
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty
The gospel world lost a legend on Saturday as Bishop Rance Allen transitioned. The minister of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) passed while recovering from a medical procedure at Heartland ProMedica located in Sylvania, Ohio. Allen’s wife, Ellen, and manager Toby Jackson confirmed the news on Facebook.
Artists such as Yolanda Adams, David and Tamela Mann, John P. Kee, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Fred Hammond took to social media to pay tribute to Allen, who was working on an upcoming single as a solo act. Others such as Lalah Hathaway, Charlie Wilson, Ledisi and Snoop Dogg also paid tribute to Allen as Snoop worked with the Bishop on his 2018 gospel album.
Kirk Franklin, who famously worked with Allen for “Something About The Name Jesus,” shared a heartbreaking message on Instagram Saturday.
“I just woke up to some of the worst news ever,” Franklin said. “You guys remember that song God gave me several years ago called ‘Something About The Name Jesus?’ That had the incredible Rance Allen? Man, we lost Rance Allen. I just got a call that we lost Rance Allen. I just did his first single. I just wrote and produced his first single…We were just trying to figure out how to get him down here or I was going to go to Detroit…We just lost Rance Allen.”
Watch some of Allen’s classic videos and see the reactions to his passing below.
Gospel Community Reacts To The Passing Of Bishop Rance Allen was originally published on praisehouston.com
1. Kirk Franklin
2. Fred Hammond
3. Yolanda Adams
4. David and Tamela Mann
5. John P. Kee
6. Tasha Cobbs Leonard
7. Snoop Dogg
8. Charlie Wilson
Rest in peace Bishop Rance Allen. You were a great gift from God and you will be missed. Love you so much. My prayers go out to your family 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/dhqbTFMADf
— Charlie Wilson (@CharlieWilson) October 31, 2020
9. Ledisi
Bishop #RanceAllen Thank You for being MORE. You were a revolutionary as well. (Not a Meme of vocal riffs.)You were so much more. You inspired me and to think we never met. Rest Well. Praying for your family and all who love you. 🙏🏾This was my introduction to you. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/93Y5CZ2sVG
— ledisi (@ledisi) October 31, 2020
10. KevOnStage
Rest In Peace to Bishop Rance Allen. Owner of the best run in the history of gospel music. Legend. Goat. pic.twitter.com/MbLgw6Uvjp
— Kevín (@KevOnStage) October 31, 2020
11. Queen Naija
Man... R.I.P Rance Allen.. people who grew up in church know. But the best part is he lived his life for God! So he gets to be with him now ❤️ 🕊
— Queen Naija (@queennaija) October 31, 2020
12. Kristian Brown
What a HUGE loss to the gospel world. Bishop Rance Allen is one of the greatest voices on the planet. The Grammy award winning gospel artist could of lived anywhere but called TOLEDO home! Pray for his family. pic.twitter.com/x2MBx4YAgB
— KristianBrown (@KristianBrown) October 31, 2020
13. Cece Winans
We grew up having a blast listening and doing routines to his music, “There’s Gonna Be a Showdown”. He will always be remembered and loved! Your talent and kindness blessed my life and countless lives all over the world. Rest In Peace Rance Allen! ♥️ pic.twitter.com/F19KlLjPVB
— CeCe Winans (@cecewinans) October 31, 2020
14. Lalah Hathaway
I love Rance Allen. He sang at my father’s home going. His sound has been in my hearth for a hundred years. https://t.co/iYerGNuPjn
— lalah hathaway (@lalahhathaway) October 31, 2020
15. Magic Johnson
One of my favorite gospel singers Rance Allen passed away today. 😢Cookie and I extend our condolences and prayers to the entire Allen family. May he RIP!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) October 31, 2020
16. BJ The Chicago Kid
Rance Allen R.I.P. OG!!!!! One of the coldest to ever do it. 🙏🏾💪🏾
— BJ THE CHICAGO KID (@BJTHECHICAGOKID) October 31, 2020