Gospel artist Calvin Hunt dies in New York

52 YEAR OLD gospel singer Calvin Hunt died on 26th December 2009 at a hospital in Queens, New York. The singer had been battling cancer. Hunt was a member of the Christ Tabernacle Choir and the award winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers. His latest solo album on Vine Records, 'Bridges', earned him two 2008 Dove Award nominations for Contemporary Gospel Recording and Contemporary Gospel Song, "Come On".

Hunt grew up in Queens, one of eight children. He worked in a pizzeria before forming his own band but when the group disbanded he became addicted to crack cocaine. After four years Calvin's daughter took home a flyer for a movie entitled Cry For Freedom, about young people hooked on crack, and after seeing the film he gave his life to Christ. It took another year before Hunt fully surrendered to God and went into a drug rehabilitation programme.

Hunt went into full time ministry and began recording albums, including 'Mercy Saw Me' (1996), 'Not I But Christ' (1998) and 'Power In The Name Of The Lord' (2001). With the Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers he received a Grammy and a Dove Award and appeared on radio and television shows like Good Morning America, Good Morning New York and 700 Club. Over the years Hunt played every kind of gig, including concerts, coffee houses, homeless shelters, schools and prisons.