Vashawn Mitchell, one of gospel music’s most popular and in-demand young stars, will be in Philadelphia on Aug. 28 to perform and promote the release of his new CD “Created 4 This” at 7 p.m. at Baptist Worship Center, 4790 James St., where Bishop Millicent Hunter is the senior pastor.

In 2011, Mitchell owned the gospel charts and arguably had the most played gospel song in America, “Nobody Greater” from his CD “Triumphant.” 

The Tribune caught up with Vashawn to discuss his success and his upcoming promotional visit. Commenting on his 2011 meteoric rise to stardom in the music industry, Mitchell said, “Definitely an amazing year, I was totally shocked by what God did with, not only ‘Nobody Greater’ but ‘Triumphant’ the CD, as a whole.”

The year 2011 should have been called the Year of Vashawn Mitchell as his mega-hit single “Nobody Greater” made him a certified star in the gospel music industry. In 2011, Mitchell won six Stellar awards. He was nominated for a Grammy award and Billboard Magazine cited “Nobody Greater” as the most played gospel song in the nation. He was Billboard’s top-ranked gospel radio artist of the year and his single held the number 1 position for nine consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart. It also became a smash, cross-over hit on the Urban Contemporary Adult charts.

Mitchell, 35, is certainly making an impression in the gospel community nationally and internationally. He has toured with gospel legends Bebe and Cece Winans, Mary Mary and other A-list artists. Mitchell has traveled to Germany, England, Italy, Switzerland and other foreign countries lands performing and promoting his music ministry.

“Spreading this big song and this big sound around the world, and to see different cultures and different backgrounds, different denominations, people in church and out of church, singing [my song] is amazing,” said Mitchell. He describes his music’s public appeal and style as a, “Gospel-praise and worship sound with a contemporary flare. It’s important for me to stay true to who I am.”

Having “Nobody Greater” cross-over into mainstream urban radio was huge for Mitchell as his music resonated with music lovers young and old.

“That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “My little brother, who don’t really go to church, him and his boys would be listening to “Nobody Greater” out in the streets. It’s just good to know that the music that we do is reaching beyond the four walls of church.”

Raised in the Chicago area, home to many legendary gospel artists, Mitchell is humbly building his own legacy, but he gives great reverence to his predecessors.

“It is great to come from what is known as the gospel capitol of the world, the home of Thomas Dorsey, Albertina Walker and so many other great artists, Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers, Ricky Dillard … the Clark Sisters, Fred Hammond, it was just great to grow up around great gospel music,” said Mitchell. “You could just go down the street and see the Thompson Community Singers, or even Fred Hammond … so I was always around this music that I love, it was just inspiring to see someone you looked up to It’s what I always wanted to do, to sing gospel.”

For Mitchell, being from a city that gave birth to so many gospel legends, “That was my inspiration to be around so many inspiring artists who paved the way for what I do now,” said Mitchell.

A song writer, producer and singer, Mitchell has a great business acumen. His music company is in partnership with EMI Gospel Records, Mitchell owns the masters to his songs while EMI Records distributes his music.

“I made a lot of mistakes in the past, this is not my first record deal,” he said. “I recorded quite a few independent projects and then two earlier projects on another label. So, when it was time to sign with EMI Gospel, I wanted to negotiate the best deal I could. I wanted to do what I know how to do, and partner with them to do what they know how to do. What I know how to do is to produce music. I own the masters … I produce the projects — they market and distribute for me. It’s been a great partnership.”

Mitchell has a deep love for Philly. One of his early career mentors is local radio celeb Lonnie Hunter of WPPZ/Praise Philly 103.9FM. Mitchell decided that Philly would be his first tour stop to perform and sign copies of his new CD.

“I love Philly,” he said. “I fell in love with Philly my first time [visiting].”

He recalled a funny incident when he toured Philly with Bebe & Cece Winans and Mary Mary.

“The tour was set up where I [wouldn’t] sing “Nobody Greater” until the middle [of the show]. I walked off the stage, Philly almost tore that place up because I didn’t sing “Nobody Greater” … I was laughing, ’cause I knew I was going to come back to sing it. When I went back on stage [to sing it], the place went crazy. I was like, wow … it was amazing love!”

Mitchell is humble and grateful for the fame and financial favor that God has given him.

“To get 6 Stellar Awards is cool, but I was telling somebody the other day how, that nobody remembers less than 10 years ago, I was a seat-filler,” he said referring to the job of occupying the seats of stars during awards shows so that when the TV cameras pan the audience, viewers won’t see empty seats.

“I sat in Richard Smallwood’s seat all night,” he said. “That opportunity to go from a seat filler to an award winner, it’s just the most amazing experience in the world. To know your own journey, your own path … when God says, ‘It’s your turn’ — it’s an amazing feeling — but the greatest feeling is to know the journey.”