William McDowell (musician)
William McDowell | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 31, 1976 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Gospel music artist, pastor |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Known for | Gospel music albums including As We Worship, Arise, Withholding Nothing |
William David McDowell (born August 31, 1976) is a prominent American gospel music artist who began his professional journey in 2009 with the album As We Worship, released by Entertainment One Music. This initial project secured positions on three distinct Billboard charts: Gospel Albums, Independent Albums, and Heatseekers Albums. His subsequent album in 2011, Arise, also under Entertainment One, appeared on the Billboard 200, Gospel Albums, and Independent Albums charts. The 2013 release, Withholding Nothing, continued this pattern of success by charting on the Billboard 200, Gospel Albums, and Independent Albums lists, while also earning a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album.
Early life
William David McDowell was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 31, 1976. He is the son of Lewis and Pauline (née Leggette), both of whom hail from North Carolina.
Music career
McDowell’s entry into the music industry was marked by the 2009 release of As We Worship via Entertainment One Music. This debut album achieved notable rankings on Billboard charts, reaching number three on Gospel Albums, number twenty-one on Independent Albums, and number thirty-two on Heatseekers Albums. Critical reception was varied, with AllMusic awarding it three stars and Cross Rhythms granting a perfect ten.
His follow-up record, Arise (2011), also distributed by Entertainment One, ascended to number sixty-one on the Billboard 200 chart, secured the top spot at number one on Gospel Albums, and attained number thirteen on Independent Albums. AllMusic rated this album three and a half stars.
The third studio project, Withholding Nothing (2013), further amplified McDowell’s commercial impact by peaking at number twenty-eight on the Billboard 200, holding number one on Gospel Albums, and reaching number four on Independent Albums. Reviews included a three-star rating from AllMusic and four stars from New Release Tuesday. This album garnered a nomination for Best Gospel Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards and received several nominations at the 30th Stellar Awards, such as Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year and Traditional CD of the Year.
In January 2016, McDowell released his fourth album, Sounds of Revival, through Entertainment One Music, maintaining his influential role in gospel music.
Personal life
During his twenties, McDowell relocated to Orlando, Florida to pursue a degree in Entertainment Business at Full Sail University. He was guided musically by mentor Ron Kenoly, serving as his music director, and later worked under Sam Hinn while acting as Worship Pastor at The Gathering Place Church. In May 2009, he married LaTae; together they reside near Orlando with their children. Currently, McDowell holds the pastoral position at Deeper Fellowship church located in Orlando, Florida.
Discography
| Title | Album details | Highest chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Gos |
US Indie |
US Heat | ||
| As We Worship |
|
— | 3 | 21 | 32 |
| Arise |
|
63 | 1 | 13 | — |
| Withholding Nothing |
|
28 | 1 | 4 | — |
| Sounds of Revival |
|
46 | 1 | 2 | — |
| Sounds of Revival II: Deeper |
|
91 | 1 | 6 | — |
| The Cry: A Live Worship Experience |
|
172 | 1 | 6 | — |