|
 Many of us remember Bryan Wilson as the little boy who sang "His Eye's On the Sparrow" with the Mississippi Children’s Choir, to the awe of everyone. His range was that of Mariah Carey and his sound was like that of young Michael Jackson. It's been a few years and Bryan is no longer a little child. Now in his early twenties, Bryan is making a comeback with two songs on the "Uncloudy Days" compilation CD that features such greats as Andre Crouch, The Kurt Carr Singers, Mavis Staples and others. I had the privilege to speak with him recently about what God is now doing in his life.
Bryan, how are you brother?
I’m blessed man, I’m doing very well!
What have you been up to these days?
I’ve just recently re-enrolled in school where I am finishing up my Master of Divinity Degree at Princeton University In New Jersey, in addition to that, I’ve been blessed to have worked with Bill Carpenter on his “Uncloudy Days” project. It’s a compilation album that also features Mavis Staples, The Hawkins Family, and Andre Crouch. For a young guy like me to be in the company of these artists is truly a blessing for me.
Well, you started out very young, so it’s only great that you are continuing in this path. What do you think?
Certainly, it’s awesome!
How has your performance on the “Uncloudy Days” project been accepted by the industry at large?
It’s actually going very well. A lot of people remember me as the little boy who sang “His Eye’s On the Sparrow” with the Mississippi Children’s Choir, and during that time my voice was very high. My voice has changed since then. It’s awesome because the Lord is really blessing. My range is coming back and my vocal ability has increased again, so it’s really awesome to see what God has done in the natural aspect as well as the spiritual aspect of my life…being assistant pastor at my dad’s church and different things like that. So bringing all of this to the table as well as being reintroduced with such great artists as Mavis Staples and others, I consider very fortunate. I am truly elated by it all!
When you went through that voice change, what did that do to you? I know that must have been difficult.
Brother Delroy man, it was heartbreaking, because I would go places to sing and people would be asking me to sing “His Eye’s On The Sparrow” in that La Shun Pace, Karen Clark & Mariah Carey range, and it just wasn’t happening like that anymore, so everyone was like you are not that little boy no more so they didn’t really want to hear that. I went through that depression and felt almost like God had forsaken me, like he blessed me with this talent and then took it away! But I realized that the Lord had to take me through that transition and made me realize that it wasn’t just about my talent, but it’s about the anointing and my relationship with Him. Once I realize this, he started to renew my vocal abilities that I thought I’d never regain.
You also had your tonsils removed?
Oh yeah, that was a very scary thing. I could not talk for a week. I was praying Lord, just let me talk again. I thank God though, because He is a redeemer.
You are now a minister of the gospel, and how is that going for you?
It’s going great. I am an assistant pastor at my dad’s church in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Our ministry is comprised of 85% college students. It’s funny because I am in my early twenties, yet I am one of the oldest members of the church…. I’m like a senior deacon or something. Just to see the move of God taking place in these young people’s lives is simply awesome.
Do you have any last thoughts Bryan, before we end this interview?
I’m just honored to be speaking with you, Delroy. No matter what you’re going through, especially to the young gospel artists, just remain faithful to the call of God first and to your ministry.
|
