in 2001 and its members embarked on solo careers. In 2005, the band performed together at a show in Redmond, Washington, and again in 2010 when he made a surprise guest appearance at Winter Jam in Nashville. In 2011, he joined Tait on the song "Jesus Freak" in Greensboro, North Carolina. DC Talk has recorded several songs together since their hiatus, including 2002's "Let's Roll", a song about the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, "Atmosphere (Remix)" on his 2004 album Welcome to Diverse City, "The Cross", a track on Kevin Max's 2007 album The Blood, "Love Feels Like", a track on TobyMac's 2015 album This Is Not a Test, and "Space" on TobyMac's album Life After Death.

Solo career

Momentum (2001-2003)

On November 6, 2001, he released his first solo album: Momentum. He composed and recorded the song "Extreme Days" for the 2001 Truth Builder Productions film Extreme Days, which was featured on the Momentum album. Momentum, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart in the November 24 issue. The song "Extreme Days" was also used in the movie Hangman's Curse, based on a book by Frank Peretti. His song "Get This Party Started" was featured on an episode of the TV show Roswell. His song "Yours" reached the Top 5 on ChristianRock.net. "Yours", "Extreme Days", "Get This Party Started" and "Momentum" were all featured in the Xbox 360 video game Crackdown. "Momentum" earned five Dove Awards and a Grammy nomination. He was nominated for Artist of the Year at the 34th GMA Dove Awards.

In 2002, he performed at the Festival Con Dios. Later that year, he released his first Christmas single, "This Christmas". In 2003, he released Re:Mix Momentum, a remix of the album Momentum. His song "Yours" was used in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as "Sting's" theme song. He was featured on "Throw Yo Hands Up" on Kirk Franklin's 2002 album The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin.

Welcome to Diverse City (2004-2006)

Welcome to Diverse City was released in October 2004 and is certified gold. The album debuted and peaked on the Billboard 200 at No. 54, selling 21,000 copies that week. His "Winter Wonder Slam Tour" played throughout December 2006. The album's song "The Slam" was featured in the film Never Back Down, advertisements for the films Transporter 2, Aeon Flux, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, as well as advertisements for the television show Prison Break. The song was also featured in car commercials, men's NCAA clips, NBA Finals (Miami Heat, 2006), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) programming, NFL Football commercials, and "The Ultimate Highlight" on SportsCenter. Former Ohio Valley Wrestling performer Matt Cappotelli used "The Slam" as his entrance theme. In the movie Never Back Down Toby's song "The Slam" is featured in the main fight scene. "Diverse City" was featured in the Veronica Mars episode The Wrath of Con, as well as Konami's Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 4. "Atmosphere" and "Burn For You" were also used on different commercials. The album gave him another Dove Award for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year. A remix version of the album, Renovating->Diverse City, was released in 2005.

Portable Sounds (2007-2008)

McKeehan's third studio album, Portable Sounds, was released in 2007 and sold 50,645 copies in its first week, debuting at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, and at No. 1 on the SoundScan Contemporary Christian Overall chart. The album also received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. He won rock/contemporary album of the year for "Portable Sounds" at the 39th annual GMA Dove Awards. The songs "Made to Love" and "I'm For You" both hit No. 1 and were the second and third most played songs on Christian Hit Radio stations in 2007. "Hype Man (truDog '07)" features his son Truett. "Ignition" is being used by ABC/ESPN to promote its coverage of NASCAR, and "Boomin'" has also been used to promote a new crime-drama, The Women's Murder Club, on ABC, as well as others. In September 2007, his song "Feelin' So Fly" appeared in the film The Game Plan, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. "Ignition" received worldwide exposure when it was used as the Arizona Cardinals entrance music during the pre-game of Super Bowl XLIII. He was awarded two Dove Awards for his work on this album, including Artist of the Year. His music video featuring the song "Boomin" was awarded a Dove Award for Short Form Music Video of the Year. Around this time, he wrote his song, "New World" for "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and co-wrote and recorded the song "What We Gonna Do?" for the VeggieTales film The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie. "Feelin' So Fly" and "I'm for You" appear in Thrillville: Off the Rails.

Alive and Transported (2008-2009)

He released his first live album as a solo artist in 2008. Alive and Transported was a live recording of the Portable Sounds Tour in Houston, Texas. It included covers of popular DC Talk songs "Jesus Freak" and "In the Light". The album included a DVD of the concert and gained him a GMA Dove and a Grammy Award.

Tonight (2010-2011)

His fourth studio release, Tonight, was released on February 9, 2010. The album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, selling 79,000 units in its first week. The album's first single, "City on Our Knees", was released on August 14, 2009. The song reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs and No. 1 on both Christian AC and CHR. Christopher Stevens and Dave Wyatt joined McKeehan in producing the album, as with the production of his 2007 release, Portable Sounds. Truett, aka TruDog, Toby's oldest son, was once again featured on a song as in the previous albums. The album is a mix of pop, rock, hip hop, Latin, and funk, similar to his album Portable Sounds. The album charted No. 6 on the Billboard Top 200 and No. 1 on the Billboard Christian albums chart, selling 79,000 units in its first week. In the same year, he released a DVD, TobyMac: Moving Pictures Featuring His Entire Work of Music Videos, on November 10, 2010.

The title track of Tonight is featured in the intro of MLB Network's TV show 30 Clubs 30 Days. In March, he announced the "Hello Tonight" summer 2010 tour with Chris Tomlin. The song "City on Our Knees" earned him a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year. The song "Showstopper" was used to promote World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) June 2010 Pay Per View, "Fatal 4-Way", and was used at least once in NCAA Basketball. It was also used as an introduction to Thursday Night Football in 2009-2010. His single "Tonight" was also used as a pregame introduction at home games for the Baltimore Orioles during the 2011 MLB season. The song was also promoted for ESPYS' Best U.S Male Olympian. His "Tonight" was listed best Christian album of 2010 on iTunes and his Christmas single titled "Christmas This Year" (featuring Leigh Nash) was awarded the holiday song of the week on iTunes. He was nominated for Artist of the Year at the 2011 Dove Awards. Additionally, the songs "Get Back Up" and "City on Our Knees" were recognized for being two of the Top 25 most performed songs on Christian radio over 2010.

In 2010, McKeehan performed at Revelation Generation. He also toured with Skillet and House of Heroes on the "Awake Tonight Tour". He toured with Third Day, Michael W. Smith, Jason Gray and Max Lucado on the World Vision-sponsored "Make a Difference Tour 2010". Tonight was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. His first full-length Christmas album, Christmas in Diverse City, was released October 4, 2011. It contains songs from each of the Diverse City members as well as TobyMac. Its other guest artists include: Leigh Nash, Owl City, Jamie Grace, Victor Oquendo, "Superherose [sic]", Arch Nemesiz, Tim Rosenau, Toddiefunk, and Byron "Mr. Talkbox" Chambers. TobyMac released his third remix album, Dubbed and Freq'd: A Remix Project, on March 27, 2012, featuring remixes of songs from his prior two studio albums.

Eye on It (2012-2014)

His fifth full-length studio album, Eye on It, was released August 28, 2012. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 1, which is a first for a Christian album since 1997, and sold 69,000 copies in its first week. The album fell to No. 8 on the second week with 26,000 sales.

The first single, "Me Without You", was released to iTunes and Amazon MP3 on June 12, 2012, and went to No. 1 on Billboard's Christian Songs chart on September 1, 2012, becoming the singer's fifth chart-topper. "Family" was used in a promotional advertisement campaign for the show Blue Bloods. One showing of this advertisement was during the 2013 Super Bowl. "Forgiveness" is a collaboration with Christian rapper Lecrae. Although not released as a single, "Eye on It" was utilized by the ACC Network on its telecast of the 2013 ACC men's basketball tournament. The song was also used in several commercials by the Fox Sports Networks for NBA and MLB telecasts. He appears in the 2013 film I'm in Love with a Church Girl.

A remix album, Eye'm All Mixed Up, which features remixes from the album Eye on It, was released on November 4, 2014.

This Is Not a Test (2015-2018)

During his "Worship, Stories, and Songs Tour" in 2014, he performed the first single from his new album, titled "Beyond Me", which was released on January 6, 2015. The single "Beyond Me" also appeared on Hot Shot Debut at No. 34 solely on the strength of radio airplay. His sixth studio album, This Is Not a Test, (stylized as "***THIS IS NOT A TEST***") was released on August 7, 2015 and debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The album appeared on Top Christian Albums at No. 1, selling 35,000 copies in its first week. "Backseat Driver" was released as a promotional single from the album on June 9, 2015, which was later followed by "Til The Day I Die" on July 10, 2015, and "Feel It" on July 24, 2015.

On November 3, 2017, he released Light of Christmas, his second compilation of Christmas songs.

The Elements (2018-2021)

In January 2018, he released "I Just Need U", which debuted at No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, making the song TobyMac's sixth No. 1 single to top the chart. In July 2018, he released "Everything" as a single. In September 2018, he both announced his new album, The Elements, and released "Scars" as a single. The album was released on October 12, 2018, and became his fifth album to top the Christian Albums chart on Billboard.

On January 10, 2020, he released a single "21 Years", dedicated to the memory of his son Truett who died on October 23, 2019.

McKeehan released The Lost Demos on May 8, 2020, an EP of recovered demos. During the pandemic, he released "Separate Altogether Acoustic" music videos featuring the Diverse City band, his daughter, Marlee McKeehan, and Gotee Records colleague Michael Cochren.

Life After Death (2022-present)

On February 19, 2021, McKeehan released "Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight)" as a single.

On September 17, 2021, McKeehan released "Promised Land" as a single. On January 7, 2022, he released a new version of "Promised Land" as a collaboration with Sheryl Crow. On June 2, 2022, he released another single titled "The Goodness" as another collaboration with gospel artist Blessing Offor.

On June 10, 2022, he announced on Instagram his album Life After Death which was then released on August 19, 2022.

This was followed by McKeehan announcing his Hits Deep Tour for 2023, with supporting acts Crowder, Cochren & Co., Tasha Layton, Jon Reddick, and Terrian.

Other work

He has written two books with Michael Tait and Kevin Max: Jesus Freaks: DC Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs - Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks and Jesus Freaks: Revolutionaries: Stories of Revolutionaries Who Changed Their World: Fearing GOD, Not Man. These books are mainly focused on Christian martyrs. He has also written two more books with Michael Tait, one titled, Under God, containing stories of America's spiritual battles, and another book called Living Under God: Discovering Your Part in God's Plan.

He has written a fifth book called City on Our Knees. The book is about how Christians past and present have set aside differences, come together in unity, and stepped forward in action and prayer.

He is the president of the record label Gotee Records. He created the label with Todd Collins and Joey Elwood in order to produce Out of Eden's Lovin' the Day after efforts to sign the group to an established label proved unsuccessful. "We all collectively said, 'Let's just give this a shot'", Elwood recalls; "Three naïve guys, a willing band, and some really good songs." Gotee features artists such as Relient K, House of Heroes, Jamie Grace, Capital Kings, and Abandon Kansas. However, as a recording artist, he is under contract with ForeFront Records.

TobyMac has also helped establish a camp, called Camp Electric, located near Nashville, Tennessee, for young musicians who want to have pop and rock skills.

Personal life

McKeehan and his wife Amanda were married in 1994. Amanda, who comes from Jamaica, is the daughter of Judy and Robert Levy (chairman of the agribusiness firm Jamaica Broilers Group), and the family regularly visits the island. His father died from dementia in 2015 after a degenerative phase, an experience which McKeehan cited as inspiration for some of his newest songwriting as of 2017.

They have had five children: Truett (September 4, 1998 - October 23, 2019), known as TruDog or Tru (stylized as TRU); twins Moses and Marlee, adopted at birth on April 30, 2002; Leo, (b. November 2, 2004); and Judah, (b. March 24, 2006). McKeehan's son Moses suffers from muscular dystrophy.

Truett Foster McKeehan appeared on dc Talk's Solo EP and TobyMac's albums, Momentum, Re:Mix Momentum, Welcome to Diverse City, Renovating Diverse City, Portable Sounds, Tonight, Christmas in Diverse City, Eye on It and Eye'm All Mixed Up as the artist "TruDog" while on This is not a Test he is credited as "TRU". Judah McKeehan has appeared on the albums Tonight and Eye on It with Truett. Truett is featured on the song "Backseat Driver" from This Is Not a Test, as well as on "Alone" from Hollyn's self-titled EP, as "TRU". Truett was an aspiring rapper and waited until he was 21 to start a solo career as Truett Foster. He was found dead at his home in Nashville on October 23, 2019, at age 21 of an accidental drug overdose of fentanyl and amphetamines. On January 10, 2020, after a hiatus from touring to be with family, TobyMac released "21 Years" as a tribute to his son.

Discography

• Momentum (2001)
• Welcome to Diverse City (2004)
• Portable Sounds (2007)
• Tonight (2010)
• Christmas in Diverse City (2011)
• Eye on It (2012)
• This Is Not a Test (2015)
• The Elements (2018)
• Life After Death (2022)

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

Billboard Music Awards

Grammys

GMA Covenant Awards

GMA Dove Awards

References

External links

• Official website
• tobyMac at IMDb

Kirk Dewayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American songwriter, choir director, gospel singer, and rapper. He is best known for leading urban contemporary gospel ensembles such as The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC) among many others. He has won numerous awards, including 19 Grammy Awards. Variety dubbed Franklin as a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel", and is one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

Early life

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Franklin was raised by his aunt, Gertrude, having been abandoned as a baby by his mother. Gertrude recycled aluminum cans to raise money 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.

At the age of seven, Franklin received his first contract which his aunt turned down. He did join the church choir and became music director of the Mt. Rose Baptist Church adult choir at 11 years of age.

In his teenage years, Franklin rebelled against his strict religious upbringing, and in an attempt to keep him out of trouble, 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 deal with a girlfriend's pregnancy and his eventual expulsion from school for bad behavior.

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.

When he was aged 15 he witnessed the death of a friend by shooting, after which Franklin returned to the church, where he again directed the choir. 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, 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, just 20 years old at the time, to lead the choir at the 1990 Gospel Music Workshop of America Convention, an industry gathering.

Career

With groups (1992-2000)

In 1992, Franklin organized "The Family", which was a 17-voice choir, formed from neighborhood friends and associates. In 1992, Vicki Mack-Lataillade, the co-founder of fledgling GospoCentric Records label, 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 only the third gospel music album to sell over a million units after Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace and BeBe & CeCe Winans' Addictive Love.

Two years later, after releasing a 1995 Christmas album entitled Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas, the group released Whatcha Lookin' 4 in 1996. The album was certified 2× 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 big hit, enjoying heavy rotation on MTV and other music channels and charting at No. 1 on the R&B Singles Airplay chart for two 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 five weeks, No. 3 on the Pop charts, and would go on to be certified 3× platinum. It also brought Franklin another Grammy for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, as well as three Grammy nominations.

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

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, "Lean on Me", produced by Franklin and pop 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 contained a version of a Bill 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.

Also in 1998, Franklin had made a guest appearance on the hit television sitcom Sister, Sister.

In 2000, members of The Family filed a multimillion-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 Franklin continued with his newer group One Nation Crew, releasing Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC. The album was recorded prior to the lawsuit.

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 (2001-present)

In 2001, he produced the soundtrack for the film Kingdom Come. The soundtrack included gospel artists Mary Mary, Trin-i-tee 5:7, Crystal Lewis, and Franklin's group 1NC, as well 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 after being delayed. It 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, Willie Neal Johnson, TobyMac, Crystal Lewis, Jaci Velasquez, Papa San, Alvin Slaughter, and Yolanda Adams.

On October 4, 2005, Hero was released in the United States. The album was certified Gold on December 2, 2005 (2005-12-02), and Platinum on December 14, 2006 (2006-12-14), by the Recording Industry Association of America. It reached 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. At the 2007 Grammy Awards, Franklin won two Grammys for Hero. Additionally, Hero was the 2007 Stellar Awards CD of the Year.

Franklin's 10th album, The Fight of My Life, was released in the United States on December 18, 2007 (2007-12-18). 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 October 23, 2007 (2007-10-23), 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 (singer) and Melvin Williams (singer). 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, 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.

In 2005, Franklin appeared with his wife on The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss how he ended his pornography addiction. In 2010, he published The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above 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 addiction to pornography.

Franklin served as the host and co-executive producer of the BET original series Sunday Best and the musical co-host of GSN's The American Bible Challenge with Jeff Foxworthy. Franklin's 11th studio album called Hello Fear was released on March 22, 2011. The album features Marvin Sapp, Mali Music, Marvin Winans, John P. Kee, and Rance Allen. The first single, "I Smile", peaked at No. 85 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his first appearance on that chart in six years.

In 2013, Franklin being signing artists onto his label, Fo Yo Soul Recordings, which became an imprint with RCA Records, and he has signed acts such as The Walls Group and artists like Tasha Page-Lockhart. These two artists received ten Stellar Award nominations at the 30th Stellar Awards. The Walls Group won seven awards, while Page-Lockhart won three of her own, and Franklin won two more for his label.

In September 2015, Franklin announced his 12th studio album, Losing My Religion, and the album was released on November 13, 2015. The first single off the album, "Wanna Be Happy?", was released on August 28, 2015. It was at this point that Vinson Cunningham referred to him as a hype man when writing for the New Yorker.

Franklin contributed to Tori Kelly's Hiding Place album, released September 14, 2018. They had intended to collaborate on one song, but it turned into a larger project.

On January 25, 2019, Franklin released his single "Love Theory" and official music video for the song. "Love Theory" served the first single from his 13th studio album, Long Live Love. Franklin released his second single, "Just for Me", in April 2019. His third single, "OK", was released in May 2019. Long Live Love was released on May 31.

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

After Trinity Broadcasting Network aired the 2019 GMA Dove 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 award show going forward as it was not the first time they had edited his acceptance speech to remove "reflections on police violence against Black Americans". GMA president, Jackie Patillo, apologized to Franklin and GMA made an unedited version of the speech available but stated that it was an unintentional action and that they were attempting to reduce the running time to meet a two-hour time-slot. Several other artists supported Franklin's boycott.

In 2021, he was among the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

On May 21, 2021, Franklin and American rapper Lil Baby released the song "We Win" for the soundtrack to the 2021 film Space Jam: A New Legacy.

Personal life

On January 20, 1996, Franklin married long-time friend Tammy Collins. When they wed, they each had one child from previous relationships. As a couple, they have two children together.

In March 2021, Franklin's oldest son, Kerrion, released an audio recording of a private conversation between him and his father in which both can be heard using profanities. Franklin subsequently apologized to his fans and followers.

Discography

Kirk Franklin & The Family

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

Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation

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

Kirk Franklin and 1 Nation Crew

• Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC (2000)

Kirk Franklin

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

Kirk Franklin & Maverick City Music

• Kingdom Book One (2022)

Awards

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

He received 19 Grammys and 22 Dove Awards.

References

Further reading

• Franklin, Kirk (1998) [1998-10-1]. Church Boy. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 0-8499-4050-8.
• Waldron, Clarence (October 29, 2007). "Kirk Franklin's new mission: finding gospel's next superstar and boosting the music's appeal". Jet. 112 (17): 60(5).
• Slagle, Dana (December 26, 2005). "Kirk Franklin healed from 20-year addiction; filled with Christmas joy". Jet. 108 (26): 52(6).
• "Kirk Franklin's Joyful Noise". Guideposts. 1997.

External links

• Official website
• Kirk Franklin at IMDb
• Kirk Franklin at AllMusic
• One Nation Crew at AllMusic
• Fo Yo Soul Recordings profile
• Kirk Franklin 2016 Radio Interview at Soulinterviews.com

Thomas Tyrone "Tye" Tribbett (born January 26, 1976) is an American gospel music singer, songwriter and a keyboardist. He is a choir director and founder of the Grammy-nominated and Stellar Award-winning gospel group Tye Tribbett & G.A. (short for 'Greater Anointing.')

Biography

Tribbett was born on January 26, 1976, in Camden, New Jersey. He was raised in an Apostolic Pentecostal church in Camden, New Jersey. His father is Bishop Thomas Tyrone Tribbett, a former pastor, and his mother is Neicy Tribbett, a minister as well as a disc jockey in the Philadelphia and New York area.

He toured with Faith Hill in 2000, leading to work with Will Smith, Usher, Don Henley, Justin Timberlake, and Sting. He has since released five albums. The album "Greater Than" was released August 6, 2013, and earned him two Grammy awards. In 2017, he released "The Bloody Win".

Church

Tribbett and Shanté, his wife, pastor the Live Church in Orlando, Florida.

Personal life

He is married to Shanté Tribbett, who was a member of Greater Anointing, and they have two daughters together. He admitted to an affair in 2009 with another member of his choir, leading to his wife having an affair of her own with Christian rapper Da' T.R.U.T.H., but both men and their wives later reconciled.

He also has a brother, Thaddaeus, who is part of the band "Soundcheck" and is now gigging for various artists. Tribbett also has two sisters; DeShantel Tribbett-Robinson and, DeMaris Tribbett-Toy, who sang in Greater Anointing.

Tribbett loves to spend time with his family and engage in upper body workouts.

In April 2020, Tribbett sent a message to people during the coronavirus pandemic with a song "We are gon' be alright", he fused Kendrick Lamar's hit track Alright into the song.

The Come Up with Tye Tribbett

"The Come Up with Tye Tribbett? is an energetic and inspirational one hour daily radio show designed for R&B/Hip Hop, Rhythmic and Gospel/Inspirational stations, featuring the biggest hits from artists such as Jonathan McReynolds, LeCrae, The Hamiltones and more. The show is distributed by SupeRadio.

Discography

Albums

Extended Plays

• Anyhow! - EP (2021)
• Pandemic Praise! - EP (2021)
• Work It Out! - EP (2021)

Singles

As a lead artist

As a featured artist

References

External links

• Tye Tribbett's official website and messageboard
• Tribbett's Sony website
• Tye Tribbett interview on BlackGospel.com (2008)
• Tye Tribbett at AllMusic

Kurt Carr (born October 12, 1964) is an American gospel music composer and performer. While living in the city of Hartford, Connecticut, he served as Minister of Music at The First Baptist Church of Hartford located at the time on Greenfield Street. He is currently the Praise and Worship leader at The Fountain Of Praise in Houston, TX.

Biography

Early years

Kurt Carr was born in the mid-1960s in Hartford, Connecticut, where he grew up in a family who believed in Jesus, but was not deeply involved in church. At the age of 13, K Carr found himself being increasingly drawn to the church. In his early teen years, he performed as an actor and dancer at the Hartford Stage Company in a Broadway musical called On the Town, which was directed by Clay Stevenson. He became an active member in his church's music department. At the age of 17, Carr realized that he was being called to do something even higher with his life. After high school, he entered into the music program at the University of Connecticut, where he studied classical music and earned a Fine Arts degree. Carr is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

Music career

Early career

Carr was piano accompanist for Andrae Crouch's music ministry for one year. Carr was subsequently hired to be musical director and pianist for Rev. James Cleveland’s ministry in 1986 and was employed there for seven years, until Cleveland's death. Eventually, Carr became director of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ Choir, where he had the opportunity to work with both gospel and secular musical artists, including Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin during that time Carr also formed a gospel vocal ensemble named The Kurt Carr Singers. They released their first EP, I'm Glad in 1988 released on an Independent label. After signing with Light Records, Kurt Carr and the singers' debut major label and album Together was released in 1991. Transitions in the label lead to GospoCentric Records which was owned and co-founded by to Vicki Mack Lataillade.

1994-2002: New Label, Growing Success

Now signed onto GospoCentric, the group released their first album on the label titled Serious About It! The album featured renditions of many recorded songs, such as a rendention of Salt-N-Pepa's Whatta Man. The album made it to the charts in 1995. In July 1996, the singers recorded their second album on the label No One Else at the West Angeles which was released in March 1997. The album also features Anastacia, Mary Mary, & Andrea McClurkin-Mellini (sister of Donnie McClurkin) serving as a few of the additional background singers.. The album most notably featured For Every Mountain which became one of the Carr's most well known songs later on. In 2000, Awesome Wonder was released, which featured more popular songs with In the Sanctuary being the most notable. In the Sanctuary became his most popular song, leading to internet memes among other ways to highlight the success of the song. The album stayed in the charts longer than the previous albums and it increased the group's success higher.

2002-2012: One Church Project, Just the Beginning, and Bless this House

While In the Sanctuary became more popular, Carr continued to write songs for other gospel artists throughout the new decade and millenium such as Byron Cage, Tramaine Hawkins, and Bishop Paul S. Morton. In 2005, Kurt Carr released the One Church Project in 2005 which featured God Blocked It and God Great God, among others. The theme of the album was about being a multicultural church. In 2008, Kurt Carr released his first two disc album Just the Beginning which was released on his self titled label Kurt Carr Gospel and Zomba.

2012-present: Bless this House and Bless Somebody Else

In 2013, Kurt Carr released Bless this House on Verity Gospel Music Group which included the single I've Seen Him Do It, We've Gotta Put Jesus Back, & Great God Great Praise. After a six-year hiatus, Kurt Carr released Bless Somebody Else on RCA Records' Gospel Label RCA Inspiration in 2019 in which Kurt Carr Gospel Label from Just the Beginning returned. The single was released the same year as long with the single Blessing After Blessing which is a ballad a year later.

Carr's music is a blend of traditional gospel composition and vocals, with elements of R&B, jazz, soul, blues, and the distinct modern harmonies and singing styles found in urban contemporary gospel. The Kurt Carr Singers under his direction and musical influence have created seven albums. Kurt Carr has won four Stellar Awards.

Discography

Albums

Compilation albums

Singles

References

• Kurt Carr - Interview (March 2005) on BlackGospel.com
• Kurt Carr - Interview (November 2008) on BlackGospel.com

Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu, known professionally as Sinach, (born 30 March 1972) is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and senior worship leader, serving in this capacity for over 30 years. She is the first singer-songwriter to top the Billboard Christian Songwriter chart for 12 weeks in a row. Her song "Way Maker" received three nominations and won the Song of the Year at the 51st GMA Dove Awards, making her the first Nigerian to win the Award. She also won the BMI song of the year, and in 2021 was recognized by the US Congress while on tour in the United States of America.

She has released 9 studio albums with several other hit songs, including "I Know Who I Am", "Great Are You Lord", "Rejoice", "He Did It Again", "Precious Jesus", "The Name of Jesus", "This Is My Season", "Awesome God", "For This", "I Stand Amazed", "Simply Devoted" and "Jesus is Alive".

"Way Maker" has also piled up many recognition and awards since it was released in 2015. The visuals for Way Maker is currently the second most watched Nigerian music video on YouTube. In March 2019, it became the third Nigerian video to have garnered 100 million views on YouTube behind Davido's "Fall" and Yemi Alade's Johnny". "Way Maker" has been covered by over 60 Christian artists such as Michael W. Smith, Darlene Zschech, Leeland, Bethel Music, and Mandisa and in many languages. In the first few weeks of the Coronavirus pandemic and lockdown in 2020, Way Maker was the go to song, as several viral videos in hospitals, parks were made with large numbers of people singing the song. After being on the Christian Copyright Licensing International top 100 chart for several months in 2020, it claimed the No. 1 position in June and has remained till December 2020, making it the most played song in Churches across the United States for 2020.

Sinach received a Bethlehem Hall of Faith certificate of commemoration during her visit to Israel in December 2017. In September 2019, Sinach became the first gospel artist from Africa to tour India, headlining concerts with several thousands in attendance. In May 2020, she became the first African artist to top the Billboard Christian Songwriters chart. In July 2022, she joined the Grammy Recording Academy as a voting member.

In 2023 February, the government of the Commonwealth of Dominica awarded Sinach as global ambassador, via a letter signed by the Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit.

Biography

Early life

Sinach hails from Ebonyi State, Eastern Nigeria, and is the second daughter of seven children.

Sinach started singing for family and friends in 1989 as a hobby, while working as a staff and choir member in Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome's Church. She studied physics and graduated from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. She considered relocating from Nigeria after her University education, but was advised against it by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.

Personal life

In 2014, Sinach married Joseph Egbu in her home Church Christ Embassy. On 17 November 2019, at the LIMA Awards Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, announced the arrival of Sinach's first child Rhoda.

Musical career

As a child, Sinach stated she had dreams, where she saw herself singing to large crowds, but didn't actively pursue anything musically as a career besides joining the choir, and also working as an administrative staff in the Church. Sinach had written many songs before she released her first album, Chapter One in 2008. Her song 'This Is Your Season' won the Song of the Year award in 2008.

Speaking on how she came by her stage name Sinach, she said: "I chose that from my name Osinachi because it is easy to pronounce and catchy".

In 2016, Sinach was the first recipient of the LIMA Songwriter of the Decade Award, recognizing her contribution to gospel music in the previous decade. Her songs were being sung in many countries, translated to many languages, around the world. That same year, she received the African Achievers' Award for Global Excellence. Also that same year, for the second time in a row, she won the Western Africa Artist of the Year by Groove Awards in Kenya, and was listed by YNaija alongside Chris Oyakhilome, Enoch Adeboye as one of the Top 100 Influential Christians in Nigeria.

As a songwriter, Sinach has written over 200 songs and won several awards. Her song 'This Is Your Season' won the Song of the Year award in 2008. One of her most popular songs is 'I Know Who I Am'.

Performance

Sinach has performed and headlined concerts in over 50 countries including Kenya, Dominica, South Africa, United States, Canada, Antigua & Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Grenada, Uganda, Barbados, The British Virgin Islands, Zambia, Saint Maarten, the United Kingdom and India

Sinach also performed in her home country in experience hosted by the Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan House on the Rock churches, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, also she performed in annual Women on the Winning Edge Conference hosted by Funke Felix-Adejumo.

In one of recent chats with music journalist Motolani Alake of Pulse Nigeria, Sinach reveals how God arrested her into gospel ministration through Pastor Chris Oyakhilome's anointing.

On December 22, 2020, at the third ceremony of African Entertainment Awards USA, she won the Best Gospel Artist award.

Albums

In February 2021, Sinach announced the release of her 12th Studio album, titled, GREATEST LORD which features several high profiled Gospel artists such as Maranda Curtis, Darlene Zschech, Nathaniel Bassey, Panam Percy Paul, Micah Stampley, Leeland and Jekalyn Carr.

Awards and nominations

• 2016 LIMA Songwriter of the Decade Award
• 2016 Groove Awards Western Africa Artist of the Year
• 2016 African Achievers' Award for Global Excellence
• Top 100 Influential Christians in Nigeria.
• 2019 LIMA Song of the Year
• 2020 Sinach Has Been Named Among Africa's Most Influential Women
• 2020 Dove Awards Song of the year

See also

• List of Igbo people
• List of Nigerian gospel musicians
• List of Nigerian musicians
• List of people from Ebonyi State

References

External links

• Official website
• Sinach's channel on YouTube
• Sinach Full Songs & Album

Ntokozo and her childhood friend Nqubeko Mbatha got married in 2008. Does Ntokozo Mbambo have a child? Yes, they are blessed with two daughters, one of whom goes by the name Fanelesibonge Ayanga Mbatha. The couple has preferred to keep a low profile because they would rather lead quiet lives and avoid scandals and unnecessary controversy. 

Joseph Oscar Nii Armah Mettle, recognised by his stage name Joe Mettle, is a Ghanaian gospel singer and songwriter. On April 8, 2017, he made history by being the first Gospel musician to win the coveted Artist of the year award at the 2017 Ghana Music Awards. He has won many awards in Ghana and beyond, and has performed on international stages with International Gospel Artistes like Donnie McClurkin, Nathaniel Bassey, Ntokozo Mbambo, Michael Stuckey and many more. He is married to Selassie Mettle (née Dzisa).

Early life and education

Joe, although a marketer by profession, is a worshiper by calling. He was born to Florence Addo and Emmanuel Mettle and is the eldest of six children. Joe started his education at the Richard Akwei Memorial School and later moved to Kade 1&2 Primary School (Kade) where he spent about a year before returning to Accra, to the St. Michael's and All Angels. He continued to Korle Gonno 3 Junior High School (JHS) and obtained his Senior High School Certificate from the His Majesty Academy. Joe Mettle is an alumnus of Accra Academy. Prior to His Majesty Academy, he studied draftsmanship at the Modern School of Draftsmanship (MODESCO). He then attended the Pentecost University College, a private Christian university college located at Sowutuom in Accra.

Music career

During his early days of singing, he worked as a backing vocalist for some Ghanaian Gospel greats including Cindy Thompson, the late Danny Nettey, and Reverend Tom Bright Davies. Joe Mettle was the lead singer for the indigenous multicultural music group, Soul Winners. He won the Artiste of the Year, Gospel Artiste of the Year and the Male Vocalist Artiste of the Year at the 2017 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA). His award for Artiste of the Year was considered historical as he was the first Gospel artiste to win in this category since the conception of these awards. Joe has also won over 10 local and international awards. He has won several awards at Africa Gospel Music Awards, Gospel industry Awards, African Gospel Awards (UK), CCML Ghana Gospel Awards, Bass Awards and RIGA Awards (South Africa).

Joe has featured on the popular South African Broadcasting Corporation's TV show titled, "Gospel Classics" which also highlighted Donnie McClurkin. He received the Best Male Gospel Artiste in Africa at the Trumpet Gospel Awards held in South Africa.

He has many nationwide hit songs including "Mehia wo Yesu" (meaning-I need you Jesus), "Nhyira" (meaning-Blessing), "Med? Wo", "Akokyem Nyame", "Mensuro" (meaning-I will not fear), "Turning Around" and "Yesu Adi Nkunim" (meaning-Christ is Victorious) to his credit. One of the songs attributed to him, that won him nominations at the 2017 VGMA is titled "?nwanwani" (meaning-God of Wonders). He has six albums to his credit.

Joe Mettle Ministries

In 2007, Joe Mettle Ministries was founded. The Ministry has two major annual headline events; Praiz Reloaded, midyear and Lovegift in December every year.

Joe is the manager at Reverb Studios, which is a rehearsal and recording studio in Accra. The company provides musical equipment rental, as well as music and marketing consultancy services.

Personal life

Joe married Salomey Selassie Dzisa in a traditional marriage ceremony in Accra (13 August 2020), and followed with an official wedding ceremony in Tema (15 August 2020).

Awards and nominations

Discography

Albums

Singles

• "Med? Wo" (meaning "I Love You")
• "Sound of Praise"
• "Saved with Amazing Grace" (S.W.A.G.)
• "?nwanwani" (meaning - God of Wonders)
• "Bo N?? Ni" (meaning "No One Else")
• "My Everything"
• "Ye Obua Mi"
• "Yesu Mo"
• "Great Jehovah"

References

External links

• Official Facebook Page

Michael Whitaker Smith (born October 7, 1957) is an American musician who has charted in both contemporary Christian and mainstream charts. His biggest success in mainstream music was in 1991 when "Place in This World" hit No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the course of his career, he has sold more than 18 million albums.

Smith is a three-time Grammy Award winner, an American Music Award recipient, and has earned 45 Dove Awards. In 1999, ASCAP awarded him with the "Golden Note" Award for lifetime achievement in songwriting, and in 2014 they honored him as the "cornerstone of Christian music" for his significant influence on the genre. He also has recorded 31 No. 1 Hit songs, fourteen gold albums, and five platinum albums. He has also starred in two films and published 14 books including This Is Your Time, which he worked with Christian author Gary Thomas to write.

Early life

Michael Whitaker Smith was born to Paul and Barbara Smith in Kenova, West Virginia. His father was an oil refinery worker at the Ashland Oil Refinery, in nearby Catlettsburg, Kentucky. His mother was a caterer. He inherited his love of baseball from his father, who had played in the minor leagues. As a child, he developed a love of music through his church. He learned piano at an early age and sang in his church choir. At the age of 10, he had "an intense spiritual experience" that led to his becoming a devout Christian. "I wore this big cross around my neck," he would recall, "It was very real to me." He became involved in Bible study and found a group of older friends who shared his faith.

After his older Christian friends moved away to college, Smith began to struggle with feelings of loneliness and alienation. After graduating from high school, he gravitated toward alcohol and drugs. He attended Marshall University while developing his songwriting skills but dropped out after one semester. He also played with various local bands around Huntington, West Virginia. During that time, his friend Shane Keister, who worked as a session musician in Nashville, encouraged him to move to Nashville, the Country Music capital, and pursue a career in music.

In 1978, Smith moved to Nashville, taking a job as a landscaper to support himself. He played with several local bands in the Nashville club scene. He also developed a problem with substance abuse.

I really started losing touch when I moved to Nashville, around April of '78. I was smokin' marijuana, drinking, doing some other drugs; just being crazy, you know. My mom and dad knew what I was doing. But they never hassled me; they just prayed for me. And I felt convicted by God. Every time I'd wake up I knew: This isn't me. But I couldn't change myself.

After a breakdown in November 1979, Smith decided to recommit to Christianity. The next day he auditioned for a new contemporary Christian music (CCM) group, Higher Ground, as a keyboardist and got the job. His lead vocals were heard on much of CCM radio with the single, "I Am". It was on his first tour with Higher Ground, playing mostly in churches, that Smith was finally able to put the drugs and alcohol behind him.

Music career

Beginning (1981-1989)

In 1981, while he was playing keyboards for Higher Ground, Smith was signed as a writer to Meadowgreen Music, where he wrote numerous gospel hits penned for artists such as Sandi Patty, Kathy Troccoli, Bill Gaither and Amy Grant, to the effect that some of these popular worship songs can now be found in church hymnals. The following year, Smith began touring as a keyboardist for Grant on her Age to Age tour.

He became Grant's opening act and recorded his first Grammy-nominated solo album The Michael W. Smith Project (which he also produced himself) in 1983 on the Reunion Records label. This album contained the first recording of his hit "Friends", which he co-wrote with his wife Deborah. By the time Smith's second album Michael W. Smith 2 was released in 1984, he was headlining his own tours. In 1986, Smith released The Big Picture.

After the release of his 1988 effort, i 2 (EYE), Smith once again collaborated with Grant for her "Lead Me On" world tour. The following year, Smith recorded his first Christmas album, simply titled Christmas (1989).

Mainstream venture and inspirational pop albums (1990-1999)

In 1990, Smith released Go West Young Man, his first mainstream effort, which included the mainstream crossover hit single "Place in This World". The song peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1992, he released Change Your World, which included the No. 1 adult contemporary hit "I Will Be Here for You". In 1993 Smith released his first box set, The Wonder Years and his first greatest hits album, The First Decade (1983-1993). The latter also includes two new songs, "Do You Dream of Me?" and "Kentucky Rose".

In 1994, Smith appeared as a guest pianist on the album Swing, Swang, Swung by Christian rock band Guardian.

In 1995, Smith released his eighth album I'll Lead You Home, which combines the pop style of his secular albums with a touch of religious feel. Live the Life (1998) and This Is Your Time (1999) follow the same style. In 1998, Smith also released his second Christmas album, Christmastime.

Smith collaborated with Jim Brickman on "Love of My Life", a romantic love song for Brickman's album Destiny in 1999. The song went to chart at No. 9 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. Also in 1999, he became the first Christian artist to receive the ASCAP "Golden Note" Award for lifetime achievement in songwriting.

Instrumental and live worship albums (2000-2003)

Nearly all of Smith's albums include at least one instrumental track, and in 2000 Smith recorded his first all instrumental album, Freedom. The following year, Smith released his first all-worship music album, Worship, on September 11. This album was followed by a sequel, Worship Again in 2002. Both albums were recorded live in concert. Worship Again also includes a song that Smith wrote called "There She Stands", inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks. He performed this song live for the 2004 Republican National Convention, saying that President George W. Bush, who he said is a fan and a family friend, had asked him to write a song about the attacks.

In 2002, Smith released a live concert DVD titled Worship, filmed live in Edmonton, Alberta at YC Alberta. The concert includes songs from both Worship (2001) and Worship Again (2002). It immediately topped the Billboard video charts and went gold in both the U.S. and Canada.

Smith won the Male Vocalist of the Year award at the GMA Music Awards in 2003. The same year he also released his second greatest hits album, The Second Decade (1993-2003), which includes a new single called "Signs".

Contemporary Christian albums (2004-2010)

Smith's album, Healing Rain, was released in 2004 and debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 200 Chart. The title track rose to No. 1 on the Radio & Records Charts and a music video for the song was released. The album combines the pop style of his previous recordings with the religious feel of his two live worship albums. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. In 2006 he released Stand, which is similar to Healing Rain (2004) in style and genre but with more Christian-themed songs. Also in 2006, Smith did the score and soundtrack to the film The Second Chance, which he also starred in. He also released a single from the soundtrack album, "All in the Serve".

In October 2007, he released his third Christmas album, It's a Wonderful Christmas. On June 20, 2008, Smith recorded his third live Worship album at the Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, titled A New Hallelujah. It was released in October 2008. That same month he began a tour with Steven Curtis Chapman. In September 2010, he released Wonder, which follows the CCM style of Healing Rain (2004) and Stand (2006).

Orchestral instrumental, hymns, and studio worship albums (2011-2016)

Smith's second instrumental album, Glory, was released on November 22, 2011. Unlike his first instrumental album, Freedom (2000), this album features a 65-piece orchestra at AIR Studios Lyndhurts Hall in London and Wildwood Recording Studio in Nashville. The following year he released his third compilation album, Decades of Worship (2012).

Smith's concert in Draper, Utah, on July 24, 2012 was almost canceled due to a complaint filed by a Utah resident on July 16, 2012. He claimed that a show "conflated with prayer and worship" should remain in church or private property, not in the "public's backyard". The following day the city council decided to cancel the concert, but a day later they decided to host the show as planned after all, following a criticism from a Utah evangelical group that equated cancelling the concert to an assault on religious liberty. The Mayor of Draper and several city council members were present at the event and were recognized for their support.

In 2014, Smith released three albums, Hymns, Sovereign, and The Spirit of Christmas. Hymns is Smith's first effort at doing his own rendition of traditional hymns, and it was released exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store on March 24, 2014. The album sold 12,000 copies in its first week of release and debuted at No. 24 on the US Billboard 200. It was also the best-selling Christian music album for the week of April 19, 2014, and won a 2014 Dove Award for "Inspirational Album of the Year". Sovereign, released on May 13, 2014, is his first studio worship album and his first album released through Capitol Records, after leaving his long-time label Reunion Records in 2013. The album sold almost 16,000 copies in its first week, and debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, making it the highest-charting album in his career as of 2014. The Spirit of Christmas, officially released as Michael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas, is Smith's first duet album. Released on September 30, 2014, it features duets with Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Jennifer Nettles, Martina McBride, Vince Gill, Bono, Amy Grant, and Michael McDonald. The album marks Smith's third new album in 2014 to enter the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 16 as of December 2014. It also won a 2015 Dove Award for "Christmas Album of the Year".

Smith, along with Amy Grant, was honored as the "cornerstone of Christian music" by ASCAP in 2014 for his significant influence on the genre. In 2015, Smith and his son Tyler wrote the score and soundtrack for the film 90 Minutes in Heaven, which he also has a small acting role in.

In November 2015, Smith and Amy Grant started their annual Christmas tour again after a roughly 15-year break.

Smith's second hymns album, called Hymns II - Shine on Us, was released on January 29, 2016. Like his first hymns album released in 2014, the album was sold exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.

On June 21, 2016, Smith released a new single titled "He Will Never End" which was originally released in March 2016 as a bonus track on the Target exclusive edition of The Passion: New Orleans soundtrack CD (2016). On June 27, 2016, he released the music video for the single which was filmed entirely in Israel in April 2016.

Later in 2016, Smith released a Christmas musical project in a collaboration with Wes King, Bradley Knight, and Luke Gambill called Almost There - A Christmas Musical. The musical is named after a song Smith wrote a few years ago for his Christmas album The Spirit of Christmas (2014).

A Million Lights and Surrounded (2017-present)

On August 11, 2017, Smith released a new single, "A Million Lights", which marks a departure from his previous sound. It is the lead single and title track from his pop album released on February 16, 2018. A week after, on February 23, 2018, Smith released another album called Surrounded which is his first live worship album in ten years. The two albums became his 30th and 31st top 10 entries in Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart, the most among solo artists in the span of his career.

In May 2018, Smith launched a new children's book series, Nurturing Steps, which he created with VeggieTales co-creator Mike Nawrocki. The first book, Nighty Night and Good Night, was released May 8. He also released his first children's album, Lullaby, to accompany the book.

On August 30, 2018, Smith hosted a free event at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena called "Surrounded: A Night to Pray, Worship and Be Awakened". The event will be broadcast on TBN later this year in 175 countries worldwide.

On February 22, 2019, Smith released Awaken: The Surrounded Experience, a live worship album.

Smith released a live album of worship music, Worship Forever, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11, which is also the date in which his original album Worship was released. It was also accompanied by a live concert on TBN.

Acting career

In 1994, Smith made his acting debut as Billy Holden in Secret Adventures: "Shrug". In 2006, Smith was the lead actor in The Second Chance, a film directed by Steve Taylor. He also did some of the score and soundtrack for this film.

In 2015, Smith starred as Cliff McArdle in the film adaptation of the best-selling book 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. In addition, he collaborated with his son on the score and soundtrack for this film.

Smith also starred as James the disciple in The Passion, a live musical film that was aired on FOX on March 20, 2016.

Other ventures

In 1994, Smith opened a teen club, named Rocketown, in Nashville, Tennessee (6th Avenue). Later in early 2003, the club was moved to a new location?a renovated warehouse in downtown Nashville. The venue offers a large dance floor, extensive indoor skate park, and a café hosting live acoustic music.

In 1996, Smith opened his own record label, Rocketown Records. The label was named after a song on his third album The Big Picture. The first artist signed was Chris Rice, who had written "Go Light Your World", a No. 1 hit song by Kathy Troccoli, in 1995. Smith didn't record under the label himself until 2018.

Smith is actively involved in volunteer service and is vice chair of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, which is chaired by Jean Case of the Case Foundation. He is also an avid spokesperson for sponsoring children through Compassion International.

Smith was active in Billy Graham Crusades as well as Samaritan's Purse. Smith sang "Just As I Am" in a tribute to Graham at the 44th GMA Dove Awards. He also sang it at the memorial service honoring Graham at the United States Capitol rotunda on February 28, 2018.

Personal life

Smith is married to Deborah "Debbie" Kay Davis and has five children. He lives in the Nashville suburbs. Smith attended Belmont Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and is mentored by its long-time pastor, Don Finto. Smith is also the founding pastor of New River Fellowship Church in Franklin, Tennessee, where he was the lead pastor from 2006 to 2008.

Smith was a friend of former President George H. W. Bush and is a friend of his son, former President George W. Bush. Smith was invited to play at the 2004 Republican National Convention singing "There She Stands", as well as the state funeral of George H. W. Bush at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2018, singing "Friends".

Smith is also friends with U2 singer Bono and they have collaborated on a Christmas album as well as One Campaign.

Alderson-Broaddus College awarded Smith the degree Doctorate of Music honoris causa in 1992.

Smith was also named one of People magazine's "Most Beautiful People" in 1992.

In 2018, he performed at Billy Graham's memorial and funeral.

In June 2019, Smith signed a declaration by Franklin Graham, that called for a special day of prayer for President Donald Trump, that God would protect, strengthen, embolden, and direct him.

Works

Discography

Publications

Audio books

• The Gospels Come to Life. Irving, Texas: Gospels Come to Life, 2003.

Filmography

• Secret Adventures: Shrug (1994) as Billy Holden
• The Second Chance (2006) as Ethan Jenkins
• 90 Minutes in Heaven (2015) as Cliff McArdle

Awards

Grammy Awards

• 1984 Best Gospel Performance, Male for Michael W. Smith 2
• 1995 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for I'll Lead You Home
• 2002 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for Worship Again

Grammy nominations

• 1983 Best Gospel Performance, Male for Michael W. Smith Project
• 1986 Best Gospel Performance, Male for The Big Picture
• 1988 Best Gospel Performance, Male for I 2(Eye)
• 1989 Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Male for "Holy, Holy, Holy"
• 1990 Best Pop Gospel Album for Go West Young Man
• 1998 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for Live the Life
• 2000 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for This Is Your Time
• 2002 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for Worship
• 2006 Best Christian Pop Album for Healing Rain
• 2008 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for Stand
• 2019 Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Surrounded

Dove Awards

• 1985 Songwriter of the Year
• 1987 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for The Big Picture (producer, artist)
• 1988 Long Form Music Video of the Year for "The Big Picture Tour Video" (artist)
• 1990 Short Form Music Video of the Year for "I Miss the Way" (artist)
• 1991 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Go West Young Man (producer, artist)
• 1992 Choral Collection of the Year for The Michael W. Smith Collection (artist)
• 1992 Musical Album of the Year for Change Your World (artist)
• 1992 Song of the Year for "Place in this World" (artist)
• 1993 Praise and Worship Album of the Year for Songs from the Loft (artist)
• 1993 Recorded Music Packaging of the Year for The Wonder Years (artist)
• 1994 Musical Album of the Year for Living on the Edge (artist)
• 1996 Songwriter of the Year
• 1996 Special Event Album of the Year for My Utmost For His Highest (artist)
• 1997 Special Event Album of the Year for Tribute: The Songs of Andrae Crouch (artist)
• 1998 Children's Music Album of the Year for Sing Me to Sleep Daddy (artist)
• 1998 Special Event Album of the Year for God With Us: A Celebration of Christmas Carols and Classics (artist)
• 1998 Enhanced CD of the Year for Live the Life - Maxi Single (artist)
• 1999 Artist of the Year
• 1999 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Live the Life (producer, artist)
• 1999 Producer of the Year
• 1999 Special Event Album of the Year for Exodus (artist)
• 2000 Short Form Music Video of the Year for "This is Your Time" (artist)
• 2000 Song of the Year for "This Is Your Time" (artist)
• 2000 Songwriter of the Year
• 2001 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for This is Your Time (producer, artist)
• 2001 Youth/Children's Musical Album of the Year for Friends 4 Ever (artist)
• 2002 Album of the Year for Worship (producer, artist)
• 2002 Artist of the Year
• 2002 Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "Above All" (artist)
• 2002 Instrumental Album of the Year for Freedom (producer, artist)
• 2003 Album of the Year for Worship Again (producer, artist)
• 2003 Artist of the Year
• 2003 Long Form Music Video of the Year for Worship DVD/Video (producer, artist)
• 2003 Male Vocalist of the Year
• 2008 Christmas Album of the Year for It's a Wonderful Christmas
• 2009 Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "A New Hallelujah"
• 2009 Praise & Worship Album of the Year for A New Hallelujah
• 2012 Best Instrumental Album of the Year for Glory
• 2014 Inspirational Album of the Year for Hymns
• 2015 Christmas Album of the Year for The Spirit of Christmas

American Music Awards

• 1992 Favorite New Adult Contemporary Artist

Gospel Music Hall of Fame

• 2008 Inductee

References

External links

• Official website
• Michael W. Smith at AllMusic
• Michael W. Smith at IMDb
• Transcript of February 10, 2006 interview with Larry King

The Lukalu family migrated after her late father Luc passed away. As she kept studying, DL perfected singing, her passion since she was 6 years old. In 2015, after about 5 years in the making, Deborah released Law Breaker, her debut album. It turned out to be a quite a successful album that launched DL’s pretty acclaimed gospel career.

In July 2018, Debbie got married to Cedric Kaseba as reported in this short piece from the people website Happy People Africa. Later in August, She released a single titled “Today is my day”, with the song video clip borrowed from her own celebration.

As of early-2019, Deborah released three full albums and about four singles.

If you’re into gospel and worship music, you should keep an eye on sister Deborah. Enjoy the following video form her youtube channel, just to give you an idea about her immense musical talent.

Mercy Nnenda Chinwo is a Nigerian gospel musician, singer, actress, comedian and songwriter. She started singing at age 6 in her church children's choir. In 2018 she released the hit single "Excess Love"

Early life and education

Mercy Nnenda Chinwo was born on September 5, 1991, in Rivers State.Mercy got her first school leaving certificate at the Goodwill international school and her secondary school education at Paradise international school She is an alumna of the International Business Management Institute (IBMI) where she bagged a degree in Human Resources Management.

Personal Life

She got married on 13th of August 2022 in Port Harcourt to Pastor Blessed Uzochikwa and they both reside in Lagos, Nigeria.

Career and philanthropy

Chinwo's single 'Excess Love' released in 2018 earned her the attention of not only the Nigerian gospel music industry but also on the international scene. Chinwo released her first single, "Testimony" in 2015, and "Igwe" . A year later in 2017 she was signed to a gospel record label.

Chinwo is a gospel music minister. Since breaking into the gospel scene she has been featured on a number of gospel music projects, working with the likes of JJ Hairson,Nathaniel Bassey,Chioma Jesus, Banky W, Joe Praize, Samsong, Moses Bliss, Dunsin Oyekan, Preye Odede and a host of others.

Chinwo's other pursuits include acting, entreupreneurism; and humanitarian work. In 2023, she alongside her husband began the MercyisBlessed Foundation, an NGO focused on donations to the less privileged as well as youth development amongst others.

Achievements

• In 2018, Chinwo was awarded the Best Gospel Artiste at the Climax Awards 2018.
• In 2019, at the maiden edition of the Africa Gospel Awards Festival (AGAFEST 2019) Chinwo was named winner in the categories Africa Gospel New Artiste of the Year, Africa Gospel Female Artiste of the Year, and Africa Gospel Song of the Year (Excess Love).
• In 2020, Chinwo emerges as the Gospel Artiste of the year at the AFRIMMA Awards.
• Africa Gospel Music of the year, CLIMA Africa Award 2022
• Africa Gospel artist of the year, CLIMA Africa Award 2022

Discography

Albums

• The Cross My Gaze (2018)
• Satisfied (2020)
• "Elevated" (2023)

EPs

• Confidence (2023)
• Wonder (2023)
• hollow (2023)
• yesterday today forever (2023)
• imela (2023)
• lifter (2023)

Singles

• Testimony (2015)
• Igwe (2016)
• Excess Love (2018)
• Omekanaya (2018)
• No More Pain (2018)
• Chinedum (2018)
• Power Belongs to Jesus (2019)
• ?kamdinelu (2019)
• Oh Jesus! (2019)
• Obinasom (2020)
• Kosi (2020)
• Tasted Of Your Power (2020)
• Na You Dey Reign(2020)
• Yahweh (2021)
• Yahweh (2022)
• Onememma (2020)

Filmography

See also

• List of Igbo people
• List of Nigerian gospel musicians
• List of Nigerian musicians

References

External links

Donald James Moen (born June 29, 1950) is an American singer, pianist, and songwriter of Christian worship music.

Early and personal life

Moen grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he attended high school in 1968. Moen attended Oral Roberts University, a Christian liberal arts school.

Moen married Laura in 1973.

Career

He became a Living Sound musician for Terry Law Ministries and traveled with Terry Law for ten years. After, he worked for Integrity Media for over 20 years, serving as creative director and president of Integrity Music, president of Integrity Label Group, and an executive producer of Integrity Music albums. He left Integrity Media in December 2007 to start a new initiative, The Don Moen Company. The Don Moen Company acquired MediaComplete, the church software company that created MediaShout. Moen became a radio host for Don Moen & Friends in 2009. Moen received a Dove Award for his work on the musical God with Us in addition to nine nominations for his songs.

Moen also worked with Claire Cloninger, Paul Overstreet, Martin J. Nystrom, Randy Rothwell, Ron Kenoly, Bob Fitts, Debbye Graafsma, Paul Baloche, Tom Brooks, among many others. He worked with musicians, Justo Almario, Carl Albrecht, Abraham Laboriel, Alex Acuña, Paul Jackson, Jr., Lenny LeBlanc and Chris Graham. He was a catalyst in launching the careers of Paul Baloche, Darlene Zschech, Israel Houghton, and Hillsong United.

He produced 11 volumes for the Hosanna! Music series of worship albums. His first album under his own name, Worship with Don Moen, was released in 1992. His music has total global sales of over five million units.

Moen's first album for Hosanna! Music, Give Thanks, became the label's bestseller. Produced by Tom Brooks, Give Thanks went on to be certified Gold by the RIAA. Moen followed this with a number of albums of his own including two, En Tu Presencia and Trono De Gracia, in Spanish. God with Us won the Dove Award for Best Musical. On an Asian tour in 1999 he recorded The Mercy Seat at Singapore Indoor Stadium and Heal Our Land at Yoido Park in South Korea, which was released in 2000. One of Moen's albums, I Will Sing, was recorded at Christian Broadcasting Network.

God Will Make a Way: The Best of Don Moen was released in 2003 and features 19 greatest hits. The title song was written for his sister-in-law and her husband, whose oldest son died in an auto accident while their other three children survived but were seriously injured. Moen's Hiding Place became his first studio album which was recorded at Paragon Studios in Franklin, Tennessee, and was released in the autumn of 2006. I Believe There Is More released in late 2008. His third studio recording titled Uncharted Territory (funded successfully through Kickstarter) released on March 27, 2012. His Christmas album, Christmas: A Season of Hope, was released on October 22, 2012, and some songs were recorded at a studio in Czech Republic. Moen released Hymnbook as a celebration of reaching over 1 million likes on his Facebook page.

Discography

Other recordings

• Hatiku (1995)
• Behold the Lamb (1997)
• Healing (1998)
• The Smithton Outpouring (1999)
• Hope Changes Everything (2000)
• Mas de Ti (2000)
• Sing for Joy: A Songwriter's Heart (2002)
• Amor Sin Limites (2004)
• American Worship Gathering (2005)
• Arise: A Celebration of Worship (2006)
• Hope Changes Everything (2007)
• Cool Worship (2010)
• A Little Boy's Prayer (2010)
• Marvin L. Winans Presents: The Praise & Worship Experience (2012)
• Bishop Jerry L. Maynard Presents: The Cathedral of Praise Choir (2012)
• Day and Night Worship (2015)
• We Will Stand (2015)

Awards and nominations

Gold certification

• Give Thanks

References

External links

• Official website

He holds several degrees, including a music degree from Alameda College, a Master of Divinity from Faith Bible College, and a Doctorate of Ministry in Sacred music from Friends International Christian University. His music career began following time spent in the United States Air Force. He was originally with a group called The Mellow Fellows, but family issues caused him to leave the group. His critical success came in 1992 when Lift Him Up became the fastest selling worship album to that point. Welcome Home produced by Tom Brooks was also critically acclaimed, becoming Billboard's Top contemporary worship music album, and winning a Gospel Music Association Dove Award for "Praise and Worship Album" in 1997. He was signed to Integrity Music, but is no longer recording for them.

He began working in full-time ministry in 1985. He started out as a worship leader at Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose, California. Not long after that, in 1987, he was ordained and installed as Music Pastor. As worship leader, his sole focus was leading worship service. When he became music pastor, he became the shepherd over the entire music department at Jubilee Christian Center. In 1993, after the two Integrity recordings, he started receiving invitations from all over the world. Churches not only wanted him to come lead praise and worship, but also to help them develop their music departments. So shortly afterwards, he was named Ambassador of Music at Jubilee Christian Center. He was sent out from the church as an ambassador to the world to help churches develop and find the balance between worship and the Word. In 1996, he received his Doctorate in Ministry of Sacred Music. In 1999, he felt the call to move from California to the East Coast. So, he relocated the ministry to Central Florida where he continues to travel, speak, sing, teach and record. He sings all over the world. Kenoly has also written a few books, one of them written with his pastor, Dick Bernal.

Biography

Kenoly states that when his mother, Edith Kenoly, was pregnant with him, she would rub her stomach, and her prayer was, "Lord let this one praise you."

After graduating from high school in his birthplace, Coffeyville, Kansas, Kenoly ventured out to Hollywood, California. When plans to make it in the big city fell through, he joined the Air Force in 1965. It was in the military that he met and married Tavita, his wife of 42 years. It was also there that the humble beginnings of his music career were launched. Kenoly joined the Mellow Fellows, a top 40 cover band that toured military bases. In 1968, he left the Air Force and the Mellows Fellows behind and shipped out to the City of Angels to go after his passion: music.

"As a child I remember seeing Sammy Davis Jr. and Nat King Cole for the first time. I was so impressed as I watched two Black men grace a national stage. I knew right then that was what I wanted." So for the next few years, Kenoly poured all of his energy into making his childhood dream a reality. He sang demos of Jimmy Webb songs, like the 70's hit "Up, Up and Away," for the Audio Arts label. The label also released Kenoly's first single, "The Glory of Your Love (Mine Eyes Have Seen)." Success in the R&B arena came after he signed with A&M Records. Under that label, he cranked out songs like, "Soul Vaccination".

Ron Kenoly and Candy were the first act signed to Semper's Inner City label. Their "Lovely Weekend" single was a massive success selling close to 200,000 copies. "The two of them came and sang the song at my house and I knew straight away I wanted to sign them," explains Semper. "We recorded it at CBA (Clark Brown Audio) recording studio in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles in 1972.

A&M Records boosted his success with R&B. The label executives changed his name to Ron Keith. He made R&B hits such as 'I Betcha I'll Get Ya', 'Soul Vaccination', and (in 1975) 'Can't Live Without You'.

Some years later, he decided to drop R&B music and devote himself to a Christian life. He tried for four years to get a gospel record deal. In 1983, he released a custom-made album, You Ought to Listen to This. It was a project known around Kenoly's community (not internationally released).

Kenoly eventually started leading praise and worship for other pastors such as Jack Hayford and Lester Sumrall. This caught the attention of evangelist Mario Murillo, who introduced him to Pastor Dick Bernal, the founder of Jubilee Christian Center. Ron Kenoly became the church's music minister in 1987.

Discography

• 1983: You Ought to Listen to This
• 1991: Jesus Is Alive
• 1992: Lift Him Up with Ron Kenoly
• 1994: God Is Able
• 1995: Sing Out with One Voice
• 1996: Welcome Home
• 1997: High Places: The Best of Ron Kenoly
• 1998: Majesty
• 1999: We Offer Praises
• 2001: Dwell in the House
• 2002: The Perfect Gift
• 2005: Fill the Earth
• 2005: Lift Him Up Collection
• 2008: Powerful Hymns My Mother Sang
• 2009: Solo Para Ti
• 2010: Christmas with Ron Kenoly
• 2013: Set Apart Is Your Name Yahuwah Vol.1
• 2014: Set Apart Is Your Name Yahuwah Vol.2 featuring David Hunter
• 2019: Kabiosi (live in London)

Songs

Songs written or co-written by Kenoly

• Jesus Is Alive (1991)
  • "Jesus Is Alive"
  • "Keeper of My Heart" with Kelly Husted
• Lift Him Up with Ron Kenoly (1992)
  • "Hallowed Be Your Name" with Louis Smith
  • "We're Going Up to the High Places"
• God Is Able (1994)
  • "Our God Is Able (Rap)"
  • "Use Me" with Dewitt Jones
  • "Jesus Is Alive"
• Sing Out with One Voice (1995)
  • "Joyfully, Joyfully"
  • "Give to the Lord"
  • "Welcome Rap"
  • "We Dedicate This Time"
• Welcome Home (1996)
  • "Go Ahead"
  • "Heal Their Land"
  • "I Testify Today" with Louis Smith
  • "Welcome Home"
  • "I Love To Love You Lord" with Louis Smith
  • "Lord I Magnify" with Tavita Kenoly (wife)
• Majesty (1998)
  • "Hallelujah to the King of Kings" with Renetha Muldrew
  • "The King of Kings Is Coming" with Bob Ayala
  • "Return To Righteousness America" with Don Moen and Tom Brooks
  • "In Righteousness You Reign"
  • "Hallelujah Reprise/Hallelujah Chorus (Hallelujah to the King of Kings)" with Handel, George Frederick and Renetha Muldrew
• We Offer Praises (1999)
  • "We Offer Praises"
  • "It Is Good"
  • "Joshua Generation"
  • "Plane Crash Testimony" (spoken word)
  • "Broken Leg Testimony" (spoken word)
  • "I Still Have Joy"
• Dwell in the House (2001)
  • "Praise Him"
  • "All The Way"

Filmography

• 2010 - The Bill Collector

Personal life

Kenoly has five brothers (Mark Kenoly and Craig Kenoly) and three sons with his wife Tavita - Samuel, Ronald (referred as The Kenoly Brothers) and his oldest son Tony. His cousin is American actor, Don Cheadle. Kenoly remarried on November 24, 2014, to Diana Kenoly who is now a UN Ambassador.

References

External links

• Ron Kenoly Official Website
• ronkenoly.org
• Ron Kenoly Artist Profile at New Release Tuesday
• Ron Kenoly: The Ex-R&B singer now enjoying US CCM success

Blanca Elaine Reyes (born February 10, 1986), who goes by the mononym Blanca, is a Puerto Rican-born American Contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter. Until 2013, she was a member of Group 1 Crew. She is now a solo artist. She released her debut EP on January 13, 2015, Who I Am EP, with Word Records and her first studio album, Blanca, on May 4, 2015.

Early life

Blanca was born Blanca Elaine Reyes, in Puerto Rico on February 10, 1986.

Her father was into drugs and alcohol until he had an encounter with Jesus, which caused him to start leading his family in the ways of Christ.

Music career

Blanca was a member of Group 1 Crew from its inception until 2013, when she began her solo career. She collaborated with the group Building 429 for the song "Press On" which charted at position 7 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart, and stayed on the chart for 26 weeks. She also collaborated on songs in Spanish, such as the introduction of the album Más by Redimi2 and Funky.

Blanca's debut album titled Blanca was released on May 4, 2015, on Word Records. Her first solo single, "Who I Am", ranked number one on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart and number 27 on the annual chart. Her second release as a solo artist, Who I Am EP, was released on January 13, 2015, also via Word Records, and was placed on Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Christian Songs charts.

Blanca's solo career continued with the release of the album Shattered in 2018, which was subsequently re-released entirely in Spanish as Quebrantado, featuring Redimi2 and Tye Tribbett, again entering the Billboard Christian Airplay chart. In 2019, she was part of the main cast of the Bogotá Gospel event, sharing the stage with artists such as Alex Zurdo, Danilo Montero, and others, in addition to being awarded at the Tecla awards as Best Musician Creating Content on Social Networks.

Cultivating her Latin roots, in 2020 she announced her second EP in Spanish titled Renovada, handling singles mostly in Spanish and collaborations with Christine D'Clario, Gawvi, "Papi Song" with Genio, in honor of her father Toñito Reyes, who was a Christian salsero in Puerto Rico, and others.

Personal life

On January 21, 2013, Blanca announced that she and her husband, Ben Callahan of Group 1 Crew, were expecting their first child. She had a son, named London, in July 2013. On December 1, 2020, Blanca announced that she and her husband had divorced, after two years of separation.

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

Album appearances

Notes

References

External links

• Official website