Milton Brunson

Milton R. Brunson (June 28, 1929 – April 1, 1997) was an American gospel musician and former pastor and music director of Christ Tabernacle Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois. Brunson released his first musical project in 1988, Available to You. The title track has become a gospel standard.

He won a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards, while he was nominated two other times. He had ten albums that have charted on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart over the course of his career and some even after his death. He received a nomination for the Best Gospel Album, Group or Choir at the 1988 Soul Train Music Awards and for Best Gospel Album at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards.

Biography

Early life Brunson was born on June 28, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois. His father was a stockyard worker, while his mother was a music and religion teacher. he pursued a career in music by getting trained by Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, and Robert Johnson, to hone his craft in the arts. Ten albums got charted on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, with five of them achieving the top spot on the chart. They received numerous accolades ranging from a nomination for the Best Gospel Album, Group or Choir at the 1988 Soul Train Music Awards and for Best Gospel Album at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards. In addition, they won a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards, while they were nominated two other times. The Thompson Community Singers boasts some notable alumni particularly, Darius Brooks, Ricky Dillard, and Jessy Dixon.

Death Brunson died at his residence in Chicago, Illinois, on April 1, 1997. He is interred at Oakridge Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.

Personal life Brunson was married to Joann Brunson. They had three children together: two daughters, Donna Louise and Lavitia, and a son, Kevin.

Legacy His last album, When You Get High on Jesus, Oh My God, released in 1997 by Hob Records, was a posthumous release. He has a post office branch and school named after him in Austin, a neighborhood on Chicago's West Side. He has gained notoriety for his seemingly random inclusion in a custom Jeopardy board played by YouTubers Bengal and GiraffeNeckMarc.

Discography + List of selected studio albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions USGosMiracle Live Released: 1984

CD, digital download 6There Is Hope Released: 1986

CD, digital download 1If I Be Lifted Released: 1987

CD, digital download 1Available to You Released: 1988

CD, digital download 1Open Our Eyes Released: 1990

CD, digital download 1My Mind Is Made Up Released: 1991

CD, digital download 1Through God's Eyes Released: 1993

CD, digital download 4Shout Released: 1995

CD, digital download 5He's Still Good Released: 1997

CD, digital download 950 Blessed Years Released: 1998

CD, digital download 24