The Family was a 17-voice gospel choir that served as Kirk Franklin's primary musical ensemble from 1992 until the late 1990s. The group was instrumental in revolutionizing contemporary gospel music by injecting it with youthful R&B and hip-hop influences and propelling Franklin to international fame.
Formation and debut
Following a musical tenure leading the Dallas-Fort Worth Mass Choir, a young Kirk Franklin assembled The Family in 1992 from friends and neighbors in his community. He impressed Vicki Mack-Lataillade, co-founder of the GospoCentric Records label, with a demo tape, and she signed the choir to a recording contract.
The group's self-titled debut album, Kirk Franklin & The Family, was released in 1993 to massive success. The record spent over 100 weeks at the top of Billboard's gospel chart, crossed over to the R&B chart, and was the first gospel album to sell over a million copies. Memorable songs from the album include "Why We Sing," "He's Able," and "Silver and Gold".
Key members
Though revolving around Kirk Franklin's musical vision, The Family featured many talented vocalists and musicians, some of whom became notable in their own right. Prominent members included:
• Tamela and David Mann: After contributing to The Family, the married couple launched successful careers as gospel singers and actors, starring together in the sitcom Meet the Browns.• Kisha Grandy-Lee: A vocalist lead & led the LIVE Video version of ‘Silver and Gold’ that went Gold on Video sales as well as ‘Savior More Than Life to Me’ on the sophomore project ‘whatchalookin4’ which is one of the groups most popular songs. • Dalon Collins: A lead vocalist on songs such as "Real Love" and "A Letter from My Friend".• Other key vocalists: Sheila Brice, Terri Pace, and Nelda Washington also provided lead vocals on the group's early work.
Commercial and critical success
Following their celebrated debut, the group released several other successful projects:
• Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas (1995): The holiday album went to number one on the Billboard Gospel Chart.• Whatcha Lookin' 4 (1996): This platinum-selling album earned Kirk Franklin his first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. It featured hit singles like "Melodies from Heaven".• God's Property (1997): This successful collaboration with the choir God's Property produced the smash hit "Stomp".
Legacy and transition
After their initial run of success, The Family continued to be featured on Franklin's recordings. However, Franklin began releasing more projects under different collective names and as a solo artist in the early 2000s, including albums like The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin (2002). The Family's influence endures, with their unique blend of gospel, R&B, and hip-hop credited for bridging the gap between traditional church music and a new, younger audience. Most recently they returned to the big stage with their appearance at the 40th Annual Stellar Awards in 2025. They are also being featured on the Gospel Music Heritage Month celebration that is airing live on Kirk Franklin’s Praise channel on Sirius XM radio. Their current single ‘Jesus (I Love You Lord Today)’ is receiving heavy rotation at radio nationwide Their music remains a foundational part of contemporary gospel.
