Mathew Knowles and Music World Gospel announce the release of Brian Courtney Wilson’s sophomore CD, So Proud in stores January 31, 2012. Wilson’s new single, “So Proud” is impacting gospel radio at November 7. “Brian has been consistent and diligent with his music, ministry and artistry,” said Mathew Knowles, founder, President and CEO of Music World Entertainment. He has a great spirit, great work ethic and deserves all the great things that have come his way. In So Proud, Brian has anothersuperb CD project.”
Wilson’s new single, “So Proud,” is receiving rave reviews at gospel radio. “Beautiful single! Enjoyed the lyrics and definitely hit potential,” said Skip Dillard, Operation Managers for WBLS-FM/WLIB-AM (New York City). Ace Alexander, National Music Director and award-winning radio personality of the Sheridan Gospel Network of Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation said, “Brian Courtney Wilson is one of the most soulful and heartfelt inspirational singers you will ever hear. His new single, ‘So Proud’ reminds you of the power of love, family, home and a God that will never forsake us. ‘So Proud’ will make you feel so good, you’ll listen again and again.”
Touted as one of gospel music’s contemporary break-through artists of 2010/2011, the three-time Gospel Music Association Dove Award nominee has spent part of the year in the studio working on his new CD. Wilson wrote a majority of the songs on the new project and serves as co-producer on the album. Wilson believes God gave him “So Proud” when he was feeling especially discouraged and needed to remember the way to go. Several months after writing the song, Brian played it for the phenomenal multiple GRAMMY®, Dove and Stellar Award-winning producer Aaron Lindsey (Israel Haughton, Marvin Sapp), who caught the vision of the tune and agreed to produce it. Aaron also graciously allowed Wilson to participate in and share credit for the song’s production. The result is a feel good blend of inspiration, heart and soul rooted in the Christian church paradigm that has always been a cornerstone in Brian’s life.
“‘So Proud,’ is about remembering…remembering the reasons why you should keep going when the days seem the hardest…remembering your value when people cast you aside…remembering the people who did not give up on you when you felt like giving up on yourself…and most of all, it’s about remembering that the reason we have so much to remember is because God has always been there to make a way through the people in our lives, says Wilson. “Proverbs 22:6 says train up a child in the way that he should go and when is old he will not depart from it.”
Wilson’s inaugural CD, Just Love, entered at #2 on the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart and #6 on Billboard’s Top Christian Album chart. The CD has remained at #1 on Christian Music Trade Association’s (CMTA) Inspirational Album chart for 52 weeks. Since its release in June 2009, the CD held steady in the Top 20 on the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart for over 90 weeks—longer than any other CD title on Billboard’s Top 50 that year [2010].
As a fitting follow-up, the Music World Gospel relaunch, Just Love Deluxe Edition, re-entered on Billboard’s Top Gospel Album chart at #3. Just Love made music chart history; Wilson was the only artist to have four active singles [“All I Need,” “Already Here,” “Just Love,” and “Awesome God”] on Billboard’s Gospel charts, and all have peaked in the Top 5, 10 and 15 positions [2009/2010]. His first single release, “All I Need,” was the longest-running current single at that time, charting 92 weeks on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Song chart.
In 2009, “All I Need” was named Song of the Year at the Mississippi Gospel Music Awards, which also saluted producer Stan Jones as Producer of the Year for his work on the project. In 2010, Wilson received two Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award nominations for New Artist of the Year and Urban Recorded Song of the Year for “Just Love,” which was followed in 2011 with his third nomination for Urban Recorded Song of the Year for “All I Need.” Also in 2010, he was nominated by the Atlanta Gospel Music Choice Awards for Song of the Year for “All I Need” and he was also included in the The Root.com list of 100 Young Achievers and Pace Setters. In September 2010, Wilson received the Gospel Music Heritage Month Rising Artist Award. In early 2011, Wilson received a nomination for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Album of the Year (Traditional and Contemporary). God is real to Brian Courtney Wilson. “Every good thing that’s happened to me has happened because of God’s favor and grace in my life,” he says. “Even the stuff that He’s calling me to do, I can’t do it on my own. I can work as hard as I can, but ultimately God provides the increase.”
