Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Kirk Franklin was blessed with talent. He excelled in music at a very younger age and was offered a contract to write music at the age of 7. Unfortunately, his aunt who took care of him after his mother left him, turned down the offer. As he grew up, Kirk’s love for music continued to dwell within.

Kirk Franklin- Music for the Masses

“When I was taught truth, that's when I got my freedom.”

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Kirk Franklin was blessed with talent. He excelled in music at a very younger age and was offered a contract to write music at the age of 7. Unfortunately, his aunt who took care of him after his mother left him, turned down the offer. As he grew up, Kirk’s love for music continued to dwell within.

Christ worked in the young man and he was a dedicated member of his Baptist church’s choir. At the tender age of eleven, when most kids loved to play basketball and baseball; Kirk Franklin was the director of music at Mt. Rose Baptist Church for its adult choir.

Kirk & the Family

Mr. Franklin returned to church, after his friend was shot and surrendered everything to his almighty. Like in everybody’s life, Kirk’s teenage years were bound with twist and turns, yet he managed to rise above all. He had a deep and awakening realization at one point, which made him eager to spread the goodness of God.

It was the summer of 1993 when Kirk, young and his music so fresh, released his self titled debut album Kirk Franklin& the Family. This album was well received and loved by the masses. It made it to the top of Billboard’s magazine- gospel charts for many months. This gospel album sold over a 100 million units, a first for the genre. The world noticed such entrance and Mr. Franklin was considered in line with gospel crown heads like Thomas A Dorsey and Andrew Crouch. Kirk was considered as one of the pivotal factors of the 20^th century and went beyond gospel music.

In 1994, during Christmas season, he released his first Christmas Album titled Kirk Franklin& the Family Christmas. In 1995, they then released Watcha Lookin’4 and this album was awarded 2 platinum awards. Due to this, Franklin earned his first Grammy Award for the Contemporary Soul Gospel Album Category.

In 1997, he released another album which was beautifully named, God’s Property from Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation. The song track ‘Stomp’ was a huge hit, which featured Cheryl “salt” James. This album was no. 1 on R&B albums, no. 3 on pop charts, and went all the way to be awarded platinum, 3 times. It brought him another Grammy, under the category of Contemporary Soul Gospel Album and also gave him 3 Grammy Nominations.

Kirk Franklin’s music touched millions of people from all walks of life. They simply loved his music for its dramatic spoken narratives mixed with the cinematic melody. The Nu Nation Project was released in 1998 and the album featured Wither’s song ‘Gonna be a Lovely Day’, which shot up all the way to the top of Billboard Contemporary Christian Albums Chart. This lasted for a whole 23 weeks, along with high placement on the Billboard Gospel Album chart for 49 weeks.

A New Beginning

The new millennium led Kirk to many opportunities. In 2001, he scored a sound track for the famous Hollywood film “Kingdom Come”. The sound track "Thank You" (Kirk Franklin featuring Mary Mary) was a notable song. The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin, as aptly titled, topped the Gospel album charts once again, for 29 weeks. This was a major release for Franklin, though he did not win a Grammy this time around.

Hero was released in 2005. This album was awarded the Gold certification in December of that year. In 2006, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Kirk was rewarded for this album with Grammy awards in 2007. His 10^th album The Fight of my life was launched in December of 2007 and it sold a whopping 74000 copies in its first week.

Viewed as a good man and artist, people continue to support him till this very day. Indeed, Kirk is the musician for the masses and his music connects believers to God.

Did you know…?

…that Kirk’s first album in 1993 stayed on the gospel charts for 100 weeks?

…that when Kirk Franklin and the Family went platinum, it became a first for the gospel genre?

…that he was raised by his Aunt named Gertrude, who was a deeply religious Baptist woman?

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