Donald Lawrence
Those seven words eloquently capture the multifaceted essence of Donald Lawrence. Songwriter. Producer. Composer. Music/choir director. Recording artist. The guiding force behind such No. 1 hits as “Encourage Yourself,” “Back II Eden” and “The Blessing of Abraham.” Lawrence has also been the producing force behind No. 1 songs like: “Blessed and Highly Favored” by the Clark Sisters, and “Lift Him Up,” “Souled Out” and “Every Praise” by Bishop Hezekiah Walker.
Donald Lawrence is one of the most influential figures in modern gospel music. Lawrence has had an impressive career in the gospel industry that has spanned more than 25 years. Over the course of that time, Lawrence resurrected and led the Tri-City singers, who were noted as one of the best choirs in the world, and he has found much individual success as a solo artist with multiple #1 Billboard hits and albums. Donald has also worked on numerous films and television programs, providing his musical services.
On top of over 30 Stellar Award wins and 4 Dove Award wins, Donald has been nominated for 18 Grammy Awards over the course of his career, including a Grammy win in 2008. Lawrence has also served as the face of Verizon’s How Sweet The Sound national tour, the Musical Director and headlining act for the McDonald’s Inspirational Gospel Tour and also the Music Supervisor for BeBe Winan’s hit theatrical production Born For This.
In 2019, Donald and The Tri-City Singers released their 25-year anniversary project titled, Goshen. The highly anticipated album was met with much praise and acclaim. It earned a Grammy nomination for “Best Gospel Album,” and the album’s hit single, “Deliver Me. This Is My Exodus” which went to #1 on the Billboard charts, was also named Billboard’s “most played Gospel song of 2019.” Furthermore, Goshen won 5 Stellar Awards, including the Song Of The Year award for “Deliver Me. This Is My Exodus.”
Lawrence has stayed busy since the release of Goshen. In the past few years he has worked on a song with the Hamilton cast that featured former President Barack Obama and also performed for President Joe Biden’s Inaugural Prayer Breakfast, to name just a few of many projects.
Donald has also helped relaunch the How Sweet The Sound tour, and he has also filled his mentor’s shoes by taking over the
Music & Arts charitable organization started by the late Edwin Hawkins. Donald recently relaunched this organization with an amazing global conference in London and looks forward to the future of this organization. Lawrence also continues to produce new music, like his highly anticipated tribute project to Twinkie Clark, titled Power-Reimagined, expected in the fall of 2023.
“It’s said that the music you do is where you’ve lived,” says Lawrence of his creative journey. “What I do isn’t contrived. I don’t think in terms of genre or religious perspective. It comes from being hon- est. I just honor the gift and purpose I was given to touch the world and inspire. And people have paid attention to that.”