Donnie McClurkin was one of Francis and Donald McClurkin’s ten children. He showed an early talent for music and sang his first solo in church when he was three years old. Church was the centerpiece of the McClurkin family, and their home was filled with gospel music. Patriarch Donald provided for the family by working construction but also relied on government assistance to feed his large family.
Tragedy struck the McClurkin family when Donnie was eight years old. He was...