Gospel Community Mourns Passing of Lecresia Campbell

The Gospel Community was saddened with news of the passing of Lecresia Campbell on Thursday, September 29th after a brief illness.  Campbell cemented her position as a permanent fixture in Gospel music, immortalizing such unforgettable classics, among them Perfect Praise (Oh Lord, How Excellent) with Walt Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago and Stand Still Until His Will Is Clear with the Wilmington Chester Mass Choir.  The Chicago native  burst on to the music scene with her solo debut Draw Me Near.  The album made its entry on the Billboard Top Spiritual Albums Chart at number 30 in December of 1986 and remained on the charts for 13 weeks.  Campbell followed with a second album, Even Me in 1998.

Campbell toured the country singing and performing in Gospel music stage plays. A role model and mentor to countless numbers of singers both young and old, Campbell reprised Draw Me Nearer (originally recorded with Jerry Smith and the Children of Israel) with the Mississippi Mass Choir on their 25th Anniversary disc Declaration of Dependence in 2014.  The mezzo soprano had recently relocated to the Atlanta area to serve as Worship Pastor shortly before her illness.  GOSPELflava joins others mourning her passing while celebrating her life and music.