Speak To My Heart
Since the age of 9, McClurkin says, he's been in the habit of praying for guidance, then opening his Bible and trusting God to lead him to an enlightening passage. One of the first he found that way was Proverbs 18:16 - "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men."
In '81, Donnie told the other members in his group that God said he was going to work with Marvin Winans. Later, in '83, while attending a seminar given by Winans, Donnie was asked to lead a song. After a less than stellar rehearsal, Donnie sang the song in the evening service. Afterward, Marvin said to Donnie, "I don't even know what your name is. I have nothing to offer you, but somehow we're going to work together." To which Donnie replied, "God told me that two years ago." Finally, in November of '89, Donnie joined the staff of Winans' Perfecting Church as an associate minister, almost ten years after the initial word from God.
His association with Warner Alliance actually began before the record company even existed. "I met Demetrus Alexander [now Vice President of Gospel Music] in '86. When I met her, we talked for 20 minutes and I said, 'God is going to use you in the gospel music industry.' Four years later she was with Alliance. In December of '90, she came to our church with Donna McElroy. She said 'I've been looking for you.' I was with another label and she asked me to sing "Speak To My Heart" at this pre-Grammy party put on by Warner Alliance and Choice Management. All these people were sitting there. I was as nervous as a cat. My support, the choir, was in the balcony. I was all alone on stage and all I could say was 'I'm just a church boy that God just healed from leukemia and all I know is Jesus.
In a day where boundaries are vague and righteousness is being restructured, Donnie McClurkin stands firm and compassionate, but uncompromising-offering music that inspires, uplifts and transforms, and speaks to the very depth of our hearts. As the saying goes, "When you've heard from God, then you have something to say."
TRACK BY TRACK
STAND - I picked "Stand." I felt there was something about that song. That was the first time that God gave me a complete song at one time. I
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