Donnie McClurkin

Donnie McClurkin ranks among the foremost voices in gospel during the 21st century, navigating territory that blends Kirk Franklin’s modern approach, the gospel soul of Andraé Crouch, and the contemporary traditionalism associated with Marvin Winans. His ties to Winans run both personal and professional; he worked as an associate minister at Perfecting Church before launching his own Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York, in 2001. By then he already had a successful release—the self-titled 1996 Warner Alliance album—and the new church became the platform from which he extended his reach into television and film.

Raised in Amityville on Long Island, McClurkin endured significant hardship early on. At age eight he lost a younger brother in a hit-and-run accident, after which his parents sent him to stay with relatives during their period of mourning. There an older relative sexually abused him. These events together turned McClurkin toward faith at a young age, and he devoted himself to worship by nine. An aunt performed with Andraé Crouch; inspired by her example, he formed the McClurkin Singers while still a teenager. He later assembled the New York Restoration Choir, which recorded I See a World, before moving to Detroit in 1989 to serve as associate minister.

While holding that position McClurkin signed with Warner Alliance, which issued his self-titled debut in 1996. The set featured the hit single “Stand” and the track “Speak to My Heart,” revived from the New York Restoration Choir album. It earned a Grammy for Traditional Soul Gospel Album, received Dove Award nominations, and was later certified gold. The success established McClurkin as a headliner in his own right, leading to two contributions for the 1998 animated film The Prince of Egypt. Momentum increased with the 2000 release Live in London and More…, which reached number one on the Billboard gospel chart, attained platinum certification, and produced his lone R&B crossover single, “We Fall Down.”

Ordained in 2001, McClurkin founded Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York, and continued to serve there as pastor while maintaining careers on stage, screen, and record. That same year he published the memoir Eternal Victim, Eternal Victor, which addressed the difficulties of his youth along with his faith. In 2002 he co-hosted the Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards—the first of six such occasions—and the following year issued his second album, Again, which topped the gospel chart and earned gold certification. Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs appeared quickly in 2004 on Zomba and reached platinum status; that year also brought the documentary The Donnie McClurkin Story: From Darkness to Light. He appeared in the 2005 film The Gospel and the live album We All Are One (Live in Detroit) before settling into a consistent rhythm of preaching and performing.

McClurkin reemerged in 2014 on RCA Inspiration with the Duets album, which debuted at number four on the gospel chart, and the same label released The Journey (Live) in 2016. Early 2019 brought the single “Not Yet,” written after he survived a serious automobile accident. Several additional singles followed throughout the year ahead of his next album, A Different Song, issued in November.