In 1994, Bryan Wilson burst onto the music scene with a soulful rendition of “His Eye is on the Sparrow” with the Mississippi Children’s Choir that made him an overnight gospel sensation. What followed was Dove and Stellar award nominations, two solo CDS and tours with a who’s who of gospel artists such as John P. Kee, Albertina Walker and Bryan’s mentor, the late James Moore. After a voice change and time off for college at Princeton University, Bryan returned to the music scene with “A Second Coming”, his first CD release since 1999
Wilson’s instant success with the Mississippi Mass Children’s Choir led Malaco Records to offer him his own recording deal. Among the heavy-hitter producers crafting Bryan’s debut were gospel legend Walter Hawkins, Kirk Franklin and John P. Kee. Sticking with a dramatic hymn as the radio single, “Blessed Assurance,” took the CD Bryan’s Songs to #21 on Billboard’s gospel chart in 1996. His 1999 Growing Up CD was recorded during the period when puberty set in and his voice changed. It would be the beginning of an emotional low point in Wilson’s life. “I can remember times when my voice was changing, I would go places to sing and they would want me to sing `His Eyes on the Sparrow,’ but I just could not hit the notes,” Wilson says. “A lot of the times crowds were very displeased because they wanted to hear the little boy with the high voice. I went through a period almost where I couldn’t sing, and it was depressing, because I felt like, now God, you blessed me with this voice and you blessed me to do all these things, but now I feel like He was just taking it away from me. Then, there came a time when I didn’t even want to sing. I was just real hurt, I felt like my career was just coming to an end. I had to re-train my voice and learn how to sing all over again.”
read full story
article courtesy of Gospellyfe.com
