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Kirk Franklin




  Img Franklin,Kirk-Herojpg
  Img Capt Kirk Franklin on the cover of his 2005 album ''Hero''
  Background solo_singer
  Birth Name Kirk Franklin
  Born January 26 , 1970
  Origin Riverside , Texas , United States
  Genre Gospel , Hip Hop , R&B
  Years Active 1993 &ndashpresent
  Label Zomba , Gospocentric, Sparrow
  URL Official website


Kirk Franklin (born January 26 , 1970 in Riverside, Texas ) is a 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 Choir s such as '''Kirk Franklin & the Family''', '''Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation''', and '''God's Property'''.


BIOGRAPHY

A native of Fort Worth, Texas , he was raised by his aunt, Gertrude Franklin. 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 and a girlfriend became pregnant, he returned to the church after a friend was shot to death. 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 Tonex, Donnie McClurkin , Richard Smallwood, Crystal Lewis, Pastor Shirley Caesar , Jaci Valesquez, and Willie Neal Johnson. He also has displayed a willingness to collaborate with artists in the secular realm, including Bono , Mary J. Blige , Crystal Lewis, and R Kelly in the hit single, "Lean on Me."

On October 4, 2005, his new long-awaited album ''Hero'' was released, with latest single ''Looking for You''.

Franklin's songs are published by Zomba Music Publishing, a division of BMG Music Publishing .


DISCOGRAPHY


Albums



Singles

Incomplete:


BILLBOARD CHART HISTORY


Albums



Singles



AWARDS

Franklin has won three Grammy Awards :
  • 1996 - ''Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album'' for his ''Whatcha Lookin' 4'' album.

  • 1997 - ''Best Gospel Album By Choir Or Chorus'' for his ''God's Property'' album.

  • 1998 - ''Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album'' for his ''The Nu Nation Project'' album.



MISCELLANEOUS

  • 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 Debut 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 (exept the 1995 Christmas album ''Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas'' that peaked at #2).



EXTERNAL LINKS