Grammy-winning musical artist Donald Lawrence is a leading songwriter, producer, arranger, and music director in the realms of pop, R&B, gospel, and musical theater. He has been honored to work with En Vogue, Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, the Clark Sisters, Stephanie Mills, Carl Thomas, Kirk Franklin, Lalah Hathaway, Kelly Price, Oleta Adams, and countless others.
Lawrence graduated from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. His storied curriculum dates back to the mid-’80s, when he and professor Worth Gardner wrote the acclaimed musical “Sing Hallelujah!” It wasn’t until the early ’90s that Lawrence experienced one of the most prolific periods of his life, when he began directing the Tri-City Singers.
With the group, Lawrence recorded five chart-topping releases, including the No. 1 album Bible Stories. With his final album with the singing aggregate, Finale, Lawrence swept gospel’s Stellar Awards, earning honors for Artist of the Year and Producer of the Year. In 2006, Finale’s hit song, “The Blessing of Abraham,” spent a record setting 18 weeks atop the Record & Radio gospel charts.
In the last three years, Lawrence has racked up seven Grammy nominations, 15 Stellar Awards, and once-in-a-lifetime recognition from Billboard magazine for being the only songwriter/producer with four back-to-back, top songs on one of its singles charts. Billboard called Lawrence a “timeless tunesmith, lyricist and master of the mix.” In February, Lawrence earned his first Grammy for his production work on “Live — One Last Time,” the groundbreaking reunion album by gospel legends the Clark Sisters.
In other pursuits, Lawrence owns a burgeoning music imprint, Quiet Water Entertainment, which has introduced acclaimed newcomers DeWayne Woods and family group the Murrills. In early 2009 Donald Lawrence and The Co. released the acclaimed album, The Law of Confession, Part I.
Disciples will worship with Lawrence, folk singer Carrie Newcomer, the Indianapolis Children Choir and Disciples children at the Assembly’s Closing Concert and Communion Service. The Indianapolis community has been invited to attend and welcomed to share at the table during this service. To learn more about Lawrence, go to: http://sn.im/hyg5a