Donnie McClurkin doesn't have a pretty childhood story. As he explained in his book, Eternal Victim/Eternal Victor!, he had a very abusive beginning to overcome. But overcome he did, after finding a haven in church, and as a teen he was drawn to street evangelism and ministering in prisons. He formed the McClurkin Singers with his siblings, and a few close friends in 1979 and the calling to ministry got stronger.

A meeting with Andre' Crouch that grew into a friendship helped cement the course of Donnie's future and ministry.
He formed the New York Restoration Choir, which recorded their first album in 1989. In 1996 McClurkin released his debut solo project on Warner-Alliance Records. A second release followed, which won a Dove Award. Working as an assistant to Pastor Marvin Winans at Detroit's Perfecting Church during this time, he was ordained and sent out in 2001 to plant the Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, NY. A very busy year, this was also the year that his book was released.

Two albums later we have Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs, the album that got him the nod for Artist of the Year as well as Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year.