Aretha Franklin, The Winans, Mattie Moss-Clark and The Clark sisters. The list of gospel artists with roots in Detroit is long and continues to grow. From gospel music’s beginnings to the contemporary sounds of today, Detroit’s gospel artists have influenced the genre. Few have seen first-hand the impact Detroit has on the genre than gospel artist Darius Twyman.

“Gospel music in the city of Detroit is the foundation of (gospel) music across the country. Why? Because gospel music was birthed here,” Twyman told Detroit Performs host Satori Shakoor and BridgeDetroit journalist Orlando Bailey. 

In conjunction with PBS’ “GOSPEL” docuseries, Shakoor and Bailey sat down with Twyman during an episode of “Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove” to talk about his musical start, Detroit’s major influence on the genre, and the meaning behind his original song “Made It Over.” Plus, watch Twyman’s music video for “Made It Over,” produced at Second Ebenezer Church.

RELATED: 

• Henry Louis Gates, Jr. examines gospel music’s rich history in new PBS docuseries ‘GOSPEL’
• The sacred and the secular: How gospel music grew from the blues
• Gospel music in the Black church
• Negro spirituals: The music that helped free enslaved African Americans
• Aretha Franklin’s impact on gospel music

Born in Detroit, Twyman’s gospel music career kicked off in the late 1990s with releases such as “I’ve Got a Job,” “Moving Up,” and “Coming Soon.” Twyman has performed alongside other national gospel acts, including Dorinda Clark Cole and the late James Moore. He’s sung background vocals for Diana Ross, Kid Rock and George P Funk Clinton, just to name a few. 

In 2020, Twyman announced the creation of his independent label, Character Music, with his first single off the label titled “We Are Family.” Twyman’s latest release is “Tell Me Where.”

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