Kirk Talley

Last updated

Kirk Talley
KirkTalley.jpg
Kirk Talley in 2007
Background information
Born (1958-06-09) June 9, 1958 (age 65)
Origin Tennessee, U.S.
Genres Gospel music, Southern gospel
Occupation(s) singer, songwriter
Instrument(s) Piano, bass guitar
Years active1972–2012
LabelsSonlite, AMP Production Group [ citation needed ]

Kirk Lewis Talley (born June 9, 1958), is an American Southern gospel performer and songwriter. Talley is best known for his time as a tenor singer with the legendary Gospel Quartet the Cathedrals, the Talleys, and also the family group the Hoppers, along with a very successful solo career as a singer and songwriter.

Contents

Early career

Born in Johnson City, Tennessee, Talley was raised in Bulls Gap, Tennessee and graduated from Bulls Gap High School in 1976. He began performing Southern Gospel Music in 1972 with his brother Roger and sister Debra. He was a member of the groups the Hoppers, the Cathedrals and the Talleys. [1] He joined the Cathedrals in 1979 and with the lineup of Talley, Mark Trammell, Glen Payne, George Younce, and Roger Bennett. During his time with the Cathedrals, Talley wrote a number of songs including "Step Into the Water" that remained at the top of the Southern Gospel chart for nine months. [2] [ failed verification ] He then left in 1983 to join his brother and sister in law, Roger and Debra, to form the Talleys where he sang tenor until 1992.

While with the Talleys, he wrote "He Is Here" [3] which received the 1991 Dove Award for Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year. [4] The album was nominated for the Best Southern Gospel Album at the 34th annual Grammy Awards. [5]

In 1999, Talley formed the Trio with Anthony Burger and Ivan Parker.

Solo career

Talley began his solo career in 1993 and has performed across the United States and Canada. Talley's first No. 1 as a soloist came from his I Speak to You project, with the song "Joy On the Other Side of Jordan". [6]

His project from 1995, Serenade, which would be his first project as a soloist on a major record label, produced two Top 10[ which? ] charting songs, "Serenaded by Angels" [7] and "If He Hung the Moon", [8] but also a string of awards for Talley at the 1996 National Quartet Convention. Gospel Voice magazine presented Talley with three Diamond Awards: Soloist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Song of the Year for "Serenaded by Angels". The Singing News magazine presented him with the 1996 Fan awards for: Favorite Male Vocalist, Favorite Songwriter, and Song of the Year again for "Serenaded by Angels". [9]

In 1999, Talley released his first Christmas album Talley Ho, Ho, Ho! It has "Fruitcake" by Hee Haw Singers and "I Pray on Christmas" by Kingdom Heirs

Talley did not release a project in 2004. In 2005 he released a semi-popular live album Live at the River. My Story, My Song which was his first album to be released on an independent music label since 1993, the rest of his projects in future years would be released on an independent label.

In 2009, after a five-year standstill from releasing projects due to bad press from an extortion attempt that Talley was a victim of in 2003, Talley released his album entitled "Beyond Words." This would be his newest release since 2005. Talley's comments on this release was "I am so excited about this release. I finally was able to find songs that encompasses a little bit of every style that I like. Beyond Words has to be my favorite CD released to this date. I think it's the most upbeat project that I have done in a long time. If you aren't moved by "When His Presence Fills This Place", you need a check up! It's the most awesome ballad I have sung in years. I just wish I had written it!"

Talley's most recent release as a soloist is his 2011 album Hymns of Hope.

In December 2012, Talley retired from singing after losing his singing voice from an ongoing complication with abductor spasmodic dysphonia. This led to his absence from the 2013 and 2014 Cathedrals Family Reunion.

Extortion attempt

Talley was the subject of an extortion attempt in 2003. Talley randomly met Walbert Farmer, a convicted felon, over an internet chatroom. Farmer attempted to blackmail Talley with allegations that Talley was gay and threatened to inform the public, Talley's record company, and other influential Gospel music artists and institutions if Talley did not pay him. Talley refused to do so, and contacted the FBI and they collaborated to arrest Farmer. When Farmer agreed to meet with Talley, Farmer, 39, was arrested and sentenced to a prison term and a fine. [10] [11] [12] After serving 20 months in prison, Farmer was released on probation which terms he violated several times leading to him serving more prison time. [13]

Personal life

In 2010, Talley was diagnosed with abductor spasmodic dysphonia, a vocal disorder that was affecting his ability to sing. By December 2012, it became so severe after a series of Botox shots that were supposed to give strength back to his voice which wound up making his voice worse, he left the road from singing. Talley issued this to the public toward the end of 2013 in a Facebook post which he said "ok i know i haven't posted much on here lately....but as you know I am no longer traveling or singing. I work full time for Belk, at Westtown Mall in Knoxville. I am a Ralph Lauren Polo specialist there and enjoy that. Vocally I am having trouble. I was diagnosed with Abductor Spasmodic Dysphonia and that has caused it to be very difficult to sing, and some days, even talk. Thanks for your prayers concerning that..."[ citation needed ] Talley undergoes regular treatment for his vocal problems in the hopes that he may be able to sing again.

In late 2019, Talley appeared in two Facebook videos singing again for the first time since 2012. He has not made it clear whether or not he will pursue singing as a career again.[ citation needed ]

The Trio members

1998–2006

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirk Franklin</span> American choir director and singer

Kirk Dewayne Franklin is an American songwriter, choir director, gospel singer, and rapper. He is best known for leading urban contemporary gospel and Christian R&B ensembles such as The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC) among many others. He has won numerous awards, including 19 Grammy Awards. Variety dubbed Franklin as a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel", and is one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Bush</span> American musician (1935–2020)

John Bush Shinn III was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Nicknamed the "Country Caruso", Bush was best known for his distinctive voice and for writing the song "Whiskey River", a top 10 hit for himself which also became the signature song of fellow country artist Willie Nelson. He was especially popular in his native Texas.

Linda Thompson is an English singer-songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libera (choir)</span> Musical artist

Libera is an all-boy English vocal group founded by the late Robert Prizeman. Libera performs concerts in many countries, including the UK, the US and throughout Asia, and often makes recordings for their own album releases and other projects.

"I'll Fly Away" is a hymn written in 1929 by Albert E. Brumley and published in 1932 by the Hartford Music company in a collection titled Wonderful Message. Brumley's writing was influenced by the 1924 secular ballad, "The Prisoner's Song".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy Penrod</span> American singer

Guy Penrod is a gospel music singer. He is known for his work as the lead singer of the Gaither Vocal Band, a position he held from 1995 to 2009.

The Cathedral Quartet, also known as the Cathedrals, was an American southern gospel quartet who performed from 1964 to December 1999. The group's final lineup consisted of Glen Payne (lead), George Younce (bass), Ernie Haase (tenor), Scott Fowler, and Roger Bennett.

Dorinda Grace Clark-Cole is an American Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, musician, talk show host, and evangelist. Clark–Cole is best known as a member of family vocal group The Clark Sisters and as a daughter of pioneering choral director Mattie Moss Clark. As a member of The Clark Sisters, Clark–Cole has won two Grammy Awards. She is known to the music world as the Rose of Gospel Music.

James Moss, better known by his stage name J. Moss, is an American gospel musician, composer, producer and arranger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Crabb</span> American musician

Jason Douglas Crabb is a Christian music singer and musician. He has been the lead vocalist for the group The Crabb Family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janet Paschal</span> American singer

Janet Paschal is an inspirational gospel vocalist. She has released numerous albums in that genre and has received multiple fan awards and Grammy and Dove Award nominations. She is also a songwriter and published author. In May 2019, she was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. Paschal was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in October 2022.

Squire Enos Parsons Jr., is a Southern Gospel singer and songwriter. He was born in Newton, West Virginia, to Squire and Maysel Parsons, and was introduced to music by his father, who was a choir director and deacon at Newton Baptist Church. Squire's father taught him to sing using shaped notes.

Spasmodic dysphonia, also known as laryngeal dystonia, is a disorder in which the muscles that generate a person's voice go into periods of spasm. This results in breaks or interruptions in the voice, often every few sentences, which can make a person difficult to understand. The person's voice may also sound strained or they may be nearly unable to speak. Onset is often gradual and the condition is lifelong.

Ivan Ray Parker is an American Southern Gospel singer.

This is the discography of American gospel artist Kirk Franklin. In total, Franklin has won fifteen Grammy Awards, thirteen Dove Awards and twenty-eight Stellar Awards.

The Talleys were a southern gospel trio composed of Roger and Debra Talley, and their daughter Lauren Talley as the lead and soprano singer. Performing over 20 years, they have made appearances all over the world. At the end of 2020 Roger and Debra retired as singers and Lauren began singing full time as a soloist at the start of 2021.

Barry Strauss Carl is an American voice-over actor and musician best known as the bass of the a cappella vocal band Rockapella while the group was house band on the PBS children's geography game show Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?. He was a member of Rockapella from 1988 until he left the group in 2002. Carl is known for his signature deep voice, which he used during his years with the band to create an almost instrumental sounding bass.

<i>A Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet</i> 2010 album by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

A Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet is a CD/DVD released by Christian gospel quartet Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. The album is a tribute to the gospel group the Cathedral Quartet with whom tenor singer Haase performed from 1990 to 1999. This DVD video is the first to feature their new lead singer, Devin McGlamery and last to feature their bass singer, Tim Duncan. The album was released on October 25, 2010 by Spring House Music.

Koryn Mattanah Hawthorne is an American contemporary Christian music and gospel singer. Hawthorne was a finalist in season 8 of NBC's singing competition The Voice, at the age of 17, as a member on Pharrell Williams's team. After placing fourth on the show, Hawthorne got signed to RCA Inspiration, a division of Sony Music dedicated to gospel music recordings. Her debut studio album, Unstoppable, was released on July 13, 2018, and earned her multiple awards nominations, including two Grammy nominations.

Kristle Murden, also known as Kristle Edwards, is an American singer-songwriter, musician, music producer, author and ordained minister. Murden is the soloist on the song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from The Lion King. She made her professional debut in 1979 singing the duet "I'll Be Thinking of You" with Andraé Crouch, for which Stevie Wonder played harmonica. She signed as a solo artist with Light Records, also in 1979. She was nominated for two Grammy awards: her solo album I Can't Let Go was nominated in 1980, and in 1984, she was nominated for her solo vocal performance for "Jesus Come Lay Your Head on Me" from Andraé Crouch's No Time to Lose album. In 1981 she was nominated for a Dove Award for her I Can't Let Go album in the category of Best Soul Black Gospel album.

References

  1. "Kirk Talley Group Listings". Archived from the original on October 10, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  2. "Step into The Water". Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  3. "Gospel's Greatest By Various - Fake Book Sheet Music For Guitar, Piano, C Instruments - Buy Print Music HL.240136 | Sheet Music Plus". www.sheetmusicplus.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  4. "Past Winners | The 51st Annual GMA Dove Awards" . Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  5. "Kirk Talley". GRAMMY.com. November 23, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  6. "Kirk's Solo Career". Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  7. "Serenaded by Angels". Archived from the original on March 23, 2008. Retrieved November 13, 2007.
  8. If He Hung the Moon lyrics
  9. "Gospel Voice Awards" . Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  10. "Washington Blade" . Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  11. "The News Herald" . Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  12. WATE Channel 6, Knoxville, Tennessee
  13. Satterfield, Jamie. "Back to prison for felon". www.knoxnews.com. Retrieved March 4, 2021.