Jonathan McReynolds

A contemporary gospel vocalist, Jonathan McReynolds is recognized for his emotive, uplifting sound that blends pop and R&B elements. He first gained widespread attention when his 2012 debut album, Life Music, reached number three on the Billboard Gospel chart. McReynolds has sustained strong chart momentum, securing the top position with both 2015’s Life Music: Stage Two and 2018’s Grammy-nominated Make Room. In 2021 he received a Grammy Award for the single “Moving On.” His fifth studio album, My Truth, appeared in early 2023, followed a year later by the holiday EP Red & Green.

Born on Chicago’s South Side, McReynolds mastered drums and keyboards before beginning to sing during high school. For a short time he belonged to the group Mind Over Matter, which issued an EP before he pursued a solo path. He cut a brief collection of songs intended only for family distribution, yet the material found its way to local pastor and DJ John Hannah, who broadcast selections on Chicago’s WGRB. The Very Unofficial EP eventually reached the public, revealing McReynolds’ intimate blend of contemporary R&B, jazz, and modern singer/songwriter rock.

In May 2012 the single “I Love You” entered Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart. His official debut, Life Music, arrived that September on Light Records and entered the upper half of the Billboard 200. The follow-up, Life Music: Stage Two, likewise reached the Billboard 200 and claimed the top spot on the gospel chart after its 2015 release, spawning two Top Ten gospel tracks: “Pressure” and “Gotta Have You.” McReynolds achieved a third consecutive Top Three placement on the Gospel Albums chart with the summer 2016 Sessions EP. His third full-length, Make Room, was recorded live and released in early 2018; the project featured guest appearances by Tonya Baker, Dee-1, and others. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Album. The April 2020 EP People brought McReynolds a Best Gospel Performance/Song Grammy for “Moving On.” In the ensuing year he issued the single “The Greatest Adventure,” which appeared on the soundtrack to the family holiday film Adventures in Christmasing. Following the 2022 standalone release “Yours to Use,” McReynolds delivered his fifth full-length, My Truth, in February 2023—an album centered on themes of life and seeds. His 2024 Christmas EP, Red & Green, produced the Gospel-charting hit “Sent Me a King.”