The Indie Artist of the week

Charles Jenkins

Charles Jenkins is a Chicago-based gospel singer, pastor, songwriter, and producer who rose to success in 2012 with the blockbuster album The Best of Both Worlds. It was the first of two albums he made with the Fellowship Chicago choir and after 2014's chart-topping Any Given Sunday, he forged a solo career that began with 2016's funky, R&B-influenced Think About These Things. After this, Jenkins focused on shorter releases including a Christmas EP, the Kierra Sheard duet "We Found Love," and the 2023 EP Gospel Music Changed My Life.

 

After mentoring with Rev. Clay Evans, founder of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, Jenkins took over the reins of the mission's choir, Fellowship Chicago, and released the 2012 album The Best of Both Worlds. It topped Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart and crossed over onto the pop chart thanks in part to its infectious single "Awesome," which entered the gospel singles chart at the number one spot that same year, and has since become a staple of the modern praise & worship genre. Respecting gospel traditions but also working to update them with contemporary urban recording techniques and trends, Jenkins hit a spiritual and commercially successful sweet spot. His second album with Fellowship Chicago, 2015's Any Given Sunday, again topped the gospel chart, led by the release of the single "War." Although he maintained his post as Senior Pastor at Fellowship Missionary, Jenkins elected to try a solo career without the choir starting with the single "Winning." Gospel in theme, but with a funky modern R&B vibe, it set the tone for his affirmational 2016 solo debut Think About These Things. A leader both within the church and the greater Chicago community, Jenkins forged a parallel career as an entrepreneur while serving statewide on numerous Illinois boards and committees. Despite his busy schedule, he continued to record new music including 2021's A Charles Jenkins Christmas, the single "God Be Praised" with Elder Eric Thomas, and the Kierra Sheard collaboration "We Found Love." In 2023, Jenkins issued another EP, Gospel Music Changed My Life, followed by the single "Never Knew Love" with Stephanie Mills. ~ Steve Leggett & Timothy Monger