Kirk Franklin

Artist Image: Kirk Franklin
Attribution
Image Credit: CL Holly (https://www.flickr.com/photos/clholly/37616363596/), CC BY 2.0

Biography

Kirk Franklin (born January 26, 1970 in Riverside, Texas) is a platinum-selling musician who blended gospel, hip hop, and R&B in the 1990s. He released his first gospel album, Kirk Franklin & Family, in 1993, and is known as the leader of contemporary gospel choirs such as Kirk Franklin & the Family, Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation, and God's Property. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, he was raised by his aunt, Gertrude Franklin. He developed a talent for music early, playing the piano at age four and becoming music director of his church at age eleven. After getting kicked out of school in his teenaged years, having a girlfriend become pregnant, and after a friend was shot to death he returned to the church. After leading the DFW Mass Choir at the 1990 Gospel Music Workshop of America Convention, he organized "The Family", a seventeen-voice choir, in 1992 and began his recording career. He has integrated hip hop styles with gospel themes in albums such as The Nu Nation Project and God's Property, which achieved success on the Billboard Pop Album, R&B and gospel charts. Franklin has collaborated with the biggest names in gospel music, including Tonex, Donnie McClurkin, Richard Smallwood, Crystal Lewis, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Jaci Valesquez, and Willie Neal Johnson. He also has displayed a willingness to collaborate with artists in the secular realm, including Bono, Mary J. Blige, Crystal Lewis, and R Kelly in the hit single, "Lean on Me." On October 4, 2005, his new long-awaited album Hero was released, with latest single Looking for You. Franklin's songs are published by Zomba Music Publishing, a division of BMG Music Publishing.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1970
Number of Albums 38
Record Label
Website
Wikipedia Kirk Franklin on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Gospel

Trivia

What is my message?

simple and plain

...My message is simple and plain , Kirk Franklin insisted in the Los Angeles Times. I'm trying to change the way people look at gospel music. We're not j...
What did other gospel acts replace Jesus and God with?

Him and You

...ious content. Where other gospel acts had replaced Jesus and God with Him and You in hopes of winning over pop listeners, Franklin has never blunted h...
Franklin's gospel group has achieved sales that would be respectable even by what standards?

secular

...roup, The Family, have achieved sales that would be respectable even by secular standards and won a bevy of honors. Despite his rise to stardom, Frank...
Franklin has kept his eye on what?

the real prize

...f honors. Despite his rise to stardom, Franklin has kept his eye on the real prize . When I try to reach people, it's by any means necessary, he told t...
What is the purpose of Franklin's music?

to win them

...by any means necessary, he told the TriState Defender. The purpose is to win them . I spread the word of God through my music, and that's how souls are...
How does Franklin spread the word of God?

through my music

... TriState Defender. The purpose is to win them. I spread the word of God through my music , and that's how souls are wonregardless of where it's heard....
How are souls wonregardless of where it's heard?

I spread the word of God through my music

...old the TriState Defender. The purpose is to win them. I spread the word of God through my music , and that's how souls are wonregardless of where it's...
What year was Kirk Franklin born?

1970

...Born c. 1970 , in Fort Worth, TX; married c. 1996; children: Kerrion, son. Addresses: Gospel singer Kirk Franklin combines hip hop rhythms with overtly...
What is the name of Kirk Franklin's son?

Kerrion

...Born c. 1970, in Fort Worth, TX; married c. 1996; children: Kerrion , son. Addresses: Gospel singer Kirk Franklin combines hip hop rhythms with overtly...
What was the name of Franklin's 1993 hit single?

Song We Sing

.... Franklin and his backup group the Family scored a hit in 1993 with Song We Sing a rare crossover success. This rather impressive feat was overshadowe...
Stomp featured a sample from what group?

One Nation Under a Groove

...rded with the group God's Property and featuring a sample from One Nation Under a Groove . Stomp stormed up the charts and became the first gospel vide...
Franklin blends urban rhythms with what kind of rhetoric?

religious

...l lay in the fact that he rather adeptly blends urban rhythms with his religious rhetoric, producing a savvy contemporary Christian mix aimed at membe...
Who said Franklin is able to score with hard gospel?

John Morthland

... contemporary Christian mix aimed at members of the hip hop nation. John Morthland of Texas Monthly said that the lean goateed Franklin is able to sco...
What was Franklin born out of wedlock to?

teenage parents who never married or lived together

...y, and street credibility. Born out of wedlock to teenage parents who never married or lived together , he had sporadic contact with his parents while ...
Who raised Franklin?

his aunt Gertrude

...Having been abandoned by his own mother, Franklin was raised by his aunt Gertrude , who paid for his piano lessons by collecting aluminum cans when he ...
How old was Franklin when he was raised?

four

..., who paid for his piano lessons by collecting aluminum cans when he was four years old. At such a young age, Franklin had already shown his talent in...
When did Franklin receive his first contract in music?

seven years old

...alent in music to the point where he received his first contract at seven years old . However, at the time, his aunt turned the contract down. Followin...
Who turned down Franklin's first contract?

his aunt

... received his first contract at seven years old. However, at the time, his aunt turned the contract down. Following a period of teenage rebellion, Fra...
Where did Franklin begin studying music at?

Oscar Dean Wyatt High School

...studying music with Jewell Kelly & the Singing Chaparrals at Oscar Dean Wyatt High School . He also cofounded a gospel group called The Humble Hearts, ...
What gospel group did Franklin cofound?

The Humble Hearts

...ar Dean Wyatt High School. He also cofounded a gospel group called The Humble Hearts , whose recording of one of his original songs led to his discover...
Who discovered Franklin's original song?

Milton Biggham

...hose recording of one of his original songs led to his discovery by Milton Biggham . The latter eventually hired Franklin to lead the choir at the 1990...
What was the first gospel album to sell more than a million units?

Kirk Franklin & The Family

...ofessional career in 1992 with his seventeenpiece choir group Kirk Franklin & The Family . Earning platinum sales status, it was the first gospel album...
When did Franklin begin his professional career?

1992

...orkshop of America Convention. Franklin began his professional career in 1992 with his seventeenpiece choir group Kirk Franklin & The Family. Earning ...
How many members did Kirk Franklin & The Family have?

seventeen

...ca Convention. Franklin began his professional career in 1992 with his seventeen piece choir group Kirk Franklin & The Family. Earning platinum sales s...
How long did Stomp's lead single topped the R&B Singles Airplay chart?

two weeks

...rk Franklin's Nu Nation. Its lead single Stomp topped R&B Singles Airplay chart for two weeks , while the album ruled R&B Albums chart for three weeks....
How long did it rule the R andB Albums chart for?

three weeks

...rk Franklin's Nu Nation. Its lead single Stomp topped R&B Singles Airplay chart for two weeks, while the album ruled R&B Albums chart for three weeks ....
What genre of music does Franklin like to combine with R&B and hiphop?

gospel

...Christian music circles, and his innate knack for combining charismatic gospel with R&B and hiphop, has continued to appeal to a wide audience. He rem...
How many Grammy awardwinning albums has Franklin released?

Top 20

...nial chart success and a frequent Grammy winner, proven repeatedly with Top 20 , awardwinning albums such as Hero (2005), Hello Fear (2011), Losing My ...
Where was Franklin raised?

Fort Worth, Texas

...s mother and having never known his father, Franklin was raised in Fort Worth, Texas , by his Aunt Gertrude, a deeply religious woman who maintained a ...
What was his Aunt Gertrude's religion?

Baptist

... by his Aunt Gertrude, a deeply religious woman who maintained a strict Baptist household. When he was four years old, his aunt paid for his piano les...
What did his aunt collect to pay for his piano lessons?

aluminum cans

...as four years old, his aunt paid for his piano lessons by collecting aluminum cans . A natural musician who could sightread and play by ear with equal ...
When did Franklin receive his first contract?

seven

...equal facility, Franklin received his first contract offer at the age of seven , which his aunt promptly turned down. At age 11, he was leading the Mt....
At what age was Franklin leading the Mt. Everest?

11

...ct offer at the age of seven, which his aunt promptly turned down. At age 11 , he was leading the Mt. Following a period of teenage rebellion, during w...
What choir did Franklin form in 1992?

Family

...haparrals at Oscar Dean Wyatt High School. In 1992, Franklin formed the Family , a 17member choir comprised of friends and associates from his younger ...
How many members did the Family have?

17

...s at Oscar Dean Wyatt High School. In 1992, Franklin formed the Family, a 17 member choir comprised of friends and associates from his younger days. Af...
How many weeks did Kirk Franklin & the Family top Billboard's gospel chart?

42

...Family album. The album topped Billboard's gospel chart for an impressive 42 weeks, crossing over to the R&B and pop charts as well and eventually goi...
What gospel group did Franklin form?

The Family

...time, the recordings and concerts by the singer and his gospel group, The Family , have achieved sales that would be respectable even by secular standa...
In what year did Franklin suffer a serious injury?

1996

...d won a bevy of honors. And despite a serious injury following a fall in 1996 , Franklin has kept his eye on the real prize. The purpose is to win them...
How have soul, R&B and Gospel music always gone together?

like texting and abbreviations

...raphy: Soul, R&B and Gospel music have always gone together like texting and abbreviations . However, that wasn't quite enough for Kirk Franklin, who a...
What genre did Kirk Franklin add to the mix with his 1993 debut?

hiphop

...iations. However, that wasn't quite enough for Kirk Franklin, who added hiphop to the mix with his debut in 1993. In a daring attempt to broaden the r...
How long did the album spend on the Gospel music charts?

100 weeks

...get in the way of delivering his message. It worked as the album spent 100 weeks on the Gospel music charts and Kirk Franklin & the Family became the ...
What was the first gospel debut album to go platinum in the history of the RIAA?

Kirk Franklin & the Family

...d as the album spent 100 weeks on the Gospel music charts and Kirk Franklin & the Family became the very first gospel debut album to go platinum in th...
What was Kirk Franklin's primary mission?

spreading love through the words of the Lord

...tinum in the history of RIAA. For me, it's all about spreading love through the words of the Lord , Kirk Franklin explained. From my first songs to pre...
When did Kirk Franklin start playing piano?

4

...en my primary mission. Kirk Franklin Facts He started playing piano at age 4 He was leading the Mt. Rose Baptist Church adult choir near Dallas by the...
How many weeks did his debut album spend on the gospel charts?

100

...'t get in the way of delivering his message. It worked as the album spent 100 weeks on the Gospel music charts and Kirk Franklin & the Family became t...
What is the name of the American choir director?

Kirk Dewayne Franklin

...kipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search Kirk Dewayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American choir director, gospel s...
How many Grammy Awards has Franklin won?

16

...ation Crew (1NC) among many others. He has won numerous awards, including 16 Grammy Awards. Variety dubbed Franklin as a Reigning King of Urban Gospel...
What is the name of Franklin's aunt?

Gertrude

...e edit A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Franklin was raised by his aunt, Gertrude , having been abandoned as a baby by his mother. Gertrude recycled alum...
Who was Franklin expelled from school for?

bad behavior

... a girlfriend's pregnancy and his eventual expulsion from school for bad behavior . Franklin studied music with Jewell Kelly and the Singing Chaparrals...
Franklin studied with Jewell Kelly and what group?

the Singing Chaparrals

... eventual expulsion from school for bad behavior. Franklin studied music with Jewell Kelly and the Singing Chaparrals at Oscar Dean Wyatt High School....
How many Grammy Awards has Kirk Franklin won?

twelve

...perty and One Nation Crew (1NC), and has won multiple awards, including twelve Grammy Awards. Variety dubbed Franklin as a Reigning King of Urban Gosp...
What did Variety call Franklin?

Reigning King of Urban Gospel

...including twelve Grammy Awards. Variety dubbed Franklin as a Reigning King of Urban Gospel . A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Franklin was raised by his ...
What did Franklin rebel against in his teenage years?

strict religious upbringing

... at the age of seven, which his aunt turned down. Despite his strict religious upbringing , Franklin rebelled in his teenage years, and in an attempt t...
Who did Kirk Franklin study with at Oscar Dean Wyatt High School?

Jewell Kelly and the Singing Chaparrals

...pulsion from school for behavioral problems. Kirk Franklin studied music with Jewell Kelly and the Singing Chaparrals at Oscar Dean Wyatt High School....
What was the reason for Kirk Franklin's expulsion?

behavioral problems

...girlfriend's pregnancy and his eventual expulsion from school for behavioral problems . Kirk Franklin studied music with Jewell Kelly and the Singing C...
What instrument does he play intermittently onstage?

piano

...He plays the piano , but only intermittently onstage, more to contribute to the pageantry than to show off his modest chops. Above all, he is a songwri...
What is a stock character in hiphop?

hype man

...s role more closely resembles that of a stock character in hiphop: the hype man . The best hype menFlavor Flav, Spliff Star, the early Sean (P. Diddy) ...
What are the best hype men?

Flavor Flav, Spliff Star, the early Sean (P. Diddy) Combs

...cter in hiphop: the hype man. The best hype men Flavor Flav, Spliff Star, the early Sean (P. Diddy) Combs hop around onstage, slightly behind and to the...
What is a hype man by definition?

a sidekick

...orce punch lines as they rumble by. But a hype man is, by definition, a sidekick , and while most of the sound in Franklins music comes from elsewhereu...
Where did I first see Franklin perform live?

Kings Theatre in Brooklyn

...saw Franklin perform live, last spring, at the newly renovated Kings Theatre in Brooklyn , he stood at center stage, spotlit, rasping out preachy inter...
What did Franklin rasp out whenever his singers paused for breath?

preachy interjections

...atre in Brooklyn, he stood at center stage, spotlit, rasping out preachy interjections whenever his singers paused for breath. Franklins music is rife...
How tall is Franklin on tiptoe?

five feet five

...ng audiences a flurry of accompanying bodily references. He is short five feet five on tiptoeand has friendly features: sleek eyes with penny irises, a...
What kind of features does Franklin have on his face?

friendly

...mpanying bodily references. He is shortfive feet five on tiptoeand has friendly features: sleek eyes with penny irises, arched eyebrows, a mouth that ...
What color is the bandanna?

red

...acing stripes, a long black shirt, and, around his neck, a neatly knotted red bandanna. Cradling the microphone stand near the lip of the stage, he wi...
What did he draw with his hips?

miniature scallops

...e lip of the stage, he wiggled his feet like James Brown and drew miniature scallops with his hips, then galloped from one side of the stage to the ot...
When did Springsteen turn his back to the crowd and wave his hands in the direction of the singers?

During the downhome numbers

...ide of the stage to the other, like a sanctified Springsteen. During the downhome numbers , he turned his back to the crowd and waved his hands in the ...