Donald Lawrence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donald Lawrence
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Lawrence in 2018
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 4, 1961 |
| Genres | Gospel music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer, choir director, record producer, actor |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | GospoCentric, Reprise, Crystal Rose, Star Song, Island, EMI Gospel, Quiet Water Entertainment, Verity |
| Associated acts | The Tri-City Singers, Dewayne Woods, The Murrills, The Clark Sisters, Kierra Sheard Hezekiah Walker, Sheri Jones-Moffett, Ricky Dillard, O'landa Draper, Natalie Grant, Paul S. Morton |
Donald Lawrence, born on May 4, 1961, in North Carolina, is a famous American gospel music artist. He writes songs, produces music, and performs. You might know his popular songs like "The Blessing of Abraham" and "Encourage Yourself," which were even nominated for a Grammy Award!
Donald studied music at the University of Cincinnati. He has won many important awards, like the Grammy and Stellar Awards. He has also worked with many other talented artists, helping them with their music. He was a vocal coach for the R&B group En Vogue and worked with stars like Kirk Franklin and Mary J. Blige.
Contents
Biography
Donald Lawrence started working with a group called The Tri-City Singers. The group's name comes from the three cities its members are from: Spartanburg, South Carolina, Gastonia, North Carolina, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Early Music Career
The Tri-City Singers released their first album, A Songwriter's Point Of View, in 1993. It quickly became popular, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Top Gospel Charts. Their next album, Bible Stories, came out in 1995 and went straight to number 1! This album was the first to be called "Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers." It included well-known songs like "A Message For The Saints" and "I Am God."
In 1997, Donald Lawrence helped produce Karen Clark Sheard's Grammy-nominated album, Finally Karen. Donald and The Tri-City Singers also released a Christmas album called Hello Christmas that same year.
New Labels and Hit Songs
In 2000, Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers joined EMI Gospel record label. To promote their new album, they released a special CD with remixes of their song "Testify." These remixes were so popular that "Testify" reached number 33 on Billboard's Mainstream Dance Charts!
Their album, tri-city4.com, came out later in 2000. It reached number 2 on the Billboard Top Gospel Charts. The album also featured a famous song called "God's Favor," with guest singers like Karen Clark Sheard and Kim Burrell.
Two years later, in 2002, they released Go Get Your Life Back. The song "The Best Is Yet to Come" was a big hit from this album. It featured guest artists like Ann Nesby and gospel legend Bishop Walter Hawkins. In 2003, they released Restoring The Years, which was a collection of their greatest hits plus two new songs.
Solo Career and Farewell Concerts
Donald Lawrence started a new chapter with his first solo album, I Speak Life, in 2004. This album was also the first release under his new record label, Quiet Water Entertainment. Even without The Tri-City Singers, the album had many famous guest artists. Singers like Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker, and Faith Evans all contributed to the album. Even jazz musicians Ramsey Lewis and Lalah Hathaway were featured. This album earned Donald Lawrence 7 Stellar Award nominations and he won 6 of them!
In March 2006, The Tri-City Singers announced they would stop performing together. But first, they held one last live concert. Two albums, Finale: Act One and Finale: Act Two, were released at the same time on April 4, 2006. These albums captured the audio and video from the concert. The big farewell concert included many gospel stars like Bishop Walter Hawkins and Karen Clark Sheard. The song "The Blessing Of Abraham" from these albums was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006.
Donald Lawrence released his second solo album, The Law of Confession Part I, in February 2009. He also hosted Verizon's "How Sweet The Sound Choir Competition."
Discography
Donald Lawrence has released many albums and singles throughout his career. Here are some of his most well-known works:
Albums
- 1993 A Songwriters Point Of View (with The Tri-City Singers)
- 1995 Bible Stories (with The Tri-City Singers)
- 1997 Hello Christmas (with The Tri-City Singers)
- 2000 tri-city4.com (with The Tri-City Singers)
- 2002 Go Get Your Life Back (with The Tri-City Singers)
- 2003 The Best of Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers: Restoring the Years (a greatest hits album)
- 2004 I Speak Life (his first solo album)
- 2006 Finale: Act One (with The Tri-City Singers)
- 2006 Finale: Act Two (with The Tri-City Singers)
- 2009 The Law of Confession, Part I (solo album)
- 2011 YRM (Your Righteous Mind) (solo album)
- 2013 20 Year Celebration, Vol. 1: Best for Last (with The Tri-City Singers)
- 2018 Goshen (with The Tri-City Singers Reunion album)
- 2023 Donald Lawrence Presents Power: A Tribute to Twinkie Clark (solo album)
Singles
- "Don't Give Up" (1996)
- "Testify (Remixes)" (2001)
- "Never Seen The Righteous" (2002)
- "The Best Is Yet To Come" (2002)
- "The Blessing Of Abraham" (2006)
- "Back II Eden" (2009)
- "YRM (Your Righteous Mind)" (2010)
- "Spiritual" (2011)
- "The Gift" (2013)
- "Goshen 432HZ" (2019)
Awards
Donald Lawrence has won many awards for his amazing music.
Stellar Awards
The Stellar Awards celebrate excellence in gospel music. Donald Lawrence has won many of these prestigious awards:
- 2006: Artist of the Year, CD of the Year, Producer of the Year, Group/Duo of the Year, Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year, and Contemporary CD of the Year for his album I Speak Life.
- 2007: Artist of the Year, Choir of the Year, Producer of the Year, Contemporary CD of the Year, Contemporary Choir of the Year, Special Event CD of the Year, and Music Video of the Year for Finale: Act One.
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards are one of the biggest honors in music. Donald Lawrence has won and been nominated for several Grammys:
- Won: Best Traditional Gospel Album (2007) for Live - One Last Time.
- Nominations:
- Best Gospel Album by a Choir or Chorus (1995) for Bible Stories
- Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album (2000) for Tri-city4.com
- Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album (2002) for Go Get Your Life Back
- Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album (2005) for I Speak Life
- Best Gospel Performance (2006) for The Blessing Of Abraham
- Best Gospel Song (2006) for The Blessing Of Abraham
- Best Traditional Gospel Album (2006) for Finalé Act One
- Best Gospel Song (2007) for Encourage Yourself
- Best Traditional Gospel Album (2007) for The Grand Finalé: Encourage Yourself
- Best Traditional Gospel Album (2009) for The Law Of Confession, Part I
- Best Gospel Song (2011) for Spiritual
- Best Gospel Song (2012) for Released
- Best Gospel Album (2013) for Best For Last: 20 Year Celebration Vol. 1 [Live]
- Best Gospel Performance/Song (2014) for Sunday A.M. [Live]
- Best Gospel Album (2019) for Goshen
