'The Reunion Tour' to bring gospel star Kirk Franklin to Mershon Auditorium on Oct. 27

Noted gospel singer-songwriter and choir director Kirk Franklin will "Stomp" into Mershon Auditorium in Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St., as part of "The Reunion Tour" featuring several other artists on Oct. 27.

Tickets for the concert start at $49.50 and are currently on sale at ticketmaster.com.

Franklin, a 16-time Grammy Award winner, whose popular songs include "Why We Sing," "I Smile" and "Stomp," a roof-raising 1997 hit featuring Cheryl "Salt" James of Salt-N-Pepa. "Stomp," which aired regularly on MTV and other music channels, charted at No. 1 on the R&B Singles Airplay chart for two weeks, even making it into the Top 40.

A native Texan, Franklin, 53, also is known for directing urban contemporary gospel and Christian R&B ensembles including The Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew (1NC). Two years ago, he was one of the first inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

Franklin also made headlines in 2021, when an expletive-laced phone argument between him and his estranged son was leaked on Instagram. The musician subsequently issued a public apology.

The concert also will include performances by acting-singing husband and wife duo David and Tamela Mann, The Clark Sisters, Israel Houghton and Tye Tribbett.

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The Manns, who have been married for 35 years, began their musical careers with Franklin's The Family. As a solo artist, Tamela Mann released a single, "Take Me to the King," which enjoyed commercial success in 2012.

In addition to performing music, the two are also known for their stage and film work, especially their appearances in numerous Tyler Perry productions. Interestingly, David Mann portrays Mr. Brown, the father of his wife's character, Cora Simmons.

Jacky Clark Chisholm, Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark, Dorinda Clark-Cole and Karen Clark Sheard are considered pioneers of contemporary gospel music and merited for helping to bring the genre to the mainstream. As a group (which formerly included Denise "Niecy" Clark-Bradford), the Clark Sisters have won three Grammy Awards and are the highest-selling female gospel group in history.

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Christian contemporary singer-songwriter Houghton also is a producer, worship leader and head of the gospel group New Breed.

With two Grammys to his name, Tribbett is a choir director and founder of the gospel group Tye Tribbett & G.A. (short for "Greater Anointing.")

bpaschal@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Gospel musician Kirk Franklin coming to Mershon Auditorium on Oct. 27