KIRK FRANKLIN

'Kirk Franklin' (born January 26, 1970 in Riverside, Texas) is a Grammy Award winning, platinum-selling African American musician who blends gospel, hip hop, and R&B. 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.

Contents

Biography

Discography

Albums

Notable Singles

Music Videos

Billboard chart history

Albums

Singles

Awards

Miscellaneous

References

External links

Biography

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Kirk was raised by his aunt, Gertrude Franklin, after being abandoned by his parents. He developed a talent for music early, playing the piano at age four and becoming music director of his church Greater Strangers Rest, at age eleven. 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.
He signed with GospoCentric in 1993, releasing ''Kirk Franklin & The Family''. It spent almost 2 years on the gospel charts, also charted on the R&B charts (very rare for a Gospel artist) and went platinum. It stayed at #1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart for 42 weeks, into 1995.
In November 1995, ''Christmas'' was released, and stayed at #1 on the Gospel charts for 8 weeks. It was followed by "Whatcha Lookin' 4" in 1996. It went on to be #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Christian Albums chart for 19 weeks, and on the Gospel albums chart for 30 weeks. It also peaked at #23 on the Billboard albums chart, and #3 R&B. Whatcha Lookin' 4 would go on to earn Franklin his first Grammy, in 1997, and was certified Gold.
1997 brought another album, a collaboration with God's Property, aptly named ''God's Property From Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation''. The lead single, "Stomp", featuring Salt of Salt-N-Pepa, was a huge hit, enjoying heavy rotation on MTV and other music channels, charting at #1 on the R&B Singles Airplay chart for 2 weeks, and even making it in to the Top 40. ''God's Property From Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation'' was #1 on the R&B Albums chart for 5 weeks, #3 on the Pop charts, and would go on to be certified x3 platinum. It also brought Franklin another Grammy and three nominations.
''Nu Nation Project'' was released in 1998. The first single, "Lean On Me", featured R. Kelly, Mary J. Blige, Bono of U2, Crystal Lewis, and the Family. It was followed by "Revolution" (featuring Rodney Jerkins). Both songs were considerable hits. ''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.
In 2001, Franklin oversaw the soundtrack for the film, ''Kingdom Come''. The soundtrack featured Jill Scott, Mary Mary, 1NC, AZ Yet, and others. The song, "Thank You" (Kirk Franklin feat Mary Mary) was a hit.
2002's ''The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin'' topped the Gospel Albums chart for 29 weeks, was #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and was certified Platinum. The album featured many collaborations, including with Bishop T.D. Jakes, Shirley Caesar, Tobymac, Jaci Velasquez, Alvin Slaughter, and Yolanda Adams.
In 2004, Franklin featured on the song "How Many Lashes" together with Yolanda Adams, on the album ''.
On October 4, 2005, his new long-awaited album ''Hero'' was released. The album was certified Gold that same year, and was #1 on both the 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.
In 2006, Franklin released ''Songs From The Storm, Volume 1'' which topped the Top Gospel albums.
Franklin has collaborated with the biggest names in gospel music, including Mary Mary, Tonéx, Donnie McClurkin, Richard Smallwood, Crystal Lewis, Pastor Shirley Caesar, tobyMac, Jaci Velasquez, and Willie Neal Johnson. He also has collaborated with mainstream artists such as Bono, Mary J. Blige,and R. Kelly on the hit single from his album ''Nu Nation Project'', "Lean on 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.) [1]
In December of 2006, Kirk Franklin won two 2007 Grammy Awards, for his latest album, Hero.
He was also recently featured on the song, "Lose My Soul" on the album Portable Sounds (US #10, Top Christian Albums #1), which sold over 50,000 units in its first week alone. He also featured on the compilation ''Interpretations: Celebrating The Music Of Earth, Wind & Fire'' with the cover "September."

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

Notable Singles

Year	Single	From album	Note
1993	"Why We Sing"	''Kirk Franklin & the Family''
1995	"Now Behold the Lamb"	''Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas''
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''
2007	"September"	''Interpretations: The Music of Earth, Wind, & Fire''

Music Videos

★ "k Melodies From Heaven"

★ "Stomp" (feat. Cheryl "Salt" James of Salt-N-Pepa)

★ "You Are The Only One"

★ "Lean On Me"

★ "Revolution"

★ "Thank You" (feat. Mary Mary)

★ "Nobody"

★ "Brighter Day"

★ "Looking for You"

★ "Imagine Me"

★ "September"

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 (album)''	''Top Gospel Albums''	1
2005	''Hero (album)''	''Top Contemporary Christian''	1
2005	''Hero (album)''	''Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums''	4
2005	''Hero (album)''	''Billboard 200''	13
2006	''Songs From The Storm, Volume I''	''Top Gospel Albums''	1

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
2006	''Imagine Me''	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	52

Awards

Year	Award-giving body	Award
1996-2007	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 Best Gospel Song: Imagine Me Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: ''Hero''
	American Music Awards	Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
2000 [1]	Stellar Awards	Artist of the Year
		Song of the Year: "Lean On Me"
		Producer of the Year: ''The Nu Nation Project''
		CD of the Year: ''The Nu Nation Project''
		Contemporary CD of the Year: ''The Nu Nation Project''
		Music Video of the Year: "Lean On Me"
		Contemporary Choir of the Year: ''The Nu Nation Project''
		Rap Hip-Hop Gospel CD of the Year: ''The Nu Nation Project''
2002 [2]	Stellar Awards	Urban/Inspirational Performance of the Year for Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary: "Thank You"
2003 [3]	Stellar Awards	Artist of the Year for ''Rebirth of Kirk Franklin''
		Song of the Year for "Hosanna"
		Producer of the Year for ''Rebirth of Kirk Franklin''
		CD of the Year for ''Rebirth of Kirk Franklin''
		Music Video of the Year for "Hosanna"
2007 [4]	Stellar Awards	CD of the Year for ''Hero''

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 (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.

★ Kirk Franklin appears as a special guest on the Veggie Tales 2006 Boyz in the Sink "Live from Paducah" album.

★ Kirk Franklin appears on Toby Mac's 2007 album Portable Sounds on the song "Lose my Soul" along with Mandisa

★ Good friends with olympic gold medalist, Jon Drummond, who was also a part of the Family.
Kirk Franklin Appears on J. Mosses, V2 album.

References

1. 15th Annual Stellar Award Winners
2. 17th Annual Stellar Award Winners
3. 18th Annual Stellar Award Winners
4. 22th Annual Stellar Award Winners

External links

★ Kirk Franklin's official website

★

★ The Oprah Winfrey Show