Milton Brunson

Milton Brunson
Birth name Milton R. Brunson
Also known as Rev. Milton Brunson
Born (1929-06-28)June 28, 1929
Chicago, Illinois
Died April 1, 1997(1997-04-01) (aged 67)
Chicago, Illinois
Genres gospel, black gospel, traditional black gospel
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Instruments vocals, singer-songwriter
Years active 1947–1997
Labels Nashboro, Word, Epic, A&M, Myrrh, Hob, Benson
Associated acts Thompson Community Singers ("The Tommies"), Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, Robert Johnson, Ricky Dillard, Jessy Dixon

Milton R. Brunson (June 28, 1929 – April 1, 1997) was an American gospel musician and former pastor and music director of Christ Tabernacle Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois. Rev. Milton Brunson released his first musical project in 1988, Available to You with Word Records alongside Epic Records. The last album, When You Get High on Jesus, Oh My God, released in 1997 by Hob Records, and this was a posthumous release. The last album to chart was 50 Blessed Years, that charted on the Billboard charts. All-in-all, he has had ten albums that have charted on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart over the course of his career and some even after his death. He received a nomination for the Best Gospel Album, Group or Choir at the 1988 Soul Train Music Awards and for Best Gospel Album at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards. He won a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards, while he was nominated two other times.

Early life

Brunson was born on June 28, 1929,[1] in Chicago, Illinois.[2] His father was a stockyard worker, while his mother was a music and religion teacher.[2] After he graduated from McKinley High School,[3] he pursued a career in music by getting trained by Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, and Robert Johnson, to hone his craft in the arts.[2] He eventually became an ordained minister in 1964, and founded, pastored, and was the music director at Christ Tabernacle Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois.[2]

Personal life

Brunson was married to Joann Brunson at the time of his death at his residence in Chicago, Illinois on April 1, 1997.[1][2] They had three children together, two daughters, Donna Louise and Lavitia, and a son, Kevin.[2] He is interred at Oakridge Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.[1] He even has a post office branch name after him in Austin, Chicago.

Music career

His music career started in 1947, at the age of 18 by learning his craft from Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, and Robert Johnson.[2] After this mentoring process, he started the Thompson Community Singers (nicknamed, "The Tommies"),[3] that appeared on many episodes of the Jubilee Showcase.[2] They even played Grant Park during the Chicago Gospel Music Festival and at the Apollo Theater and at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[2] This got them enough recognition to play in England, Italy, and many other countries around the globe.[2] Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers released twenty-two musical projects, and a few of those were released posthumously.[4] Ten albums got charted on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, with five of them achieving the top spot on the chart.[5] They received numerous accolades ranging from a nomination for the Best Gospel Album, Group or Choir at the 1988 Soul Train Music Awards and for Best Gospel Album at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards.[2] In addition, they won a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards, while they were nominated two other times.[2] The Thompson Community Singers boasts some notable alumni particularly, Ricky Dillard and Jessy Dixon.[2]

Discography

List of selected studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions[5]
US
Gos
Miracle Live 6
There Is Hope 1
If I Be Lifted 1
Available to You 1
Open Our Eyes 1
My Mind Is Made Up 1
Through God's Eyes 4
Shout 5
He's Still Good 9
50 Blessed Years 24

References

  1. 1 2 3 K. "Milton R. Brunson". Find a Grave Memorial. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Reich, Howard (April 3, 1997). "Voice Of Chicago Gospel Falls Silent". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Ankeny, Jason. "Rev. Milton Brunson : Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  4. ↑ AllMusic. "Rev. Milton Brunson : Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Billboard. "Rev. Milton Brunson : Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
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