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THEPOWEROFLEGACY ANDTHEFUTUREOFGOSPEL Af t eranei ght yearhi at us ,RootMagaz i nei shonor edt oonceagai npar t nerwi t hBMIt o cel ebr at et heBMITr ai l bl az er sofGos pelMus i cAwar ds —at r adi t i ont hathasl ongs ett hegol d s t andar df orr ecogni z i ngex cel l encei ngos pel .Thi si s s uei sat es t amentt ot hepowerof l egacy,i nnov at i on,andt hear t i s t s ,ex ecut i v es ,andv i s i onar i eswhos hapet hi sgenr e. Ourcov ers t or yf eat ur est hei ncompar abl eJ ohnP.Kee,t hi syear ’ sBMITr ai l bl az erofGos pel honor ee,whos econt r i but i onshav ebeent hef oundat i onofgos pelmus i cf ordecades .Wi t h j ugger naut sl i ke“ Show Up, ”“ St r engt h, ”“ Li l yi nt heVal l ey, ”and“ J es usi sReal , ”Keehass ol i di f i ed hi ms el fasoneoft hear chi t ect sofcont empor ar ygos pelmus i c.Shar i ngt hes pot l i ghtonour f l i pcov eri snoneot hert hanKi r kFr ankl i n,af ourt i meBMISongwr i t eroft heYearwi nner , whos epenandpas s i onhav et r ans f or medgos peli nt oagl obalf or ce. I naddi t i ont ocel ebr at i ngi cons ,wer ecogni z et henex twav eofi ndus t r y l eader swi t hour“Onest oWat ch2025”f eat ur eandhi ghl i ghtt hei nf l uent i al f i gur esmaki ngadi f f er encei ngos pelandbeyondwi t h“TheTop20Power Pl ayer s”l i s t .Weal s ot akeat r i pdownmemor yl anewi t ht heBMITi me Capsul e,al ookatt hemoment st hathav edef i nedgos pel ’ st r aj ect or yov er t heyear s .Andf i nal l y,we’ r ehonor edt of eat ur eDr .Dhar i usDani el s,a v i s i onar yv oi cebr i dgi ngf ai t handcul t ur ei nwayst hati ns pi r eandchal l enge usal l . AtRoot ,webel i ev egos pelmus i ci smor et hanas ound—i t ’ samov ement ,a mi ni s t r y,andal egacy.Thi si s s uei sar ef l ect i onoft hatt r ut h.Wel comet o t he2025BMITr ai l bl az er sofGos pelMus i cAwar dsEdi t i on—wher ewehonor t hepas t ,cel ebr at et hepr es ent ,andampl i f yt hef ut ur e.
TOP 20 POWER PLAYERS
BEING A POWER PLAYER IN THE GOSPEL MUSIC INDUSTRY MEANS MORE THAN JUST INFLUENCE—IT’S ABOUT SHAPING THE CULTURE, AMPLIFYING VOICES, AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS TO THRIVE. IT REQUIRES A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE MUSIC, THE MINISTRY, AND THE BUSINESS, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO NAVIGATE INDUSTRY SHIFTS WHILE MAINTAINING AUTHENTICITY. A TRUE POWER PLAYER NOT ONLY SETS TRENDS BUT ALSO BUILDS PLATFORMS, FOSTERS MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS, AND ENSURES THAT GOSPEL MUSIC CONTINUES TO IMPACT LIVES ON A GLOBAL SCALE.
HERE IS OUR CURRENT LIST OF THE TOP 20 POWER PLAYERS IN GOSPEL MUSIC.
20. CATHY CARROLL
RADIO PROMOTER, PURE CHAMPIONS PROMOTIONS WITH WELL OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE WORKING IN MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT, CATHY CARROLL WORKED RECORDS AND WAS AT THE HELM OF RECORD PROMOTIONS FOR A LIST ARTISTS AT EPIC/SONY RECORDS SUCH AS: MICHAEL JACKSON, LUTHER VANDROSS, SADE, JILL SCOTT, JENNIFER LOPEZ, GINUWINE AND B2K. CARROLL’S EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH SUCH HIGH LEVEL MAINSTREAM TALENT LEAD TO STINTS AT MIGHTY DOMINION ENTERTAINMENT, REACH MEDIA AND RCA INSPIRATION, WHERE SHE WAS NAMED SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROMOTIONS AND STRATEGY AND GARNERED SOME OF THE BIGGEST SONGS LIKE “WON’T HE DO IT” (KORYN HAWTHORNE), “I NEED YOU” (DONNIE MCCLURKIN’S FIRST NUMBER ONE IN OVER 12 YEARS), (MARVIN SAPP), “FOREVER" (JASON NELSON), AND "DELIVER ME” (DONALD LAWRENCE FEATURING LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON). IN 2024, UNDER HER PURE CHAMPIONS PROMOTIONS IMPRINT, CARROLL HAD #1 SUCCESS AT RADIO WITH DONALD LAWRENCE “IN HIM THERE IS NO SORROW”, OTIS KEMP’S “EVERYTHING”, KORYN HAWTHORNE “LOOK AT GOD”, BRI BABINEAUX “I WILL WAIT,” KIRK FRANKLIN’S “TRY LOVE”, AND YOLANDA ADAMS “CHURCH DOORS.”
19. TIM BOWMAN JR.
ARTIST/MUSIC & MILLENNIAL PASTOR WHEN COVID HIT THE WORLD LIKE A TON OF BRICKS IN MARCH OF 2020, FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES, BANKS, MALLS AND CHURCHES WORLDWIDE WERE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND WHAT WE NOW KNOW AS SOCIAL DISTANCING, BECAME OUR NEW NORMAL. NOT BEING ABLE TO WORSHIP IN PERSON TOOK A TOLL ON MANY CHURCHES, WITH MANY NOT KNOWING HOW TO NAVIGATE ONLINE GIVING AND MEDIA. ENTER, TIM BOWMAN JR. AND FAITH CITY MUSIC, A COLLECTIVE OF WORSHIPPERS WHO SERVE AT SPIRIT OF FAITH CHRISTIAN CENTER IN MARYLAND, WHO ALL HAD US GLUED TO YOUTUBE EVERY WEEK TO SEE WHAT SONGS THEY WERE GONNA SING AND WHAT LEGENDARY ACT THEY WERE GOING TO HONOR THROUGH SONG, PRODUCTION AND ASTOUNDING VISUALS. OFFERING A FULL ON PRODUCTION, HONORING THE LIKES OF THE CLARK SISTERS, KIM BURRELL, VICKIE WINANS, HEZEKIAH WALKER AND DOZENS OF OTHER GOSPEL MUSIC ROYALTY, FAITH CITY MUSIC APPEARED ON NIGHTLINE, GOOD MORNING AMERICA AND THE VIEW. IN 2022, BOWMAN WAS SIGNED TO TRIBL RECORDS AND RELEASED THE ALBUM WELCOME TO FAITH CITY. ADDITIONALLY, THEY WERE INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AT THE SMITHSONIAN, AS THE BEST WORSHIP TEAM AS A MINISTRY DURING THE PANDEMIC FOR INSPIRING U.S. CITIZENS AND UPLIFTING THEM THROUGHOUT THE NEARLY THREE YEAR PANDEMIC. IN 2024, HE CONTINUED HIS MUSICAL JOURNEY WITH THE RELEASE OF THE SINGLE “NO RUSH,” A LIVE COLLABORATION WITH RED HANDS AND MEECH BEASLEY.
18. DR. MONICA BUTLER
FOUNDER, GOSPEL MUSIC HALL OF FAME
DR. MONICA R. BUTLER, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE “GOSPEL RADIO QUEEN,” IS A CELEBRATED FIGURE IN THE GOSPEL RADIO, TELEVISION, AND FILM INDUSTRY, WITH A REMARKABLE CAREER SPANNING OVER 30 YEARS. HER PASSION AND DEDICATION TO PRESERVING GOSPEL MUSIC AND ITS HISTORY HAVE EARNED HER NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM. SHE IS THE VISIONARY FOUNDER OF THE GOSPEL MUSIC HALL OF FAME, A GROUNDBREAKING INITIATIVE DEDICATED TO HONORING AND PRESERVING THE LEGACY OF GOSPEL MUSIC THAT WAS FOUNDED IN 2022.SOME NOTABLE GOSPEL MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES INCLUDE: FRED HAMMOND, HEZEKIAH WALKER, KIM BURRELL, ZAK WILLIAMS, DR. TERESA HAIRSTON JACKSON, TRACEY ARTIS, AL WASH, DON JACKSON, REV. JAMES CLEVELAND, PASTOR SHIRLEY CAESAR AND MANY MORE. A RADIO LEGEND IN HER OWN RIGHT, EACH SUNDAY MORNING, DR. BUTLER BRINGS JOY AND INSPIRATION TO LISTENERS AS THE HOST OF GOSPEL SOUNDS OF JOY WITH DR. MONICA R. BUTLER ON WFUN 96.3 FM, THE ONLY GOSPEL MUSIC HOST AT AUDACY, INC. IN ST. LOUIS. IN 2023, DR. BURLER WAS PRESENTED WITH THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD BY THEN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN FOR HER CONTRIBUTION TO GOSPEL MUSIC.
17. TRACY BETHEA
RADIO ANNOUNCER/PROGRAM DIRECTOR RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPELLING AND INFLUENTIAL VOICES OF THE MID-SOUTH ANDNATIONAL RADIO, TRACY BETHEA HAS BEEN CAPTURING AUDIENCES SINCE HER DEBUT OVER THE AIRWAVESIN THE LATE 1980S. WITH A CAREER THAT BALANCES PROGRAMMING, BROADCASTING, PRODUCING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, CONSULTING, EVENT PLANNING, COMMUNITY EFFORTS AND ENDORSEMENTS, TRACY IS A INFLUENCER OF THE NEW AGE.TRACY CURRENTLY SERVES AS PROGRAM/MUSIC DIRECTOR AND AFTERNOON AIR PERSONALITY. HER TITLE HAS EXTENDED AS THE MUSIC SUPERVISOR OF GOSPEL FOR THE IHEART MEDIA CUSTOM BRAND WHICH CARRIES HER SYNDICATED MID-DAY SHOW IN NEW ORLEANS LA, MOBILE AL., MONTGOMERY, BIRMINGHAM AL, ALBANY GA, SAVANNAH GA, ST. LOUIS MO., AND JACKSON MS. IN JANUARY 2023, TRACY MADE HISTORY AS SHE RETURNED TO HER ROOTS OF RADIO AS THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE LEGENDARY AM 1070 WDIA AFTER THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF HALL OF FAME PROGRAM DIRECTOR BOBBY O’JAY. A VETERAN OF MORE THAN 30+ YEARS, TRACY HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS AND HONORS AND ISHEAVILY INVOLVED IN GIVING BACK TO HER COMMUNITY. SHE IS A TWO-TIME STELLAR AWARD WINNING“ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR” INDUCTED BY THE STELLAR AWARDS IN 2002 AND 2016. SHE IS ALSO A THREE-TIME STELLAR AWARD WINNING “RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR.”
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1 6 . WI L L I E M O O R E J R .
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1 5 . W A R D E L L M A L L O Y
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1 4 . J O N A T H A NA N D E R S O N
CEO ANDFOUNDER,ANDERSON MUSI CGROUP J ONATHAN ANDERSON I SAMULTI AWARDWI NNI NG MUSI C EXECUTI VE,PRODUCER,ANDEMERGI NG I NDUSTRYTRAI LBLAZER WHO HASCONTRI BUTEDTO OVERTHI RTYBI LLBOARD#1RECORDS.HEHASWORKEDON PROJ ECTSWI THRENOWNED ARTI STSLI KECECEWI NANS,ADAM BLACKSTONE,MYRON BUTLER,WI LLI AM MCDOWELL,BOYZI IMEN,J AZMI NESULLI VAN, MARANDACURTI S,SHI RLEYCAESAR,AARON LI NDSEY,ANDMANYMORE.MARKI NG ANEW CHAPTERI N 2021 ,ANDERSON LAUNCHEDANDERSON MUSI C GROUP( AMG) ,ABOUTI QUELABELDEDI CATEDTO AMPLI FYI NG DI VERSEVOI CES,BREAKI NG I NDUSTRYNORMS,ANDFOSTERI NG ARTI STI CI NNOVATI ON.WI THI NI TSFI RSTYEAR,AMG’ SARTI STSRECEI VEDMULTI PLE STELLAR,DOVE,NAACP,ANDGRAMMYNOMI NATI ONS,SOLI DI FYI NG THELABEL’ SREPUTATI ON ASAFORCEI N THEI NDUSTRY. TAKI NG ABOLDSTEPFORWARD,ANDERSON MADEHI STORYI N 2024BYPARTNERI NG WI THHI SFORMERHI GHSCHOOL, BOSTON ARTSACADEMY,TO RELEASEMUSI C ANDFI LM EXCLUSI VELYFEATURI NG STUDENTS.THEFI RSTPROJ ECT," GENESI S" BYTHESPI RI TUALENSEMBLE,MADEHI STORYASTHEFI RSTSCHOOLENSEMBLETO DEBUTAT#1ON BOTHBI LLBOARD’ S CLASSI CALANDCLASSI CALCROSSOVERCHARTS.THI SGROUNDBREAKI NG I NI TI ATI VENOTONLYSHOWCASEDYOUNG, EMERGI NG TALENTBUTALSO UNDERSCOREDANDERSON’ SCOMMI TMENTTO CULTI VATI NG THENEXTGENERATI ON OF ARTI STSANDPROVI DI NG THEM WI THAPLATFORM TO SHI NEON AGLOBALSTAGE.2025I SALREADYOFFTO AN I NCREDI BLE STARTFORANDERSON,ASHEWASAWARDEDHI SSECONDNAACPI MAGEAWARDFORCOPRODUCI NG THEREI MAGI NED J AZZCLASSI C“ SUMMERTI ME, "ALONGSI DEADAM BLACKSTONEANDFANTASI A
1 3 . J . D R E WS H E A R DI I
PRESI DENT& CEO/PRODUCER,KAREW RECORDS ASPRESI DENTANDCEO OFKAREW RECORDS,EXPANDI NG THELABELI NTO AFULLSERVI CEENTERTAI NMENTCOMPANY THATSPECI ALI ZESI N MUSI C,FI LMS,ANDAPPARELUNDERTHEBRANDKAREW ENTERTAI NMENT,FI VETI ME GRAMMYNOMI NATEDPRODUCER,RECORDLABELEXECUTI VE,ARTI STANDBUSI NESSMAN,J .DREW SHEARDI II SI NDEEDA RENAI SSANCEMAN. ONETO TYPI CALLYPLAYTHEBACKGROUND,ASAN EXECUTI VEANDAWARDWI NNI NG PRODUCER HI MSELF,OUTSI DEOFHI SLEGENDARYFAMI LY;MOTHER,KAREN CLARKSHEARD,SI STERKI ERRASHEARDKELLYANDTHE LEGENDARYCLARKSI STERS,SHEARDHASALSO COLLABORATEDWI THWORLDRENOWN ARTI STSSUCHASFAI TH EVANS,LI L'KI M,SNOOPDOGG,MALIMUSI C ANDGLORI LLA.HEWASALSO THEFI RSTPRODUCERTO BESI GNEDTO PHARRELLWI LLI AMSSTARTRAKLABELASATEENAGER.I N 2024,SHEARDWASCOEXECUTI VEPRODUCER,ALONG WI TH PHARRELLWI LLI AMS,FORKAREN CLARKSHEARD’ SALBUM,STI LLKAREN.THELEADI NG SI NGLE“ SENDI TDOWN”SPENTTWO WEEKSAT#1ON BI LLBOARDANDMEDI ABASEANDTHEALBUM WASNOMI NATEDFOR“ OUTSTANDI NG GOSPELALBUM”AT THE2025GRAMMYAWARDSANDTHE2025NAACPI MAGEAWARDS.HEALSO MADEASPLASHASTHEONLYGOSPEL MUSI C EXECUTI VETO ATTENDPARI SFASHI ON WEEK.
1 2 . C H E R Y L J A C K S O N
RADI O ANNOUNCER/EXECUTI VEPRODUCER,GETUPMORNI NGSWI THERI CACAMPBELL WHEN I TCOMESTO THEI NSPI RATI ON BRAND,CHERYLJ ACKSON I SONEOFTHENATI ON' SLEADI NG MEDI APERSONALI TI ES I N THEFORMAT.ATRAI LBLAZERI N THEFI ELD,SHECREATEDTHEFI RSTURBAN I NSPI RATI ON RADI O STATI ON I N THEUNI TED STATESWHI LEPROGRAMMI NG HEAVEN 1 580I N WASHI NGTON DC.MAJ ORMEDI AOUTLETSHAVEADOPTEDTHI SBRANDOF PROGRAMMI NG THROUGHOUTTHEWORLD,I N HOPESOFMARKETI NG THEI RPRODUCTTO MAI NSTREAM ADVERTI SERS.THI S MAKESJ ACKSON ATRENDSETTERI N THEFI ELD.ASAN CHAMPI ON FORTHEGOSPELANDURBAN I NSPI RATI ON BRAND,SHE WASANDI SI NSTRUMENTALBREAKI NG SOMEOFTHEMAJ ORGOSPELARTI STSI N THEI RQUESTTO ESTABLI SHTHEI R CAREERSWHI LECOMI NG TO THEDMV.A4XSTELLARAWARDWI NNI NG RADI O PERSONALI TYHERSELF,SHEI STHE EXECUTI VEPRODUCEROFTHENATI ONALLYSYNDI CATEDRADI O SHOW,“ GETUPMORNI NGSWI THERI CACAMPBELL. ”I N FACT,THESHOW WON I T’ SFI RSTSTELLARAWARDI N 2024UNDERHERREI GN.J ACKSON CAN ALSO BEHEARDON PRAI SE 1 04. 1FM I N WASHI NGTON DC ON HERTOPRATEDRADI O SHOW," CHERYLJ ACKSON I N THEMI DDAY' ' ;ANDWORLDWI DEON URBAN ONE' SI NSPI RATI ON NETWORK.
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2025 ONE’S TO WATCH
THE GOSPEL MUSIC INDUSTRY IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING, WITH FRESH VOICES, VISIONARY EXECUTIVES, AND DYNAMIC MEDIA PERSONALITIES SHAPING ITS FUTURE. AS THE GENRE CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS REACH AND IMPACT, A NEW WAVE OF TALENT IS RISING—ARTISTS REDEFINING SOUND, EXECUTIVES DRIVING INNOVATION, AND MEDIA FIGURES AMPLIFYING THE MESSAGE. IN THIS YEAR’S, ONES TO WATCH, WE SPOTLIGHT THE EMERGING NAMES WHO ARE MAKING THEIR MARK FOR AN EVER EVOLVING INDUSTRY. WHETHER BEHIND THE MIC, BEHIND THE SCENES, OR BEHIND THE PEN, THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY AND THEIR JOURNEY IS JUST BEGINNING.
-MICHAEL GORDON
DESTINY DIGGS
NEIKO FLOWERS
IN HER ROLE AS VICE PRESIDENT AT REACH GOSPEL RADIO, DESTINY DIGGS EXPANDED THE NETWORK’S PLAYLIST WHILE MAINTAINING A BALANCE BETWEEN VINTAGE AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC STYLES. DESTINY EXCELLED SO FAST AS REACH GOSPEL’S MUSIC DIRECTOR THAT AFTER TWO YEARS, SHE WAS PROMOTED TO THE ROLE OF VICE PRESIDENT IN 2023. ASIDE FROM HER WORK ON AIR AND IN THE EXECUTIVE SUITE, DESTINY’S BEEN ACTIVE IN A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. SHE WAS ALSO THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DELAWARE COUNTY PREGNANCY CENTER AND COMMUNICATIONS, YOUTH, STUDENTS, AND YOUNG ADULTS DIRECTOR AT SEVERAL RESPECTED, THRIVING MINISTRIES ACROSS THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA AREA. IN 2024, DIGGS WAS TAPPED TO HOST THE STELLAR SOCIAL MEDIA LOUNGE POWERED BY AT&T’S DREAM IN BLACK INITIATIVE DURING THE 39TH ANNUAL STELLAR AWARDS, MAKING HER ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER YOUNG VOICES IN THE GOSPEL MUSIC INDUSTRY.
TRENT SHELBY
A NATIVE OF WILMINGTON, NC, NEIKO FLOWERS DISCOVERED HIS PASSION FOR ENTERTAINMENT EARLY ON, FINDING HIS PURPOSE IN RADIO. IN 2009, HIS LOVE FOR MUSIC AND STORYTELLING IGNITED A DYNAMIC BROADCASTING CAREER. NOW THRIVING AT WPZE PRAISE 102.5 IN ATLANTA, NEIKO SERVES AS ASSISTANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR, ON-AIR TALENT FOR THE NEIKO FLOW SHOW, AND PRODUCER OF THE JEKALYN CARR SHOW. HE’S ALSO THE VISIONARY BEHIND BRIDGING THE GAP, A GROUNDBREAKING SERIES WHERE SECULAR ARTISTS LIKE JEEZY, LL COOL J, JERMAINE DUPRI, TYRESE, AND CHLOE BAILEY SHARE THEIR PERSONAL FAITH JOURNEYS, BUILDING BRIDGES BEYOND TRADITIONAL CHURCH SETTINGS. NEIKO’S EXCELLENCE HAS EARNED HIM A MARCONI AWARD NOMINATION, A 2024 STELLAR AWARD GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR NOD, TWO STELLAR AWARDS, THREE SPIN AWARDS, AN AVIDITY RADIO VANGUARD AWARD, AND A 2025 INDUCTION INTO THE GOSPEL MUSIC HALL OF FAME.
TRENT SHELBY IS A REMARKABLE TALENT WHO ROSE TO PROMINENCE AS A MEMBER OF THE RENOWNED SINGING GROUP SHELBY 5, COMPOSED OF FIVE SIBLINGS FROM DETROIT, MI. WHILE MAINTAINING AN ACTIVE SINGING CAREER WITH SHELBY 5, TRENT MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WITH THE RELEASE OF A HEARTFELT SINGLE DEDICATED TO HIS WIFE, ENCAPSULATING HIS VOWS IN A SOULFUL MELODY.. THE VIDEO QUICKLY CAPTIVATED AUDIENCES AND WENT VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AMASSING OVER 10 MILLION VIEWS. SINCE THEN, TRENT HAS RELEASED HIS FIRST SINGLE “REAL LOVE” WHICH HAS GARNERED WIDESPREAD ACCLAIM FOR ITS POWERFUL LYRICS AND SOULFUL SOUND. THE SONG HAS FURTHER SOLIDIFIED TRENT'S REPUTATION AS A VERSATILE AND COMPELLING ARTIST, AND HAS DEVELOPED A DEDICATED FOLLOWING OF SUPPORTERS.
MARK PITTS
SHERWYN WILLIAMS
REGINALD STEWART
HAILING FROM KINSTON, NORTH CAROLINA, MARCUS PITTS IS A MUSIC EXECUTIVE, ARTIST MANAGER, AND ENTREPRENEUR WITH A PASSION FOR CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION. IN 2017, HE LAUNCHED SYNERGY MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT, A RECORD LABEL FOCUSED ON FOSTERING TALENT AND DELIVERING HIGH-QUALITY MUSIC. BY 2021, HE EXPANDED HIS REACH THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH MNRK MUSIC GROUP, WHERE HE LED VISUAL AND MARKETING EFFORTS, ACHIEVING MAJOR SUCCESSES AND SOLIDIFYING HIS REPUTATION IN THE INDUSTRY. TODAY, AS PRESIDENT OF AGENCY 22 MANAGEMENT COMPANY, MARCUS MANAGES AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH RENOWNED ARTISTS LIKE JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS, DOE, JJ HAIRSTON, TIM BOWMAN JR., AND DEMARCUS KELLY. HE’S KNOWN FOR BLENDING CUTTING-EDGE MARKETING STRATEGIES WITH CREATIVE STORYTELLING AND DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS TO DELIVER SUCCESSFUL ALBUM ROLLOUTS,
SHERWYN WILLIAMS IS A SEASONED MARKETING AND MEDIA PROFESSIONAL AND THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND GOSPEL MUSIC BUZZ ®, A PLATFORM DEDICATED TO AMPLIFYING GOSPEL AND WHOLESOME CONTENT. AS THE HOST OF GMB, AS WELL AS A PLAYLIST CURATOR, WILLIAMS HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROMOTING EMERGING ARTISTS AND ESTABLISHED LABELS ALIKE. HIS CUTTING EDGE CONTENT HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION PIECE AMONGST GOSPEL ENTHUSIASTS, WITH COVERAGE ON FILMS LIKE “HOUSE OF DAVID.” SINCE FOUNDING GOSPEL MUSIC BUZZ IN 2015, HE HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH TOP BRANDS, ARTISTS, AND FILM/TV STUDIOS, SPECIALIZING IN MARKETING, BRANDING, CONTENT CREATION, AND EVENT COVERAGE. HIS MISSION IS TO DELIVER "THE BUZZ" IN GOSPEL MUSIC THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATIVE PROMOTION.
AS THE DIRECTOR, CREATIVE OUT OF BMI’S ATLANTA OFFICE, REGGIE WORKS WITH SONGWRITERS AND PRODUCERS IN THE R&B/HIP-HOP AND GOSPEL GENRES BY SIGNING NEW AFFILIATES, ASSISTING THEM WITH GENERAL INQUIRIES AND EDUCATING EMERGING MUSIC CREATORS ON BMI’S SERVICES AND INITIATIVES. HE ALSO PLAYS AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIPLE BMI EVENTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING BMI’S R&B/HIP-HOP AWARDS, TRAILBLAZERS OF GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS, BMI’S SHOWCASE SERIES, KNOW THEM NOW, AND MUCH MORE. IN ADDITION TO LEADING SPECIAL EVENTS AND OUTREACH THAT SUPPORT BMI’S MUSIC CREATORS, SUCH AS LISTENING EVENTS, CELEBRATORY DINNERS, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, STEWART ALSO SERVES AS CO-CHAIR OF BMI’S BLACK NETWORK EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP.
JEREMY GLOVER LAUNCHING HIS CAREER WELL OVER A DECADE AGO AS A PRODUCTION ASSISTANT ON VIACOM PRODUCTIONS, AFFORDED GLOVER THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH MULTI-PLATINUM ARTISTS JANET JACKSON, DJ KHALED, POST MALONE, BTS AND IGGY AZALEA. THIS FORTIFIED HIS STRENGTH IN MEDIA RELATIONS, WHICH ULTIMATELY LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR HIS OWN COMPANY JERGLOVE ENT, WHICH HE FOUNDED IN 2020. AS A CURRENT PUBLICIST WITH OVER 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC RELATIONS/ENTRAINMENT INDUSTRY, JERGLOVE ENT. SPECIALIZING IN STRATEGIC MEDIA OUTREACH, CRISIS MANAGEMENT, AND BRAND STORYTELLING, GLOVER HAS SUCCESSFULLY REPRESENTED MINT CONDITION, ERICA CAMPBELL, GENE MOORE AND CHOIR MASTER RICKY DILLARD, WHO SHINED BRIGHT EARLIER THIS YEAR DURING GRAMMY® WEEKEND, STUNNING RED CARPETS AND EVEN GOING VIRAL FOR HIS ECLECTIC STYLE AND QUICK WIT.
BRAND NEW MUSIC
PRESTON JON Z E LL
IG: PRESTON JONZELL FACEBOOK: PRESTON JONZELL MUSIC PAGE X AKA TWITTER: PRESTON JONZELL
11. PASTOR MIKE TODD
PASTOR/PHILANTHROPIST/AUTHOR/ARTIST, TRANSFORMATION WORSHIP A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR, PASTOR MIKE TODD, HAS ALSO ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC AND INFLUENTIAL VOICES IN MODERN CHRISTIANITY. HIS TEACHING, ALBEIT CONTROVERSIAL AT TIMES, HAS MAXIMIZED MILLENNIAL SPACES IN REGARD TO MODERN CHURCH, WHILE IS GENEROSITY IS UNMATCHED, AS HIS CHURCH GRACIOUSLY DONATED A WHOPPING $1 MILLION TO FELLOW PASTOR AND GOSPEL ARTIST, TRAVIS GREENE. IN RECENT YEARS, HE HAS ALSO MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN GOSPEL MUSIC. KNOWN FOR HIS BOLD, RELATABLE, AND INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO MINISTRY, TODD HAS SEAMLESSLY TRANSITIONED INTO THE MUSIC SPACE, USING HIS PLATFORM TO INSPIRE THROUGH BOTH SPOKEN WORD AND SONG. IN 2024 ALONE, TRANSFORMATION WORSHIP, A PRAISE AND WORSHIP COLLECTIVE FROM TODD’S OKLAHOMA CHURCH, RELEASED THREE PROJECTS: “DOMINION,” “THY KINGDOM COME” AND “UNDEFEATED CHAMPION,” WITH TWO REACHING #1 AND ONE REACHING #3 ON BILLBOARD’S TOP GOSPEL ALBUM CHART, RESPECTIVELY. HIS UNIQUE FUSION OF PREACHING, WORSHIP, AND HIP-HOP-INFUSED GOSPEL HAS SET HIM APART, ALLOWING HIM TO CONNECT WITH YOUNGER AUDIENCES WHILE STILL HONORING THE TRADITIONS OF GOSPEL MUSIC.
10. META WASHINGTON
RADIO ANNOUNCER/PROGRAM DIRECTOR, KIRK FRANKLIN’S PRAISE (SIRIUS XM) META WASHINGTON IS A POWERHOUSE IN GOSPEL RADIO, SERVING AS A BELOVED HOST ON SIRIUSXM KIRK FRANKLIN’S PRAISE. WITH OVER TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY, SHE HAS BECOME A TRUSTED VOICE, DELIVERING INSPIRATION, INSIGHT, AND MUSIC TO MILLIONS OF LISTENERS DAILY. HER DEDICATION TO GOSPEL MUSIC AND ITS CULTURE HAS NOT ONLY MADE HER A STAPLE IN BROADCASTING BUT ALSO A RESPECTED THOUGHT LEADER IN THE INDUSTRY. IN 2020, HER EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS WERE RECOGNIZED WHEN SHE WAS HONORED WITH THE STELLAR AWARD FOR GOSPEL RADIO ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR, A TESTAMENT TO HER IMPACT AND INFLUENCE. IN ADDITION TO BEING AN ON-AIR PERSONALITY, WASHINGTON HAS BEEN RECENTLY APPOINTED PROGRAM DIRECTOR. BEYOND RADIO, META IS ALSO AN ACCOMPLISHED AUTHOR, USING HER PLATFORM TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER INDEPENDENT ARTISTS AND GOSPEL ENTHUSIASTS ALIKE. HER PUBLICATIONS, CRACKING THE CODE: WHAT INDIE ARTISTS NEED TO KNOW AND BIBLE TRIVIA MADE EASY, REFLECT HER PASSION FOR BOTH THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND BIBLICAL KNOWLEDGE. OVER THE YEARS, SHE HAS CONDUCTED IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH SOME OF THE MOST LEGENDARY NAMES IN GOSPEL AND ENTERTAINMENT, INCLUDING PASTOR SHIRLEY CAESAR, BISHOP T.D. JAKES, ANDRAE CROUCH, THE WINANS, THE CLARK SISTERS, PATTI LABELLE, TYLER PERRY, AND SHERYL LEE RALPH.
9. PASTOR MIKE JR.
PASTOR/ARTIST/PHILANTHROPIST IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A LITTLE OVER FIVE YEARS AGO WE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHO PASTOR MIKE JR. WAS, BUT AT THE PEAK OF A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC, “THE KING OF URBAN INSPIRATION” (AS HE IS DUBBED), INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO THE GOSPEL COMMUNITY WITH A “BIG” SONG AND HISTORY BEGAN TO WRITE ITSELF. PASTOR MIKE JR. IS A GOSPEL MUSIC FORCE WHOSE IMPACT HAS BEEN FELT ACROSS THE INDUSTRY, WINING MULTIPLE STELLAR AWARDS IN 2020 AND 2021 AND NABBING THE COVETED ARTIST OF THE YEAR AND ALBUM OF THE YEAR CONSECUTIVELY IN 2022 AND 2023. BOASTING OVER 1.3 INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS, HIS LATEST SINGLE “AMEN” REACHED THE #1 SPOT ON BILLBOARD’S TOP GOSPEL SONG CHART. PASTOR MIKE MCCLURE JR. IS NOT ONE DIMENSIONAL—HE IS A PREACHER, VISIONARY, COMMUNITY LEADER, AND A GOSPEL MUSIC POWERHOUSE. AS THE FOUNDER AND SENIOR PASTOR OF ROCK CITY CHURCH, HE HAS PIONEERED A MOVEMENT THAT TRANSCENDS TRADITIONAL MINISTRY, BLENDING FAITH WITH ACTION TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, AND BEYOND. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, ROCK CITY HAS BECOME A BEACON OF HOPE, COMMITTED TO PHILANTHROPY, EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL CHANGE. ROCK CITY PREPARATORY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL IS THE ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN-OWNED ACCREDITED K5-8 CHRISTIAN SCHOOL IN THE REGION. IN 2023, ROCK CITY PURCHASED THE FORMER SOUTHEASTERN BIBLE COLLEGE CAMPUS FOR $4.25 MILLION, EXPANDING ITS REACH AND IMPACT, AND IN A GROUNDBREAKING MOVE, PASTOR MIKE JR. PAID OFF $900,000 IN MEDICAL DEBT FOR 542 FAMILIES, PROVIDING CRITICAL FINANCIAL RELIEF. WHETHER THROUGH HIS CHART-TOPPING GOSPEL HITS OR HIS COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION, PMJ’S WORK STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO FAITH IN ACTION.
8. VAUGHN ALVAREZ
PUBLICIST/CEO, CR8 AGENCY RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE "TOP 25 AFRICAN AMERICAN PR MILLENNIALS TO WATCH" BY HUFFINGTON POST, VAUGHN ALVAREZ IS A PROMINENT PUBLICIST AND ENTREPRENEUR IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. HE IS THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF CR8 AGENCY, A PR AND MARKETING FIRM BASED IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. HIS AGENCY FOCUSES ON ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFESTYLE PR, AS HE HAS WORKED WITH A VARIETY OF HIGH-PROFILE CLIENTS IN THE MAINSTREAM AND FAITH-BASED SECTORS. HIS CLIENT ROSTER INCLUDES TV ONE, WE TV, RCA INSPIRATION, PRIME VIDEO, MOTOWN GOSPEL, ZEUS NETWORK, LIFETIME AND BET; PLUS, ENTERTAINERS: BRANDY, RAY J, YOLANDA ADAMS, KIERRA SHEARD, PASTOR MIKE JR., RICKEY SMILEY, DA BRAT AND JESSECA DUPART. IN 2024. ALVAREZ AND CR8 AGENCY SECURED MAJOR BOOKINGS FOR CLIENTS JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS, RYAN ELLIS, SUNDAY SERVICE CHOIR, THE REUNION TOUR AND KIERRA SHEARD KELLY ON THE TAMRON HALL SHOW. HE FURTHER SOLIDIFIED BOOKING FOR KIERRA ON NPR’S TINY DESK, WHICH HAS SINCE GARNERED ALMOST ONE MILLION VIEWS.
7. JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS
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ARTIST/ACTOR/LABEL OWNER THE WORD GENIUS IS THROWN AROUND QUITE CASUALLY THESE DAYS BUT GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING, TOP-SELLING SINGER, SONGWRITER, AND MUSICIAN—JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS IS A TRUE GENIUS, AS HE IS A MEMBER OF MENSA, AN INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY WITH PEOPLE WITH HIGH IQ’S. MCREYNOLDS MUSICAL IQ IS CELEBRATED AROUND THE WORLD FOR HIS SOULFUL VOICE, SOOTHING TONE AND HONEST INSPIRATIONAL LYRICS. IN ADDITION TO GRAMMY’S, MCREYNOLDS HAS WON MULTIPLE AWARDS INCLUDING: 15 STELLARS, 4 DOVES, AND BMI’S COVETED SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR—SPEAKING TO THE FACT THAT HIS MUSIC CONTINUES TO REACH AND IMPACT DIVERSE AUDIENCES AND HIGHLY RESPECTED PLATFORMS. IN 2024, BMI AWARDED HIM WITH THE CHAMPION'S AWARD, THE FIRST ONE IN HIS GENRE, GIVEN TO HONOR AN ARTIST IN THEIR PRIME WHO IS SHIFTING THE PARADIGM OF HIS INDUSTRY.ADDITIONALLY, JONATHAN HAS EARNED A RECORD SIX STRAIGHT #1 RADIO SINGLES, MULTIPLE NUMBER ONE ALBUMS, AND HAS EVEN GOTTEN THE ACTING BUG, RECENTLY STARRING IN BET’S ORIGINAL MOVIE "FAVORITE SON.”MCREYNOLDS HAS ALSO SEEN HUGE SUCCESS AS A RECORD LABEL EXECUTIVE, AS HIS LIFE ROOM LABEL ARTIST, DOE, RECEIVED HER FIRST GRAMMY® IN THE CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM CATEGORY FOR HER ALBUM HEART OF A HUMAN. BEYOND HIS MUSICAL ACHIEVEMENTS, JONATHAN IS A DEDICATED MENTOR AND EDUCATOR—MOST RECENTLY HOLDING A POSITION AS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT THE PRESTIGIOUS COLUMBIA COLLEGE.
RON HILL, EJ GAINES, NORMAN GYAMFI, PHIL THORNTON & JONATHAN JAY, INSIGNIA ASSETS
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IN A YEAR MARKED BY INNOVATION AND DISRUPTION, INSIGNIA ASSETS HAS RISEN TO THE TOP, BECOMING A TOP POWER PLAYER IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. WITH A UNIQUE MODEL THAT UNITES RECORDED MUSIC, PUBLISHING, TOURING, AND FILM/TV UNDER ONE ROOF, THIS BLACK-OWNED, SELF-FUNDED COMPANY IS REDEFINING THE ENTERTAINMENT LANDSCAPE.AT THE HELM ARE FIVE EQUITY PARTNERS WHOSE COLLECTIVE VISION AND LEADERSHIP HAVE PROPELLED INSIGNIA TO UNPRECEDENTED HEIGHTS. THE TEAM IS LED BY CO-FOUNDERS NORMAN GYAMFI AND JONATHAN JAY, ALONGSIDE INDUSTRY TITANS EJ GAINES, RON HILL, AND PHIL THORNTON—THREE INFLUENTIAL FIGURES WHO SHOCKINGLY LEFT THEIR LEADERSHIP ROLES AT MAJOR LABELS LAST YEAR TO BUILD AND EXECUTE INSIGNIA’S GROUND-BREAKING NEW VISION. WITH A STEALTHY APPROACH AND AN UNMATCHED DRIVE, THEY’VE BEEN QUIETLY RESTRUCTURING, REBRANDING, AND EXPANDING THEIR EMPIRE, CREATING A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR CREATIVES THAT IS POISED TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE INDUSTRY.AT THE FOREFRONT OF INSIGNIA'S SUCCESS IS ITS RECORDED MUSIC DIVISION, TRIBL MUSIC GROUP, HOME TO THE HISTORICALLY SUCCESSFUL MAVERICK CITY MUSIC. IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE, TRIBL MUSIC GROUP HAS SEEN TREMENDOUS SUCCESS WITH 5 GRAMMY® NOMINATIONS AND 4 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS, PLUS CHART-TOPPING ALBUMS AND SINGLES FROM ITS RAPIDLY GROWING ROSTER OF ARTISTS. THE DIVISION ALSO COLLABORATED OUTSIDE OF THE FOUR WALLS OF THE GOSPEL MUSIC COMMUNITY, BRINGING LIGHT TO RELEASES FROM GLOBAL SUPERSTARS LIKE GLORILLA AND ROD WAVE.THE PUBLISHING DIVISION BOASTS MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR REVENUES FROM A CATALOG OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL FAITH-BASED SONGS OF THE PAST FIVE YEARS, INCLUDING MAVERICK CITY’S “JIREH” AND “PROMISES,” AS WELL AS SONGS FROM ITS DOZENS OF SIGNED WRITERS. IN THE PAST YEAR, THE DIVISION HAS HOSTED SUCCESSFUL WRITING CAMPS IN THE AREAS OF WORSHIP, GOSPEL, POP, AND HIP-HOP, AND SECURED KEY SYNC PLACEMENTS IN FILM AND SPORTS.UNDIVIDED ENTERTAINMENT, THE TOURING/LIVE EVENTS DIVISION, HAS BECOME A DOMINANT FORCE IN LIVE MUSIC, THANKS TO ITS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH AEG AND LIVE NATION. THE DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SOLD-OUT ARENA TOURS LIKE THE REUNION TOUR FEATURING KIRK FRANKLIN AND OTHER GOSPEL ICONS, AND MAVERICK CITY’S GOOD NEWS TOUR. WITH OTHER MASSIVE TOUR BRANDS, SUCH AS ONE HALLELUJAH AND IT’S TIME, INSIGNIA HAS SET A NEW STANDARD, GENERATING MORE HARD TICKET SALES IN GOSPEL MUSIC THAN ANY PROMOTER IN DECADES.INSIGNIA’S FILM AND TELEVISION DIVISION, 3 DIAMONDS ENTERTAINMENT, IS A JOINT VENTURE HELMED BY PHIL THORNTON, WITH PARTNER TRELL WOODBERRY. ON THE HEELS OF HAVING EXECUTIVE PRODUCED THE POPULAR LUTHER VANDROSS DOCUMENTARY, LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH, THORNTON HAS ALREADY LED THE COMPANY TO COMPLETE TWO NEW FILM PROJECTS, INCLUDING UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS STARRING LIL REL HOWERY AND TABITHA BROWN, HITTING THEATERS AND STREAMING SERVICES LATER THIS YEAR.THIS DYNAMIC GROUP OF VISIONARIES IS REWRITING THE RULEBOOK, POSITIONING INSIGNIA AS THE FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND, FULL-SERVICE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY. THEIR UNIQUE, SYMBIOTIC APPROACH TO MANAGING MULTIPLE ENTERTAINMENT SECTORS IN ONE UNIFIED PLATFORM GIVES THEM THE RARE ABILITY TO NOT ONLY DRIVE GLOBAL IMPACT BUT ALSO SUPPORT EACH CREATIVE PARTNER. WITH THE POWER OF COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, AND SHEER TALENT, THE INSIGNIA TEAM IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.
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FEW ARTISTS HAVE LEFT A MARK ON GOSPEL MUSIC QUITE LIKE JOHN P. KEE. WITH A CAREER SPANNING DECADES, THE LEGENDARY SINGER, SONGWRITER, AND CHOIR DIRECTOR HAS SHAPED THE SOUND OF CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL, DELIVERING TIMELESS HITS THAT CONTINUE TO INSPIRE GENERATIONS. AS HE PREPARES TO BE HONORED AT THIS YEAR’S BMI TRAILBLAZERS OF GOSPEL AWARDS, KEE SAT DOWN FOR AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW TO REFLECT ON HIS EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY. FROM GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL AT JUST 14 YEARS OLD TO PENNING THE GOSPEL CLASSIC JESUS IS REAL—ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR A FELLOW CHOIR MASTER—HIS STORY IS ONE OF BRILLIANCE, RESILIENCE, AND DIVINE PURPOSE. BUT PERHAPS MOST GRIPPING IS HIS NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE LAST YEAR, WHEN HE BATTLED A FLESH-EATING BACTERIA THAT ALMOST TOOK HIS LIFE. IN THIS CANDID CONVERSATION, KEE SHARES THE HIGHS, THE TRIALS, AND THE FAITH THAT HAS CARRIED HIM THROUGH IT ALL.
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ROOT: PROJECTS LIKE “WE WALK BY FAITH,” “WASH ME” AND “LILY IN THE VALLEY” DEFINED 90’S GOSPEL MUSIC. I FEEL LIKE THAT ERA WAS MORE ABOUT CONSTRUCTING ALBUMS. I THINK WE'RE IN A TIME NOW WHERE THE SONG NEEDS TO BE GREAT, BUT NOT SO MUCH THE ALBUM. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? JOHN P. KEE: MY CONCEPT OF PRODUCTION WAS ALWAYS THAT THE ALBUM HAD TO BE GREAT. FROM THE NEW STUFF I'M PRODUCING TO A PROJECT I JUST FINISHED CALLED 10 WOMEN, 10 VICTORIES. I INTERVIEWED OVER 25 WOMEN AND ASKED THEM HOW THEY GET OUT OF BAD RELATIONSHIPS? I'M ONLY BRINGING THAT UP BECAUSE I COULDN'T LET ONE SONG OUT DO THE OTHER. SO THAT'S BEEN MY WHOLE CONCEPT OF PRODUCTION FROM THE LATE EIGHTIES TO TODAY. MY MINDSET WAS THAT EVERY SONG ON THE ALBUM HAD TO BE A RADIO HIT. ROOT: ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO WHEN I USED TO SING WITH LOVE FELLOWSHIP, I REMEMBER YOU INVITED SOME OF US ON YOUR TOUR BUS AND YOU WAS BLASTING THE GAP BAND. I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO COOL, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING YOU WERE A GOSPEL ARTIST. HOW MUCH OF YOUR SOUND IS INSPIRED BY CHARLIE WILSON? JOHN P. KEE: I LOVE THE GAP BAND! I DON'T GET THE CREDIT FOR THIS, BUT WHENCHARLIE WAS OFF THE RAILS, I WAS THE ONE THAT GRABBED HIM AND KIND OF BROUGHT HIM IN. ROOT: REALLY? JOHN P. KEE: YES. I WAS INFLUENCED BY THE GAP BAND, CAMEO AND JAMES BROWN. I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AT 14 YEARS OLD AND I LIVED IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. AT 16 YEARS OLD I BECAME PHYLLIS HYMAN'S MUSIC DIRECTOR. I WAS TOUCHING THAT OTHER GENRE BUT I ALWAYS HAD A LOVE FOR GOSPEL MUSIC. WHEN I CAME BACK TO CHARLOTTE, I STARTED SELLING DRUGS IN THE HOOD FOR ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF YEARS BUT STILL HAD A LOVE FOR GOSPEL MUSIC. WHEN I WAS ABOUT 19 OR 20 YEARS OLD, I WAS TAKING FLIGHTS TO CHICAGO, HANDLING MY BUSINESS AT MILLER'S PUB DOWNTOWN, AND RIGHT AFTER I WOULD FLY BACK THE NEXT MORNING, I WOULD GO TO DONALD ALFORD'S CHURCH AND JUST SIT IN THE BACK AND WEEP. EVEN WHEN I WAS DOING THE FOOLISH STUFF, THERE WAS ALWAYS A TUG ON ME. ROOT: THAT’S THAT THURSDAY LOVE. I ALWAYS WONDERED WHY YOU GAVE THAT SONG THAT TITLE. JOHN P. KEE: MY GUY! YOU KNOW THAT SONG? WE JUST LET YOU IN THE FAMILY. ROOT: YES INDEED UNCLE JOHN! JOHN P. KEE: THURSDAY LOVE MAN WAS, EVERYTHING WAS GOING GOOD FOR ME. EVERYBODY WAS LOVING ON ME. I WAS WINNING ALL THE AWARDS AND I RAN INTO A SEASON WHERE I REALIZED THE FOLK AROUND ME WAS FAKE. I WAS IN THE CHURCH, SO I'M LIKE, HOLD ON, MAN WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ACTING LIKE THIS. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WAS A CRUSHING TIME. I WROTE THURSDAY LOVE ON A BACK PORCH OF A HOUSE I OWN CALLED THE FAT HOUSE. I DON’T WANT TO SAY SUICIDE BUT I WAS READY TO GIVE UP SPIRITUALLY. IF YOU LISTEN TO THE LYRICS TO THURSDAY LOVE, I FELL BACK IN LOVE WITH GOD BECAUSE I REALIZED THIS AIN'T ABOUT THEM. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THIS IS ABOUT THE CALL THAT'S ON MY LIFE. ROOT: YOU'VE HAD AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY IN GOSPEL MUSIC. LOOKING BACK WHAT’S THE MOMENT THAT TRULY LIKE DEFINED YOUR CAREER? JOHN P. KEE: I WAS IN FLORIDA DURING HURRICANE ANDREW AND WE WERE TAKING CLOTHES, GROCERIES AND GIVING MONEY TO PEOPLE WHO LOST EVERYTHING THEY HAD. DURING THAT TIME, ROLAND (PIANO COMPANY) HAD GIVEN ME A RED ROLAND FP PIANO AND I LOVED THIS PIANO WITH ALL OF MY HEART. BUT ON THIS DAY I DECIDED TO GIVE THAT PIANO TO THIS YOUNG MUSICIAN. THAT REALLY MEANT SOMETHING TO ME AND I WAS REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF THAT DAY. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS CORNY FOR A CAREER DEFINING MOMENT. ROOT: I MEAN IT’S SOMETHING SO SIMPLE, YET MEMORABLE. WHAT’S CRAZY IS YOU’RE ACTUALLY KNOWN FOR YOUR GENEROSITY…GIVING OUT MONEY AT YOUR CONCERTS. WHY DID YOU START DOING THAT? JOHN P. KEE: I REMEMBER WE WERE IN ATLANTA AND OUR BUS BROKE DOWN AT LIKE FIVE O’CLOCK IN THE EVENING. THERE WAS PASTOR IN ATLANTA BY THE NAME OF BISHOP JOSEPH PRICE WHO GOT SOMEBODY TO FIX OUR BUS AND SEND CARS FOR THE WHOLE CHOIR. WE ENDED UP GOING TO THEIR CHURCH DURING A SUNDAY NIGHT BROADCAST AND ENDED UP DOING A WHOLE CONCERT. BY THE TIME WE FINISHED SINGING THE BUS WAS FIXED AND HE DIDN’T ASK ME FOR A DIME. HE ACTUALLY CAME ON THE BUS AND GAVE ME A ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL. BACK THEN, A HUNDRED DOLLARS WAS LIKE $1.2 MILLION. HE TOLD ME I DIDN’T OWE HIM ANYTHING AND THAT WHEREVER I GO AND MINISTER, DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT GIVING A SEED TO GOD’S PEOPLE. I NEVER FORGOT THAT AND SINCE THEN IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN MY HEART TO GIVE.
ROOT: LAST YEAR YOU HAD A HEALTH SCARE. HOW ARE YOU NOW DOING NOW? JOHN P. KEE: I'M DOING AMAZING. AT THE BEGINNING OF 2024, RIGHT AFTER BURYING MY MOM I GOT VERY SICK. I THOUGHT I HAD THE FLU INITIALLY AND THEN I THOUGHT IT WAS FOOD POISONING. I WAS PRETTY MUCH SELF DIAGNOSING MYSELF UNTIL MY MANAGER JEANETTE SAID WE WERE GOING TO THE DOCTOR. WHEN I GET TO THE HOSPITAL THEY IMMEDIATELY RUSHED ME TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL AND THAT WAS WHEN I FOUND OUT I HAD NECROTIZING FASCIITIS, WHICH IS A FLESH EATING BACTERIA. THEY OPERATED ON ME FIVE TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO CUT IT OUT. SO THEY WERE CUTTING POISON OUTTA MY FLESH. I WAS DOWN FOR ABOUT THREE AND A HALF DAYS, WHICH PARALYZED MY BODY. I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO DO EVERYTHING ALL OVER AGAIN. I ALSO HAD A SMALL SCARE WITH PROSTATE CANCER AND I'M ACTUALLY DOING RADIATION RIGHT NOW BUT I AM HAPPY TO BE ALIVE. I ALMOST DIED WITH 3,400 UNRELEASED SONGS. ROOT: 3,500 SONGS IS INSANE! JOHN P. KEE: MY CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN CAN RELEASE JOHN P. KEE SONGS FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS! ROOT: YOUR LAST BIG HIT, “I MADE IT OUT,” WAS RELEASED IN 2019. ARE YOU WORKING ON ANY NEW MUSIC? JOHN P. KEE: I HAVE SO MANY PROJECTS THAT I’M WORKING ON MAN. I HAVE ONE ALBUM THAT I RECORDED CALLED �LIVE AT THE CAFE.” I DID SOME STEVIE WONDER SONGS, DONNY HATHAWAY AND SOME JAZZ CUTS. I'VE GOT THE 10 WOMEN, 10 VICTORY RECORD, WHICH IS AMAZING. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO LAND, BUT IT'S GONNA LAND SOMEWHERE BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD STORY. I'VE GOT A CHURCH CHOIR RECORD, QUARTET ALBUM AND A SOLO RECORD MASTERED AND DONE. THE THROWBACK 2025 ALBUM HAS 30 SONGS AND THAT’S DONE AS WELL. I AM GONNA SEND IT TO YOU WHEN WE HANG UP. WE JUST FINISHED THE VIDEO. I'M ALSO BRINGING BACK LITTLE RUFUS BACK TOO. ROOT: HOW HAVE YOU ADAPTED WHILE STILL STAYING TRUE TO YOUR SOUND? MANY ARTISTS TRY TO SWITCH THEIR SOUND UP TO CONFORM. JOHN P. KEE: I'VE JUST ALWAYS BEEN LEGIT, YOU KNOW? THROUGHOUT THE YEARS I FEEL LIKE CODES HAVE BEEN BROKEN. SOME ARTISTS FLIP THE SCRIPT AND TRY TO BE LIKE TYE, KIRK OR FRED. THAT’S NOT HOW WE WERE RAISED. WE HAD TO BE LEGIT COMING THROUGH THE GATE. THAT’S WHY I HAD THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR JAMES CLEVELAND. REV. JAMES CLEVELAND GAVE ME MY FIRST BIG BREAK. HE LOOKED ME IN MY EYE AND DARED ME TO BE DIFFERENT. WHEN WE WOULD GO SING AT THE CONFERENCES, HE TOLD ME TO GO BACK TO MY ROOM. HE TOLD ME THAT GOD HAD SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR ME AND THAT MEANT SO MUCH TO ME. ROOT: WHERE DID THE SHOUTOUTS ON THE ALBUMS COME FROM? YOU WAS LIKE A RAPPER WHEN IT CAME TO THOSE SHOUT OUTS. “KICK IT MICHE,” “STANLEY BROWN, I LIKE THIS PART.” REAL JPK FANS KNOW THOSE LITTLE NUANCES. JOHN P. KEE: THAT WAS A PRODUCTION SECRET, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? BECAUSE WHEN I THREW THEM NAMES OUT THERE, THAT SOLD A WHOLE CITY. ROOT: AHHHH. THAT’S ACTUALLY GENIUS. JOHN P. KEE: WHEN I YELLED OUT STANLEY BROWN OR WHEN I HOLLERED OUT HEZ NAME, AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT SOLD IT! I ACTUALLY HAVE A CRAZY HEZ STORY. JESUS IS REAL WAS NEVER WRITTEN FOR ME. HEZ (HEZEKIAH WALKER) TOLD ME TO WRITE SOMETHING FOR LOVE FELLOWSHIP AND I WENT IN THE STUDIO HERE IN CHARLOTTE AND I RECORD THE SONG, BUT IT DIDN’T HAVE A LEAD ON IT. I CALLED HEZ ON THE LANDLINE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO CELL PHONES BACK THEN, AND HE WAS LIKE, �CAN YOU NAVIGATE IT?” I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT. I SAID, WHAT? HE SAID, �CAN YOU THROW A LEAD ON IT?” SO I WENT BACK IN THE STUDIO THAT SAME DAY AND I REALLY WANTED TO KEEP THAT NEW YORK GROOVE ON THERE AND ONCE I FINISHED IT, I SAID, THIS AIN’T MAKING IT BACK TO NEW YORK (LAUGHTER). JESUS IS REAL WAS WRITTEN FOR HEZEKIAH WALKER AND THE LOVE FELLOWSHIP CRUSADE CHOIR, BUT I ENDED UP KEEPING IT FOR MYSELF. I MADE IT UP TO HIM BY COLLABORATING WITH HIM ON �I’LL MAKE IT.” ROOT: YEAH LIKE 10 YEARS LATER! (LAUGHTER) JOHN P. KEE: �I’LL MAKE IT” WAS THE HIGHEST SONG I EVER SUNG IN MY LIFE! ROOT: I’M STILL TRIPPIN OFF THE FACT THAT JESUS IS REAL, WAS ALMOST A LOVE FELLOWSHIP SONG. THAT’S CRAZY! JOHN P. KEE: IF YOU THINK ABOUT JESUS IS REAL, THE GROOVE AND THE VAMP, THAT’S LOVE FELLOWSHIP ALL DAY! ROOT: YEAH THE DRIVE IS DEFINITELY A BROOKLYN BOUNCE! YOU’VE BEEN HONORED BY BMI BEFORE BUT WHAT DOES THIS PARTICULAR HONOR MEAN TO YOU? JOHN P. KEE: TO BE HONEST, CATHERINE HAS BEEN ASKING ME FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS AND I KEPT SAYING NO. FOR SOME REASON I REALLY DIDN’T CARE ABOUT IT. BUT I NEED YOU TO KNOW, WHEN I WAS ON MY BACK, CATHERINE DIDN'T LEAVE ME OUT THERE BY MYSELF. SHE IS LIKE A SISTER TO ME AND THERE WOULD BE NO JOHN P. KEE STREET MINISTRY WITHOUT HER LATE MOTHER, BARBARA BREWTON. I WAS A LITTLE DRUG DEALER IN THE HOOD AND I CAME FROM CHURCH BUT SHE TOOK ME UNDER HER WING, THREW HER ARMS AROUND ME AND REALLY GAVE ME MY LEGITIMATE START TO WHAT I DO NOW. THE SAME BLOCK I USED TO SELL DRUGS ON, I NOW OWN THE BLOCK. ROOT: THAT’S AN AMAZING TESTIMONY RIGHT THERE. JOHN P. KEE: SO CATHERINE BREWTON IS JUST FAMILY TO ME. WHEN SHE ASKED ME THIS TIME, I JUST COULDN’T SAY NO. I REMEMBERED HER EMBRACE WHEN I WAS IN THAT HOSPITAL AND COULDN'T MOVE. SHE CHECKED ON ME AND MADE SURE I WAS GOOD AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT. BMI HAS BEEN MY FAMILY FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS AFFORDED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE COMFORTABLE IN MY OLD AGE, SO I’M COMING HOME TO SAY THANK YOU. ROOT: WHEN PEOPLE LOOK BACK ON JOHN P. KEE’S LEGACY, WHAT DO YOU HOPE THAT THEY REMEMBER MOST? JOHN P. KEE: HONESTLY, I WANT IT TO BE SAID THAT I WAS A GOOD FATHER TO MY CHILDREN. I DON’T WANNA JUST LEAVE THEM WITH MONEY, BUT I WANNA LEAVE THEM WITH LEGACY. WHENEVER I AM ASKED THAT QUESTION I NEVER THINK ABOUT MUSIC FOR SOME REASON. MY LEGACY SHOULD BE THAT I HAD 62 ACTIVE PROGRAMS IN MY CHURCH THAT WENT OUTSIDE OF THE FOUR WALLS.
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WELCOME TO
ATLANTA
DHARIUS DANIELS: THE MIND, THE MESSAGE, THE MISSION AS TOLD TO HASAN JAMES WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN BOTH THE CHURCH AND IN CULTURE, FEW VOICES RESONATE AS PROFOUNDLY AS DR. DHARIUS DANIELS. A PASTOR, AUTHOR, AND THOUGHT LEADER, DANIELS HAS AN UNCANNY ABILITY TO CONNECT BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES WITH REAL-WORLD STRUGGLES, MAKING FAITH NOT JUST RELEVANT BUT REVOLUTIONARY. IN THIS IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, WITH ROOT MAGAZINE FOUNDER HASAN JAMES, DR. DANIELS REFLECTS ON HIS JOURNEY, THE EVOLVING ROLE OF THE CHURCH, THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS, AND EVEN HIS TAKE ON THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME—BOTH IN BASKETBALL AND IN THE PULPIT.
FROM KILMICHAEL TO KINGDOM BUILDER “I’M JUST A COUNTRY BOY FROM KILMICHAEL, MISSISSIPPI,” DANIELS BEGINS, GROUNDING HIMSELF IN HIS ROOTS. “WHERE I GREW UP, YOU WERE TAUGHT TO VALUE PEOPLE. WHEN YOU LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN, THERE’S NOT MUCH TO DO, SO PEOPLE BECOME YOUR RECREATION. RELATIONSHIPS ARE EVERYTHING.”THAT SMALLTOWN FOUNDATION SHAPED A MAN WHOSE CALLING HAS EXPANDED FAR BEYOND HIS MISSISSIPPI BEGINNINGS. THROUGH CHANGE CHURCH, HIS BOOKS, AND HIS MARKETPLACE INFLUENCE, DANIELS HAS COMMITTED HIMSELF TO HELPING PEOPLE “OPTIMIZE”NOT JUST SPIRITUALLY, BUT IN EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR LIVES.
KEEPING THE CHURCH RELEVANT IN A CHANGING WORLD AS THE CHURCH NAVIGATES DECLINING ATTENDANCE AND SHIFTING CULTURAL NORMS, DANIELS BELIEVES THE KEY TO ITS RELEVANCE LIES IN A BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE FOUND IN 1 CHRONICLES 12:32: THE SONS OF ISSACHAR “UNDERSTOOD THE TIMES AND KNEW WHAT ISRAEL OUGHT TO DO.”“WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE TIMES WE’RE IN,” HE EXPLAINS. “WHAT ARE PEOPLE DEALING WITH? HOW DOES THE GOSPEL SPEAK TO THEIR STRUGGLES TODAY?”DANIELS EMPHASIZES THAT THE CHURCH MUST AVOID ANSWERING QUESTIONS NO ONE IS ASKING. INSTEAD, MINISTRIES MUST ENGAGE THE REAL CHALLENGES PEOPLE FACE. HE CITES A POSTELECTION SERMON SERIES, ARRESTING ANXIOUSNESS, INSPIRED BY STATISTICS ON ANXIETY IN SCHOOLS. “IF STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING WITH ANXIETY, ADULTS DEFINITELY ARE TOO. THE GOSPEL SPEAKS TO THAT.”HIS APPROACH IS SIMPLE YET PROFOUND: RECOGNIZE THE ISSUES PEOPLE ARE GRAPPLING WITH, AND SHOW HOW FAITH PROVIDES REAL, TANGIBLE ANSWERS.
THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS DANIELS’ BOOK RELATIONAL INTELLIGENCE HAS HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT, NOT JUST ON INDIVIDUALS BUT ON COMMUNITIES. “THAT BOOK CHANGED MY LIFE,” I TELL HIM, RECALLING HOW A BOOK CLUB OF TEN MENMOSTLY FRATERNITY BROTHERS STUDIED IT DEEPLY.DANIELS IS HUMBLED BUT CANDID. “I JUST THINK IT'S SUPER DOPE THAT A BUNCH OF MEN GOT TOGETHER TO READ A BOOK. THAT'S HOW YOU PUSH BACK AGAINST SOME OF THE NARRATIVES THAT WE SEE ABOUT MEN AND BLACK MEN IN PARTICULAR. IT’S CRAZY, MAN. WHEN YOU WRITE SOMETHING, YEARS LATER, YOU ALMOST WISH YOU COULD REWRITE IT. BUT I’M GLAD IT’S SERVING PEOPLE.”HE EXPLAINS THAT THE BOOK EMERGED FROM TWO KEY PLACES: HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND HIS OBSERVATIONS AS A PASTOR. “MY GREATEST JOY AND MY GREATEST PAIN BOTH COME FROM RELATIONSHIPS,” HE ADMITS. “IT’S NOT CARS, CRIBS, OR CLOTHESIT’S PEOPLE.”HE RECALLS BEING AROUND INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR FINAL DAYS, NOTING THAT NO ONE ASKS TO SEE THEIR CAR OR BANK STATEMENTS. “THEY ALWAYS ASK FOR PEOPLE.” THAT REALIZATION PUSHED HIM TO EXPLORE RELATIONSHIPS BEYOND ROMANCE AND PARENTING. “RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT IS LIFE MANAGEMENT. EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFESPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, PROFESSIONALIS IMPACTED BY RELATIONSHIPS.”HIS CONCLUSION? “IF RELATIONSHIPS ARE THIS CONSEQUENTIAL, I CAN’T AFFORD TO HAVE AN ELEMENTARY UNDERSTANDING OF THEM.”
WELCOME TO ATLANTA DESPITE ATLANTA’S ALREADY THRIVING CHURCH SCENE, DANIELS PLANTED A CHANGE CHURCH LOCATION THERENOT BY DESIGN, BUT BY DIVINE PROMPTING.“BRO, I STILL DON’T KNOW WHY WE’RE THERE,” HE CONFESSES WITH A LAUGH. “IT WASN’T STRATEGIC AT ALL.”A CHANCE ENCOUNTER AFTER A SERVICE IN ORLANDO SET THINGS IN MOTION. A WOMANFORMERLY A PASTOR’S WIFESHARED HER STORY OF A CONGREGATION LEFT WITHOUT A SHEPHERD AFTER HER HUSBAND’S DEPARTURE. SHE HAD STUMBLED UPON DANIELS’ SERMONS ON TV, VISITED HIS NEW JERSEY CHURCH, AND EVEN LINKED HER FORMER CHURCH’S WEBSITE TO HIS.“I TOLD MY EXECUTIVE PASTOR, ‘CHECK THIS OUT. MAKE SURE IT’S REAL.’ EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT. SO WE DID A CHANGE NIGHTJUST ONE SUNDAY SERVICEAND THE RESPONSE WAS CRAZY.”THE TURNOUT CONFIRMED THE CALL. “TWO MONTHS LATER, WE DID IT AGAIN, AND EVEN MORE PEOPLE CAME. THE FRUIT WAS EVIDENT.” ACTRESS CRYSTAL RENEE HAYSLETT FROM TYLER PERRY’S HIT TELEVISION SERIES SISTERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION AND ACTRESS B. SIMONE ARE MEMBERS OF CHANGE ATLANTA, WHILE TYLER PERRY, EVA MARCILLE, MICHELLE WILLIAMS AND KIRK FRANKLIN HAVE ALSO FREQUENTED THE CHURCH OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. EVEN WITH SO MANY GREAT CHURCHES IN THE AREA, DANIELS BELIEVES CHANGE CHURCH IS THERE FOR A REASON. “WE’RE JUST TRYING TO BE FAITHFUL.”
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WHY MARRIAGE IS ON THE DECLINE DANIELS HAS BEEN MARRIED TO HIS LOVELY WIFE SHAMEKA FOR 24 YEARS, ALL THE WHILE WITNESSING THE SHIFTING CULTURAL LANDSCAPE AROUND RELATIONSHIPS. WITH 35% OF AMERICANS NOW SINGLE, I ASK WHY HE THINK THAT IS.“I’M NOT ALARMED BY THAT STAT,” HE SAYS. “IN FACT, I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE TAKING MARRIAGE MORE SERIOUSLY AND NOT JUST RUSHING INTO IT.”HOWEVER, HE IDENTIFIES THREE KEY FACTORS BEHIND THE DECLINE: 1. AN ANTIINSTITUTIONAL MINDSET “PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING INSTITUTIONS IN GENERAL. WE SEE IT IN EDUCATION, CHURCH, AND MARRIAGE. FEWER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COLLEGE, FEWER PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING CHURCH, AND FEWER PEOPLE SEE THE VALUE IN MARRIAGE.” 2. FEAR OF GETTING IT WRONG “A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SEEN MARRIAGE GO BAD, AND THEY’RE HESITANT.” 3. CULTURAL NOISE “THERE’S SO MUCH MISINFORMATION ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, FROM ‘WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE?’ DEBATES TO 50/50 ARGUMENTS, PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED. THE WRONG VOICES ARE SHAPING THE CONVERSATION.”DANIELS BELIEVES VOICES OF WISDOM MUST BE LOUDER. “WHEN SOME VOICES ARE SILENT, THE ONLY VOICES LEFT ARE THE ONES THAT SHOULDN’T BE SPEAKING.”
THE GOAT DEBATE: JORDAN OR LEBRON? AS A BASKETBALL FAN, DANIELS HAS A CLEAR STANCE ON THE NEVERENDING GOAT DEBATE.“LEBRON’S 50,000 POINTS DIDN’T MOVE THE NEEDLE ONE BIT FOR ME,” HE SAYS. “I’M A BIGGER FAN OF LEBRON THE MANHIS IMPACT OFF THE COURT IS INCREDIBLE. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BASKETBALL? I SAW MICHAEL JORDAN PLAY. I SAW KOBE PLAY. I’VE SEEN LEBRON PLAY. A LOT OF THESE YOUNG GUYS DIDN’T SEE JORDAN IN REAL TIME.”HIS GOAT CRITERIA? RINGS, FINALS MVPS, LEAGUE MVPS, SCORING TITLES, AND DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS. “BY THAT RUBRIC, IT’S MIKE, HANDS DOWN.”DANIELS’ MOUNT RUSHMORE? JORDAN, LEBRON, KAREEM, MAGIC, AND TIM DUNCAN. “MR. FUNDAMENTAL DESERVES HIS SPOT,” HE SAYS DEFINITIVELY.
A PREACHER’S PLAYLIST FOR DHARIUS DANIELS, LEARNING NEVER STOPS. HE ABSORBS WISDOM FROM A WIDE SPECTRUM OF VOICES AND ALTHOUGH WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS MT. RUSHMORE OF PREACHERS HE WAS HESITANT TO COMPILE A LIST, HE DID ADMIT THAT SOME PREACHERS CAPTIVATE HIM WITH THEIR DELIVERYTHEIR PHRASEOLOGY, PACING, AND TONALITY. OTHERS DRAW HIM IN WITH THEIR DEPTH OF INSIGHT, EVEN IF THEIR STYLE ISN’T AS POLISHED.“I DON’T HAVE A SINGLE FAVORITE,” DANIELS ADMITS. “THERE ARE GUYS WHOSE CONTENT I LOVE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THEIR DELIVERY. AND THEN THERE ARE OTHERS WHERE I LOVE THEIR MESSAGING JUST AS MUCH AS THEIR MESSAGE.” HIS INFLUENCES ARE AS VARIED AS THEY ARE VAST. FROM THE INTELLECTUAL DEPTH OF A.R. BERNARD AND TIM KELLER TO THE POWERFUL RESONANCE OF TONY EVANS, HE GLEANS LESSONS FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE PREACHING SPECTRUM. YET, WHEN IT COMES TO COMMANDING A ROOM, HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT FEW CAN MATCH THE MASTERFUL PRESENCE OF BISHOP T.D. JAKES.“IT’S OTHERWORLDLY,” HE SAYS, REFLECTING ON JAKES’ ABILITY TO HOLD AN AUDIENCE SPELLBOUND.FOR DANIELS, THE KEY TO GROWTH ISN’T LOYALTY TO A SINGLE VOICEIT’S THE ABILITY TO LEARN FROM MANY, DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM EACH TO SHARPEN HIS OWN CRAFT.THE KENDRICK LAMAR OF THE PULPIT?I LIKEN DANIELS’ TEACHING STYLE TO KENDRICK LAMAR’S LYRICISMLAYERED, THOUGHTPROVOKING, AND REQUIRING MULTIPLE LISTENS TO FULLY DIGEST.HE LAUGHS. “MAN, THAT’S WILD. BUT I’VE ACTUALLY HEARD THAT BEFORE.”HE RECALLS A CONVERSATION WHERE HE COMPARED PASTORS TO RAPPERS. “I TOLD ONE GUY HE WAS JAYZ, ANOTHER GUY WAS DRAKE, AND I SAID, ‘I THINK I’M KENDRICK.’ I’M JUST OVER HERE MINDING MY BUSINESS, LOVING MY FAMILY, STAYING OUT THE WAY.”KENDRICK’S SUPER BOWL PERFORMANCE, WITH ITS DEEP SYMBOLISM, REMINDED DANIELS OF HIS OWN PREACHING. “IT’S LIKE A DOPE MOVIEYOU DON’T CATCH EVERYTHING THE FIRST TIME.”
UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS AND STEWARDING THE MOMENT REFLECTING ON HIS LIFE’S TRAJECTORY, DANIELS ADMITS NONE OF THIS WAS PART OF HIS ORIGINAL PLAN. IN FACT, THE HUSBAND AND FATHER OF TWO SONS, SETH, 23 AND GABRIEL, 17 HAD ASPIRATIONS OF BEING A LAWYER, BUT INSTEAD OF ATTENDING PRINCETON UNIVERSITY TO OBTAIN A LAW DEGREE, HE CHOSE MINISTRY. “I SAW NONE OF IT COMING. I’M GRATEFUL, SURPRISED, AND AWARE THAT WITH THESE BLESSINGS COME RESPONSIBILITIES.” HIS GOAL NOW? “TO STEWARD WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME WELL, TREAT PEOPLE RIGHT, AND FINISH STRONG.”AS OUR CONVERSATION WRAPS, IT’S CLEAR THAT DHARIUS DANIELS IS MORE THAN A PASTORHE’S A CULTURAL ARCHITECT, SHAPING HOW FAITH INTERSECTS WITH MODERN LIFE. HIS JOURNEY, HIS WISDOM, AND HIS MISSION ARE A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF PURPOSE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ADAPTING THE MESSAGE TO MEET THE MOMENT.AND IF HIS IMPACT IS ANYTHING LIKE HIS INFLUENCE? HE’S JUST GETTING STARTED.
TIME CAPSULE
FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS THE BMI TRAILBLAZERS OF GOSPEL AWARDS HAS PAID HOMAGE TO MANY GOSPEL MUSIC LEGENDS, AND CREATED VIRAL MOMENTS WAY BEFORE INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK AND TIKTOK WERE A THING. HERE IS A TIME CAPSULE OF THE LAST 20 YEARS. - GABRIELLA NATALI
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FOROVERTHREEDECADES,KI RKFRANKLI N HASBEEN THEUNDENI ABLEARCHI TECTOF CONTEMPORARYGOSPELMUSI C.WI THAN UNMATCHEDABI LI TYTO BLENDGOSPEL, R&B,ANDHI PHOPI NTO ANTHEMSOFHOPEANDFAI TH,FRANKLI N HAS REVOLUTI ONI ZEDTHEGENRE,MAKI NG I TACCESSI BLETO THEMASSESWHI LESTAYI NG ROOTED I NI TSSPI RI TUALFOUNDATI ON.HI SCATALOG,WI THSONGSLI KE“ LOVETHEORY, ”“ I MAGI NEME, ” “ ISMI LE, ”“ STOMP, ”AND“ LEAN ON ME, ”WHI CHWASTHEONLYGOSPELSONG I N GRAMMY® HI STORYTO BENOMI NATEDFORSONG OFTHEYEAR,I STHEBESTSELLI NG I N GOSPELHI STORY, ANDWI THAN ASTOUNDI NG COLLECTI ON OFGRAMMYAWARDS( 20TO BEEXACT)TO HI SNAME,HI SI NFLUENCEI SBOTHI MMEASURABLEANDUNDENI ABLE. THI SYEAR, FRANKLI N ADDSYETANOTHERACCOLADETO HI SLEGENDARYCAREER—HI SFOURTH BMIAWARDFORSONGWRI TEROFTHEYEAR,ATESTAMENTTO HI SUNPARALLELED SONGWRI TI NG PROWESS.BUTBEYONDTHETROPHI ESANDTHECHARTTOPPI NG HI TS,KI RKFRANKLI N REMAI NSASTORYTELLERATHEART,USI NG MUSI C TO BRI DGE CULTURALDI VI DESANDBRI NG PEOPLECLOSERTO GOD.I N AN EXCLUSI VE CONVERSATI ON WI THROOTMAGAZI NESTAFFWRI TERJ EANELLEDRYSDALEMI LLER, FRANKLI N OPENSUPABOUTHI SCREATI VEPROCESS,TOURI NG,ANDWHAT CONTI NUESTO DRI VEHI M AFTERDECADESATTHETOP. BYJEANELLEDRYSDALEMI LLER
FEW ARTI STSHAVERESHAPEDAN ENTI REGENREQUI TELI KE KI RKFRANKLI N.SI NCETHEEARLY’ 90S,HEHASBEEN THE BEATI NG HEARTOFCONTEMPORARYGOSPEL,MERGI NG THE SOUNDSOFR&B,HI PHOP,ANDTRADI TI ONALCHURCHMUSI C I NTO ANTHEMSTHATUPLI FTANDI NSPI REACROSSGENERATI ONS. HI SABI LI TYTO CRAFTSOULSTI RRI NG MELODI ESAND THOUGHTPROVOKI NG LYRI CSHASEARNEDHI M APLACEASTHE BESTSELLI NG GOSPELARTI STOFALLTI ME.BUTBEYONDTHE NUMBERSANDACCOLADES,FRANKLI N’ SLEGACYI SONEOF RESI LI ENCE,FAI TH,ANDAN UNWAVERI NG COMMI TMENTTO PUSHI NG GOSPELMUSI C TO NEW HEI GHTS. THI SYEAR,FRANKLI N WI LLRECEI VEHI SFOURTHBMI “SONGWRI TEROFTHEYEAR”AWARDFORHI SPOWERFUL SONGWRI TI NG,FURTHERCEMENTI NG HI SSTATUSASONEOF THEMOSTPROLI FI C SONGWRI TERSI N GOSPELHI STORY.YET, WHEN HEHEARSTHENEWS,HI SRESPONSEI SNOTHI NG SHORT OFHUMBLEAMAZEMENT.“ WOW!IREALLYDI DN’ TKNOW IWAS RECEI VI NG ANOTHERBMIAWARD, ”HEADMI TS.“ BEI NG PARTOF THEBMIFAMI LYFORSO MANYYEARSHASBEEN ATRUE BLESSI NG.BMIHASNOTONLYBEEN APARTNERI N MYJ OURNEY, BUTALSO APLATFORM THATHASALLOWEDMYMUSI C TO TOUCHTHEHEARTSOFSO MANYPEOPLEAROUNDTHEWORLD. FOROVER20YEARSOFBEI NG HONOREDATTHEBMI TRAI LBLAZERSOFGOSPELMUSI C AWARDS,I ' M GRATEFULTO BE SURROUNDEDBYSO MANYI NCREDI BLEVOI CESANDTO CONTRI BUTETO AGENRE THATHASTHEPOWERTO UPLI FT,HEAL,ANDI NSPI RE.THI S PARTNERSHI PHASBEEN API VOTALPARTOFMYCAREER,ANDI ' M THANKFULFOREVERYMOMENTANDEVERYOPPORTUNI TYI THAS CREATED. ” GRATI TUDESEEMSTO BEARECURRI NG THEMEI N FRANKLI N’ S LI FE.EVEN AFTEROVERTHREEDECADESI N THEI NDUSTRY,HE REMAI NSI N AWEOFHI SOWN J OURNEY.FROM COLLABORATI NG WI THLEGENDARYARTI STSLI KEBONO ANDMARYJ .BLI GETO RECENTLYWORKI NG WI THGLORI LLAANDWI LLSMI TH, FRANKLI N’ SMUSI C CONTI NUESTO TRANSCENDBOUNDARI ES. “ NOTATALL, ”HESAYSWHEN ASKEDI FHEEVERANTI CI PATED THI SLEVELOFSUCCESSWHEN HESTARTEDI N1 993. TRYI NG TO PROCESSI T,BUTIUNDERSTANDTHETRUESOURCE OFWHEREALLOFTHI SCOMESFROM.I T’ SNOTABOUTME—I T’ S ABOUTGODCHOOSI NG TO DO WHATHEWANTSTO DO WI TH WHOEVERHEWANTSTO DO I TFOR. ” WHEN ASKEDWHYHE THI NKSTHEKI NGDOM ANDREUNI ON TOURSWERESUCHA GREATSUCCESS,HEHUMBLYLEANEDMORETOWARDSTHENEED FORPEOPLETO GETOUTOFTHEHOUSEAFTERAWORLDWI DE PANDEMI C,ASOPPOSEDTO THEAMAZI NG TALENTTHATWAS ON THEBI LL.“ ITHI NKTHEREASON I TWASSO SPECI ALI S BECAUSEAFTERCOVI DEVERYBODYWASJ USTTAPPEDI NTO THE ZEI TGEI STOFTHEBLACKCHURCHEXPERI ENCE.PEOPLEWERE DESPERATETO GATHERAGAI N. ”
THESTORI ESBEHI NDTHESONGS FRANKLI N’ SCATALOG I SFI LLEDWI THTI MELESSHI TS,BUT WHEN ASKEDI FANYSONG STI LLGI VESHI M CHI LLS,HE RECALLSADEEPLYPERSONALMOMENT.“ IREMEMBERWHEN THE LORDDOWNLOADEDHOSANNATO ME, ”HESAYS.“ TAMMY HI S WI FEWASPREGNANTWI THOURYOUNGESTCHI LD,ANDAS SOON ASILOOKEDATHERSTOMACH,THELYRI CSJ UST DROPPEDI N MYHEART:‘ THEANGELSBOW DOWN ATTHE THOUGHTOFYOU. ” YEARSLATER,THATVERYCHI LD UNKNOWI NGLYNAMEDHOSANNA ASHI SFAVORI TESONG, PROVI NG THATFRANKLI N’ SMUSI CI SWOVEN I NTO THEVERY FABRI C OFHI SFAMI LY’ SHI STORY. WHI LEHI SSONGSCONTI NUETO RESONATEWORLDWI DE, FRANKLI N HASALSO FOUNDNEW WAYSTO CONNECTWI TH HI SAUDI ENCE.HI SVULNERABI LI TYREACHEDNEW DEPTHSI N HI S EMOTI ONALDOCUMENTARY,FATHER’ SDAY,WHEREHE PUBLI CLYNAVI GATEDTHECOMPLEXI TI ESOFHI SRELATI ONSHI P WI THHI SPARENTS.“ WE’ RESTI LLBUI LDI NG ANDTRYI NG TO FI GURETHI NGSOUT, ”HESHARESABOUTRECONNECTI NG WI TH HI SBI OLOGI CALFATHER,MR.RI CK. FATHERBECAUSEITHOUGHTTHEMAN WHO RAI SEDMEWASMY FATHER.SO YOUKNOW,THEREAREMOMENTSWHEREI T' SSTI LL CONFUSI NG TO ME.NOTNECESSARI LYBECAUSEOFHI M,BUT BECAUSETHEREALI TYOFHOW EVERYTHI NG TRANSPI RED.MR. RI CKI SAGREATGUY,BUTFORME,I T' SSTI LLAPROCESS. ”
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2 0 2 5 B M I T R A I L B L A Z E R S O F G O S P E L M U S I C AWA R D S E D I T I O N
Issue #39
May/June 2025
93' TIL INFINITY KIRK FRANKLIN OPENS UP
ABOUT FATHERS DAY DOC, DEON COLE AND NEW MUSIC FEATURING:
ERICA CAMPBELL WARDELL MALLOY PASTOR MIKE JR. J. DREW SHEARD MONICA BUTLER JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS AND MORE
+ PLUS THIS YEAR’S
TOP 20 POWER PLAYERS
BMI TRAILBLAZERS TIME CAPSULE
WHO ARE THE ONES TO WATCH FOR 2025?