Charles Jenkins: The Soulful Voice of Modern Gospel

Charles Jenkins is an American gospel singer, songwriter, and worship leader from Chicago, Illinois. His 2012 album "The Best of Both Worlds" debuted at number one on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, establishing him as a major force in contemporary gospel music.

Early career

Born in 1975, Jenkins grew up immersed in the rich musical heritage of Chicago's church community. He began his professional music ministry as the worship leader at the historic Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, honing his skills in blending traditional gospel with contemporary sounds.

His first major step into the recording industry came with the formation of his backing group, Fellowship Chicago. They released their debut project, "The Best of Both Worlds," independently in 2012 before catching the attention of major labels.

Breakthrough

The year 2012 marked Charles Jenkins' national breakthrough. His lead single "Awesome" from the album "The Best of Both Worlds" became a crossover phenomenon. The song's success led to a distribution deal with Inspired People/EMI Gospel and propelled the album to the top of the Billboard Gospel chart for several weeks.

"The Best of Both Worlds" was eventually certified gold by the RIAA, a significant commercial achievement for a gospel album. This success solidified Jenkins' reputation for creating accessible, uplifting music that resonated beyond the church walls.

Key tracks

Awesome — This platinum-selling single became a modern gospel anthem and earned Jenkins a Stellar Award for Song of the Year.

War — Featured on his 2016 album "Think About These Things," this powerful track showcased his ability to address social and spiritual struggles.

All I Need — A standout from his 2018 project "The Gift," this song highlighted his collaborative spirit, featuring vocals from Bri Babineaux.

You Keep On Being Good — This track demonstrated his consistent output of positive, chart-topping worship music throughout the 2010s.

Following his breakthrough, Charles Jenkins continued to release successful projects, including "Think About These Things" in 2016 and the holiday album "The Gift" in 2018. His work has earned multiple Stellar Gospel Music Awards and Dove Award nominations, recognizing his impact on the genre. Jenkins is known for collaborations with artists like Ricky Dillard and his role as a pastor, which deeply informs his songwriting.

Fans of Charles Jenkins' brand of uplifting, contemporary gospel often appreciate the work of Kirk Franklin for his pioneering fusion of gospel with hip-hop and R&B. The choir-driven power of Ricky Dillard shares a similar energetic, traditional-meets-modern approach. Listeners also connect with the heartfelt songwriting of Travis Greene, another key voice in modern worship music. The soulful delivery of Jonathan McReynolds offers a similarly introspective and melodic take on the genre.

The music of Charles Jenkins receives regular airplay on a variety of gospel and inspirational radio formats. His hits are staples on urban gospel FM stations, contemporary Christian music channels, and online streams dedicated to positive music. Many independent music radio stations feature his work in their spiritual and soul programming blocks.

You can hear the powerful music of gospel artist Charles Jenkins on the radio stations featured here on onairium.com. Tune in to discover his catalog of uplifting hits and experience his soulful voice through our curated selection of gospel and inspirational radio streams.