Darian Keith Horn

The urban gospel music industry has been waiting for an artist like Darian Keith Horn. Not only does this artist display a stunning voice and perfectly penned tunes, but his goal – above all else – is to share God’s love through the musical gifts he’s been given. With an illustrious career working for President Bill Clinton and Vice President Dick Cheney, one would think that this Naval Officer and brother of well-known Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Joe Horn would be able to rest on his laurels. But not this gospel singer and songwriter. No, he’s planning to take the gospel industry by storm with the release of his sophomore project My Prayer on Fo Yo Glory Records on August 26, 2008.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Darian experienced a major life adjustment at the tender age of three when his parents divorced. His mother left his abusive father and moved the family down to the small town of Littleton, North Carolina, where his grandparents resided. It was in that little home in the south that he learned how to sing. His grandmother, a devout Christian, taught him and his brothers and sisters, the roots of gospel music. The siblings soon became known as “The Echoes of Harmony” and hit the road doing local church gigs. “She taught us to sing harmony without any instruments for hours at a time,” recounts Horn. “At the time, we just wanted to play, but she was teaching us traditional quartet music like the Mighty Clouds of Joy and The Williams Brothers”.

Although his grandmother poured into him a knowledge of God, it wasn’t until he entered the military that his personal relationship with God began. With a newfound freedom, unfortunately, he started down a wrong path. But the voice of the Lord was always in his ear. While stationed in California, he continued singing – although most of his influences were now R&B. He connected with a number of music contacts during his time there, but nothing panned out professionally. Ultimately, he found himself back in church not too long after that. He joined the praise and worship team and rekindled his relationship – not only with gospel music – but with God. The first time he stepped to the mic, it was a deeply spiritual experience.

In 2005, he got his feet wet in the gospel music industry as a recording artist through his first CD, Every Time. The project’s lead single, “Awesome”, garnered local interest and jumpstarted the artist’s career. He caught the attention of Kingdom Records, known for their phenomenal success with Shekinah Glory Ministry, and signed with them.

Now, Horn is preparing his second release, My Prayer. Working with three-time 2008 Dove Award Nominee and popular producer and songwriter Kyle Bynoe, Horn is preparing to drop his sophomore release on August 26, 2008. With stunning vocals and a passionate delivery, Horn is poised to set the world of gospel music on fire.

His first single of out of the box is the catchy rhythmic “Can’t Stop”. “Kyle Bynoe and I were sitting in the studio one day writing songs. After we finished one of the songs, I turned to Kyle and said, ‘You know the perfect rhythm for this song should be the groove from ‘Ain’t No Stopping Us Now’,” said Horn. Unbelievably, Bynoe said, “I’ve got a track for that right here” and that’s how the song with birthed. Many will remember the old school classic as an anthem of the 70s. Darian has taken the inspirational message of the original recording and raised it even higher with strong lyrical content and a moving vocal performance.

“Awesome”, another memorable track on My Prayer, and previously included on his first recording, is a pretty reverent song. With the musical backing of simply a piano, the song speaks of the amazing nature of God while simultaneously highlighting Darian’s convincing and emotive vocals.

“My Prayer”, the CD’s title track, is reminiscent of an old Isley Brothers cut, but this track has a new twist. In this thick, urban track, the artist sings directly to God in a way that only someone who really needs God can. It’s a song that many can relate to. With its R&B groove, it’s music that today’s generation will enjoy.

Darian clearly knows what his role is in gospel music. “This is a calling for me. This industry has enough entertainers and there are plenty of people who can sing. And I’m not trying to take any of those roles. I’m simply trying to minister to people who God has called me to and to people who are waiting to experience what God has for them through song”.