Gospel Artist James Fortune Hit by Drunk Driver on Way to Church

By Julie Brown Patton
James Fortune
Gospel award-winning songwriter/recording artist James Fortune was injured in a car accident on his way to church Wednesday, and his family and friends are asking for prayers regarding his recovery. Facebook

Requests are circulating on social media platforms for people to pray for gospel-recording artist James Fortune, who was hit by a drunk driver in a four-car accident Wednesday night. Fortune was headed to church at the time of the crash.

Fortune, 38, is a two-time Grammy Award-nominated gospel music recording artist, songwriter and producer. He also is a radio personality on 1190 AM WLIB in New York.

His team posted messages on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to let everyone know that God spared his life. But his camp also asked for prayers for a speedy recovery.

At 7:30 am Thursday, Fortune posted the following statement to his Facebook fan page: "Family, I'm sore but I'm alive! Thank you so much for your prayers, love and support! I am so grateful! I'll be back soon, let's all love and forgive. Tomorrow is not promised. God Bless You All."

Earlier in his career, Fortune was a choir director at Higher Dimension Church in Houston, Texas.

Fortune & FIYA's debut CD, "You Survived" was released in September 2004. He was honored at the 19th annual ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards for his hit single "You Survived" off the same album. "You Survived" also peaked as the No. 2 most played Gospel song in the country and has remained in the Top 7 for the last three years.

The radio single, "God Can" features Micah Stampley and gospel artist Zacardi Cortez.

Fortune received a 2006 ASCAP Writers Award for "You Survived" alongside some of music's finest like L.L. Cool J., Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin and J. Moss.

FIYA was nominated four years in a row for the Texas Gospel Youth & Young Adult Choir of the year. They have been featured on Eric Carrington's album, "Soar."

FIYA has opened for various artists, such as John P. Kee, Kim Burrell, Stevie Wonder, Mary Mary, Donald Lawrence, Albertina Walker, Fred Hammond, Tye Tribbett & G.A. FIYA started gospel music when they participated in the "One Church Tour" with some other gospel greats, such as Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers, RiZen, Smokie Norful, and Vickie Yohe.

James Fortune and F.I.Y.A.'s second project on Black Smoke Music World Wide (formerly World Wide), "The Transformation," was released Jan. 22, 2008.

In 2012, Fortune was nominated for two Grammy awards for Best Gospel Album of the Year and Best Gospel Song of Year, and topped Billboard's "Best of 2012 Gospel Songs/Artists List." In 2014, he released his first Live CD titled "Live Through It."

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