I decided to do this finally. I’m so glad, first of all, that I’m back on my writing feet. There’s so much joy swelling in my heart. I want to do a series titled “Gifted and Explored” . It’s basically going go be analysis on some of my favourite Christian songs and artiste. For now, I will stick to contemporary gospels genre. I might eventually launch into the classicals, jazz, southern gospel and hymns.
Today, lets talk about one man who has held on to the grip of relevance in gospel music for over 26years since he came to limelight in 1993. He has so far won 13 Grammy Awards, 16 Doves, 33 Stellars and 3 NAACP Image Awards in 12albums. A young man abandoned by his mother, never knew his father but raised by an Aunt. His Aunt, Gertrude got a piano lesson teacher for him at age 4. When he was seven years, he already got his first contract but turned down. Kirk as I love to call him, became a choir leader in the church and debuted his first album in 1993, Kirk Franklin and the Family. It’s interesting to note that Kirk decided to be wayward during his teen but an untimely death of his close friend got his attention drawn back to God.
He returned to church again, started composing songs. Got more support from family, friends and Pastors. He has since then released many more songs and album to date. 1996, 2002, 2005,2011, 2015, 2019 were quite a remarkable years in the world of gospel music. Kirk indeed warmed our hearts with soul lifting classics that touched the lives of millions now and always will. You know it already that good music don’t age.
A friend of mine described him as ‘that dude that loves to chants in songs’. Funny, right? In fact what attracted me to his music were the lyrics, his piano fantasies, his endearing enthusiasm and really the fact that he just loves to ‘chant’. 😂 Okay, let’s quickly talk about his lyrics. To be candid, I still find it hard to know how Kirk coins the truths and realities of practical christianity into songs. He seems to me like one who had gone through the darkest side of life. He really is passionate about dealing with those ugly issues people hardly talk about.
I remember one of his songs, that discussed largely about a little girl molested by her father from a young age, who later became prostitute but God’s mercy cornered her up later. Kirk also talks a lot about people who struggled with depression, one terminal illness, drugs addiction, unwanted pregnancy, pornography addiction (of which he used to be one) and what freedom or peace awaits them in Christ. His lyrics are somewhat quite directional. His messages to me were always well spelt out and sent to those who suffer the most inner pains, those who could not share with others that ugly part of them. You know introverts, suffer from so much a spell, and their reliefs sometimes come from music.
‘I was always one of the brothers trying to be a gangster with all the other kids because I didn’t want them to think I was soft, although I was’. The fear of being called a church boy has wrecked so many of uprising Christian’s. Let me encourage you today, dont be ashamed to be called the child of God. Flaunt it and let the whole world know what you stand for. When Kirk was asked ‘Can y’all give us something we can play in our Jeeps and ride down the street and pump to but it’s talking about Jesus?’ And He did just that.
KDF is a mentor, brother, model and legend in gospel music. This explains it better in his own word. “My message is simple and plain, I’m trying to change the way people look at gospel music. It’s not corny, and it’s not hokey. We’re not just running around here with some choir robes on, yelling and screaming. It’s not about that anymore, kid”. His albums have sold even as much as some secular works. Some of his songs have topped bill charts in US for weeks. His first album spent 100 weeks on the gospel music charts. Someone described it this way ‘The charismatic Franklin has achieved mainstream success thanks to a fusion of hip-hop-flavored style and hardcore religious content’.
In late 1996 Kirk fell from the stage of North Hall Auditorium in Memphis after introducing opening act Yolanda Adams, landing in the orchestra pit and sustaining head injuries. After a hospital stay brightened by “tens of thousands of postcards and phone calls from well-wishers,” as Jet reported, Franklin convalesced and resumed his “Tour of Life.” His experience, he told Steve Jones of USA Today, deepened his appreciation for his wife. “I started looking at her differently and started holding her hand differently,” he related. “It was like I was falling in love all over again.” Franklin married Tammy Renee Collins earlier in that year.
Franklin was credited by his peers as helping to make gospel music into a multi-million dollar industry. VH1 offered viewers several concert shows in the early 2000s, and mainstream musicians—such as Bono, Mary J. Blige, and R. Kelly—partnered with Franklin in the studio. Franklin was hailed as a “visionary” of gospel music, and he knew all that label implied, telling CNN that gospel music’s new popularity was “an opportunity to reach more people with the message—especially a generation that isn’t into organized religion, God, the Jesus thing.”
KDF entrance into his songs are very delightful. You can see love radiating all around him. He gives his best to his music. I can judge that this man is a die-hard, resilient, relentless, hardworking person who makes his music enjoyable and keep young Christians like me entertained and at the same time preached to with songs. I love to watch his musical videos too because the joy in the air within the group can keep you going for years. His light touch, dexterity, speed and passion on the piano is a charming scene to behold. I think an overdose of KDF masterpieces can wipe out sins and help us live a healthy Christian living.
In fact, Variety (one of the most authoritative and trusted premier source of entertainment business news, reaching an audience of affluent influencers, influential producers, executives and talent in entertainment, expert film, TV, digital, music, and theater business analysis and insights since 1905) dubbed Franklin as a “Reigning King of Urban Gospel”. I cannot agree less.
Watch this space, I will be unveiling some of his works while dissecting through with some magnifying lenses. Thanks for coming around. I hope you were blessed by this piece. I acknowledge both Wikipedia and Encyclopedia for source of some of my stats. See below for all Kirk’s albums till date:
Kirk Franklin and The Family
1993: Kirk Franklin & The Family
1995: Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas
1996: Whatcha Lookin’ 4
Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation
1997: God’s Property from Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation
1998: The Nu Nation Project
Kirk Franklin and 1 Nation CrewEdit
2000: Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC
Kirk Franklin
2002: The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
2005: Hero
2007: The Fight of My Life
2011: Hello Fear
2015: Losing My Religion
2019: Long Live Love
Eminent Gold cares but God cares most
EGC 2019
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