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Kirk Franklin
Kirk Franklin
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Since his debut, 1993's Kirk Franklin & the Family, Kirk Franklin has been one of the brightest stars in contemporary gospel music. The album spent 100 weeks on the gospel charts (some of those on top), crossed over to the R&B charts, and became the first gospel debut album to go platinum. His second album, Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas, became the genre's first Christmas album to make it to number one, and his 1996 album Whatcha Lookin' 4 went gold as soon as it was distributed. With such phenomenal success, it is small wonder that some have hailed him "the Garth Brooks of gospel." Still, despite all the adulation and brouhaha, Franklin remains a humble, devout Christian, eschewing the title "entertainer" in favor of labeling himself as just a "church boy."

Franklin's road to the top, though quick, was far from smooth. Abandoned by his mother and never having known his father, Franklin was reared by his Aunt Gertrude, a deeply religious woman who raised him as a strict Baptist. When he was four, she paid for his piano lessons by collecting aluminum cans. The lessons were money well spent, for Franklin was a natural musician who could sight read and play by ear with equal facility. At age 11, he was leading the Mt. Rose Baptist Church adult choir near Dallas. Despite, or because of, his church background, Franklin began rebelling in his teens and getting into trouble until one of his friends was accidentally shot and killed at age 15. Realizing that he had chosen a bad road, Franklin returned to the fold and began composing songs, recording, and conducting. Since 1991, he has been backed up by his 17-member choir, the Family, a group comprising friends and associates from his younger days (interestingly, one member of the Family, Jon Drummond, made it to the semi-finals heat of the 100-meter sprint at the 1996 Olympics). Support from his pastor, his wife Tammy, whom he married in early 1996, and the two children they brought to the marriage help keep Franklin close to his religious core, and he returned in 1998 with Nu Nation Project. The album topped the Billboard Top 200 charts (peaking at number seven) and remained on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart for 49 weeks, paving the way for Franklin's third Grammy (Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album).

Over the course of the next few years, Franklin worked on the soundtrack of the movie Kingdom Come (contributing the single "Thank You") and released another album, 2002's The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin. Making good on the success of its predecessor, the disc soared to number four on the Billboard 200 chart and spent 29 weeks on the Gospel Albums chart. Two more chart-topping albums emerged out in the next four years, Hero (2005) and Songs for the Storm, Vol. 1 (2006), both of which topped the gospel charts at the time of their release. Hero went on to win two Grammys in late 2006. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Music GuideMore

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Fan Comments

Oct 2nd, 11:30pm
I love many so many of their songs. I love the actual singing as apposed to the shouting in alot of similar artists. Its great how they keep it FRESH! :)
Aug 6th, 9:11pm
I am sooo excited to see Kirk at Six Flags near Dallas on Saturday. My whole youth group is driving from Austin to see him, It's gonna be such an enriching experience. And the best part is the tickets are free!
Jul 27th, 1:09am
Jul 8th, 8:47pm
Jun 19th, 3:12pm
tonex and krik are not related artist
Mar 30th, 1:14am
i love the song imagine me
Mar 22nd, 4:55am
God bless our generation!
I thank the Lord for your music!
Halleluya!
Dec 30th, 4:07pm
One of my favorite is "My Life is in Your Hands". Its really a blessing for me. It helped me to get back on my feet, and to trust the Lord again. The song really touched my heart and helped me find a way to get back to my Father..
Thank you for the wonderful song.
Keep singin'..
God bless you, kirk..
And everyone here, too:)
Nov 18th, 2:57am
If you love this music, you will love the music God has allowed me to create! check it out! http://www.myspace.com/daveakinsthejourney
Nov 17th, 6:05pm
all of kirk franklin songs have BLESSED MY SOUL and helped me to over come a lot of things. I hope that it BLESSES AND HELPES EVERY ONE THAT HEARS IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD IS LOVE.