Interview: Donnie McClurkin – Singer, Songwriter and Producer - Page 3

This album — and the bulk of your musical catalog — has been recorded live. What compels you to do a live recording as opposed to a studio recording? What do you get the most out of a live performance?

The feeling, the connection with the congregation, the ability to interact and to worship with them and have it sent back to you, you know. To have that physical and essential connectivity that only can be had through a live recording.

When you look at We All Are One, is there a song you feel encompasses that whole experience?

"All We Ask." It's a prayer. I was sitting in the studio. It wasn't even live. I was sitting in the studio waiting for the mixes. I was playing the piano and the melody came. I just played the whole thing and it became like a hymn. While I played it, God didn't send me words. He said, "You don't sing it. I don't want you to sing it. I want this to be a background for a prayer." So I didn't sing at all. I just played the piano.

You are one of the few Gospel performers that has been able to perform with a wide variety of groups and individuals. Most notably, you have performed at the Democratic National Convention, the Republican National Convention and, recently, on Barack Obama's campaign trail. What's your perspective on the role or the influence of religion in politics?

Religion and politics have always been linked from the start of this country. It was one nation under God. In the middle of the 20th century, they added "under God" because it's getting back to the roots. The founding fathers believed in God even though they had profound belief in human beings. They had an essence of Godly belief. That was the seed that allowed this to happen – the freedom of somebody even to the first black man becoming president. There was something in the make-up of this country that included God. That is the reason we can't extract God from the fabric of society, not politically or socially. You can't extract Him. Everything that we do is Bible-based, even the "beware of dog" sign – all that's from the Bible; that's Scripture. People say "by the skin of my teeth" – that's a scripture in the Bible. Everything that we do is linked to Biblical principles. 

Throughout your career, you have garnered a lot of awards and critical praise. And in many circles, you are touted as one of the best traditional artists.

Article Author: Clayton Perry

Clayton Perry's mission parallels that of John Hope Franklin, Marcus Garvey and Carter G. Woodson. As the founder of the NUBIANO Project, Perry facilitates the design of projects that give voice to the Black diaspora, empower the Black community, …

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