Mathew Knowles’ Music World Gospel recording artist Brian Courtney Wilson’s new CD project, So Proud, released on February 7, debuts at #1 on both Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and the Top Christian/Gospel Albums chart. So Proud also debuts at #5 on Billboard’s Independent chart and #44 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. Click here to listen to Brian’s recent interview with uGospel.com discussing his new album!
This week, Wilson’s title song and current single, “So Proud” lands at #21 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart and #20 on the Gospel Indicator chart. “So Proud” is a feel good blend of inspiration, heart and soul. “So Proud” was produced by multiple GRAMMY®, GMA Dove and Stellar Award-winning producer Aaron W. Lindsey (Israel Houghton, Marvin Sapp).
Wilson’s sophomore CD, So Proud, is receiving great reviews. “Wilson’s tone and downright in- the-pocket delivery stand out in a sea of gospel male vocalists who often substitute acrobatics for solid singing. Brian Courtney Wilson affirms the very reason we fell in love with his artistry the first go ‘round,” says GospelPundit.com. “On So Proud, Wilson’s vocals are more refined and smoother than his distinctively raspier vocals on Just Love,” says EURWEB.com.
The highly-anticipated project features 12 songs. Wilson wrote or collaborated on most of the songs, and served as co-producer for all of the tracks on the CD. Other songs on the CD were produced by GRAMMY-nominated and multiple award-winning producer and songwriter Stan Jones, including the second single, “He Still Cares,” currently impacting gospel radio. The message is that even when you’ve had a touch from the Master, you still may go through trials and tribulations. But you must believe that God still cares for you, and He will give you what you need, when you need it, to make it through.
Other songs produced by Jones include “Right Back To You,” a prayer that God will let you be the greatest at whatever it is that he’s calling you to be, but even if you aren’t, whatever you do will be worthy of giving right back to God; “Closer,” a song about faith and endurance that reassures the listener that no matter how things may look, God has not forgotten you and that every promise He made, every plan that he has for you, he’s going to see it through with you, but you’ve got to keep holding on because you’re closer than you think; and “Grab And Hold,” which reminds us that Jesus has everything we need, and that we need to make sure that nothing stops us from grabbing His hand and holding on. The song has what Wilson describes as an “old school church feel” to it that reinforces the meaning of the song.
Wilson wanted to include in this project a song that considers the promise of marriage. He wrote “One Day At A Time,” in collaboration with award-winning producer P.J. Morton, who produced the song. “I’ve been married 11 years and we do it one day at a time,” says Wilson. “We make the decision every day to be faithful to each other, to forgive one another, to keep showing up, to work as hard as we can and to keep believing that God is going to work out whatever problems we may have. It’s important to tie marriage to worship because a good marriage is a model for the way God wants to be in relationship with us,” he added. “Perfect,” another collaboration between Wilson and P.J. Morton, gives the good news that even though we are not perfect, God sees us as perfect for the plans He has for us and the dreams He put in our hearts. Morton also serves as producer for “Perfect.”
“Obey Anyway” was written several years ago by Toby Hill. Wilson wanted to include it in this project because the message of the song—that when times are tough and we are looking for an answer, we just have to keep going and following the instructions that God has already given us—fit with the theme of the project. The celebratory, feel-good “Storm In Mind” was inspired by a conversation Wilson saw on a program on the Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN). One man told of being on a cruise ship when a storm came up. Everyone started to panic except the captain, who explained to the passengers that he knew there was no need for panic because he was there when the ship was built, and he knew that it was made to endure the storm that they were going through. The message of this song is that if we’re going through a storm in our life, we’ve got to believe that we can make it through because God has made us to endure it. Wilson performs “Unspeakable Joy” as a duet with gospel legend and label mate Vanessa Bell Armstrong. Wilson was inspired to write the song because he believes that if you understand that you are perfect for God and perfect for whatever plan God has for you, then it should bring you a sense of joy. “You Are My King” is a simple, straight forward song that says no matter who you are or what your station is in life—rich or poor, with many friends or alone–God is our King and He can help you get through.
Wilson continues his promotional tour in Washington, DC (Wednesday, February 15); followed by Baltimore, MD (Thursday, February 16); Philadelphia, PA (Friday, February 17); Nashville (Sunday, February 19 through Tuesday, February 21); and Atlanta, GA (Wednesday, February 22).
So Proud follows Wilson’s debut CD, Just Love, which entered at #2 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart and #6 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart. The CD has remained at #1 on Christian Music Trade Association’s (CMTA) Inspirational Albums chart for 52 weeks. Since its release in June 2009, the CD held steady in the Top 20 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart for over 90 weeks—longer than any other CD title on Billboard’s Top 50 that year [2010].
