In Black America Podcast: Gospel Singer Bryan Wilson-Part II
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents his second, and final discussion with Gospel singer Bryan Wilson. In 1994, Wilson burst on the music scene with a soulful, melismatic rendition of “His Eye is on the Sparrow” with the Mississippi Children’s Choir that made him an overnight gospel sensation. What followed was Dove and Stellar award nominations, two solo CD’s and tours with a who’s who of gospel artists such as John P. Kee, Albertina Walker and Wilson’s mentor, the late James Moore. Wilson high notes and vocal gymnastics got him a spot on the CD, A New Creation in 1994 with the Mississippi Mass Choir and Mississippi Children’s Choir. The CD reached number 39 on Billboard’s gospel chart and has since sold over 100,000 units. Soon gospel announcers had nicknamed him the “Boy Sparrow.”
After high school, he took a break from recording and earned a B.A. in theology from Claflin University and then worked on his master’s of divinity at Princeton University Theological Seminary.
It’s been five years since his last CD and in the years since, Wilson has developed a new sense of purpose for his music and his life. His new CD “And it’s Over…” on Blacksmoke Music Worldwide, is a unique gospel style fused by old school soul, surf music and alternative rock elements. The sophisticated new praise and worship single was produced by Amos P. Saint Jean.
Wilson’s childhood music was traditional, old school gospel. He had no choice in what I sang. His mother basically handed him some songs and said do you like this one or that one. So, not only is the new CD an exciting blend of faith and urban rhythms; but it’s the first time Wilson had a hand in writing, co-producing and arranging all of the songs. Bill Carpenter, who is Wilson’s manager and publicist, had asked some known songwriters to submit songs for the project and nothing came through. So, he just started writing what the Lord placed on his my heart.
Podcast: Download (66.4MB)
