Secular beginnings In 1982, at the age of 20, Gibson signed with
Dick Griffey's
Constellation Records (
SOLAR) as a
rhythm and blues artist. His debut came as a guest vocalist and songwriter on several songs for Bill Wolfer (the
keyboardist for
the Jacksons), on his
Wolf album, via the Constellation label. The album included
Michael Jackson singing background vocals on the Gibson/Wolfer collaboration "So Shy". Griffey circulated Gibson's
demo tape, with people believing they were listening to
Stevie Wonder, who Gibson sang "
Ebony and Ivory" with while on tour in 1983. Gibson released his debut album,
Standing on the One (1983), originally via Constellation (now owned by
Unidisc Music). It included "Nation in Need" with a quasi-style rap verse, in addition to other
secular tracks such as "It's True" and "Start It All Again". He also produced the single, "She Told Me So" (1983) via
Elektra Records, with a music video that premiered on
MTV. However, Gibson was torn between his desire for
pop stardom and his need to give testimony to his faith. Therefore, he entered the
Christian music industry when he signed with
Frontline Records after 1985.
Contemporary Christian Gibson's second album featured his first
rap solo, "Ain't It Pretty" (1985), from
On the Run (1986). The album was co-produced by
Felton Pilate of
Con Funk Shun.
On the Run was well received, and rendered his first
No. 1 single in
contemporary Christian music (CCM) to impact
Christian radio. "God Loves a Broken Heart" became one of over twenty Top 10 CCM hits for Gibson. He would also experience success with the No. 1 single "Friend in You", Burrell and
Tramaine Hawkins previously performed in concerts with Gibson's band at various venues, such as the Beverly Theatre in
Beverly Hills (a live performance of "B-Boy Chill" is on YouTube). Gibson was in a gospel
rap group with Hammer known as the
Holy Ghost Boy(s), with songs later produced and released on their respective albums. Hammer released a song called "Son of the King" on his debut album,
Feel My Power (1986). Gibson released "The Wall" on his third album,
Change of Heart (1988). The album included Gibson's
cover version of "
Yah Mo B There" (co-written by
Rod Temperton and
Quincy Jones), a song originally performed by
James Ingram and
Michael McDonald. Gibson collaborated with
Stevie Wonder on his fourth album,
Body & Soul (1989). Wonder played harmonica on a remake of his own song, "Have a Talk with God", from
Songs in the Key of Life (1976). The album peaked at No. 23 on July 29, 1989 (charting for 25 weeks) Wonder's
soundtrack album,
Jungle Fever (1991), had Gibson singing backup on the track "I Go Sailing" (as well as touring together). Gibson's fifth album,
Jesus Loves Ya (1990), featured multiple musicians including Rob Watson and
Doug Webb. It produced two No. 1 singles, the title track and "Love Come Down" (with "Preacher Man" reaching the Top 5). In 1991, "Jesus Loves Ya" was a top selling CCM single, spending a record eleven weeks at No. 1 on the CCM charts. However, several elements frustrated the relationship between Gibson and
Frontline Records. The main issue was that Gibson was receiving little if no payment for his recordings. yielded five Top 10 hits (four No. 1s) and was voted Album of the Year by
CCM Magazine. The album peaked at No. 3 on August 8, 1992 (charting for 37 weeks), but Frontline Records ran into serious financial trouble. resulting in a nearly three-year hiatus before releasing his seventh album,
Love Education (1995). The album peaked at No. 19 on April 15, 1995 (charting for 5 weeks). Gibson later signed with
Ojo Taylor and
Gene Eugene of
Brainstorm Artists International (BAI). Gibson searched for a record contract for two years, It was a consciously
urban-sounding album made with producer
Tommy Sims. It didn't fare as well as previous records, therefore Gibson created Imagery Records for his ninth album. He released his first
praise album,
Soulful Hymns (2002), via his own label. In June 2010, Gibson released the single "On a Mission", which was available for download. A portion of the funding for a
Project 10 album was raised via
Kickstarter. The planned album,
The Horizons of Knowing, "I'm On a Mission" eventually appeared on Gibson's tenth album,
The Storyteller (2012), a tribute album to his father Stan Gibson (who led him to the
Christian faith in 1981). Gibson released the single "Silent War" in March 2022, marking his first new music in a decade. The track was made public for download via his websites. Since 2024, he was raising money for his eleventh studio album via
GoFundMe, with his new non-profit ministry and independent recording label Answer to God (ATG). Per his social media, Gibson recorded a duet with Stevie Wonder which hasn't been released. == Musical training and style ==