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Gospel Greats Go Mainstream
In Celebration of Black Music Month
June 8, 2010
BET.com profiles gospel artist that have crossed over into mainstream. These artists have done much more than just praise. Where Gospel music is concerned, they have taken their message to the church, on secular TV programs, and to Hip-hop, & R&B radio stations.
Donnie McClurkin
He has won three Grammys and 10 Stellar Awards, and is one of Gospel's most respected artists. Having gone through serious drama in his personal life, McClurkin has put his all into his music.
Kirk Franklin
He stomped his way right into the mainstream, introducing God's people to a new type of Gospel music. Franklin's urban contemporary sound put Gospel music into the spotlight and earned it chart positioning among other genres.
Mary Mary
Mary Mary debuted with the hit song "Shackles (Praise You)," and the rest is history. Since then, these two sisters have continued to take Gospel music to the streets, the clubs and more importantly, the charts.
Tonex
Gospel music artist Tonex knows how to work a little bit of rap, R&B, jazz and pop into his music. He cites his influences as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and other pop music artists, proving that he is destined to go beyond the normal Gospel audience.
Yolanda Adams
In 2009, Billboard named Yolanda Adams the 1st Gospel artist of the last decade. Adams has sold over 4.5 million albums, hosts her own morning radio show, and is one of Gospel music's most popular artists.
Marvin Sapp
Former Commissioned member Marvin Sapp's "Never Would Have Made It" took him to crossover success. The song reached #82 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 list, not an easy task for a contemporary Gospel artist. He is the all-time highest charting Gospel artist in Billboard history.
Fred Hammond
He's been singing his praise since 1985, and, as one of the six original members of Commissioned, Fred Hammond is a Gospel music legend. He has racked up a number of Dove, Stellar and even Grammy Awards.
James Fortune
Texas native James Fortune is not only one of Gospel music's greats, he is an amazing songwriter destined for greatness.
BeBe & CeCe Winans
The brother-sister duo is the most popular of the legendary Gospel-singing Winans family. They have had a string of successful Gospel hits, including "Addictive Love" and "Feels Like Heaven (With You)."
Content courtesy of BET.com
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