Donald Lawrence on His Music Journey, Broadway Dreams, and Faith

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

• 🎹 Donald Lawrence taught himself to play the piano around age seven or eight, inspired by his cousin and a local musician, Christine Danner.
• 🎧 He developed a keen ear by listening intently to music, analyzing not just the melody but also the vocalists, ad-libs, and choir arrangements, which foreshadowed his future as a producer.
• 📚 Growing up with his aunt and godmother, he found solace and inspiration in music, often spending hours at pianos and organs.

Theatrical Aspirations and Gospel Music

• 🎭 Lawrence's initial career goal was to work in musical theater, studying at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Musical Theater.
• 🎶 Although he ended up in the gospel music industry, his background in musical theater heavily influences his approach, making his gospel music theatrical and storytelling-driven.
• 🌟 He views his gospel music as a blend of gospel, message, musical theater, and soul, aiming to create a unique and encompassing sound.

Songwriting and "Oh Happy Day"

• ✍️ Lawrence was approached by a producer who admired his work, leading to a conversation that revealed his musical theater background.
• 📜 This led to an opportunity to write music for a play titled "Oh Happy Day," which he initially found ironic given his own plans for a musical about Edwin Hawkins.
• 💡 He approached the song not as a transition but as an integral part of the story, focusing on the theme that happiness is a choice and a destination, inspired by the scripture "This is the day that the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad in it."
• 🌟 The song "It's a good day to be happy" became a motif throughout the play, deeply resonating with the narrative.

"I See God" and Personal Empowerment

• ❤️ For the play, Lawrence also wrote "I See God in You," a powerful song aimed at individuals struggling with self-hate and feeling abandoned by God.
• 🗣️ The lyrics encourage self-love and remind listeners that God is always with them, even when they feel small or unworthy.
• ✨ The song emphasizes the divine image within each person, with the line "become the God that's you, you are a god" referencing the concept of being made in God's image.

Career Milestones and Reflections

• 🏆 Lawrence has received numerous accolades, including 18 Grammy nominations, a Grammy award, 30 Stellar Awards, and four Dove Awards.
• ⏳ He reflects that in his pursuit of excellence as an artist, producer, and logistician, he often didn't take enough time to appreciate his achievements.
• 🎤 He shares that winning Grammys for his work with the Clark Sisters is a memory he cherishes, but he was too focused on ensuring everyone else's success to fully absorb the moment.
• 🤝 He has learned to embrace pride in his work and to take moments to acknowledge his accomplishments, recognizing his innate caretaker and leadership personality.

Early Career and Musical Vision

• 🌟 Lawrence's first album with the Tri City Singers in 1993, "A Songwriter's Point of View," debuted at number two on the Billboard Top Gospel charts.
• 💡 He envisioned a distinct sound and look for the Tri City Singers, drawing inspiration from Afrocentric aesthetics, which he humorously likens to "Wakanda before that became a thing."
• 🎤 He has collaborated with numerous artists, including Mary J. Blige, Stephanie Mills, and Kirk Franklin, and his song "Sold Out" with Hezekiah Walker became a number-one single.

Favorite Songs and Core Messages

• 👑 His favorite song, based on its message, is "There Is a King in You," inspired by a sermon about recognizing one's inherent royalty and leadership potential.
• 🌟 Another significant song is "Not Making Sense, Making Faith," which emphasizes living by faith rather than by physical limitations or logic, encouraging people to dream bigger than they can imagine.
• 🌱 Lawrence's overarching goal in his music is to empower people and remind them of who God called them to be, fostering a sense of purpose and self-worth.
• 🚀 He acknowledges that the 8-year-old boy learning piano could never have imagined the scale of his dreams and achievements, attributing it to God's greater vision.

Fun Facts and Collaborations

• 🎶 Donald Lawrence was instrumental in replicating the harmonies of the Clark Sisters for their biopic, demonstrating an intimate understanding of their unique sound.
• 🎤 He expresses awe at having collaborated with artists he once only dreamed of meeting, like the Clark Sisters and Lalah Hathaway, highlighting that God's dreams are bigger than our own.