Hip-hop Pioneer Afrika Bambaata accused of sexual molestation

NY Daily NEWS

As one of the artists who helped invent the music that exploded out of South Bronx block parties and Boys Club dances, hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa was already a New York legend in the late 1970s.

Ronald Savage was just a kid thrilled to be part of the burgeoning Bronx hip-hop scene when he met Bambaataa, whose 1982 hit “Planet Rock” helped turn rap into a global phenomenon. But the thrill of hanging out with the influential artist evaporated quickly, Savage says, when Bambaataa sexually abused him in 1980, inflicting deep emotional wounds that continue to torture him to this day.

The former music industry executive and author says he struggled privately with intimacy and struggled with suicidal thoughts for decades from the abuse that occurred when he was 15 years old, but he broke his silence in recent weeks with the release of a self-published memoir entitled “Impulse Urges and Fantasies” that includes the explosive Bambaataa allegations as well as a YouTube interview with urban radio veteran “Star” that has rocked the hip-hop world.

“I want him to know how much he damaged me growing up,” says Savage, 50, who was known as “Bee Stinger” when he was running with the Zulu Nation, the international hip-hop organization Bambaataa founded in the 1970s.

“I was just a child,” he told the Daily News. “Why did he take my innocence away? Why did he do this to me?”

Ronald Savage describes his experience as a teenager in the Bronx, where he says he was molested by hip-hop legend Afrika Bambaataa.

Savage says he’s speaking out because he wants to change New York’s statute of limitations, which bars child sexual abuse victims from pursuing criminal charges or civil penalties after their 23rd birthday. He’s not looking for a payday, he says, but he does want relief from the secret that has haunted him from years — and he wants to prevent children from suffering like he has.

“I think the statute of limitations is unfair for victims,” he says. “It took me all of these years to speak about this. I was embarrassed. I was ashamed.”

Savage, also a Bronx Democratic Party activist, says Bambaataa was 23 years old and already perhaps the best-known ambassador of the burgeoning Bronx hip-hop scene when the rap star molested him 36 years ago. Bambaataa abused him at least five times, Savage says, but he did not go to the police or tell anybody else, although he says that years later, he did confide in his mother, ex-wife and several former girlfriends.

“People don’t understand that you are scared. You’re scared if you tell on this person, what are they going to do to you, what you’re going to do to your family,” says Savage.

Bambaataa did not respond to requests for comment, but his lawyer Vivian Kimi Tozaki issued a sharp denial last week.

Bambaataa, a hip-hop trailblazer, was already a cultural icon when the alleged abuse took place.

“Defamatory statements were published seeking to harm my client’s reputation so as to lower him in the estimation of the community while deterring others from associating or dealing with him,” she said, referring to Savage’s book. “The statements show a reckless disregard for the truth, were published with knowledge of their falsity, and are being made by a lesser-known person seeking publicity.”

Chuck Freeze of the Jazzy Five, who recorded and performed with Bambaataa and was friendly with Savage when the abuse allegedly took place, says Savage is no liar.

“Ronald was the kind of guy you could trust,” says Freeze, whose real name is Charles Foushee. “You could leave money on the table and know it would be there when you got back. A really good dude. Easy to talk to. Very intelligent.

“We had no idea about this — and we would not have tolerated it if we did. Do I believe it? Yes, I do.”

Zulu Nation “minister of information” Quadeer Shakur, who declined comment for this story, threatened to file a defamation lawsuit against Savage in a March 31 cease-and-desist letter. The organization, which promotes unity in the hip-hop community, also issued a statement that suggests Savage had concocted the allegations to generate sales for his book.

Ny daily news photo

“I hated myself,” Savage said of his emotional torment. “It was like I was hypnotized.”

But Bronx court records obtained by The News suggest Savage told his ex-wife about the abuse years before he published the book, which he began writing when a therapist suggested he write down his experiences and anxieties. Savage got a restraining order against his ex-wife’s boyfriend, Daniel Harris, after Harris threatened Savage during a Dec. 3, 2010, phone call. Harris was later charged with violating the restraining order after a confrontation with Savage on a Bronx subway platform.

“I know about the Bambaataa thing,” the court records say Harris told Savage in July 2011. Savage believes Harris heard about the abuse allegations from his ex.

Savage told police that Harris followed him onto a train and punched him “sharply in the side,” according to the complaint. The case was set to go to trial in 2012 when a judge agreed to let Harris plead guilty to a harassment violation, a charge lower than a misdemeanor, as long as Harris stayed out of trouble for a year.

Two high-ranking Zulu Nation officials, meanwhile, recently called Savage several times and said they would help him get a sitdown with Bambaataa so he could confront his alleged abuser. And they vowed to help him get compensation for the alleged abuse.

“Name your price,” one says on recordings of the conversations reviewed by The News. “We can take care of this today. Cash money.”

By 1986, Bambaataa was one of hip-hop’s biggest names.

Both men asked Savage to stop speaking to the media about the abuse allegations, although it is not clear that they are trying to buy his silence.

“I’m not talking about no $5,000,” the man says. “I’m talking about, let’s get a number, let’s say $50,000.”

“One hundred thousand!” Savage fires back, although he repeatedly adds during the conversations that he doesn’t want Bambaataa’s money.

Tozaki says Bambaataa has no knowledge of the conversations.

“Neither of the two men were given authority to speak on Bam’s behalf,” the lawyer says.

Star says Bambaata is eventually going to have to address the allegations himself.

“Planet Rock” launched Bambaataa to stardom.

“If Bambaataa wants to retain his credibility, he needs to step up and talk about what happened here,” says Star, the former Hot 97 and Power 105 DJ whose real name is Troi Torain.

Bambaataa — born Kevin Donovan in 1957 — was a warlord with the Black Spades street gang during the “Bronx is Burning” 1970s when he took a trip to Africa that changed his life. He returned to New York and transformed the Black Spades into the Zulu Nation, an organization to promote community and unity as well as the hip-hop arts — break-dancing, graffiti and music.

 

Bambaataa organized legendary parties in parks and other places that drew huge crowds and sparked the hip-hop scene that continues today. Bambaataa and other hip-hop pioneers — Grandmaster Flash, DJ Kool Herc, the Sugar Hill Gang, Fab Five Freddy — later took their sound downtown to the Village and the Lower East Side, where they partied and created art with punk rockers like Debbie Harry. By the mid 1980s, Bambaataa was performing around the world.

Savage was just 13 years old but he became part of the scene because he lived in the Castle Hill Houses in the Bronx, which had a large terrace that was the scene of many of hip-hop’s earliest events. Freeze remembers Savage as a “crate boy,” one of the kids who helped Bambaataa and other DJs haul in the crates of records that fueled the new art form.

“It was just about fun, hanging out, listening to music,” Savage says.

Savage’s self-published memoir, “Impulse, Urges and Fantasies: Life is a Bag of Mixed Emotions, Vol. 1,” was released in 2014.

Savage’s friendship with Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation had its advantages.

“I had a big name on the street. I was the youngest of the Zulu Nation. Nobody bothered me back then because nobody messed with the Zulu Nation,” he recalls.

Savage says the first sex assault took place at Bambaataa’s apartment, where Savage sought refuge after cutting school. Bambaataa fondled himself and Savage that day, then invited another man to join in, Savage says. During the second incident, Bambaataa allegedly ordered Savage to perform oral sex on an older Zulu Nation member.

“I hated myself,” Savage says. “I don’t even know why I did that. I don’t even know how he got me to do that. It was like I was hypnotized.”

Savage says he eventually stopped the abuse by pulling away from his former hip-hop hero.

“He came to my house. I pretended I wasn’t there and that’s how it began to stop,” Savage says. “But by that time I was already messed up.”

Savage avoided Bamabaataa after that, but he didn’t leave hip-hop. He later worked for several years for Strong City Records, a Bronx-based hip-hop label, before he joined Dick Scott Entertainment, a management company whose clients included New Kids on the Block. Savage headed the company’s hip-hop division, working with Doug E. Fresh, Snap and other acts.

Now Savage says he will turn his energies to reforming the New York statute of limitations, which advocates for sexual abuse survivors say denies victims justice.

“I promised myself before I die, I’m going to let the world know what happened to me,” he says.

“They need to get rid of the statute of limitations. How can anyone who has not been a victim say when somebody is ready to speak about this

Kirk Franklin milly rock, smack that

Kirk Franklin lost his mind a long time ago.

While many people were initially against Kirk Franklin’s foolishness, his antics has now become normal. Franklin managed to become a top paid gospel artist as a porn addict and continues to weaken the nation! Foolish people.

 

To the undiscerned church today milly rock, smack that.., and all of what he is doing are signs of Kirk’s deliverance?! Smack that — is a sexually driven dance.  Now this perverse man has been brought it  the church. The singers are saying fill me with your prescious Holy Ghost, while Franklin is doing the sexually driven smack that dance.  Ephesians 5:30 kjv And grieve not the holy Spirit of God

The Bible mentions to glorify God in your body.

Melodies from heaven

Isaiah 14:12 kjv

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

 

Abomination

Watch and pray take heed

Men dressing goes feminine

 

= This picture was posted around social media with the following statement “OUR BLACK MEN ARE WALKING AROUND HERE LOOKING LIKE THIS BECAUSE MOST OF OUR BLACK WOMEN APPROVES AND ENCOURAGES IT. STOP IT!!! We need our MEN to be MEN, STAND UP.. ‪#‎enoughisenough”

 

 

Kirk Franklin Losing My Religion

Famous Grammy Award Winning Gospel Music Artist Kirk Franklin loses his religion. What religion did Franklin have? Though his music holds the title “Gospel” category, it is not. It is inclusion. Kirk has ligion and legion of demons. James 1:27KJV talks about a pure religion.

He has not been following Christ. Kirk Franklin’s hit release “Stomp”  featured unsaved rapper Cheryl James of Sat-n-Pepper and the music of George Clinton’s Parliament Funkadelic “. In that song, Kirk Franklin began saying ” For those of you who think that gospel music has gone too far, well I got new for you. You ain’t heard nothing yet,” and Franklin fell off the stage right after during a performance in 1996. He suffered serious injuries and  endured a unconscious comatose state. When you are truly following Christ, you cannot do what you want to do even when you cleave to the “star” title given among men.  Obadiah 1:4 KJV Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.”    Years later Franklin came on the Oprah show to acknowledge a porn addiction.  Today Kirk Franklin can be seen adamantly gyrating his body sexually as he performs as Christian Artist. Deliverance where? He remains a top selling Gospel artist. Something is wrong. There is  a mesmer and desensitization amongst the people today. There has been a recent study regarding the media television’s influence and impartation on the frontal lobe of the brain. It is very strategic in the process and approach which is oblivious to majority of the viewing audience. It is going to take people away from God (desiring Him, hungering after righteousness), and they will not be able to detect it because it is such a fluster.

Kirk Franklin signs  Walls Group at ‘Fo Ya Soul’ Record

 

Physical example

Since when does this happen?. Kirk Franklin is just as messy and nasty as spiritually as what he is seen doing physically. What kind of parent turns their child over like this ? It is happening for fame and money, but it is not worth it.

I apologize that people who sing in the gospel category are automatically assumed to be saved. It is has been like that, but how gullible is that?  We need to think. We need to have discernment. Should we as Christians continue buying the albums of people Kirk Franklin contrary albums and assume whatever artist as such are doing must be right, even though they refute the Bible? Wake up. You will see people getting far away from the Bible, and it becomes acceptable. These fans will dangerously come to the defense of the artists rather than what the Bible says.  That allow the compromise for both parties. We are not to condone people up in their wrong doings. We are to call sin what it is. Jesus came with grace and truth.

Could you imagine of Moses relating the rules of the commandments of God to his people, only to hear , Oh we are not going to do that. That is made up. That is your own man made systematic rules. Can you imagine that?Kirk Franklin states, “Religion is man’s systematic approach to try to keep the rules”.

Kirk Franklin’s biography reveals that he was raised in the wisdom of elder family member Gertrude, who kept him out of trouble, and possibly saw through the traps of the industry that tried to sweep Franklin at a young age, only to find out today he is a part.

Kirk Franklin’s imagery may be apparent.

 

One interviewer asks Kirk Franklin in an interview, What was it like and how do you spearhead this thing and saying I’m doing the work of God, and I am going to put some funkiness on it? Kirk Franklin replies,   I was just doing what I wanted to do. God’s music is not stench that is what that word means, but the music Franklin is like that. Isaiah 65:5 KJV These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day . We are to be salt and light and Franklin is not. Matthew 5:13KJV references Ye are the salt of the earth.

The Bible is a book that will surely guide us through life above any other book. We cannot afford to disassociate God from the Bible which is his written word. We as Christians are to have a relationship with God, not surface off religious practices alone. Though many new agers such as Kirk may say the Bible is  rules, and yes it has them, but it is more than that. It is how we see that Franklin he is doing thing contrary to scripture, and we must not follow him, for  1John4:1 KJBible says to test the spirit.  The Bible is the way we physically, hear, learn and read about our Lord and Saviour. We cannot exclude it. We do not have to make anything up, neither go our own way. Can we serve the True and Living God and wontedly negate what his word says in the sloppiness of today? Impossible. Jesus said, John 14:15 KJV If ye love me, keep my commandments. The Bible already prepares us for such a time as this.   In the book of Jude, we find the word of Lord says, in Jude 1:4 KJV For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Franklin set to go to the strip bar allegedly with  secular rapper Plies.

Secular rock group R.E.M. had a song called Losing my religion over five years before Kirk Franklin’s current self-titled venture Losing My Religion. R.E.M’s version reveals and discusses a hypocrisy. Is their a notable coherency in Kirk Franklin’s song choice.

That’s me in the corner
That’s me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don’t know if I can do it
Oh no, I’ve said too much
I haven’t said enough

You will hear artist such as Franklin and Deitrick Haddon statements like I’m doing it for my fans, whatever my fans wants.

Franklin is just like his friend Hezekiah Walker sold out$, and soul’d out.

Mark 8:36-37KJV For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Fo Ya Soul is Franklin’s New Label venture with RCA. Really For Your Soul?  No thank you. It is not worth it. Leading people astray. Pray for Kirk Franklin. He is a lot to pay for.

Thanks for coming to this blog. We hope that you have felt blessed and encouraged. We have been having a little technical difficulty with my computer being down. I was completing a video on the site and was unable to finish it.  I am using  my sister’s computer sparingly who is a college student, but I should be up and running in Jesus name. May God Bless You.

Japanese drum tribute at Andrae Crouch memorial service

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There is much news surfacing the Andrae Crouch Funeral service that consisted of various of celebrity performances at West Angeles Church. Some people may not what I am talking about in clarity, especially if you not a musician or if you do not have an ear at least,  but there is certain sound sweeping the music. Much of the Christian and gospel music does not sound the same, and it might be almost indescribable musically and vocally as to what is going on. I have noticed it within at least the last ten years give or take.   The majority of the music has large portions of dissonant, discord and disjunctive sounds if you will as far as what I hear. It is a new age sound and not exclusively to the Crouch Memorial. The music has not always sounded that way. At the Crouch Memorial, it was not because of the emotional day that could have caused them as much grief, but I saw very little of that there. When somebody could ask were there some drinks(alcoholic beverages) or something served in the green room at West Angeles COGIC because some of the artists barely sounded recognizable, and these are gospel artists.  Now that is sad when such questions asked because of the sound is off. Perhaps when you listen to Clarks Sisters song intro there, and the others and Yolanda Adams you may understand. Also, inclusionist lifestyles displayed by some of gospel artists are weighing in  on the church 

That may be mildly surprising, but should it be? It is the last days, and many of them are sell-outs who will do whatever secular artist do such to prepare for performances.  The defilement of the temple/body with smoking and drinking, etc. is being proposed. We do pray for them. I will talk about the signs in the photos above little later.  To top things off Bryan Duncan singing it is going to rain it won’t be water but fire next time was like a mockery in the midst of all the inclusion.

.Jesse Jackson was up talking about a necromancy experience until I could not listen anymore.

Stevie Wonder performed at Whitney Houston’s funeral and hesitated to do the R&B song that he had been requested to sing Ribbon in The Sky.  He cited in his words that he is in a church and felt it was inappropriate to sing it.  In that instance, he did have more reverence than Pastor Kim Burrell who sang Sam Cooke’s  “Along time coming” at Houston’s funeral?When the blind physically and spiritually has more sense than the believer that may be discernment check.  Though Stevie Wonder unsaved artist has a gifting, but he is not saved. They are allowing him and others to keep coming to sing based on celebrity status. They are ministering based on that status. It does not ever make them have full compassion for things of Christ to be drawn into a relationship because they often feel as though they have all the material success of the world. The church cleaves to that aspect of them and becomes side track from knowing that person is lost a soul who is in need of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They miss that because the preachers do not minister to them. They just put them up.

In another instance, Stevie Wonder sang in a church for presidential campaigning, and he improvised a part for the congregation to sing praises to Obama in an actual song where the name Jesus probably more suitable.  I think the pope’s recent statement (just days ago) regarding his desire for the church to relinquish Biblical, religious laws probably aligns with Stevie Wonder statement. Wonder’s speech at Crouch service had some people upset.  He started out mentioning that Barak wanted to bring things together, but there were some prejudicial impediments that he felt as though were regarding race? Stevie Wonder made strange statements at Andrae Crouch’s funeral when he supposed to be singing. Wonder  stated  “I believe in freedom of speech, but I believe if we don’t put some limits on being able to give praises to that one we hold sacred, we got a problem.” Some thought he was speaking in manner of the outrageous things happening in the church, but he was not. It was mixed up because he was talking about the sanctioning and limiting of the church’s ability to speak the truth, even when you have a right biblically to do so. There was an idea of speaking against these certain is limited at the church, West Angeles. That is how it relates to the pope’s statement.

There is many demonic hand signs and gestures displayed during the service. While some of them were not as apparent or indirect,  others were very obvious.  Included in the slideshow above are images  from Japanese drum tribute to Andrae Crouch’s memorial service. Japanese group Marre & Kumiko Haevenese did not sing stating ” We created this whole new style of music. Since everybody is singing, we are not vocally going to be singing, but we will do just a sample of what we usually do with the drum. That is how we Japanese worship the God Almighty with a Japanese soul.” There was more to it I believe.  The drum has 3 , 6’s in it which are turned at various angles. Bishop Ulmer who was an MC of the services was seen rubbing his hands together as he braced himself to next began doing the all seeing eye 6’s and the Baphomet hand signs during the service, at around 37 minutes into the full video titled Andrae Crouch Final Funeral Service on Youtube.

 

 

Sunday’s Best

Kierra Sheard Judging Sunday’s Best

Is it surprising at all that people talk about don’t judge and there is an actual gospel singing competition of judges which allow singers compete to out sing the next. The show has been going on for about 7 years now. This year a new judge has been added.  Gospel recording artist Kierra Sheard is bracing the stage for judging who will become the next gospel celebrity. The show actually promotes a singing gift. The contestants are not expected to sing  solely gospel neither promote the gospel message, but must be professional according to  vocal coach Kim Burrell, this is not the church service.  Th competition process continues until only one winner is left standing. The winner of Sunday Best receives a brand new automobile, a national recording contract,  a cash prize to benefit their community, become an idol, have a large fan base,  later cry out for help and get it put up  after being an enslaved merchandise to the industry. Is there any room for true repentance?

Leandria’s Cry for help

While some Sunday’s best winners are minimally noticed,

If your gift is  good enough you may become a pastor, pass out cigarettes, dress provocatively, continue wedlock pregnancies and laying hands transferring spirit, drugs, whistling peeping like bird in the church. It is the new thing thanks to Sundays Best.

And when they get sent home,

judging is done. Do people even understand judging which is done everyday and how the church has misused the word, and now has literally everybody is saying don’t do it, yet they do it anyway.  Walk in the courtroom and tell a judge not to do that?

And best done biblically.

Matthew 7:15-20 KJV or the entire chapter not just at the comma of the two words of the 1st verse. judge not,

¹⁵ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.¹⁶Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ¹⁷ Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ²⁰ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 KJV

 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ³ Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Kirk Franklin Joins Forces With The House of Blues For Gospel Brunch

Examiner

It was announced today that Grammy-Award winning star and Gospel music icon Kirk Franklin is joining forces with House of Blues and its venues across the United States to create a new Gospel Brunch experience as part of its year-long 20th Anniversary Celebration.

House of Blues Gospel Brunch has been a staple of Sunday morning family entertainment around the country for over two decades. Now House of Blues has reinvented the renowned dining entertaining experience with even more spectacular interactive energy and excitement.

Considered by many to be the most popular brunch experience in the country, Kirk Franklin’s Gospel Brunch at House of Blues will be unveiled for the first time at House of Blues locations across the country this Mother’s Day, May 12. The new Gospel Brunch experience will be infused with the same kind of contemporary energy that has made Franklin the biggest selling Gospel Music artist in the world.

For the past few months, Franklin has been heavily engaged in creating the new Gospel Brunch experience, visiting many of the House of Blues clubs in person and tailoring each show to fit the club’s individual market. His aim is for Gospel Brunch guests be treated to an uplifting live music and dining spectacle that will bring them to their feet, have them clapping, singing and creating unforgettable memories.

“House of Blues’ Gospel Brunch is an American institution, so I am honored to be working hand-in-hand with them to revitalize the experience for music fans of all ages,” said Mr. Franklin. “This has really been a labor of love for me and I’m excited for everyone to see what we’ve created when we kick things off on Mother’s Day.”

House of Blues President Ron Bension said, “For two decades House of Blues has been a special place for fans and performers to share musical moments, memories and meals unlike any other place in the world. As we head in to our next 20 years we wanted to make this Sunday tradition even better by showcasing the greatest gospel music of yesterday, today and tomorrow with someone amazing like Kirk Franklin.”

The all-you-can-eat Gospel Brunch is a non-denominational, participative celebration of gospel music to help wipe away the week’s troubles and inspire the week ahead. With a buffet menu that is ever-evolving, it features southern specialties and morning feast favorites such as cornbread muffins and maple butter, Creole chicken and shrimp jambalaya, chicken and waffles, carving stations, plus create-your-own Bloody Mary and mimosa bars.

Founded in 1992, House of Blues are located throughout the United States and form the country’s pre-eminent group of intimate music venues. Each features state-of-the-art sound and lighting technology in one-of-a-kind custom designed environments aimed to bring fans as close as possible to the artists. Every location’s restaurant and bar is adorned with signature original folk-art – part of the world’s largest collection – combined with the House of Blues legendary hospitality and tantalizing cuisine.

Kirk Franklin’s Gospel Brunch at House of Blues will debut on May 12 at House of Blues locations which including Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Diego, Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Chicago, Cleveland, Myrtle Beach, and Orlando. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the International House of Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides arts and cultural educational programs and resources for youth in communities across the United States.

For nearly two decades, Franklin has been a multi-platinum-selling pioneer in gap-bridging musicianship, uniting audiences across gospel, hip hop, pop and R&B. His irresistible rhythms and rhapsodies have resulted in albums that consistently top both Billboard’s Gospel and Christian charts, as well as ascend triumphantly into the Top 10 of the R&B/Hip Hop chart. His unprecedented penetration into the mainstream has fortified him to also become a New York Times bestselling author for The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life’s Storms (Gotham/Penguin).

Franklin is also the host and executive producer of the gospel talent show “Sunday Best,” the highest-rated gospel program in BET network history now heading into its sixth season. To date, the trendsetter has garnered nine Grammy Awards, 39 Stellar Awards, 16 Dove Awards (CCM), eight NAACP Image Awards, two BET Awards, an American Music Award, a Soul Train Award and numerous others.