Born Donald Andrew McClurkin Jr. in Chester, South Carolina, U.S.A on the 9th of November, 1959 to Frances and Donald McClurkin Sr. Donnie as he was fondly called by family and friends grew up in a house full of children. His mom and dad had ten children in all.  

He has won three Grammy Awards, Ten Stellar Awards, two BET Awards, Two Soul Train Awards, one Dove Award and one NAACP Image Awards. He is one of the tops selling Gospel music artistes, selling over 10 million albums worldwide.