Perfect harmony

NEA Today, May 2003 by Bullock, Lorinda

Long after students and faculty have left the halls of Garside Junior High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, the sound of heartfelt gospel music often fills the air as night custodian Johnny Wilburn practices a tune or tinkers with the notes for the latest song he's composing.

But Wilburn's performances aren't limited to the empty halls of a junior high school. This up-and-coming contemporary Christian artist has sung with R&B artist Angela Winbush, Michael Bolton, and Grammy award-winners Take 6. He also has opened for gospel heavy hitters Daryl Coley and Commissioned. In December, Wilburn and his group One For all performed on BET's Bobby Jones Gospel show, a popular showcase of new talent and well-established gospel stars.

Bothered by today's popular music-which he believes degrades women and focuses on flashy material possessions-Wilburn set out to write and produce more uplifting tunes. "There's a lot of junk out there. It's time for us to stand up and say, 'I'm not going to do that with my gift,'" he says.

He describes his music style as "laid back." Fans can hear the influence of Coley and jazz and funk artists like Earth, Wind, and Fire in his song "Shine," featured on his online music website http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/103/johnny_wilburn.html. In the song, Wilburn croons over a smooth up-tempo beat reminiscent of his performances with a jazz group, appropriately named Smooth, at a number of Vegas night clubs.

But despite his extensive repertoire, Wilburn remains committed to his true passion, gospel music. "I've got to be a gospel artist. That's what gets me going," he says. "I've seen that kind of music change people more than any other type."