Bio: The Little man of gospel music
Kirk Franklin (born January 26, 1970 in Riverside, Texas) is a Grammy Award winning, platinum-selling African American musician who blended gospel, hip hop, and R&B in the 1990s. He released his first gospel album, Kirk Franklin & Family, in 1993, and is known as the leader of contemporary gospel choirs such as Kirk Franklin & the Family, Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation, God's Property and Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Kirk was raised by his aunt, Gertrude Franklin, after being abandoned by his teenaged parents. He developed a talent for music early, playing the piano at age four and becoming music director of his church at age eleven. After getting kicked out of school in his teenaged years, having a girlfriend become pregnant, and after a friend was shot to death he returned to the church. After leading the DFW Mass Choir at the 1990 Gospel Music Workshop of America Convention, he organized "The Family", a seventeen-voice choir, in 1992 and began his recording career.
He has integrated hip hop styles with gospel themes in albums such as The Nu Nation Project and God's Property, which achieved success on the Billboard Pop Album, R&B and gospel charts.
Franklin has collaborated with the biggest names in gospel music, including Mary Mary, Tonex, Donnie McClurkin, Richard Smallwood, Crystal Lewis, Pastor Shirley Caesar, tobyMac, Jaci Valesquez, and Willie Neal Johnson. He also has displayed a willingness to collaborate with artists from the secular realm, including Bono, Mary J. Blige,and R. Kelly on the hit single from his album Nu Nation Project, "Lean on Me."
On October 4, 2005, his new long-awaited album Hero was released, with his singles "Looking For You" and latest single "Imagine Me."
Franklin's songs are published by Zomba Music Publishing, a division of BMG Music Publishing.
In 2006, Franklin appeared together with his wife on The Oprah Winfrey Show on the subject of pornography. During the show, he admitted to struggling with a porn-addiction for many years. Only recently Franklin had informed his wife, after first having proposed to her to share the pornography together, which she rejected. Kirk stated in the interview that he sought help through Christian counseling and finally considers himself to be free from his addiction. (As of the interview, he had been "clean" for over five years.).
In December of 2006, Kirk Franklin was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards, for his latest album, Hero.
_________________________________________________
Discography
_________________________________________________
Albums
Release date Album Label RIAA certification
_________________________________________________
June 29, 1993 Kirk Franklin & the Family Sparrow Platinum
November 7, 1995 Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas Interscope Gold
April 30, 1996 Whatcha Lookin' 4 Gospocentric Platinum
May 27, 1997 God's Property Interscope 3x Platinum
September 22, 1998 The Nu Nation Project Interscope 2x Platinum
August 15, 2000 Kirk Franklin presents 1NC B-Rite Music
February 19, 2002 The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin Gospocentric Platinum
October 4, 2005 Hero Gospocentric Platinum
November 7, 2006 Kirk Franklin Presents: Songs For The Storm Vol. 1 Gospocentric
_________________________________________________
Singles
_________________________________________________
Year Single From album Note
_________________________________________________
1996 "Melodies From Heaven" Whatcha' Lookin' 4
1997 "Stomp" God's Property feat. Cheryl "Salt" James
1997 "You Are The Only One" God's Property
1998 "Lean on Me" The Nu Nation Project feat. Bono, Crystal Lewis, Mary J. Blige and R. Kelly
1998 "Revolution" The Nu Nation Project feat. Rodney Jerkins
1999 "Gonna Be A Lovely Day" The Nu Nation Project
2000 "Nobody" Kirk Franklin presents 1NC
2002 "Brighter Day" The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
2005 "Looking For You" Hero
2006 "Imagine Me" Hero
2006 "Look At Me Now" Songs For The Storm, Vol. 1
_________________________________________________
Music Videos
_________________________________________________
"Melodies From Heaven"
"Stomp"
"Lean On Me"
"Revolution"
"Nobody"
"Brighter Day"
"Looking for You"
"Imagine Me"
_________________________________________________
Billboard chart history
_________________________________________________
Albums
Year Album Chart Peak
_________________________________________________
1993 Kirk Franklin & the Family Top Gospel Albums 1
1994 Kirk Franklin & the Family Top Contemporary Christian 1
1994 Kirk Franklin & the Family Top Heatseekers 2
1994 Kirk Franklin & the Family Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 6
1994 Kirk Franklin & the Family The Billboard 200 58
1995 Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas Top Gospel Albums 1
1995 Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas Top Contemporary Christian 2
1995 Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas Billboard 200 60
1996 Whatcha Lookin' 4 Top Gospel Albums 1
1996 Whatcha Lookin' 4 Top Contemporary Christian 1
1996 Whatcha Lookin' 4 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 3
1996 Whatcha Lookin' 4 Billboard 200 23
1997 God's Property Top Gospel Albums 1
1997 God's Property Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 1
1997 God's Property Billboard 200 3
1998 The Nu Nation Project Top Gospel Albums 1
1998 The Nu Nation Project Top Contemporary Christian 1
1998 The Nu Nation Project Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 4
1998 The Nu Nation Project Billboard 200 7
2002 The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin Top Gospel Albums 1
2002 The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin Top Contemporary Christian 1
2002 The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin Billboard 200 4
2002 The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 4
2005 Hero Top Gospel Albums 1
2005 Hero Top Contemporary Christian 1
2005 Hero Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 4
2005 Hero Billboard 200 13
_________________________________________________
Singles
Year Single Chart Peak
_________________________________________________
1998 Lean on Me Billboard Hot 100 79
1999 Lean on Me Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 26
1999 Revolution Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 59
2005 Looking for You Billboard Hot 100 61
2005 Looking for You Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 5
_________________________________________________
Awards
Year Award-giving body Award
_________________________________________________
1996 - 1998 Grammy Awards Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Whatcha Lookin' 4
Best Gospel Album By Choir On Chorus: God's Property
Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: The Nu Nation Project
2006 American Music Awards Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
In 1996, after falling off the stage into the orchestra pit, he was knocked unconscious for several hours. His "My Life Is in Your Hands" is said to be inspired by that experience.
Kirk Franklin & the Family was the first gospel album to go platinum.
All of Kirk Franklin's albums peaked at #1 in the Top Gospel Albums chart.
All of Kirk Franklin's albums peaked at #1 in the Top Contemporary Christian chart (except the 1995 christmas album Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas that peaked at #2).
Kirk Franklin appears on the album "Out the Box" by Tonex
Kirk Franklin appears on Mary Mary's 2005 Album, Mary Mary on the song "And I"
Kirk Franklin appears on Yolanda Adams 2005 album Day By Day on the song "Tonight".
Kirk Franklin appears as choir arranger/conductor on "Shelter In The Rain" from Stevie Wonder's 2005 A Time to Love album.
My Life Is In Your Hands
You don't have to worry
And don't you be afraid
Joy comes in the morning
Troubles they don't last always
For there's a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if your heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say
Oh
I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
With Jesus I can take it
With Him I know I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
So when your tests and trials
They seem to get you down
And all your friends and loved ones
Are nowhere to be found
Remember there's a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if you heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say
Oh
I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
With Jesus I can take it
With Him I know I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Kirk was raised by his aunt, Gertrude Franklin, after being abandoned by his teenaged parents. He developed a talent for music early, playing the piano at age four and becoming music director of his church at age eleven. After getting kicked out of school in his teenaged years, having a girlfriend become pregnant, and after a friend was shot to death he returned to the church. After leading the DFW Mass Choir at the 1990 Gospel Music Workshop of America Convention, he organized "The Family", a seventeen-voice choir, in 1992 and began his recording career.
He has integrated hip hop styles with gospel themes in albums such as The Nu Nation Project and God's Property, which achieved success on the Billboard Pop Album, R&B and gospel charts.
Franklin has collaborated with the biggest names in gospel music, including Mary Mary, Tonex, Donnie McClurkin, Richard Smallwood, Crystal Lewis, Pastor Shirley Caesar, tobyMac, Jaci Valesquez, and Willie Neal Johnson. He also has displayed a willingness to collaborate with artists from the secular realm, including Bono, Mary J. Blige,and R. Kelly on the hit single from his album Nu Nation Project, "Lean on Me."
On October 4, 2005, his new long-awaited album Hero was released, with his singles "Looking For You" and latest single "Imagine Me."
Franklin's songs are published by Zomba Music Publishing, a division of BMG Music Publishing.
In 2006, Franklin appeared together with his wife on The Oprah Winfrey Show on the subject of pornography. During the show, he admitted to struggling with a porn-addiction for many years. Only recently Franklin had informed his wife, after first having proposed to her to share the pornography together, which she rejected. Kirk stated in the interview that he sought help through Christian counseling and finally considers himself to be free from his addiction. (As of the interview, he had been "clean" for over five years.).
In December of 2006, Kirk Franklin was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards, for his latest album, Hero.
_________________________________________________
Discography
_________________________________________________
Albums
Release date Album Label RIAA certification
_________________________________________________
June 29, 1993 Kirk Franklin & the Family Sparrow Platinum
November 7, 1995 Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas Interscope Gold
April 30, 1996 Whatcha Lookin' 4 Gospocentric Platinum
May 27, 1997 God's Property Interscope 3x Platinum
September 22, 1998 The Nu Nation Project Interscope 2x Platinum
August 15, 2000 Kirk Franklin presents 1NC B-Rite Music
February 19, 2002 The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin Gospocentric Platinum
October 4, 2005 Hero Gospocentric Platinum
November 7, 2006 Kirk Franklin Presents: Songs For The Storm Vol. 1 Gospocentric
_________________________________________________
Singles
_________________________________________________
Year Single From album Note
_________________________________________________
1996 "Melodies From Heaven" Whatcha' Lookin' 4
1997 "Stomp" God's Property feat. Cheryl "Salt" James
1997 "You Are The Only One" God's Property
1998 "Lean on Me" The Nu Nation Project feat. Bono, Crystal Lewis, Mary J. Blige and R. Kelly
1998 "Revolution" The Nu Nation Project feat. Rodney Jerkins
1999 "Gonna Be A Lovely Day" The Nu Nation Project
2000 "Nobody" Kirk Franklin presents 1NC
2002 "Brighter Day" The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
2005 "Looking For You" Hero
2006 "Imagine Me" Hero
2006 "Look At Me Now" Songs For The Storm, Vol. 1
_________________________________________________
Music Videos
_________________________________________________
"Melodies From Heaven"
"Stomp"
"Lean On Me"
"Revolution"
"Nobody"
"Brighter Day"
"Looking for You"
"Imagine Me"
_________________________________________________
Billboard chart history
_________________________________________________
Albums
Year Album Chart Peak
_________________________________________________
1993 Kirk Franklin & the Family Top Gospel Albums 1
1994 Kirk Franklin & the Family Top Contemporary Christian 1
1994 Kirk Franklin & the Family Top Heatseekers 2
1994 Kirk Franklin & the Family Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 6
1994 Kirk Franklin & the Family The Billboard 200 58
1995 Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas Top Gospel Albums 1
1995 Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas Top Contemporary Christian 2
1995 Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas Billboard 200 60
1996 Whatcha Lookin' 4 Top Gospel Albums 1
1996 Whatcha Lookin' 4 Top Contemporary Christian 1
1996 Whatcha Lookin' 4 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 3
1996 Whatcha Lookin' 4 Billboard 200 23
1997 God's Property Top Gospel Albums 1
1997 God's Property Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 1
1997 God's Property Billboard 200 3
1998 The Nu Nation Project Top Gospel Albums 1
1998 The Nu Nation Project Top Contemporary Christian 1
1998 The Nu Nation Project Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 4
1998 The Nu Nation Project Billboard 200 7
2002 The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin Top Gospel Albums 1
2002 The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin Top Contemporary Christian 1
2002 The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin Billboard 200 4
2002 The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 4
2005 Hero Top Gospel Albums 1
2005 Hero Top Contemporary Christian 1
2005 Hero Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 4
2005 Hero Billboard 200 13
_________________________________________________
Singles
Year Single Chart Peak
_________________________________________________
1998 Lean on Me Billboard Hot 100 79
1999 Lean on Me Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 26
1999 Revolution Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 59
2005 Looking for You Billboard Hot 100 61
2005 Looking for You Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 5
_________________________________________________
Awards
Year Award-giving body Award
_________________________________________________
1996 - 1998 Grammy Awards Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Whatcha Lookin' 4
Best Gospel Album By Choir On Chorus: God's Property
Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: The Nu Nation Project
2006 American Music Awards Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
In 1996, after falling off the stage into the orchestra pit, he was knocked unconscious for several hours. His "My Life Is in Your Hands" is said to be inspired by that experience.
Kirk Franklin & the Family was the first gospel album to go platinum.
All of Kirk Franklin's albums peaked at #1 in the Top Gospel Albums chart.
All of Kirk Franklin's albums peaked at #1 in the Top Contemporary Christian chart (except the 1995 christmas album Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas that peaked at #2).
Kirk Franklin appears on the album "Out the Box" by Tonex
Kirk Franklin appears on Mary Mary's 2005 Album, Mary Mary on the song "And I"
Kirk Franklin appears on Yolanda Adams 2005 album Day By Day on the song "Tonight".
Kirk Franklin appears as choir arranger/conductor on "Shelter In The Rain" from Stevie Wonder's 2005 A Time to Love album.
My Life Is In Your Hands
You don't have to worry
And don't you be afraid
Joy comes in the morning
Troubles they don't last always
For there's a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if your heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say
Oh
I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
With Jesus I can take it
With Him I know I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
So when your tests and trials
They seem to get you down
And all your friends and loved ones
Are nowhere to be found
Remember there's a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if you heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say
Oh
I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
With Jesus I can take it
With Him I know I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
posted by Mortal Thoughts at 7:29 AM
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