[mk_fancy_title style=”stroke” tag_name=”h3″ size=”18″ line_height=”24″ color=”#A96040″ font_weight=”inherit” letter_spacing=”0″ font_family=”none” margin_bottom=”10″ align=”left”]All it takes is one listen to Brian Courtney Wilson. Then you’re wondrously hooked.[/mk_fancy_title]
Since arriving on the scene in 2009, Wilson has managed to release 3 solo albums and share his talents as a member of Fred Hammond’s United Tenors. Throughout those projects, Wilson’s singular tenor and community-minded ministry has won the humble artist a growing host of fans and critical acclaim. As a Stellar Award winner (United Tenors), a Dove Award winner (Worth Fighting For), ASCAP “Power In Praise” Award winner, as well as a 2016 Grammy Award & Billboard Music Award nominee (Worth Fighting For), the Motown Gospel artist brings the full measure of his singing and songwriting talents to every project and performance.
Wilson’s first album, Just Love (2009) is filled with radio favorites such as “Already Here”, “Awesome God”, the self titled “Just Love” and the song that still holds the record for number of weeks on the Gospel Singles Chart with 92, “All I Need”. His second album, So Proud (2012) builds upon Brian’s signature fusion of gospel, adult R&B and soul music with stand out tracks “He Still Cares”, “Obey Anyway”, “One Day At A Time” & the autobiographical, “So Proud”.
Brian’s current project and first live recording, Worth Fighting For (2015), is produced by the critically acclaimed Aaron Lindsey and was recorded at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Houston. The smash, self-titled single, “Worth Fighting For” has been called a modern day anthem as it overflows with spirit and emotion. Accompanied by a fresh, colorful mix of contemporary R&B, gospel, rock, folk and spoken word, Wilson’s melodic tenor passionately expresses joy, love, self-doubt, grace, empowerment, victory and—above all—inspiration. As he soulfully proclaims on the title track/lead single: “Nothing can separate me from your love / When there’s so much more still worth fighting for.”
The spare yet fervent track also unwittingly laid the foundation for Wilson’s Motown Gospel debut. During an early chat about the album’s direction, Wilson recalls that Lindsey asked him a pivotal question about the state of the church. “In a world that’s become cynical about authority and organized religion, that’s an easy question to get negative about,” says Wilson. “Instead my gut reaction was it’s still worth fighting for and preserving. I didn’t know then it would be the theme of my album. But from there, God revealed the songs.” The message and feel of “Worth Fighting For” clearly connected to listeners as it was the most heard song in 2015 on Gospel Radio and spent 36 weeks in the Top 5 on the Gospel Radio charts.
Changing tempos with the album’s second single, “I’ll Just Say Yes,” Wilson cautions that you can’t realize what God’s promises are until you take the first step forward and say yes. The inspirational declaration is quickly becoming a favorite with church choirs across the country. Wilson’s realness, as well as his natural musical talents, has continued to endear him to fans. Born and raised near Chicago in Bellwood, Illinois, Wilson grew up watching and later singing in his local church’s adult male choir.
Several years after graduating from University of Illinois, Wilson relocated to Houston where he worked for Johnson & Johnson while singing and writing songs for Windsor Village United Methodist Church’s Sunday services. He was discovered when some of his songs were later played on local radio stations.
Worth Fighting For has solidified Wilson’s position in the gospel music industry as a premiere male vocalist. The album made an impact when it was released. Critics heralded the project “a masterpiece”, and said it “Leaves listeners empowered to worship.”
In 2015, the title single peaked at Number 1 on the Billboard Gospel Songs and Mediabase Gospel chart. Later that year Wilson was nominated for two Dove Awards: Contemporary Gospel/Urban Song of the Year and Traditional Gospel Album of the Year. He won the latter category, marking his first Dove Award win. Wilson also earned his first Grammy® Award nomination for the single, “Worth Fighting For” in the Best Gospel Performance/Song category.
The soulful crooner continued his rise performing on several national TV shows including The 47th Annual Dove Awards, BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel, BET Celebration of Gospel, The BMI Trailblazers Awards, The 31st Annual Stellar Awards and more. He continues to tour and has performed at Bishop TD Jakes Megafest, the Help 2.0 tour and in 2016 starred in the Los Angeles-based stage play, “I’m Only Human,” which received rave reviews.
Now Brian Courtney Wilson is ready to start the next chapter in his burgeoning career. “I love how real this album sounds,” says Wilson. “And that’s one of the things I pray for: to create a great catalog of music that people can lean on in good—and tough—times.”
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