Christian-music fights segregation
Posted on November 10th, 2003 by Anthony K. Valley
Toby McKeehan aka TobyMac and Kirk Franklin fight against segregation.
Two of the most popular artists in Christian music are relying on faith and friendship to address a large and sensitive issue in their business: segregation.
“For years, I’ve been trying to get a multicultural, multiracial audience to a show I’m performing,” said Christian rapper Toby McKeehan. “I’m finally seeing the fruits of all that labor. This tour is really a dream come true for me.”
McKeehan, who performs as TobyMac, is one of the most successful artists in contemporary Christian music. Before he went solo last year, he was part of the hip-hop trio dc Talk, the best-selling contemporary Christian band ever: It has sold more than 7 million albums and has won four Grammys and dozens of Dove Awards (Christian music’s Grammy).
Last year McKeehan went solo and remained one of Christian music’s biggest stars. His first solo album, “Momentum,” has sold more than 330,000 copies since its release last year.
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“We have both been uncomfortable with the color barrier that exists among Christians,” said gospel artist Kirk Franklin. “So we put together this (I Have a Dream) tour. It’s unfortunate but true: This is the first time a black gospel artist and a white Christian artist have ever toured together.”
Franklin, 33, has been a giant in gospel music since 1993, the year he released his debut, “Kirk Franklin and the Family.” That album sat atop Billboard’s gospel charts for nearly two years and became the first-ever gospel album to exceed sales of 1 million copies.
Since then he has become the most-decorated artist in gospel music. But he, too, has wanted to increase his audience beyond its primary fan base, which is predominantly African-American.
[Full Story @ DenverPost.com]
Source: Denver Post
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Respected authorities,
Greetings in the name of Lord Jesus Christ.
My name is Amoon Shahzad and I am a choir director at Christ Revival Church Lahore, Pakistan. There are about 300 members in our regular church service on Sunday. We also have a Sunday School for kids, where they learn about our savior Jesus Christ and their teachers teaches them by using audio visual aids. We also have a Bible School for adults, in our church. Where we have certificate courses for the ones who want a deeper knowledge about Bible.
We do not have a big choir but I must say that we have an anointed choir. By the grace of God, miracles do happens during worship. But we are facing a problem. There is no modern day musical instrument in our church. We just have a Congo drum and a local instrument, known as Harmonium.
As Pakistani nation is not a wealthy nation, so as the church. We don’t have enough money to buy keyboard (organ), guitar or any other electronic instrument. So if you have any new or used electronic instrument, that you can send to us as a gift, we would be thankful to you.
Looking forward to hearing a positive response from you SOON.
May God bless you and your ministry.
Yours in His Service,
Amoon Shahzad
Choir Director,
Christ Revival Church.
Office Tele:- 092-42-5855968
E-mail: heaven3_ct@yahoo.co.uk