Shake up, soothe and inspire (Richmond Times-Dispatch, October 4, 2002) In times like these, with a shaky economy, the lingering threat of terrorism and talk of war, hope is a valuable commodity. Three of gospel music’s brightest stars will deliver a powerful dose of it tomorrow at the Richmond Coliseum. Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin andDonnie McClurkin intend to shake up, soothe and inspire local concertgoers on the fifth stop of the 38-city “Hopeville – United As One” tour. This tour is unique, Adams said, because of the differing styles of the performers and because of its distinct theme. “Donnie is traditional, but also a little contemporary. I’m contemporary, but not as urban as Kirk. People will come away with a sense of how it all meshes together wonderfully to bring that one focus back to mind - hope,” Adams said by telephone from Cleveland. “We want to give hope to the world after all the stuff we’ve gone through (as a nation) in the past year,” she said. “We want to be a blessing to everybody, to give hope to folks where they live.” Grammy-nominated McClurkin, who started his musical career at age 11, is likely to provide such inspiration through signature songs that include “Stand,” “That’s What I Believe” and his 2001 crossover hit “We Fall Down.” Franklin, a regular fixture atop the Billboard gospel music charts since the debut of his urban contemporary gospel album in 1993, will offer a range of praise and worship songs. His repertoire tomorrow will include the groundbreaking “Stomp” and “Hosanna,” a chart-topping song from his latest release, “The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin.” Franklin said he chose the title of the new album and the songst o record after a series of trials in recent years led him to a spiritual renewal. Those trials have included lawsuits from two groups of former backup singers, God’s Property and members of The Family, who alleged they were not paid for their work on two albums. Details about the outcome of those suits were not available, and Franklin declined to comment on the issue. “Life itself is a journey that creates a song for everyone in their individual circumstances,” Franklin said. “That is the power of gospel music. It is the musical healing solution that God has created for the broken soul.” Adams, who titled her December 2001 release “Believe,” said God’s ability to heal and restore faith is a central focus of the tour. “We’re trying to let people know it’s cool to believe in God and it’s cool to have a dream, but you’ve got to connect those things together,” said the former elementary-school teacher, who recorded her first album in 1987. Adams’ Grammy-winning pipes have led to comparisons with R&B divas such as Whitney Houston. But Adams is content filling the contemporary gospel niche with songs such as “Open My Heart,” which receives regular play on secular stations. A personal favorite on her album is “Darling Girl,” an ode to her 20-month-old daughter, Taylor, who travels with her. But each of the selections she’ll perform tomorrow, including earlier hits such as “The Battle is the Lord’s,” and “Through the Storm” will remind people not to remain stuck in despair, she said. She hopes fans who have seen her previous performances in Richmond will leave tomorrow’s concert believing they’ve received not only their money’s worth, but also a blessing. “I hope they see that I’ve grown spiritually and musically,” Adams said. “And that that girl can dance! There will be dancing and shouting in this show.” Read More from The Reporter »