Top American Gospel Artists
The Gospel Music Industry in the United States of America has been the biggest of all times, dishing out the best of Artistry in the global Gospel space. This industry has over the years, influenced the culture of Gospel Music, and writing about them can be hard as the choice of the writer on who to prioritize in the list can be influenced by their interest and other pressing factors, however, in this writing, we will be looking at the top Artistes and Bands who we can group as an artiste too. This does not mean they are better than the rest but they belong to the top echelon of this industry.
KIRK FRANKLIN
Kirk Franklin is a definition of consistency, creativity, innovation, etc. He has been active in his career which has spanned over 30 years. With 13 albums to his belt and numerous Awards ranging from Grammy Awards, GMA Dove Awards, BET Awards, Soul Train Music Awards, and Stellar Awards (He received 16 Grammys and 22 Dove Awards), Kirk Franklin has earned himself the legendary Status in the industry. Some of his popular songs are “Now Behold the Lamb”, “Smiles”, “My World Needs You”, etc.
These strides have made him one of the most successful Gospel Artiste of the 21st century.
DON MOEN
Donald James Moen is a Christian music icon born on June 29, 1950. Apart from singing, he plays the Piano and Violin as well. His genre is mainly Contemporary Christian Music generally known as C.C.M. Moen had his upbringing in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he also attended high school in 1968. He started as a musician in Terry Law Ministries. Had some spells with Integrity Music where he served as a Creative Director and President of Integrity Music, president of Integrity Label Group, and an executive producer of Integrity Music albums for 20 years before leaving in 2007 to start The Don Moen Company. He has numerous albums to his name with lots of awards as well.
DONNIE MCCLURKIN
Top American Gospel Artists
Pastor Donnie is an associate Pastor of Marvin Winan’s Perfecting Faith Church, in Detroit, Michigan. He is been phenomenal with his music career with numerous Awards and albums to his credit. His unique pitching ability has made him outstanding. His approach to every song he sings is special and this has made him a traveling Singer/Pastor around the world. “He has won three Grammy Awards, ten Stellar Awards, two BET Awards, two Soul Train Awards, one Dove Award, and one NAACP Image Award,” according to Wikipedia.. He is one of the top-selling gospel artists, selling over 10 million albums worldwide. Variety dubbed McClurkin as a “Reigning King of Urban Gospel”. Some of his most sort after pieces are “Stand”, “Days of Elijah”, “I call you Holy”, etc.
MICHAEL W. SMITH
The music history of this great musician started in 1978 when he moved to Nashville, TN the center of country music. In 1979, he fully got committed to the Christian faith and his sojourn into Gospel Music began when he became a keyboardist for a group called “Higher Ground”. Smith was signed as a writer to Meadowgreen Music, where he wrote numerous gospel hits for the likes of Sandi Patty, Kathy Troccoli, Bill Gaither, etc. In 1983, he recorded a solo Grammy-nominated album titled “The Michael W. Smith Project”. He has a lot of tracks and albums to his name. He has won numerous Awards too and the attendance for his event is always much.
Smith’s concert in Draper, Utah, on July 24, 2012, was almost canceled due to a complaint filed by a Utah resident on July 16, 2012. He claimed that a performance “conflated with prayer and worship” should take place in a church or on private property rather than in the “public’s backyard.” The following day, the city council decided to cancel the concert, but a day later decided to hold it as planned, in response to criticism from a Utah evangelical group that equated canceling the concert with an assault on religious liberty. The Mayor of Draper and several city council members attended the event and were recognized for their contributions. (Source: Wikipedia)
ELEVATION WORSHIP
This is the music arm of the Elevation Church pastored by Steven Furtick, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. This music collective has written numerous songs since its inception in 2007. They are a group of skilled and talented musicians and singers who come together to write beautiful and amazing songs for the Christian community and everyone that seeks to be in the Faith. Before their being signed with Essential Records, they had four independent albums. Altogether, from 2017 they have 16 albums to their credit. They have won many awards and got nominated for many as well. They have toured, and done collaborations with other collectives like Maverick City, Hillsong, etc. Here is the list of the members: Chris Brown, Jonsal Barrientes, Jenna Barrientes, Tiffany Hudson, and Davide Mutendji.
Past members: Mack Brock, London Gatch, Matthews Ntlele, Anna Sailors Pinkham, Jane Williams (Source: Wikipedia).
TASHA COBBS
“There is Power in the name of Jesus” is not just a song but a declaration of the greatness in the name of Jesus Christ and that power piece is the brainchild of a daughter to a Bishop father and a Pastor Mother (Bishop Fritz Cobbs and Pastor Bertha Cobbs). Natasha Tameika Cobbs started leading worship at Jesus New Life Ministries, founded by her father. “Cobbs Leonard spent three years touring America with Pastor William H. Murphy III (of the Dream Center Church in Atlanta, Georgia) beginning in 2006. She has since led worship at the Dream Center and managed the Worship and Arts department. In 2018, she appeared as herself in the film Sinners Wanted.” Source: Wikipedia.
She has about 5 albums to her name and recipients of awards.
