Donnie McClurkin

Early life

McClurkin was born in Copiague, New York. When he was eight years old, his two-year-old brother was hit and killed by a speeding driver, which generated family turmoil. Shortly thereafter, McClurkin was a victim of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of his great uncle and, years later, by his great uncle's son. Two of his sisters dealt with substance abuse, and that's when the young McClurkin found solace in going to church and also through an aunt who sang background vocals with gospel musician Andraé Crouch.

By the time he was a teenager, he had formed the McClurkin Singers and later formed the New York Restoration Choir, with recordings as early as 1975. He released three albums with the New York Restoration Choir before departing to launch a solo career.

Ministry

He was hired as an associate minister at Marvin Winans' Perfecting Church in Detroit, Michigan, in 1989. McClurkin served as an assistant to Winans for over a decade.

In 1991, a sharp pain and swelling, followed by internal bleeding, led, he says, to his diagnosis with leukemia. The doctor recommended immediate treatment, but McClurkin, who was then 31, decided instead to take his own advice. "I tell people to believe that God will save you," he says, "[and] I had to turn around and practice the very thing that I preached."

He was ordained and sent out by Marvin Winans in 2001 to establish Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York, where he is senior pastor.

Music

A friendship with a Warner Alliance executive resulted in his signing to the label for his 1996 self-titled LP, with producers Bill Maxwell, Mark Kibble of Take 6, Cedric and Victor Caldwell plus Andraé Crouch. The disc, which featured the perennially popular "Stand," went gold shortly after being publicly lauded by Oprah Winfrey. At the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, he won in the category Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album for "Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs." McClurkin is best known for his hit songs "Stand" and "We Fall Down," which were played in heavy rotation on both Gospel and Urban radio. His three solo albums have topped the Billboard Charts

Dovetailing off the success of his near 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, which also topped Billboard charts across various musical genres.

In 2014, McClurkin released "Duets" a collaborative album that features artists like Mary Mary’s Erica and Tina Campbell, Fred Hammond, John P. Kee, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Tramaine Hawkins, Israel Houghton and Tye Tribbett. The album debuted at No. 45 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Gospel Billboard charts. This was followed by his 2016 album, "The Journey," which debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. It marked his seventh solo release and features live performances of some of his classics like “Speak to My Heart,” "Great Is Your Mercy," "Stand," and “That’s What I Believe.” His last recorded album is "A Different Song", which was released in 2019 and debuted at No. 2 on the Gospel Billboard charts.

McClurkin's love for people and desire to share gospel music globally is the reason he includes a language medley—Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and Dutch — in most live performances.

Radio and television

Tom Versen and Tony Sisti of T&T Creative signed McClurkin to a radio syndication deal with advertising giant Dial Global Local and syndicator Gary Bernstein. T&T Creative provided a mobile recording studio in Pastor Donnie's church that he can also take on the road. He is quoted as saying, "As much as I love music and singing, I really love doing radio and the direct feedback I get from my listeners all over the country. I never thought I would be having this much fun doing radio, and I could touch and impact so many beautiful people."[19]

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.

Personal life

McClurkin, in 2002, told a Christian website that, due to sexual abuse and porn, he had struggled with homosexuality. "McClurkin believes he "turned" gay because of childhood molestation and traumatic exposure to pornography but was able to reverse his orientation through "will 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."

McClurkin's listing as a headlining performer for then-Senator Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign stirred controversy because of his views on homosexuality. As a result, McClurkin was removed from the performance roster but he still performed at one of the concerts. In August 2013, McClurkin was disinvited from the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom as his ex-gay status was seen as disruptive. In 2015 he spoke out against same-sex marriage in response to the U.S. Supreme Court making it legal nationwide.

McClurkin has a son, Matthew, born in 2000. McClurkin is also related to singer Marsha McClurkin of the short-lived new jack swing group Abstrac.

In 2018, McClurkin survived a serious road accident after he lost consciousness while driving.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0BoIwswfUM |title=Donnie McClurkin – Not Yet (I Can't Die Right Now)

Sexual misconduct allegations

In January 2026, McClurkin was sued for sexual assault by Giuseppe Corletto, a former personal assistant from 2004 to 2008. The lawsuit, filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court, states Corletto met McClurkin in 2003 after reading his autobiography, in which McClurkin wrote he had been delivered from homosexuality. Corletto became McClurkin's assistant in 2004, and within two years, the lawsuit states McClurkin began to grope him during "pray the gay away" sessions. The lawsuit states that the abuse also took place at McClurkin's Perfecting Faith Church and continued for several years during work trips. After an alleged sexual assault in 2013, McClurkin wrote an email apologizing for his actions, in which he allegedly referred to himself as a "dirty old man". McClurkin's attorney responded the allegations were "categorically false."

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilations

Singles

As a lead artist

As a featured artist

Videography

• Live in London and More... (VHS) (2001)
• Again (VHS) (2004)
• Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs (VHS) (2005)

Music Videos

• "Stand"
• "We Fall Down"
• "The Prayer" (with Yolanda Adams)
• "Ooh Child" (with Kirk Franklin)
• "I Need You"

Filmography

Film

• 1998: The Prince of Egypt (wrote and sang "I Am" & "Humanity")
• 2003: The Fighting Temptations
• 2004: Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem
• 2004: The Donnie McClurkin Story: From Darkness to Light
• 2005: The Gospel

Television

• 2001: Girlfriends (TV show)- Season 2 Ep 7 “Trick or Truth”
• 2002: The Parkers (TV show)- Season 3 Ep 16 “Make a Joyful Noise”
• 2002: 17th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
• 2004: 19th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
• 2005: 20th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
• 2006: 21st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
• 2006: An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder (documentary)
• 2009: 24th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
• 2010–15: BET's Sunday Best – judge
• 2010: 25th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – host

Awards and nominations

BET Awards

Main article: BET Awards

The BET Awards are awarded annually by the Black Entertainment Television network. McClurkin has received 2 awards from 5 nominations.

Dove Awards

Main article: Dove Awards

The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. McClurkin has won 4 awards from 13 nominations.

Grammy Awards

Main article: Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. McClutkin has won 3 awards from 5 nominations.

Soul Train Awards

The Soul Train Music Awards are awarded annually. McClurkin has received 2 awards from 5 nominations.

Stellar Awards

The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. McClurkin has received 12 awards from 24 nominations.

Miscellaneous honors

Notes

References

References

1. (July 11, 2023). "Singer Donnie McClurkin talks gospel career and ministry". [[NY1]].
2. (January 26, 2003). "Hopeville Tour". GARY JACKSON.
3. McClurkin, Donnie. (2001). "Eternal Victim Eternal Victor". Pneuma Life Publishing, Inc.
4. "WLIB New York Radio Station". WLIB.
5. "Malaco Gospel". MalacoRecords.
6. "I See a World: The New York Restoration Choir".
7. Jeffers, Glenn. (August 2001). "How Donnie McClurkin Overcame, Sexual Abuse and Leukemia Scare To Become A Gospel Music Star". Ebony.
8. Jeffers, Glenn. (August 2001). "How Donnie McClurkin Overcame Rape, Sexual Abuse And Leukemia Scare To Become A Gospel Music Star". Ebony.
9. "Official Perfecting Faith Church website". PFC.
10. (June 25, 2001). "Popular Gospel Singer Donnie McClurkin Ordained As Pastor". Jet.
11. Waldron, Clarence. (January 6, 2003). "Donnie McClurkin: Gospel Music's Hidden Treasure". Jet.
12. (February 9, 2006). "List of Grammy winners".
13. "Billboard Charts".
14. (May 13, 2009). "Donnie McClurkin Launches Weekly Television Broadcast". Black Christian News.
15. Broverman, Neal. (August 11, 2013). "'Ex-gay' Donnie McClurkin Fired from MLK Concert".
16. "Donnie McClurkin withdraws from March on Washington commemoration concert". Washington Post.
17. Eleveld, Kerry. (October 27, 2007). "Obama Explains Why He's the Best Candidate for LGBT Americans".
18. Sargent, Greg. (October 24, 2007). "Big Gay Rights Group Condemns Obama for Campaign Event with Antigay Singer".
19. Eleveld, Kerry. (March 18, 2008). "Obama Delivers Most Crucial Speech of His Campaign".
20. (October 28, 2007). "Embrace The Change Gospel Concert". Barack Obama.
21. (August 11, 2013). "Donnie McClurkin removed from MLK concert over 'ex-gay' claims, still paid $10,000".
22. Thamosos, Christine. (June 30, 2015). "Ex-Gay Gospel Singer Donnie McClurkin Under Fire After Speaking Out Against Same-Sex Marriage Ruling".
23. Chaney, Winston. (October 20, 2013). "Donnie McClurkin Repairing 'Broken' Relationship With 12-Year-Old Son Matthew".
24. (November 9, 2015). "Donnie McClurkin Spends 56th Birthday With His Son Matthew".
25. (1992). "M & M _Get Ta Know Ya Betta (Album Liner Notes)".
26. (January 5, 2026). "Grammy-winning gospel singer and pastor accused of sexually abusing a young man".
27. Caldwell, Brandon. (January 6, 2026). "Grammy-winning gospel singer Donnie McClurkin accused of sexually abusing a man for years".
28. Robinson, KiMi. "Grammy-winning gospel singer and pastor sued for yearslong sexual abuse".
29. "Donnie McClurkin Chart History: Top Gospel Albums".
30. "Donnie McClurkin Chart History: Top Christian Albums".
31. "Donnie McClurkin Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums".
32. "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". [[Recording Industry Association of America]].
33. (March 21, 2005). "McClurkin Bowing Out Of Music Biz". [[Billboard (magazine).
34. "Donnie McClurkin Chart History: Billboard 200".
35. "Setlist: The Very Best of Donnie McClurkin (Live)- Album by Donnie McClurkin". [[Apple Music]].
36. "Donnie McClurkin Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100".
37. "Donnie McClurkin Chart History: Hot Gospel Songs".
38. "Donnie McClurkin Chart History: Adult R&B Airplay".
39. "Donnie McClurkin Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs".
40. "Donnie McClurkin Chart History: Gospel Streaming Songs".
41. "Donnie McClurkin". BET.
42. "Past Winners".
43. "Dove Award History".
44. "Donne McClurkin". [[Recording Academy]].
45. "Stellar Award History - Gospel Flava".
46. "International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum 2004 Induction Ceremony".