print: Kenneth Wilson - Interview (February 2007) | BlackGospel.com, Your Music Ministry Source!

Interview with Kenneth Wilson
February 2007, BlackGospel.com by Christopher Heron

With four albums to his credit, compositions song by others, including the late Rev. James Cleveland and a rich history of service in Detroit’s mega church, The Greater Grace Temple, Kenneth Wilson has been faithfully following the Spirit of God towards a lifelong commitment in ministry.

That calling also led him to produce an award winning Gospel cable show for eight years entitled, Late Night Praise & Worship. Ken’s efforts also poured into a non-profit organization he founded and now serves as president called The International Christian Music Ministry, Inc based in the State of Michigan.

These series of ventures and commitments in ministry are part of a lifestyle he’s embraced for the better part of his life. It’s also a lifestyle he now melodiously expresses on his new album – Lifestyles Of Worship – his first album by Multi-Provision Music Inc and an album he can be proud of both its musical and ministerial benefits. BlackGospel.com spoke with Kenneth Wilson about his amazing journey as an artist, entrepreneur and servant of God.

Christopher Heron: Minister Wilson, you’re a product of Detroit, Michigan. Please give Gospel listeners across America and around the world a picture of Detroit’s Gospel music scene and how it played an integral role in your love for ministry and music.

Kenneth Wilson: Detroit gospel music is and always has been a very competitive and most perfected sounding music, yet the ministry in the music always seemed to glorify God in many ways. The Detroit gospel sound is just a norm for most of the Detroit artists. I actually do not think about the Detroit sound or other artists; I just do as God has given me to do. People always want to compare this artist to that artist and I guess that’s all right; but as for me, I am just another product of my surrounding.

There are more nationally known gospel artist from and in Detroit than any other city in the USA and we all are somehow compared to each other. I respect them all but try to be like none of them. I am most honored to be a Detroit music artist but most of all, I am honored to be a son of God, a child of the King Jesus Christ and live for His purpose.

CH: The Greater Grace Temple Church is an institution and landmark in Detroit. How influential was church, the many gifted Levites and psalmists who came from that church and your role as music minister for years at Greater Grace?

KW: Greater Grace Temple was my home church for over thirty years where the Late Bishop David L. Ellis help raise me, even paid for my music lessons and fathered me in many ways. The Late Dr. Mattie Moss Clark was our Minister of Music for a season and later on, the Late Rev. Donald Vails was our Minister of Music. I never served as the church Minister of Music, but I did direct the choirs, played the organ, drove the church van, even cleaned the church and worked in the kitchen at one time. I also served on the pulpit minister’s staff serving under Bishop David L. Ellis as needed. Church was and still is a very important part of my life. Being at GGT was the greatest thing for many of us young musicians at that time, such as Fred Hammond, Byron Cage and others, as we all grew up under Bishop David Ellis and learned from each other. It was a great experience that I will never forget, that is growing up at GGT.

CH: You had an opportunity to work with many of the great recording artists both from Detroit and across the country. How did you develop a music partnership with the late Rev. James Cleveland? And how did that friendship lead to eventually recording “Prepare To Meet Him” What lessons on music and ministry did you learn from the legend?

KW: God gave me much favor to meet many great nationally known artists. It was the Rev Donald Vails who took me to the Gospel Music Workshop of America in 1978; there, I met Rev. James Cleveland and many others. He later decided to use my song “Prepared to Meet Him” after the workshop recorded it, then the Southern California Community Choir recorded it again. This was a great start and confirmation that I had something to offer as a writer to the gospel music world. I also learned that a song is only a song when music and words marry each other and speak to the listener causing action, change or conviction; this is what the Rev. James Cleveland taught all of us in the workshop.

CH: It’s been so many years of silence since your last recording. Please tell us a little about this time of preparation. And when or how did your spirit tell you it was your season to return to the stage?

KW: For the last twenty five years I have been in the business of real estate, publishing, investing, and many other some successful and some not successful ventures. Then, I started the Kenneth Wilson Chorale in 1988, in which we had a local and national TV program titled LATE NIGHT PRASIE & WORSHIP. We are finally ready to go full speed and full time with music ministry, with God’s Multi-Provision, and with a clear focus and purpose. God is still developing his character in me and I am now ready to do great things for the Kingdom of God in many ways, using the tools He has given me down through the years of learning. I am now learning that it is the lifestyle that makes the difference and not your own stage performance. True worship is a lifestyle.

CH: I love your title – Lifestyles Of Worship. What prompted you to entitle your album – Lifestyles Of Worship?

KW: God gave me the title “Lifestyles of Worship” because He told me to tell the world that it is the lifestyle that’s important, not just the act of Praise & Worship like lifting hands, clapping, shouting, dancing, speaking in tongues etc… It is the life of God living in and through us and in us which will show Godly character and bring glory to God every day of our lives. This is a worthwhile relationship. Holiness is still what God wants at all times.

CH: Your album is remarkable accomplishment is production and ministry. At times, it reminds me of the Los Angeles Gospel Messengers and The Thomas Whitfield Company and many of the classic recording ensembles. Was this something you were aiming to reproduce? Is your style, sound and ministry a reflection of the best of the last generation?

KW: I must confess that I am honored to hear you claim my music is somewhat reminiscent of the LA Gospel Messengers and the Thomas Whitfield Co., two groups I have always heard of and highly respected. I have never tried to pattern any of my music after any other group. I just do what I know to do when writing songs, etc. I try to write and produce Sunday morning music for worship service. Many Detroit musicians have studied the Thomas Whitfield sound and even copied his great musicianship. I just hear things in my own little way. Again I say, thank you for such a high compliment of my music. What you hear in my music is Kenneth Wilson’s gifts from God, yet seasoned by many gospel greats in our community.

CH: You’ve seen the evolution of Gospel music go from sacred church music, to Contemporary Gospel music made popular by many of Detroit’s well-known artists, to the currently popular Praise & Worship format. What are your thoughts on the transition of styles and sounds of music in the Black church? And what are the essential ingredients to making God’s music able to transform lives and heal broken souls?

KW: I believe that sacred music was created for the glory of God. I also believe that Contemporary Gospel music was created for the purpose of bringing glory to God, only using today’s sound in the music. I believe that Praise & Worship music today is more than a new style of music to the Gospel community. God has always required Christians who love and live for Him to Praise & Worship Him, so it is more than just music because you do not need music to praise and worship God.

True praise & worship is a life of honor and reverence to God and total obedience to the word of God in and at all times. I believe that we can use many styles of music to bring glory to God. First the music must speak the voice of God, other Gospel songs must reveal how to reach God, and other songs should draw one closer to God. If there is no ministry in the music then what’s the music ministry for and if God can’t get the glory, then what are we singing for? To reach souls today we must use music that sounds good to gain the audience’s attention, and then the words must say something more than “baby, baby, baby” or “lordy, lordy, lordy”. The words must be stronger than the music. Our music must minister first to the Lord, then to the people of God, and then to a world in need.

CH: As an Independent artist who has worked and watched many careers in ministry over the years, what do you believe are important factors to succeed as a recording artist and minister in 2007?

KW: As an Independent artist, I believe that you must first ask yourself why am I doing this music. So many people want to be an artist for the purpose of being famous and grand. I think we must find special yet Godly ways of how we can use our gifts and talents to promote God and His purpose. We must not try to just copy each other’s sound. We should receive information from God on how to minister using today’s music. I also believe that to find success in this Gospel music business, we must be able to bring it. Our delivery must be one of truth and substance, not just a groove and a stage show. In 2007, some secular record companies, however, do want their artists to be able to move the people with great entertainment and add sex appeal to create record sales. Let us not confuse the music ministry with the music industry; they are not one and the same.

CH: What do you want to bring to the table, with regards to ministry and meeting the needs of people in 2007, with the Kenneth Wilson Chorale and Lifestyles Of Worship?

KW: As a licensed, ordained elder I must continue to write, produce and record only music that glorifies God, this is part of my call to ministry. I must write strong lyrics that speak loud causing one to think and think again and to make quality decisions. I want my music to fit into today’s gospel sound, yet keep the flavor of yesterdays great church songs that we must not lose. Most of all I want to be an example of a Holy Ghost filled man of God and Gospel artist that is living the life, not just singing the Gospel story.

To contact Kenneth Wilson, call 313.496.3999 or email KennethWilson2@netzero.net. For more information on his ministry, visit the official website at www.kennethwilsonchorale.com.