About
Donald Andrew McClurkin Jr. (born November 9, 1959) is an American gospel singer and minister. He has won three Grammy Awards, ten Stellar Awards, two BET Awards, two Soul Train Awards, one Dove Award and one NAACP Image Awards. He is one of the top selling gospel artists, selling over 13 million albums. Variety dubbed McClurkin as a “Reigning King of Urban Gospel”.
McClurkin was born in Copiague, New York. When he was eight years old, his two-year-old brother was hit and killed by a speeding driver, which generated family turmoil. Shortly thereafter, McClurkin was a victim of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of his great uncle and, years later, by his great uncle’s son. Two of his sisters dealt with substance abuse, and that’s when the young McClurkin found solace in going to church and also through an aunt who sang background vocals with gospel musician Andraé Crouch.
By the time he was a teenager, he had formed the McClurkin Singers and later formed the New York Restoration Choir, with recordings as early as 1975. He released three albums with the New York Restoration Choir before departing to launch a solo career.
He was hired as an associate minister…
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