“The man who wears many musical colors.”
Those seven words eloquently capture the multifaceted essence of Donald Lawrence. Songwriter. Producer. Composer. Music/choir director. Recording artist. The guiding force behind such No. 1 hits as “Encourage Yourself,” “Back II Eden” and “The Blessing of Abraham.” Lawrence has also been the producing force behind No. 1 songs like “Blessed and Highly Favored” by the Clark Sisters, and “Lift Him Up,” “Souled Out” and “Every Praise” by Bishop Hezekiah Walker.
Donald Lawrence is one of the most influential figures in modern gospel music. He has had an impressive career in the gospel industry that has spanned more than 25 years, during which he resurrected and led the Tri-City singers, who were noted as one of the best choirs in the world, and has found individual success as a solo artist with multiple #1 Billboard hits and albums. He has also worked on numerous films and television programs, providing his musical services.
On top of over 30 Stellar Award wins and four Dove Award wins, Lawrence has been nominated for 18 Grammy Awards over the course of his career, including a Grammy win in 2008. Lawrence has also served as the face of Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound national tour, the musical director and headlining act for the McDonald’s Inspirational Gospel Tour, and also the music supervisor for BeBe Winans’ hit theatrical production Born for This.
In 2019, Lawrence and The Tri-City Singers released their 25-year anniversary project titled Goshen. The highly anticipated album was met with much praise and acclaim. It earned a Grammy nomination for “Best Gospel Album,” and the album’s hit single, “Deliver Me. This is My Exodus” went to #1 on the Billboard charts and was named Billboard’s “most played Gospel song of 2019.” Furthermore, Goshen won five Stellar Awards, including the Song of the Year award for “Deliver Me. This is My Exodus.”
Lawrence looks forward to expanding on the success of the Goshen album and continuing to produce original, unique music and creative content in the future.
“It’s said that the music you do is where you’ve lived,” says Lawrence of his creative journey. “What I do isn’t contrived. I don’t think in terms of genre or religious perspective. It comes from being honest. I just honor the gift and purpose I was given to touch the world and inspire. And people have paid attention to that.”