VaShawn Mitchell | |
|---|---|
 Mitchell in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | November 19, 1976 Harvey, Illinois, U.S. |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | Gospel |
| Occupation(s) | singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | vocals |
VaShawn Mitchell (born November 19, 1976) is an American gospel singer and songwriter. He has produced several Stellar Award-winning projects and songs for Grammy Award winners Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Smokie Norful.
Born and raised in Harvey, Illinois, Mitchell graduated from Thornton High School and earned a degree in psychology.
Mitchell began working with mentor Lonnie Hunter at St. Mark Baptist Church. At age 20, Mitchell's musical potential was noticed by Bishop Larry Trotter and he was hired as the Minister of Music at Chicago's Sweet Holy Spirit Church.
As minister of music he was responsible for every aspect of the department. He went on to produce what have become some of the most noted selections in the African American church Don't Last and My Worship Is For Real. VaShawn also produced and released his first solo project entitled, So Satisfied.
As a songwriter, Mitchell has penned hits for Smokie Norful, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Bishop Paul Morton. He is also a worship leader and throughout the years he has written several top-selling choir recordings and spawned such memorable hits as My Worship Is For Real and Trouble Don't Last.
In 2012, Mitchell started the Norman Youth and Arts Foundation, named in memory of his grandfather. The Foundation sponsors summer youth camps for the arts in the Chicago area. Mitchell is also one of the only Gospel artists who acts as a spokesperson and is active with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Foundation.
On December 31, 2016, it was announced that VaShawn Mitchell has been appointed as the General Overseer of Music & Worship Arts of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee.
Mitchell's single, "Nobody Greater", was the most played gospel song of the year in 2011 and spent a combined total of 9 weeks on Billboard's Gospel songs chart.
Mitchell was the most nominated artist at the 27th Annual Stellar Awards; receiving 11 nods and walking away with 6 statues.
He was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards [1] for Best Gospel Performancefor "Nobody Greater" and Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album Triumphant.
Triumphant was also acknowledged by the Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards with 2 nominations for the album Triumphant and hit-single, "Nobody Greater".
Mitchell was honored by his hometown of Harvey, Illinois when they named one of the streets in his neighborhood "VaShawn Mitchell Street.”
Mitchell is a honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. inducted during the 2022 Houston Conclave of the Fraternity.
His recent single, "Turning Around For Me" from the follow-up release Created 4 This entered in Gospel's Top 5 albums chart and R&B Top 25.
In 2013 "How Sweet The Sound" [2] invited Mitchell to sit at the judges table for their popular choir competition.
So Satisfied (1998)
Another Chance (2002) as VaShawn Mitchell & New Image Ensemble
Believe in Your Dreams (2005)
Promises (2007) as VaShawn Mitchell and Friends
Triumphant (2010)
My Songbook (2011) (compilation album)
Created 4 This (2012)
Unstoppable (2014) (Some album covers read Unstoppable Extended Play on this 14-track LP.)Live in Africa (2016)
Cross Music [EP] (2018)
Elements (2019)
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 20 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.
Byron Louis Cage is an American gospel recording artist.
Rev. W.R. "Smokie" Norful, Jr. is an American gospel singer and pianist, best known for his 2002 album, I Need You Now and his 2004 release, Nothing Without You, which won a Grammy at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 2004. Norful received his second Grammy in 2015 at the 57th Annual Grammy awards for his song "No Greater Love", ten years after winning his first.
Vanessa Bell Armstrong is an American gospel singer who released her debut album Peace Be Still in 1983. Armstrong is a seven-time Grammy Award nominee, Stellar Award winner, and a Soul Train Award winner. She has worked with many in the industry such as, Mattie Moss Clark, Daryl Coley, The Clark Sisters, Rance Allen, James Cleveland, and a host of others. The Detroit native also has an honorary doctorate degree in theology from Next Dimension University, received at the West Angeles Cathedral in Los Angeles in 2017.
Thomas Anthony Whitfield was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, pianist, choir director and producer best known for helping to shape the fabric of contemporary gospel music with his elaborate choral arrangements and the merging of musical styles ranging from jazz to classical into traditional gospel foundations. This style earned him the respectable title of "Maestro" by many of his colleagues and supporters. He was best known for organizing one of the popular contemporary gospel choirs of all time, the Thomas Whitfield Company, and for producing best-selling records for Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Douglas Miller, Keith Pringle, Paul Morton and for Aretha Franklin.
The 35th Annual GMA Music Awards were held on April 28, 2004 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2003. The show was held at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Deion Sanders and Yolanda Adams.
Richard Smallwood is an American gospel artist who formed The Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977 in Washington, D.C.
Walking Miracle is the eleventh overall album by gospel singer Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and her first for EMI Gospel.
WOW Gospel 2005 is a double CD gospel music compilation album in the WOW series. Released on January 25, 2005, it has thirty-one tracks. The album cover pays tribute to Washington, D.C.
WOW Gospel #1s included thirty of the number one gospel songs from the past decade on a double CD album. The tracks in this collection have all previously appeared on the annual WOW Gospel compilations. Although not critically well received it still reached number #74 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2007.
WOW Gospel 2009 is a gospel music compilation album from the WOW series. Released on January 27, 2009, it includes thirty songs and two bonus tracks on a double album. It reached number 27 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2009, and number one on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. The album cover pays tribute to the United States of America, particularly with the 2008 election and 2009 inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama.
The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation was held on April 20, 2011, at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. The show was broadcast on GMC on April 24, 2011, hosted by Sherri Shepherd from The Newlywed Game.
The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation was held on April 21, 2010 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2009. The show was held at The Opry Entertainment Complex in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Bart Millard.
Smokie Norful Live is a live album from Contemporary Gospel singer Smokie Norful. The album was released on April 7, 2009, through EMI Gospel.
WOW Gospel 2011 is a gospel music compilation album from the award-winning WOW series. Released on February 1, 2011, the double CD album features thirty contemporary gospel hits. The album cover pays tribute to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The album debuted straight at number one on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, and peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 in 2011.
WOW Gospel 2012 is a gospel music compilation album from the award-winning WOW series. Released on January 24, 2012, the double CD album features thirty contemporary gospel hits. The album cover pays tribute to Los Angeles, California, with a side tribute to the San Francisco Bay Area on the back album cover notes. The album peaked at number one on the Billboard Gospel Albums Chart, and number 30 on the Billboard 200 chart.
WOW Gospel 2013 is a gospel music compilation album from the award-winning WOW series. Released on January 29, 2013, the double CD album features thirty contemporary gospel hits. The album cover pay tribute to Atlanta, Georgia, and it is second WOW Gospel album to do so. The second Atlanta tribute is based on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the "I Have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King Jr. The album topped out at #1 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart and #43 on the Billboard 200 chart.
"Break Every Chain" is a song performed by American recording artist Tasha Cobbs from her major-label debut studio album Grace (2013). The song was composed by Will Reagan, produced by VaShawn Mitchell and released as the album's lead single. The songs features guest vocals performed by Timiney Figueroa from Hezekiah Walker's Love Fellowship Crusade Choir.
The 46th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at the Allen Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other figures within the Christian music industry for the year 2014. The ceremony was produced by the Trinity Broadcasting Network and was hosted by musician Erica Campbell and television star Sadie Robertson. The awards show was broadcast on the Trinity Broadcasting Network on October 18, 2015.
Isaiah Sharkey is an American guitarist, singer-songwriter, and producer. He played guitar as a member of the Vanguard on D'Angelo's 2014 album Black Messiah, which won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. He is also a prolific sideman and session guitarist, having performed with John Mayer, Patti LaBelle, Chris Martin, Paul Simon, Corinne Bailey Rae, Mike Posner, Keith Urban, Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men, and Lalah Hathaway, among others.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
