Kirk Franklin’s “Hero” CD debuts at #1!

Gospel Mogul’s New CD Tops Billboard Charts in First Week of Release and Receives Stellar Reviews

Live Interactive Audio Online Chat Scheduled for October 13 at 8pm on GospelCity.com

Fo Yo Soul Entertainment/Zomba recording artist Kirk Franklin’s new CD HERO, debuted at #1 position on two Billboard Magazine charts - Top Gospel Album and Top Christian Albums - in its first week of release! Additionally, the CD debuted this week at #5 on the Billboard R&B Albums Chart and #13 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. Kirk, the biggest selling gospel artist in the SoundScan era, released his sixth CD on October 4.

HERO, the first release on Franklin's new Fo Yo Soul Entertainment label (in association with the newly formed Zomba Gospel) features a host of musical all-stars including musical genius Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams, Sheila E., Dorinda Clark-Cole, Marvin Winans, tobyMac, Tye Tribbett, J. Moss and P.O.D.’s Sonny Sandoval among others. The first single from the CD, “Looking For You,” a signature hype record featuring the classic Patrice Rushen sample “Looking For You,” is currently getting major airplay on radio stations across the country.

Press reviews of the new CD reflect why Franklin’s music continues to top today’s music charts. USA Today states, "Franklin'sempathy for the struggling and downtrodden and optimism that trouble can be overcome by faith give his music depth.While there is plenty of foot-stomping and hand-clapping inspired by the music, he makes his serious intent clear." The Associated Press writes, "The album contains Franklin's typical but explosive mix of hip-hop and R&B-flavored gospel. He also uses samples from soul classics - from Earth Wind and Fire's ‘Keep Your Head to the Sky’ to Randy Crawford's ‘You Bring the Sun Out’ - to create this ‘comfort-food for the soul.’" The website www.ChristianityToday.com notes, "The musical freshness as Franklin pulls together different sounds to merge the aural past with the present, makes it an album that represents a ‘Rebirth,’ perhaps even more than the album of that name."

Get this from:

Email This Article     Print This Article