O'Landa Draper

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O'Landa Draper
Born(1963-09-29)September 29, 1963
OriginMemphis, Tennessee, United States[1]
DiedJuly 21, 1998(1998-07-21) (aged 34)
GenresGospel
OccupationsChoir director, songwriter, singer, musician
Years active1986–1998
LabelsWord, Warner

O'Landa Draper (September 29, 1963 – July 21, 1998)

Dove Award
multiple times.

Draper was known for his choir directing style. Songs that were well known by fans of Draper's work were, "My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord," "I See my Miracle," "Lift the Savior Up," "Stand Up," "Gotta Feelin', and "He Touched Me".[3]

Early life

Draper grew up in

Federal Express.[5]

In 1986, he formed his own choir and named them "The Associates" in Memphis, Tennessee. Gospel artists such as Earnest Pugh and Janice Gaines were once members of The Associates.[6]

Musical career

In 1988, gospel great Shirley Caesar used O`landa Draper and the Associates to back her up on her first live recorded music video and one year later on her blockbuster `I Remember Mama`album on the `Word records` label. Caesar went to her record label and shortly after, Draper and the choir were immediately signed to the

Bahamas. He recorded a live workshop that took place in 1994 in Memphis, Tennessee.[7] It featured artist such as Kirk Franklin and Yolanda Adams. In that same year, Draper recorded Live: A Celebration of Praise, his second Grammy-nominated album. The album's well known song "My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord" was the only song recorded for VHS.[5]

In 1996, Draper recorded for

in 1999.[8][9]

Death and legacy

On July 21, 1998, only a few months after the release of his recording of Reflections, Draper died of

renal failure.[10]

In 2000, the Associates choir, led by his fiancée Patrina Smith, recorded their last album All About Him (Jesus) in Memphis, Tennessee. The album introduces new songs such as "All about Him", "Clean Me Up" and old favorites such as "My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord". The song "I'll See You Again" is a song dedicated to Draper and his legacy. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album in 2002.

Gospel artist Hezekiah Walker, in a tribute to Draper, performed "I've Got a Reason to Praise the Lord" in his live recording album Family Affair in 1999. He renamed the song "I've Got a Reason (Draper's Legacy)." Gospel Artist Earnest Pugh also paid tribute to Draper in his 2013 album, The W.I.N. (Worship in Nassau) Experience. The 13-minute medley featured other Gospel artists such as Shirley Caesar, LeJuene Thompson, Vincent Tharpe and Kenosis and Angel Bigelow-Davis.[11]

In 2010, the Brat Pack, a Gospel group that started in the 1990s that consisted of individual gospel artists' Hezekiah Walker, Donald Lawrence, and Ricky Dillard, reunited to perform during the Gospel Music Workshop of America. They performed Draper's song "My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord".[12] In 2016, the Stellar Awards honored him with the Rev. James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award. Ricky Dillard, Donald Lawrence and Hezekiah Walker along with the Associates sang some of his greatest hits. His sister and nephew accepted the award on his behalf.

In 2018, Draper was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.

Discography

  • Do It Again, 1990
  • Above and Beyond, 1991
  • All The Bases, 1993
  • Live: A Celebration of Praise, 1994
  • Gotta Feelin', 1996
  • Reflections, 1998
  • All About Him (Jesus), 2001 (Posthumous)[13]

References

  1. ISBN 9780879308414
    . Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  2. ^ "O'Landa Draper". Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  3. ^ "Celebration of Life". Amazon. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  4. ISBN 9781604975055
    .
  5. ^ a b "O'Landa Draper". Take Me Back: Gospel Series. NuthinButGospel.com. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  6. ^ "Biography". Earnest Pugh. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  7. ^ "News Release". Eskridge Law. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  8. ^ Jones, Kim. "WOW Gospel 1998: The Year's 30 Top Artists & Songs". About.com. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  9. ^ Kot, Greg (January 6, 1999). "10 Nominations Put Lauryn Hill Atop Grammy Heap". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  10. ^ Gospel singer Draper dies at 34
  11. ^ "Earnest Pugh (The W.I.N. Experience - Worship In Nassau) - Reviews". Gospelflava.com. September 17, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  12. ^ James, Robert Hasaon (July 28, 2010). "The Brat Pack Reunion – Live at GMWA". Root Magazine. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  13. ^ "O'Landa Draper". StarPulse.com. Retrieved October 19, 2012.

In Popular Culture

The theme song to the Canadian drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation is derived off of O'Landa Draper's "Whatever It Takes" and many versions were made for almost each new season.

External links

[[Category:20th-century American male singers]

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