Kirk Franklin

Open your heart, your soul, your mind. That's what Grammy winner Kirk Franklin wants everyone to do when listening to his latest release The Nu Nation Project his fourth album to date. "This album is the greatest picture of who I am and what I believe," says Franklin, the first gospel or Christian artist ever to reach platinum sales with a debut recording. In conjunction with the release of the Nu Nation Project, Word Publishing will debut the only authorized autobiography of the renowned gospel wunderkind entitled Church Boy: My Music and My Life.

Franklin's rise wasn't one that happened overnight. His was a hard-fought battle from the streets of Fort Worth, Texas. It is a tale of despair and deliverance that Franklin has chronicled in Church Boy, but putting his life story to paper wasn't initially of interest. "Plus I knew it would be difficult because I've had so many painful things that I would have to relive." But when he realized his own saga might help others, Franklin proceeded. The book is not only about his life, but also an honest discussion about issues important to him, including racism in the church and sexual promiscuity.

He was born to a teenage mother, the 15-year-old Deborah Franklin, who initially considered abortion until an aunt intervened. That aunt, 64-year-old Gertrude Franklin, ultimately took in the infant and raised Kirk as her own. It was her piano-playing husband who introduced Kirk to music. At four years of age, Kirk would climb the piano stool and attempt to pound out a song. Noting this, Gertrude collected cans to pay for piano lessons for the youngster. By age 7, Kirk's natural talent lured a recording deal, which Gertrude turned down. Joining the church choir, Kirk rose up the ranks to become music director at age eleven.

Despite his love of church and music, the mother-and-fatherless lad lost his way. He got into fights, entertained too many girlfriends, and in school he skipped his academic courses opting only for the arts, choir, band and drama. Attempting to keep the rebellious teen out of trouble and help focus his talent, Gertrude arranged for an audition for him at a professional youth conservatory associated with a local university. Franklin was accepted and for a while his life was on track. But things unraveled fast after a girlfriend announced her pregnancy. Franklin was soon expelled for behavioral problems. He never returned to school.