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Darwin Hobbs

 

Darwin Hobbs is an American gospel music singer noted for his vocal similarity to classic soul singer Luther Vandross. In addition to his career as a gospel artist, Hobbs and his ensemble The Darwin Hobbs Choir have also performed both studio and live background vocals for artists such as Jars Of Clay, BeBe Winans, Michael W. Smith, T.D. Jakes, Shirley Murdock, and countless others. Hobbs also played a small acting role in the HBO movie Boycott.  Since he was introduced to the world with his 1999 debut release, Darwin Hobbs has become known as a singer with a truly once-in-a-generation voice. His range is almost as boundless as it is breathtaking, employed like a finely tuned instrument: soft and tender, big and bold, and all points in between.

But his latest release, titled simply Worshipper, carries him to a realm both higher and deeper than ever before; for even greater than his magnificent voice is his heart for worship and praise of the Almighty. And while Worshipper is every bit as “distinctly Darwin” as any of its predecessors, it also exists in a place all its own, clearly nearer and dearer to him than even his greatest musical moments of years and albums past.

One might say that Worshipper is the album Darwin Hobbs has been destined to make. In fact, Darwin himself says almost precisely that. “A huge part of my artistry arises from my life as a worshipper,” he says, “and that comes out wherever I’m singing, and hopefully in my life as a whole. It’s more than what I do. It’s who I am.”

Darwin’s investment in Worshipper—heart, mind and spirit—is profound, as he assumes a level of involvement and immersion beyond anything he has ventured before, writing or co-writing four of the album’s thirteen songs, and taking the primary role in its stunning vocal arrangements.

The ten songs that make up the core of Worshipper were produced by chart-topping praise and worship luminary, Israel, and Aaron Lindsey, who also share a number of co-writing credits on the project.

Shirley Caesar (b. October 13, 1938) is an African-American gospel singer and Christian pastor.

Caesar was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. She faced many obstacles in her youth, including racism, segregation, the death of her father when she was only eight years old, and the responsibility of caring for a semi-invalid mother.

Caesar began singing as a young girl in church. Although she was struggling in school, she remained determined, and continued with her education while developing her remarkable musical talent. She eventually graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Shaw University.

Caesar began her professional singing career with The Caravan Singers in the mid 1960s. In 1966 her solo career began to take flight as audiences learned of her soul-stirring voice.

Shirley Caesar is currently the Pastor of the Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. She has won won 11 Grammies, 17 Dove Awards, 12 Stellar Awards, and the Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel Album.