🔊🎉Today, January 26, 1970, Kirk Dewayne Franklin was born in Fort Worth, Texas. On January 22, 1999, Franklin’s first Christmas album, with the Family, “Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas,” was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. This urban contemporary gospel album was released on November 7, 1995, and it peaked at no. 9 on the US Billboard Top Holiday Albums Chart on January 6, 1996. The album went on to enjoy a 63-week chart run.