Kirk Franklin shows DC fans some love with free listening party for new CD 'Long Live Love,' opens up about personal struggles
By Mona Austin
Ahead of the May 31 release of his 13th studio album, Kirk Franklin blessed his most faithful fans in DC with a free listening party on Wednesday. Held at Bishop Alfred C. Owens' Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church and hosted by local radio personality Cheryl Jackson of Praise 104.7-FM, the Q&A format of the event had an intimate vibe as Franklin took questions from and selfies with a few audience members, between playing cuts from the album. Kirk is the first to admit that singing is not his forte. He shines brightest as musician, producer and songwriter. Franklin is truly in his element as a writer on the "Long, Live, Love" project. Fans have grown accustomed to jammable beats and feel good hooks, but this work is more heart-impacting as he lends the same strong pen he displayed for Tamela Mann's hits to himself to provoke self examination and spiritual excavation with the goal of embracing God's matchless kind of love. God's love is universally understood to be comforting, but the writing on the "Long, Live Love" CD reveals a fatherly love that also chastens. Musically, the styles are a fusion of the artist's signature contemporary grooves with a 70's throwback vibe. Relatable and relevant, "long Live Love" may be Franklin's best CD of the millennium. At the listening event, ever energetic, Mr. Franklin couldn't just sit still and listen. On several tracks he got up from his seat, danced, mouthed lyrics, and conducted the audience like it was a mass choir. The song "Idols" resonated with listeners, eliciting audible reactions. In introducing the track Franklin explained the origin of the song: "What you run to first is your idol" he explained. "God had to peel my heart back to reveal he was not my only god. I had some lower case gods that needed to be addressed," he said in reference to false gods such as wanting approval or winning awards.
Always an open book, Franklin shared how his career got started saying in the early 90s he was so "hungry" for success he took a CD player into the men's restroom at a gospel music convention and pressed play hoping to get producers to notice his music. At the time of his classic first recording, "The Reason Why I Sing" he was broke. He said his car was repossessed and he was behind on child support payments. Although there were thousands in the room, this level of transparency made the experience feel up close and personal.
In the open Q&A, spanning the age demographic from over 60 to millennials, inquired about his creative thoughts and spiritual condition when producing the music that touches them.
An innocent 10-year-old girl simply wanted to know what was the first song Franklin wrote. It was a Psalm he'd arranged and his attempt to sing it drew laughter form the crowd.
When a woman asked how he deals with life's dark moments he impressed upon the church that celebrity does not make him any different than anyone else.
"I hurt where you hurt. I go through what you go through. It's really all relative. . .," answered Franklin.
The listening portion was followed by a CD signing, where the contemporary gospel master's supporters were able to pick up the CD for $10 before it is released to the masses. The DC market is one of the strongest for the world renowned Dallas, TX native. Currently on tour, Franklin will perform in concert at the MGM Grand on July 26 in nearby Oxon Hills, MD.
Ahead of the May 31 release of his 13th studio album, Kirk Franklin blessed his most faithful fans in DC with a free listening party on Wednesday. Held at Bishop Alfred C. Owens' Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church and hosted by local radio personality Cheryl Jackson of Praise 104.7-FM, the Q&A format of the event had an intimate vibe as Franklin took questions from and selfies with a few audience members, between playing cuts from the album. Kirk is the first to admit that singing is not his forte. He shines brightest as musician, producer and songwriter. Franklin is truly in his element as a writer on the "Long, Live, Love" project. Fans have grown accustomed to jammable beats and feel good hooks, but this work is more heart-impacting as he lends the same strong pen he displayed for Tamela Mann's hits to himself to provoke self examination and spiritual excavation with the goal of embracing God's matchless kind of love. God's love is universally understood to be comforting, but the writing on the "Long, Live Love" CD reveals a fatherly love that also chastens. Musically, the styles are a fusion of the artist's signature contemporary grooves with a 70's throwback vibe. Relatable and relevant, "long Live Love" may be Franklin's best CD of the millennium. At the listening event, ever energetic, Mr. Franklin couldn't just sit still and listen. On several tracks he got up from his seat, danced, mouthed lyrics, and conducted the audience like it was a mass choir. The song "Idols" resonated with listeners, eliciting audible reactions. In introducing the track Franklin explained the origin of the song: "What you run to first is your idol" he explained. "God had to peel my heart back to reveal he was not my only god. I had some lower case gods that needed to be addressed," he said in reference to false gods such as wanting approval or winning awards.
In the open Q&A, spanning the age demographic from over 60 to millennials, inquired about his creative thoughts and spiritual condition when producing the music that touches them.
An innocent 10-year-old girl simply wanted to know what was the first song Franklin wrote. It was a Psalm he'd arranged and his attempt to sing it drew laughter form the crowd.
When a woman asked how he deals with life's dark moments he impressed upon the church that celebrity does not make him any different than anyone else.
"I hurt where you hurt. I go through what you go through. It's really all relative. . .," answered Franklin.
The listening portion was followed by a CD signing, where the contemporary gospel master's supporters were able to pick up the CD for $10 before it is released to the masses. The DC market is one of the strongest for the world renowned Dallas, TX native. Currently on tour, Franklin will perform in concert at the MGM Grand on July 26 in nearby Oxon Hills, MD.
