Donald Andrew “Donnie” McClurkin, Jr. is an American gospel singer and minister. He has gained international recognition for his powerful voice and uplifting messages. Also, he has released numerous albums throughout his career, including “We Praise You” and “Live in London and More”.
McClurkin has also won multiple Grammy Awards for his music, solidifying his status as one of the most influential gospel artists of our time. In addition to his musical career, McClurkin is also a dedicated minister who has touched countless lives through his sermons and outreach programs. He is known for his commitment to spreading positivity and hope, even in the face of adversity. Whether he is performing on stage or preaching from the pulpit, McClurkin’s passion for inspiring others shines through in everything he does. His impact on the world of gospel music and ministry will undoubtedly continue to be felt for generations to come.
Biography
McClurkin was born in the United States of America in Copiague, New York. His two-year-old brother was struck and murdered by a speeding vehicle when he was eight years old. Following the loss of his brother, McClurkin endured family strife. Shortly after that, he was the victim of childhood sexual assault by his great uncle, then years later by his great uncle’s son.
When two of his sisters struggled with drug abuse, the young McClurkin took comfort in attending church and through an aunt who performed background vocals with gospel singer Andraé Crouch. He founded the McClurkin Singers by the time he was a teenager, and he later founded the New York Restoration Choir, which has records dating back to 1975.
In 2002, McClurkin stated on a Christian website that he struggled with homosexuality as a result of sexual assault and pornography.McClurkin believes that childhood molestation and traumatic exposure to pornography were the reasons he “turned” gay, but that he was able to change his orientation via willpower and prayer. He also said that he had rejected that “lifestyle”: “I’ve been through this and have experienced God’s power to change my lifestyle. I am delivered and I know God can deliver others, too.”
A lot of people ask if McClurkin is still alive. In 2018, McClurkin survived a serious road accident after he lost consciousness while driving, however, he survived.
Age
Donnie McClurkin was born on November 9, 1959
Family
It was revealed in 2016 that McClurkin was dating Nicole C. Mullen, a CCM singer-songwriter. In 2021, McClurkin discussed his relationship with Mullen in an interview with TV One’s Unsung, explaining that he had never been in a long-term relationship and that he thought this, along with his previous relationships with both men and women, had rendered him unaware of what women want in a relationship. He added that he worries about possibly never getting married.
However, Matthew McClurkin, McClurkin’s son, was born in 2000. The singer Marsha McClurkin of the brief-lived new jack swing band Abstrac is also related to McClurkin.
Ministry
In 1989, he was appointed as an associate minister at Detroit, Michigan’s Perfecting Church of Marvin Winans. Winans employed McClurkin as his assistant for more than ten years.
He claims that internal bleeding and a sudden, acute pain caused him to be diagnosed with leukemia in 1991. The doctor advised McClurkin, who was 31 at the time, to get help right away, but he chose to follow his own judgment. He says, “I tell people to believe that God will save you, and I had to go back and practice what I preached.”
In 2001, the Winans ordained him and sent him out to build Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York, where he is currently Senior Pastor.
Music
His signing to the label for his 1996 self-titled LP, with producers Bill Maxwell, Mark Kibble of Take 6, Cedric and Victor Caldwell, as well as Andraé Crouch, was made possible via a friendship with a Warner Alliance executive. The album, which included the timeless hit “Stand,” went gold soon after Oprah Winfrey publicly praised it.
McClurkin’s album “Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs” won the Traditional Soul Gospel Album category at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards. The popular songs “Stand” and “We Fall Down” by McClurkin were played often on both Gospel and Urban radio. The Billboard charts for his three solo albums have been at the top.
Following the success of his nearly double-platinum selling album “Live in London and More,” McClurkin released “Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs” in 2005 and “We All Are One: Live In Detroit” in 2009, both of which debuted at the top of the Billboard charts for various musical categories. The majority of McClurkin’s live performances feature a language mix consisting of Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and Dutch because of his love for people and desire to spread gospel music over the world.
Television and radio
McClurkin signed a radio syndication contract with advertiser Dial-Global and syndicator Gary Bernstein thanks to Tom Versen and Tony Sisti of T&T Creative. In Pastor Donnie’s church, T&T Creative installed a portable recording studio that he can also use while traveling.
In 2009, he also broadcast his own television series, Perfecting Your Faith, on cable television. His television appearances include Good Morning America, CBS’s The Early Show, The View, Girlfriends and The Parkers. He has also been featured in such films as The Gospel and The Fighting Temptations. He played a Single Man or a Church Pastor.
Controversies
Because of his opinions on homosexuality, McClurkin’s inclusion as the featured artist for then-Senator Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign sparked controversy. McClurkin was consequently taken from the performance roster, but he nonetheless took the stage during one of the events. Because of his ex-gay status, McClurkin was not permitted to attend the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in August 2013. In response to the U.S. Supreme Court declaring same-sex marriage legal everywhere, he spoke out against it in 2015.
Awards & Nomination
McClurkin 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 10 million albums worldwide. Variety dubbed McClurkin as a “Reigning King of Urban Gospel”.
Net Worth
Donnie McClurkin’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million USD.
Social Media
Instagram: @donmac6453
Twitter:Â @Donnieradio
YouTube: @DonnieMcClurkinShow