L. Spenser Smith

Raised in a household steeped in both faith and music, Bishop L. Spenser Smith entered gospel music as a child. At Florida A&M he joined the university’s Marching 100 and led the FAMU Gospel Choir. In his mid-twenties he succeeded his father-in-law as pastor of New Testament Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Before reaching thirty he received consecration as a bishop and soon afterward established Impact House in Birmingham, Alabama. Active since 1996 as a composer, arranger, and recording artist, Smith has collaborated with Twinkie Clark-Terrell, Marvin Sapp, and Hart Ramsey. With his choir Testament he issued the neo-soul gospel albums Assignment No. 1 (2004) and Statement (2006). His first solo full-length, Unstoppable (2014), reached number four on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart.