Back in the late 1970’s, Dwight McKee was business manager for Edwin Hawkins, whose arrangement and recording of “Oh Happy Day” had become the biggest gospel “crossover” hit ever. Edwin, Walter and other members of their family formed the touring group, The Hawkins Family. When they were planning their strategy for growth and expansion, they invited me to consult and advise them. This began a relationship with the Hawkins and gospel music that I rarely discuss but was perhaps the richest period of my life.
Walter Hawkins asked me to help his wife Tramaine launch her solo career while the Family was still producing hit records. As I was working with Tramaine, Bebe and Cece Winans asked me to manage their career as they were transitioning away from their role in the “Praise the Lord” TV show and into their own ministry. Our first recording project together became a gold record selling more than a half million units. It also became the first gospel record to be released on two different record labels – Sparrow and Capitol Records – on the same day with the same music and played on completely different radio formats (black gospel, adult contemporary, and adult Christian contemporary). As a result of my success in working with Bebe and Cece, I met with Fred Hammond and his group “Commissioned” and I agreed to manage them also. When a member of “Commissioned” left the group to pursue a solo career, I hired a young college graduate named Marvin Sapp to sing with Commissioned. Then when Fred Hammond was led to start his solo career, I managed Fred and got him started on the path to solo artistry.
In 2005 I realized that I had achieved many of my professional and organizational goals but I had not given adequate attention to the fact that most of my members lacked a strategy to achieve financial freedom. dfree® was created in response to that need and today our content and strategy is being used in 3,000 churches and 100 Delta Sigma Theta sorority chapters. dfree® is a culturally relevant, affordable strategy that helps individuals and families close the wealth gap and leave a financial legacy. Information can be found at www.mydfree.org