Spotlight On Holy Boy

Gospel music at its most powerful, pushes the listener out of their circumstance and into the presence of God. Such is the case with the music ministry of Alabama born-and-bred singer/songwriter/musician HB (Holy Boy), whose unmistakably urban delivery of present-day psalms moves audiences to their feet for praise and to their knees for worship. HB sings with arresting clarity on “Out of Time”, his debut release on Next Era Music /Universal Music Christian Group. Gospel music fans everywhere will be struck by his warm tenor vocals, which add southern sensibilities to modern gospel.

At first glance, HB’s clean-cut appearance and penchant for catchy, urban and soul influenced tracks would make one think he most likely hails from any number of large metropolitan cities. But soon after seeing him on stage or watching him in a video, HB’s easy and confident swagger combined with his relaxed and courteous speech are dead giveaways to his church-laden Mobile, Alabama upbringing.

It is in Mobile that HB honed his vocal chops, and was first christened the nickname that sticks to this day – ‘The Boy Wonder’. “The first song I learned on the keyboard was Stevie Wonder’s ‘Ribbon in the Sky’,” remembers HB. “Before that I actually never wanted to sing – I was set on being a drummer. But I started mimicking Stevie’s vocals, and soon everyone back home started calling me ‘The Boy Wonder’.”

With his grandmother as the pastor and his mom serving as administrator of his childhood church, it’s no surprise the budding musical prodigy directed his gifts to glorify God. By the age of 13, he was playing the drums and singing background for a local choir, The Spirits of Mobile. The city continued to show him love throughout his gospel music journey, which included stints as the founder of a choir (Higher Calling), a quartet (Anointed Sons of Praise) and as a solo artist under his own startup record label (Holy Boy Entertainment).

But like many who grew up in the church, HB had a ‘prodigal son’ experience in the midst of his growing ministry in gospel music. In the early 90′s, HB did a 2 year stint as a member of an R&B group with a promising record deal. It wasn’t until after getting released from the label and spending the next 6 months doing gigs in local casinos that HB remembered that the person he had become was not who God meant for him to be. “God had a calling on my life and I couldn’t rest doing what I was doing. I had to go back,” reflects HB.

Regardless of genre, music always made HB feel complete. HB’s reverence for his mainstream influences (Stevie Wonder, Sam Cook, Luther Vandross, and Usher) is evident in the soulful R&B energy that is embedded in his current music. But it’s the gospel inspirations (John P. Kee, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Deitrick Haddon, Smokie Norful, Kim Burrell, and The Clark Sisters) that allow him to showcase the versatility in modern gospel while holding true to the message of Christ.

With the release of “Out of Time”, his first album after signing with Next Era Music Group, it is this message that HB wants everyone to be hooked on – even more than they might be hooked by the beats. Whether he’s discussing homelessness, street life, joy in Christ, or desperately seeking God – HB desires most for his listeners to be inspired to live a saved and sanctified lifestyle. “You don’t hear too many people talking about being sanctified anymore,” HB explains. “But that’s where I want to lead them, that regardless of the circumstance it’s important to be holy because God is holy.”