b. Detroit, Michigan, USA. One of the legends of contemporary gospel music, Hammond's workload and commitment has won him an expansive fanbase and the unreserved respect of his peers. His talents first came to light in the early 80s as bass player an…

Although the general listening public can be inclusive and accepting, it's still a tough trick to achieve real crossover fame. Sibling singing duo Bebe & Cece Winans pulled it off, enjoying immense popularity amongst the CCM crowd for their uplifting…

b. 27 August 1962, Houston, Texas, USA. One of the fastest-rising stars of contemporary gospel music, Adams began her recording career in 1987. She had previously worked as a fashion model and a teacher before joining the Southeast Inspirational Choi…

b. Benjamin Winans, 17 September 1962, Detroit, Michigan, USA. The seventh child of the Winans gospel family, BeBe enjoyed crossover success performing with his sister CeCe. The duo recorded two gold albums and 1991's platinum-selling Different Lifes…

With his soulful tenor vocals and an unerring ability to fuse contemporary gospel with hip-hop sensibilities Smokie Norful is one of the brightest lights on the current gospel scene The son of an African Methodist Episcopal minister Norful spent his …

b. USA. This gospel vocalist's lifelong friendship with Andrae Crouch has informed his own exuberant style. McClurkin's troubled childhood was redeemed by his strong faith, and his path in life was made clearer when he was introduced to Crouch at the…

Mary Mary is the duo of sisters Erica and Tina Atkins who grew up in Inglewood CA in a family also containing five other sisters and a brother Their parents were gospel singers and before long the children were singing in the church choir eventually …

An urban Black gospel band with crossover appeal Commissioned are an extremely evangelistic group in concert who put on such a dramatic show that the altars are routinely packed with repenters following their performances Members Fred Hammond Keith S…

Led by bodybuilder Gary Hines, a former Mr. Minnesota, Sounds Of Blackness is a US gospel/soul 40-piece choir whose work has crossed over to the R&B and dance music charts. Stranger still, perhaps, is the fact that the choir broke through so late in …

Hailing from Fort Worth, TX, Kirk Franklin was leading the choir in his Baptist church by the age of 11, and before long, he was contributing material to numerous successful gospel artists. A smash straight out of the gate with his 1994 debut album,…

Award-winning singer Vickie Winans comes from a large family of impressive gospel singers She began her career when she was a small child performing with family All grown up she completed her debut solo album Be Encouraged in 1985 It was the first of…

Initially a quartet known as the Sounds Of Distinction then the Alliance, this a cappella gospel group of breathtaking ability first formed at Oakwood College, Huntsville, Alabama, USA, in 1980. The group evolved into a six-piece comprising Alvin Che…

Equally gifted as a singer, songwriter, and keyboardist, Andrae Crouch was one of the most successful gospel artists of the 1970s, much to the scandalization of genre purists at the time, who resented his appropriation of rock riffs and showmanship. …

b. Priscilla Winans, Detroit, Michigan, USA. Part of the famous Winans gospel clan, CeCe was the eighth of 10 children. She worked with her brother BeBe in the PTL Singers, before recording with him as the Grammy award-winning duo BeBe And CeCe Winan…

b. 4 April 1973, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. Price, like many of the legendary soul singers to whom she is often compared, developed her musical talents in the local church, where she was nicknamed "Little Mahalia". Her powerful contralto w…

Recruited for the legendary gospel group Commissioned while still a relative unknown Marvin Sapp recorded with the group until its dissolution in 1995 and then began his own solo career with a self-titled album the following year Born and raised in G…

Winans Phase 2 heralded the emergence of a new generation of one of contemporary gospels most prominent families -- Marvin Jr Michael Jr Carvin III and Juan Winans were sons of the original Winans brothers as well as the nephews of duo BeBe and CeCe …