SoulTracks Looks Back: Charlie Wilson pleads on beautiful "Cry No More"

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    He's one of the great voices of a generation. Both as the lead singer of The Gap Band and in a second act as a solo artist, Charlie Wilson has defied time, changing musical tastes and his own personal demons to become an all-timer.

    And for all of his success, Mr. Wilson hasn't forgotten his low points, when addictions and bad decisions not only nearly erased his career, but also his life. So since his triumphant return in the early 2000s as a top of the charts singer, he has always made sure to proclaim the factors of faith and family that brought him back and refocused his life. And he captured much of this in his 2005 song, "Cry No More," written by Dale Virgo, Herman Davis, Kemoy Rowe, Kenneth Wilson and Lutan Fyah.

    He's one of the great voices of a generation. Both as the lead singer of The Gap Band and in a second act as a solo artist, Charlie Wilson has defied time, changing musical tastes and his own personal demons to become an all-timer.

    And for all of his success, Mr. Wilson hasn't forgotten his low points, when addictions and bad decisions not only nearly erased his career, but also his life. So since his triumphant return in the early 2000s as a top of the charts singer, he has always made sure to proclaim the factors of faith and family that brought him back and refocused his life. And he captured much of this in his 2005 song, "Cry No More," written by Dale Virgo, Herman Davis, Kemoy Rowe, Kenneth Wilson and Lutan Fyah.

    Every time, I try my best,
    Seems I'm doing wrong, oh yeah,
    When I think about, what I've done to me,
    I've had to make a change, oh yeah,
    Then you steeped in, you turned my life around,
    I'm free again, from the pain that I felt,
    Oh I need you Lord, more and more,
    So I get down on my knees, begging you Lord to help me please,
    Only heaven knows the pain I feel inside of me.

    Here me out Lord, I wanna let you know,
    I don't have to cry no more.

    It's a beautiful testimony, and the expressive performance may be even better. Click below to go to Church with Charlie Wilson, on this terrific SoulTracks Looks Back.

    By Chris Rizik