Willie D. Kitchens, Jr. was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The only boy of six siblings raised in a musical influenced family environment as a child. His father, a musician in his own right, started he and his sisters performing in local churches around the Chattanooga surrounding area at the age of seven years old. He graduated from Howard High School and attended UT of Chattanooga as a Music Education student but did not receive his degree. After being highly recognized as one of Chattanooga’s sought after musicians, singer, and performers he decided to pursue his career as a writer, arranger, director, musician, and singer.
It led him to performing with some of the most Well-known Gospel artists and R&B artists of all times. He served as lead vocalist and producer of the “Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame” group, “The Impressions”.
Since his departure from that part of his career, although he still travels to do retreats, conferences, and special events, he now serves as Music Director of the Gospel service at Christ UMC and Pastor at Bethlehem Wiley UMC in the Chattanooga area.
At the age of 53 he went back to school to receive his degree in Business Management at Miller-Motte Technical College to encourage his 7 kids, 21 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren that anything is possible if you put your heart, mind, and soul into it and above all putting God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit in front of it all. His wonderful and beautiful wife, Barbara, sings and serves as a Lay–Leader in the ministry together and also as a Surgical Tech Instructor at Miller-Motte Technical College. They both are excited and energized about what God is doing in their lives to reach others for him.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13