Danny Gokey
Daniel Jay Gokey (born April 24, 1980) is an American singer and former church music director from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the third-place finalist on the eighth season of American Idol. After his placing on the show, Gokey signed to 19 Recordings and RCA Nashville at the beginning of a career in country music, releasing the single “My Best Days Are Ahead of Me.” His debut album, My Best Days, was released in March 2010.
After leaving RCA Nashville in November 2011, he gravitated his music towards an adult pop/contemporary Christian sound and subsequently made a record/publishing deal with BMG in May 2013. Since the release of My Best Days, he has released 6 other studio albums, including Hope in Front of Me, Rise, and Jesus People.
Gokey started singing with his family in church, but stated he would rather record mainstream music than perform solely Christian/gospel music. He was the worship director at his church in Milwaukee, Faith Builders International Ministries, for several years.
He is the fifth of six children. He has a brother named Charles, and four sisters: Angela, Janell, Gina, and Tracey.
He has acknowledged the influence of Jeffrey and Robin Pruitt, who are the pastors of the church where he worked, and also Matthew Barnett, the founder of the LA Dream Center. He has stated that his faith is the “key to who I am”. Gokey was a church music director, while also driving a semi truck (18 wheeler) for a local logistics company for two years.
