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KIRK FRANKLIN


Brief History

Kirk Franklin was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. Abandoned by his teenage mother and father at the age of 3, the orphaned Franklin was adopted by a distant 64-year-old aunt, Gertrude Franklin. he began playing the piano at the age of 4.

 

By the time he was out of kindergarten, he was singing and playing on the church gospel circuit. At 11 he was appointed minister of music at Mount Saint Rose Baptist Church. At 19 he did his first home recording. Franklin gave the tape to Milton Biggham (President of Savoy Music Group) who was so impressed that the wunderkind was invited to work with the D.F.W. mass Choir on their debut album. Not only did he direct some of the tunes on the album but his composition "Every Day With Jesus" was recorded for the project. In 1992 he began to realize his vision of a new gospel sound. In choosing the talented artists that comprise The Family, Franklin handpicked 17 of the richest voices in the area.

 

As word of Franklin's impending solo project spread to the major labels a bidding war ensued to sign him to a lucrative contract. In 1993, he signed with a brand new fledgling label, Gospo Centric. Gospel Music veteran Vicki Mack-Lataillade (CEO, Gospo Centric). A month after the release of Kirk Franklin and the Family the CD sat atop Billboard's gospel chart. He recently signed a multi-million dollar contract with Gospo Centric, and in January 1997 Gospo Centric was named the No. 1 gospel label in the country, fielding five artists and eight albums in the Top 20.

 

In four short years Kirk Franklin has become a musical superstar. For the first time in gospel music a debut album sold more than 1million copies. His first album, Kirk Franklin and the Family is certified double platinum. To this day, Kirk Franklin and the Family has remained atop the gospel, contemporary Christian, urban, R&B and video charts. His second album, Kirk Franklin and the Family Christmas sold more than 500,000 in 14 weeks.

 

Whatcha Lookin' 4 entered the charts at No. 23 on Billboard's Top 200; No. 3 on the R&B charts; No. 1 contemporary Christian, and No. 1 on the gospel charts. The album was certified platinum in June 1997. The album won many accolades, including a Grammy Award (contemporary Soul Gospel album), a Soul Train Music Award, five Stellar Awards, the Dove Impact Award for most influential artist, and a NAACP Image Award for the best duo or group (beating out BlackStreet and The Fugees). Billboard Magazine named him the No. 1 Gospel artist and No. 1 Contemporary Christian Artist of 1997.

 

Franklin signed a multi year producing deal on the B-Rite label. His first effort on this label, God's Property Featuring Kirk Franklin shipped gold, and debuted at No. 3 on Billboard's Top 200, No. 1 Contemporary Christian and No. 1 Gospel.

 

Kirk has released albums like Kingdom come, Kirk Franklin and the Family at Christmass, Nu Nation Project,his autobiography, Church Boy,Stomp....... 

 
 

 

Some of Kirk's lyrics

Lean On Me

from "The Nu Nation Project"

by Kirk Franklin

(This is for that little child with no father

For that man who does nott have a place to stay

For the little boy living with AIDS)

There's a man

Standing on the corner

He has no home, he has no food and his blue skies are gone

Can you hear him crying out

And there's a girl searching for a father and a friend

Praying that the storm some day will end

But instead of walking away

Open up your heart and say

I am here, you don't have to worry

I can see your tears

I'll be there in a hurry when you call

Friends are there to catch you when you fall

Here's my shoulder you can lean on me.

There's a child who is sick and begging to be free

But there is no cure for his disease

He looks up to his mother as she holds his hand

Praying that someday the sun will shine again

And the pain will end

Chorus

Tell me how can I, how can I love Jesus

When I've never seen His face?

Yet I see you dying

And I turn and walk away.

So hold my hand

Let me take you to a friend of mine

Who’s waiting to just to ease your troubled mind

He loves you more than you'll ever know

So instead of walking away

Open up your heart and say

Chorus

©1998 Lilly Mack Music/Kerrion Publishing

 

Revolution

from "The Nu Nation Project"

by Kirk Franklin and Rodney Jerkins

Do you want a revolution?

Do you want a revolution?

Sick and tired of my brothers killing each other

Sick and tired of daddies leaving babies with their mothers

To every man that wants to lay around and play around

Listen partner you should be man enough to stay around

Sick and tired of the church talkin' religion

But yet they talk about each other makin decisions

No more racism, Two facism

No pollution, the solution, A revolution

Do you want a revolution?

Do you want a revolution?

No crime, no dying, politicians lying

Everybody's trying to make a dollar

It makes me wanna holla

The way they do my life

The way they do my life

There's gonna be a brighter day

All your troubles will pass away

A revolution comin

Yes it's comin

comin, comin

Revolution's comin, comin

Do you want a revolution?

Do you want a revolution?

What you feeling, what you want son?

Who you callin to son?

You know Jesus is the true Son

The second in the Trinity

I know you feelin Him

500 days left until the new millennium

You hearin 'em

Trumpets crack the sky

Christ the last the first the first the last

That won't pass

So don't be caught slippin brotha

Cause when I see Him I'm gettin caught up

We move too much

we do too much

And if you step against us

Then you lose too much

Ain't no stopping what we doin

When the Spirit is movin

Don't be hatin what I'm doin

I'm the vessel He's using

Everywhere I be they try to judge me

They try to shake me

They try to budge me

But they can't break me 'cause

I'm down with Christ

Darkchild and Nu Nation make you feel alright

©1998 Lilly Mack Music/Kerrion Publishing

 

Gonna be a Lovely Day

from "The Nu Nation Project"

by Kirk Franklin, Bill Withers, Skip Scarborough

When I wake up in the morning Love

And my heart is filled with pain

The smile I had upon my face is gone

Can't see the sunshine from the rain

When I think of You

Then the world is alright with me

Lord, just one thought of You

And I know it's gonna be a lovely day

Lovely day, lovely day, lovely day, lovely day

Jesus, You're the lover of my soul

The fire that burns deep within

You are the joy this world can't take away

The spiritual love affair it will never end

repeat chorus

I know you going through some stuff now

Feelin ruff now

You feel like giving up now

But how can you learn if you don't fall

How can you walk if first you don't crawl

But through it all you keep blessin me

While the people keep on pressin me

And stressin me

Let's come together here

With one heart

One mind

Until we see the sunshine

repeat chorus

©1998 Unichappel Music, Inc./Golden Withers Music

 

You Are

from "The Nu Nation Project"

by Kirk Franklin

Jesus You are my joy within

You are the shelter from the wind

You're the forgiver of my sins

Jesus You are

Where can I go, who can I call

Who's there to catch me when I fall

Your hands they hold me through it all

Everything I need You are

Jesus You are my cornerstone

You are my friend when I'm alone

You're the convictor when I'm wrong

Jesus You are

You are the peace within my storm

You are the shelter from all harm

I love it when You hold me in Your arms

Everything I need You are

Jesus You are my joy within

You are the shelter from the wind

You're the forgiver of my sins

Jesus You are

Where can I go, who can I call

Who's there to catch me when I fall

Your hands they hold me through it all

Everything I need You are

You are my healer

Thank You Jesus

You are my shelter

Thank You Jesus

You're my lawyer

Thank You Jesus

You're my provider

Thank You Jesus

©1998 Lilly Mack Music/Kerrion Publishing

 

Stomp

from "God's Property"

by Kirk Franklin, George Clinton, Jr., Garry M. Shider, Walter Morrison

Lately I've been going through some things

That's really got me down

I need someone, somebody to help me come and

Turn my life around

I can't explain it

I can't obtain it

Jesus Your love is so,

It's so amazing

It gets me high, up to the sky and when

I think about Your goodness it makes me wanna

Stomp

makes me clap my hands

makes me wanna dance and Stomp

my brother can't you see I've got the victory

Stomp!

Oh, oh, oh, oh, Stomp on the enemy 'cause I've got the victory

Stomp on the enemy 'cause I've got the victory

©1997 Lilly Mack Music/Copyright Control