NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series will celebrate Black History Month by featuring four weeks of Tiny Desk (home) concerts and playlists by Black artists spanning different genres and generations each week. The lineup includes both emerging and established artists who will be performing a Tiny Desk concert for the first time. This celebration highlights the beautiful cornucopia of Black music and our special way of presenting it. We hope you enjoy.
Bobby Carter | February 25, 2021
Kirk Franklin, set up with his band and choir in a corner of Uncle Jessie’s Kitchen, makes a declaration. “I know you’re at home right now, in your draws, listening to some Jesus music. It’s ok. Jesus loves you in your draws!” The Arlington, Texas studio, named after a long time close friend, features a large photo of the iconic “I AM A MAN” protest signs from the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike on the wall. The jubilant energy that Franklin and company emit, juxtaposed with a visual reminder of the strife that Black people have endured is illustrative of the importance of gospel music in the Black community.
For nearly 30 years, Franklin has been widely regarded for revolutionizing gospel. He incorporated secular music, particularly hip-hop, while preserving the message and integrity of traditional gospel. Here, he and his powerhouse choir pace through a decades-long, sixteen Grammy award winning discography of faith, praise and encouragement while cracking plenty of jokes. I cannot recall a more moving Tiny Desk home performance.
All month long, we’ve presented artists that speak to the diversity and complexity of Black music–where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going. For the final show, we take it back to the spiritual roots and there’s no one more fitting to cap things off than Mr. Kirk Franklin.
SET LIST
Love Theory
Silver and Gold
Melodies From Heaven
I Smile
MUSICIANS
Kirk Franklin: vocals, keys
Melodie Pace: vocals
Darian Elliot: vocals
Michael Bethany: vocals
Eboni Ellerson: vocals
Deon Yancey: vocals
Tia Rudd: vocals
Shaun Martin: keyboard
Matthew Ramsey: bass
Terry Baker: drums, percussion
CREDITS
Video: Clear Scope Media
Audio: Michael Havens Reese Brooks
TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Bobby Carter
Video Producer: Morgan Noelle Smith
Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
Art Director: CJ Riculan
Tiny Production Team: Bob Boilen, Kara Frame, Maia Stern
Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
#nprmusic #kirkfranklin #gospel #tinydesk
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Unsigned artists: Want to play your own Tiny Desk concert? Enter the Tiny Desk Contest by March 14! npr.org/tinydeskcontest
I almost gave up…. SMILE. So deep.
All of his songs are bangers.
that is some soulful strut from Mr bassman
Words can’t explain what this performance means to me, but maybe this emoji will do. ?
My drawz indeed! lolo Appreciate the blessing that y'all are. Thank You all
I was looking to see ThunderCat on bass when the music started.?
My sister was your must fervent fan, when she died on 2009, you became my connection point to her memory. KIRK FRANCKLIN AND TEAM, Thank you so Much!!!
WOW
Quero morar nesse vídeo ??
Que coisa linda, que vibe é essa ??
I am Indonesian. Kirk Franklyn is my favorite Gospel singer. His songs always excite me! Let Jesus Christ Lord put Kirk on the history of God'Kingdom in the earth!! Bless Him forever!
Melodies from heaven ?? ? ? ?
Ate love me some uncle Kirk amen family amen ?? ????????
Maravilhoso !!! Kirk and band God bless you !!!!!!
Awesome! Amazing! Unbelievable! You did a incredible job Kirk Franklin ????????
This bassline is saving souls.
????
This video always finds its way into my life when I need it. In moments of joy and in struggle…incredible
But ONLY FIFTEENTH minutes tho?
This show was amazing! Everything about it was spotless & necessary! Kirk’s WHOLE personality, singers, music, THAT BASS! OMG!!!
NPR should have been more confident with the views he’d bring to their channel…definitely dropped the ball.
Dis is beautiful amazing Blessings Amen
Like ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 888
PRAYING I GET OUT SITUATION IM N….. HOPING I FIND MY WAY….. AND STAY FROM ?
1:07 pure vibes
The best Tiny Desk ever! Heavenly!!
Lo máximo,