Ronnie Freeman

Born in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, Freeman grew up in a devoutly Christian household where his earliest vocal experiences came through performances at the local church. Like many peers from that environment, he advanced to directing a worship ensemble and had already become skilled at the piano. Upon earning his degree from Southeastern College in Lakeland, Florida, in 1995, he served as a music minister in Alabama before moving to Nashville in hopes of entering the industry. Two years of persistent efforts finally yielded a contract with Rocketown, the label headed by prominent CCM figure Michael W. Smith. His self-titled debut arrived in 2002 and reflected a strong contemporary pop orientation modeled closely on Smith’s style, along with occasional jazz-inflected passages. The project received little attention amid a saturated CCM market, prompting an end to his association with Rocketown. Freeman stayed in Nashville, taking a worship-leader post at a neighborhood church and persisting with songwriting. During the fifth season of American Idol, contestant Mandisa sang one of his recent compositions, “God Speaking.” His second album, issued independently and titled after that same song, reached stores via Koch Records in early 2008.