We Are All One (Live In Detroit) (2009)

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In the 2004 film, The Donnie McClurkin Story: From Darkness to Light, the trials and triumphs of famed pastor and acclaimed gospel music superstar Donnie McClurkin are fully captured. Through McClurkin’s personal narrative and interviews with several musical icons, McClurkin’s roller coaster life is thoroughly explored, as are the excruciating circumstances of those tainted early years that would lead to years of MCClurkin continually zigzagging between darkness and light. In the authorized documentary, McClurkin does not sugar coat the frustrating details of a once happy childhood that turned disastrous after the death of his brother. The New York native shares with the camera his vulnerable side by describing his dealings with sexual abuse, parents who were drug abusers and other issues fit for an unstable, emotional minefield. The sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of another relative culminated into confusion about his sexual identity, a traumatizing situation whose outcomes would follow him into his prolific ministry and haunts his message even to this day. In finding some peace of mind through the dark days, McClurkin sought solace through his church family; playing piano for local choirs and singing with his sisters in a group called The McClurkin Singers. He was also greatly assisted in his journey to greatness by the counsel and mentorship of two gospel legends that encouraged his ministry gifts.

Besides reflecting in From Darkness to Light on his enduring trials, McClurkin was eager to boast about how Andre Crouch and Marvin Winans provided rays of light through McClurkin’s bleaker moments. It was through their mentorship that McClurkin‘s interest in developing his ministry towards the afflicted took shape. Both singing ministers took a special interest in building McClurkin’s musical confidence and helping him seek out a solo career as a gospel artist. They also kept him accountable to ministering to those struggling with family and personal conflicts similar to McClurkin’s. Time reveals that Crouch and Winans separately entered McClurkin’s life at pivotal points in his burgeoning music ministry, each providing a guiding hand to the man McClurkin’s become today.

Andre Crouch entered McClurkin’s life through the then teenage singer’s family. At the time, McClurkin’s aunt sang backup with Crouch and introduced McClurkin to the Gospel Hall of Famer. Crouch would eventually go on to teach the young McClurkin how to keep his ministry priorities between his music and community service obligations in perspective. An eager McClurkin did not waste any time heeding Crouch’s words of wisdom. In the mid-seventies, he utilized his natural musical and leadership abilities to form a group – The New York Restoration Choir (NYRC) – which featured McClurkin’s sisters, a kind of precursor to the hit-making The McClurkin Singers. Besides their prison and street outreach ministries, NYRC also gained regional radio recognition through their inspirational hit "Speak To My Heart" from their debut I See A World. The early success of that debut recording for McClurkin was just the tip of what was to come for his future as a high profile minister and platinum-selling gospel artist.  

It was 1983 when Marvin Winans entered McClurkin’s life. That year, McClurkin traveled to Detroit for a gospel music seminar at Perfecting Life Church to meet the church’s founder Marvin Winans. Being impressed with McClurkin’s talents, Winans eventually took McClurkin under his wing in 1989 to begin a long working relationship with The Winans family. From 1989 until McClurkin went on to found his own church in his native New York, he faithfully served the Winans and Perfecting Faith in various capacities, including singing backgrounds for the quartet and serving as associate pastor on Marvin’s staff at Perfecting Faith.

It would only be a short time at Winan’s church before those threatening clouds came rolling by to test McClurkin’s faith again, but bountiful blessings soon followed. The most distressing of his trials was an illness that nearly threatened his life and career. After he was diagnosed with leukemia, McClurkin chose to strictly rely on his faith over the traditional chemotherapy treatments.   In only what could be classified as a miracle, he was cured, and afterwards his solo recording career took off. Soon thereafter, McClurkin also had the opportunity to follow Andre Crouch’s advice and realize his ministry mission, by returning to his home to found a branch of Perfecting Faith Church in 2001.

After he established his full-time pulpit ministry, McClurkin found himself in the midst of enduring controversy. Following his testimony of painful childhood sexual abuse and years of subsequent sexual confusion, McClurkin found himself constantly having to reassure various naysayers of his heterosexual orientation. Despite a persisting shroud of questions of his ex-gay status and controversies surrounding his conservative stance that "homosexuality is a spiritual issue…whose cure is deliverance," McClurkin would publicly use his experience to subdue church critics and minister to others of shared theological sentiments, grappling with similar childhood abuses and sexuality issues.   

While building his ministry and becoming a lightning rod for supporters of the gay rights movement, McClurkin was also establishing himself as a major recording artist. From 1996 to 2007, McClurkin released seven solo albums and established an impressive list of hits, including a few with The McClurkin Singers. Many of McClurkin’s biggest hits emphasized inspirational themes for the body of Christ in handling difficult circumstances. "Ooh Child," originally recorded by The Five Stairsteps, "Victory Chant (Hail Jesus, You’re My King);" a reprise of "Speak To My Heart" from McClurkin’s NYRC days; a remake of the Pointer Sisters’ "Yes We Can Can;" and "Stand" endorsed by the popular talk show host and business mogul, Oprah, are examples of McClurkin’s most beloved recordings. Yet the surefire turning point was a song that can be described as his testimonial in surviving his family turmoil and life struggles, the top 40 Billboard R&B hit "We Fall Down."

Coming full circle from his 1996 self-titled debut recording, We Are All One (Live In Detroit) finds McClurkin returning to the city where he first gained national attention as an artist and connected with his mentor, Marvin Winans. We Are All One (Live In Detroit) is also the first recording in four years where Donnie centers more on praise and worship in both its studio and live performances. Whether in the studio or performing live in concert at Straight Gate Church, this thirteen-track Verity Records disc provides a well-balanced offering of electrifying and calming moods. McClurkin’s sensitivity towards global ministry is evident on "Hallelujah Song" as he covers many of the choruses in several languages, including: Dutch, Spanish, and the African language of Yoruba. "The Great I Am" is a future praise and worship masterpiece that revisits McClurkin’s roots in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). There’s also a gospel sonata – "Purple" – backed by the Soulful Symphony directed by Darin Atwood. "Purple" is a welcome blend of classical music flair and rich choral arrangements with McClurkin’s soaring voice serving as the icing on the cake. 

The supporting players and guests on We Are All One are also given their proper due. McClurkin’s current backing vocalists take the lead role on the affecting closing track "All We Ask," and Karen Clark Sheard adds a hefty vocal punch as a duet partner for "Wait On The Lord."   

In all honesty, I highly recommend all the songs on We Are All One. If I had to really choose a stumbling block that prevented the project from reaching perfection, I would say the background vocals lose a bit of their luster from excessive overdubbing. That minor defect is overcome by McClurkin’s mature classical tenor and his excellence in leading worship. Amazing voice and powerful worship are two factors consistent with all of McClurkin’s recorded work, including those with his sisters on the McClurkin Project.  

As for his ongoing internal battle between light and darkness, McClurkin is seeing more lightness these days in both his growing ministry and musical body of work. For all that has evolved from his embattled childhood, I am sure McClurkin is thankful for the support he has received through the years; especially from mentors Crouch and Winans, and other gospel celebrities who have embraced McClurkin along his journey to healing. The same anchoring faith in God, one that kept McClurkin and his ministry from slipping into darkness, is also powerfully present on We Are All One. I’m sure one listen will surely encourage others to bask in the light.  Highly Recommended.

 

By Peggy Oliver

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