Let's Talk: Gospel Music Gold

•Dr. Gina Lloyd is a dynamic gospel recording artist and psalmist whose anointed voice, vocal excellence, and uncompromising stand for holiness have positioned her as one of today’s most impactful voices in gospel music. Known for her ability to merge powerful vocals with authentic, Spirit-led delivery, Dr. Lloyd’s music transcends performance—creating moments of encounter, healing, and worshipwhe...

• Rev. Dr. Charrise Barron  is a scholar of African American religious and cultural history at the Department of Music at Harvard. She holds a Master of Divinity from Yale, where she was pastor of The Black Church at Yale, a student-run church founded in the 1970s by Black Yale students and alumni. And she is an experienced gospel musician who performed at the Kennedy Center as part of President B...

• David Daughtry is a well-known gospel recording artist, actor, and highly sought-after psalmistwhose work exemplifies musical excellence, spiritual depth, and compelling storytelling. A fixture in the gospel music and entertainment industries formore than two decades, Daughtry’s journey into national prominence was shaped by years of preparation, mentorship, and faithful service—making his rise...

•Will Harris is a renowned singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist and author. A native of Oxford, Mississippi, Harris began singing and playing piano in church at an early age. He presently serves as the Director of Music and Arts at the Historic Metropolitan Baptist Church in Largo, Maryland where he leads the music and art ministries providing meaningful experiences that enhance the wors...

• Patrick Lundy Founder-Director of The Ministers of Music is a native of Thomasville, Georgia, a graduate of Howard University and was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Sacred Music by the Wayland Baptist Theological Seminary in October 2019. In August 2022, Dr. Lundy was appointed Chair, Vocal Music Department and Concert Choir Director at theworld-renown Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washi...

• Zak Williams ’ infatuation with music can be traced back to his childhood, when he began to gravitate towards musical instruments, first starting with piano. His appreciation formusic was further developed as Zak attended the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Utilizing his formal music training, Zak played with skill and precision coming to the attention of the late Reveren...

• Etholia Kent-Cooper has dedicated her life to ministry, encouragement, and uplifting communities through faith. Known for her authentic voice, heartfelt worship, and passionfor serving others, she has been singing since the age of five, when she began ministering in her church choir. As a young girl, she was known for having a remarkably powerful voice that often surprised those who heard her si...

• Bishop Michael Strickland serves faithfully and diligently in leading the congregation at Victory Tabernacle Church International to become the church with which God is pleased and smiles upon. The vision God has given him for the ministry is to: “Expose God, Explore God’s Word and Exemplify God’s character in the earth.” •He has appeared several times on Atlanta Live television channel 57. He h...

• Kisha Grandy is a celebrated recording artist, actress, and worship leader whose unmistakable, rich contralto voice firstgained national attention in the 1990s as a featured member of the groundbreaking, multi-platinum-selling Gospel group Kirk Franklin & The Family.•Grandy's vocal performances became integral components of some of the group's most cherished hit songs, including:“Sil...

• Michelle Lee is a dynamic Gospel artist whose soulful voice and heartfelt worship bring arefreshing presence to modern Christian music. Blending spirit-led vocals with contemporary songwriting, she creates music that uplifts, inspires and draws listeners closer to faith.•Her versatile performance background includes appearances at renowned venues such as Radio City Music Hall, The Appollo Theate...

•Kanita Washington  is a dynamic minister, acclaimedrecording artist, playwright, director, and visionary leader whose voice carries healing, clarity, and divine purpose. A native of Washington, D.C., Kanita has spent more than twenty years transforming lives through ministry,music, theater, and the arts. With more than twenty years of experience as a playwright and director, Kanita has produced o...

•Pastor Donald Gay  is a member of the legendary Gay family and leads the Prayer Center Church of God in Christ, founded by his mother in 1959. Rev. Gay has released two albums,  Soulful Sounds  and  On a Glorious Day , and has performed at various Chicago venues, including Millennium Park, the Old Town School of Folk Music, the Chicago Blues Festival, and the University of Chicago Folk Festival.•...

•K. Jeanette grew up in Darlington, SC in the United Methodist Church as a little girl.  She sang in the children’s choir at the ageof 5, and was an usher, she joined the youth choir as a teenager, then later became the director. She is the CEO of the Edith Mae King Foundation that assist victims of domestic violence, breast cancer and elderly care. Sheorganizes an annual Sneaker Ball for the yout...

• Willie Hill hails from Durham, NC and has a great history of playing with bands, Shirley Ceasar, Willie Hinton and many, many more and he has some powerful songs to come. Willie attended North Carolina Central University (located inDurham), where he played trumpet in the University's marching band. He began playing guitar as a teenager and soon gravitated to bass guitar, a move which landed...

•Tremaine "Tranzpar3nt" Barr born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, didn’t just witness struggle, he lived through it. Growing up in poverty forced him to mature quickly and understand the realities of life at an early age. The environment around him could haveeasily shaped him in a different direction, but by the grace of God, Tremaine discovered ways to stay grounded. His natural s...

• Franklin Croutch is carrying forward a profound musical legacy—one rooted in generations of anointing andspiritual depth. His early years were shaped under the mentorship and musical guidance of his godfather, Gospel legend Pastor John P. Kee, a relationship that deeply influenced his musical and ministerial journey.•Beginning as a drummer in his local church during his preteen years, Franklin’s...

•Dr. Paulette Wright is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning Gospel recording artist, author, and actress whose anointed voice has inspired audiences across the globe. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Paulette discovered her gift for music at the age of four and has spent decades sharing her powerful, soul-stirring performances with listeners everywhere.•Since the 1970s, Paulette has gra...

•Cody Malek Mazie is a Chicago-based educator, choir director, and visionary with a lifelong immersion in music. His journey began at age five at Rock of Ages Baptist Church, where he directed his first song, "Shabach," alongside his children’s choir director, Sis. Olivia Young.•A founding member of Deitrick Haddon’s LXW Chicago, Cody has served in leadership roles within Rock of Ages Ba...

•David Fraizer has been involved in music ministry for over four decades and has written and recorded over 100 songs with various Gospel artists. David’s music has been found on numerous Grammy, Stellar and Dove awardwinning recordings. The L.A. Times recently called David Frazier “One of Gospel music’s most successful and consistent songwriters.”•David has written over twenty-six songs for Bishop...

•Courtney Thorpe is a Gospel Recording Artist and Vocal Music Educator, with a BA in Music Business from Berklee College of Music.•She has been a professional vocalist since 2012 and has had many great opportunities singing behind a variety of artists. Y’anna Crawley, Sting, Paul Simon, Micah Stampley, and the late Isaiah D. Thomas, just to name a few.  She was afforded the opportunity to go on an...

• Briana L. Donaldson is a Detroit-based recording artist,worship leader, and certified coach dedicated to helping others say 'yes' to their God-given purpose. •With 25 years of ministry experience—from directing the Michigan Gospel Chorale to headlining her first solo worshipconcert in 2026—Briana blends her background in Applied Positive Psychology with her passion for music. •Briana’s a...

•Benita Bellamy Kelley is a Marketing and Public Relationsexecutive with 27 years of experience in the arts and entertainment. She is the founder and CEO of The Bellamy Group located in Music City USA – Nashville, TN, launched in 2008 to fill a void in the marketing and promotions sector thatfocused on independent music artists of all genres, authors, faith-based businesses and non- profit organiz...

• Pastor Brandon Holland , the youngest of three children born to Presiding Bishop Carl E. and Lady Sandra Holland, has lived a life deeply rooted in faith, family, and ministry. From anearly age, music became a central part of his life. In middle school, he joined the development continued when he began organ lessons in 1991. After graduating from Southfield High School, he attended Oakland Commu...

•Dr. Kathryn Baker Kemp servesas an associate minister at  Memorial M.B. Church in Chicago working in Christian education, music and prison ministry.  She served on the faculty of the Gospel Music Workshop of America 16 years. Kathryn is currently active with the faculty of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses and Pastoral Advisory Council.•Her second book, “Anointed To Sing The G...

•Minister David A. Whitfield II has been entrusted with a gift to be used in witnessing to God’s people.  David thanks God for those who continually believe and supports him and his ministry. He serves as spiritual leader and music director for over 41 years in the Detroit Michigan Area at Wings of Love Ministries.•During the drug epidemic of the 1990’s he was given a vision to bring awareness and...