Influenced by a wide range of vocalists from
Donny Hathaway to
Fred Hammond to
John Mayer, singer and songwriter
Brian Courtney Wilson has a 21st century approach to modern gospel.
Wilson, a University of Illinois graduate, began singing formally in the university's Black chorus, and continued singing on his own time while working out of music for several years. Then, in a leap of faith, he walked away from his job and became the music director at St. John's Downtown Church in Houston, where he was mentored by and became friends with Rudy Rasmus. Through Rasmus he met label owner and music mogul
Mathew Knowles, who signed
Wilson to his Spirit Rising/Music World imprint. Recorded in Jackson, Mississippi, and produced by
Stan Jones,
Wilson's inspirationally themed debut album,
Just Love, appeared in 2009. Second album
So Proud followed in 2012, and hit the top of the gospel charts. He also teamed with
Fred Hammond,
Dave Hollister, and
Eric Roberson for United Tenors, released the following year.
Signing to Motown Gospel,
Wilson released his third album,
Worth Fighting For, in early 2015. The album did well on the charts, then won
Wilson a Dove Award later that year for Best Traditional Gospel Album. The title track was nominated for Top Gospel Song at the following year's Billboard Music Awards.
Wilson returned in March 2018 with his fourth full-length,
A Great Work. ~ Steve Leggett