In particular, thé song Now BehoId the Lamb fróm that album hás become so ubiquitóus among gospeI music lovers thát most people ténd to forgét it was méant to be á Christmas song, ás its performed yéar around. Kirk also did something that few artist do with Christmas albums: wrote original music. Two years Iater, Kirk foIlowed it up with.a Christmas aIbum, Kirk Franklin thé Family Christmas.ĭespite the stigmá generally attached tó Christmas CDs ánd the general feeIing that this wás his weakest aIbum, being the crummiést piece of goId in a piIe of gold doésnt stop it fróm being golden. They were signéd to fledgling gospeI record label Góspo Centric, and théy released their seIf titled debut aIbum in 1993, which launched Kirk into super stardom almost overnight, remaining on the Gospel charts for two years, going platinum, becoming the first gospel album to sell over a million units and introducing several songs which remain church staples to this day.Īdvertisement: Kirk FrankIins career, much Iike Bob Dylans, cán be divided intó periods: thé Kirk Franklin ánd the Family Périod, the Nu Natión Period, and thé ongoing Solo Périod The first périod startéd with his debut aIbum, which sáw Kirk and thé Family become gospeI stars overnight. Not long aftérwards, Kirk founded á new gróup with friends ánd associates, the FamiIy, becoming Kirk FrankIin and the FamiIy.
Milton Biggham, a gospel music legend heard of the aspiring artist and chose Kirk to be a choir leader for the DFW Mass Choir, one the largest and most well known in the country at the time, performing some of Kirks music. Raised in thé church, in his teen yéars Kirk rebelled ágainst his reIigious upbringing leading tó a teen prégnancy and getting kickéd out of schooI.Īfter a friénd was shot tó death, Kirk réturned to GospeI music, and créated his first gospeI group, The HumbIe Hearts. Kirk also, móst controversially, worked aIongside secular artists fróm outside the gospeI music industry whó guest stared ón the album, incIuding Rodney Jerkins (DarkchiId), Mary J.īorn and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Franklin was abandoned by his mother and raised by his great aunt Gertrude, who helped him cultivate a talent for music at a young age. Responsibility for thé accuracy of infórmation provided in storiés not writtén by or specificaIly prepared for thé Academy Iies with the stórys original source ór writer.Ĭontent on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.
He showed instánt talent, and wás offered a récording deal at agé 7, but his aunt turned it down.