Donnie McClurkin

Bio:
Donnie McClurkin (born Donald Andrew McClurkin, Jr. on November 9, 1959 in Amityville, New York) is an American gospel singer and minister. A victim of childhood sexual abuse, Donnie found solace by going to church as a youth. At age 11, Donnie met gospel singer Andrae Crouch and influenced Donnie to pursue music. By the time Donnie was a teenager, he had formed the McClurkin Singers and would go on to form the New York Restoration Choir. Donnie was part of the first gospel show on Broadway, Don’t Get God Started, by Marvin Winan. The Winans became a second family to Donnie and he followed them to Detroit to serve as an associate minister at the Perfecting Church for over a decade. Donnie was diagnosed with leukemia in 1991, but after praying and fasting, he was reportedly discovered to be cancer free. In 2001, Donnie established the Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York. In 1996, Donnie released his first record. It was publicly lauded by Oprah Winfrey and at the 48th Grammy Awards, he won for Traditional Soul Gospel Album. His songs, “Stand” and “We Fall Down,” have been in heavy rotation on both Gospel and Urban radio. Donnie is also a radio personality, and in 2009, he began broadcasting his television series, Perfecting Your Faith, on cable. He is also a judge on the BET gospel competition, Sunday Best.

Best Known For:
Donnie McClurkin is best known as one of the most successful Gospel music artists and as a spiritual personality.

Personal Life:
Donnie has been criticized for his anti-homosexual views. In 2002, he told a Christian website that his sexual abuse led him to struggle with homosexuality, claiming that being gay is a choice.