When you grow up in a gospel household, there are certain songs that just feel like furniture. They’ve always been there. You know every run, every breath, and every organ swell. James Cleveland’s version of "God Is" is exactly that kind of staple. So, when a young artist decides to touch a "sacred" classic, people usually get a little nervous. But Melvin Crispell III God Is didn't just land; it soared, and honestly, it’s because he wasn't just singing a song—he was telling a story he’d lived through.
Melvin didn't have an easy path to that stage at Springcreek Church in Garland, Texas, where he recorded his second album, No Failure. By the time he was 18, he had lost both of his parents. His father, the legendary composer Melvin Crispell Jr., passed when Melvin was just 16. Two years later, his mother was gone too. Most people would have folded. Instead, he took that "Sunday Best" Season 9 win and turned his grief into a vocal powerhouse career.
The Robert Fryson Legacy Meets Modern Soul
The thing about "God Is" is its simplicity. Originally written by Robert Fryson, it’s a list of declarations. God is the joy. God is the strength. God is the source of life. For Melvin, these aren't just theological concepts. They’re the reasons he’s still standing.
When you listen to the track—specifically the live version from the No Failure project—there’s this "country-tinged" vibe that feels fresh but respectful. It’s got that dirt-road grit mixed with high-end gospel polish. It’s probably why the video racked up over 7 million views on YouTube. People can tell when someone is "faking" the spirit, and Melvin is definitely not faking it.
Why the Industry Noticed
It wasn't just church folks talking. The industry responded in a big way. The song earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Gospel Performance/Song at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. This wasn't his first time in the spotlight—his previous hit "Wonderful Is Your Name" (a tribute to his father’s writing) hit number one on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart—but "God Is" felt like his official "I’m here to stay" moment.
What’s cool is how he balances the old and the new. He’s not trying to out-sing James Cleveland. He’s just bringing his own 20-something perspective to a 1976 classic.
📖 Related: Maxton Hall Season 2: What Most People Get Wrong
- The Vocal Range: He hits notes that feel like they should be impossible for a human throat.
- The Arrangement: It moves from a low-simmering testimony to a full-blown worship explosion.
- The Production: Being his own executive producer for the first time on this album gave him the freedom to let the song breathe.
What Melvin Crispell III God Is Teaches Us About Resilience
Honestly, if you look at the lyrics, they’re basically a checklist for survival. "He removes all pain, misery, and strife." When you’ve lost the two most important people in your life by the time you’re a teenager, those words carry a different weight.
Critics sometimes say gospel remakes are "safe" choices for artists. I’d argue the opposite. If you mess up a classic, the old guard will never let you hear the end of it. By choosing "God Is," Melvin was stepping into a lineage of giants. He didn't just survive the comparison; he became part of the lineage.
Taking the Next Steps with This Music
If you're looking to dive deeper into why this song resonates so much, don't just stop at the radio edit. You need to experience the full context of his journey.
📖 Related: Doc McStuffins Song Lyrics: Why These Tiny Tunes Are Actually Genius
1. Watch the live recording at Springcreek Church. There is a specific energy in the room during that Garland, Texas session that you just can't capture in a studio booth. You can see the sweat and the genuine emotion on his face.
2. Listen to "Wonderful Is Your Name" immediately after. To understand the man, you have to understand his father’s influence. Listening to his father's composition followed by his cover of Fryson’s classic shows you exactly where his musical DNA comes from.
🔗 Read more: Why Amor Prohibido is Still the Messiest Drama on Television
3. Check out the "Covered Vol. 1" EP. Released in 2024, this project shows him tackling even more legends like Mary Mary and CeCe Winans. It’s a masterclass in how to honor the past while looking at the future.
Melvin Crispell III is currently one of the most nominated artists in the genre, and with tracks like "God Is," he’s proving that gospel music doesn't need to be reinvented—it just needs to be felt. Whether you're in it for the vocal acrobatics or the spiritual grounding, this track is a definitive moment in 2020s gospel history.