NATHAN BANKHEAD
Nathan Bankhead has become one of gospel music’s hottest and most exciting artists. Born in the great city of Detroit, Michigan, Nathan first honed his creative gifts and skills at the Art Center School of Music for the Gifted in Detroit, where he was trained by the late Dr. Abersol. There, he excelled vocally while developing an understanding of how passion, emotion, and excitement can be intertwined to tell a compelling story through music. Inspired by an incredibly diverse group of artists—including Fred Hammond and Commissioned, The Winans, The Jacksons, Earth, Wind & Fire, Toto, Prince, Def Leppard, and Kenny Loggins, along with jazz greats such as Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Ramsey Lewis, and Dave Brubeck—Nathan began writing and composing at the age of 13. Even then, his goal was not simply to write songs, but to create musical moments and stories that could remain in the hearts and minds of listeners long after the music stopped.
After leaving the United States Marine Corps at the age of 21, Nathan began building his own recording studio and developing his skills on the production side of music. That experience gave him a deeper understanding of not only songwriting and performance, but also how the entire creative process comes together inside the studio. In 2009, he released his debut album, Stand Salute: Songs of Inspiration for the Men and Women of the United States Military, a project created to honor and encourage America’s military service members and veterans. His work and compassion for veterans were later recognized by the Florida Times-Union. In 2017, Nathan released his follow-up album, Worship with Your Headphones On, a project heavily influenced by the music he grew up listening to as a child and teenager. The album blended contemporary Christian and gospel music with influences from R&B, pop, rock, soul, and jazz, creating a sound that looked forward while still giving a respectful nod to the music that inspired him.
In 2025, Nathan earned his bachelor’s degree in Audio Production from Full Sail University and is currently continuing his education at Full Sail while pursuing a master’s degree in Entertainment Business. He is now preparing to release his newest album, When It Happens Worship, which explores a different creative direction through influences from hip-hop, trap, neo-soul, pop, and contemporary gospel. At the center of everything Nathan creates, however, is his faith in Jesus Christ. His mission is to show forth the power of God through the power of music, using creativity, musicianship, storytelling, and production to encourage people and ultimately point them toward Christ. That mission reflects the spirit of Ephesians 5:19–20, which encourages believers to express their faith through psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, and music made to the Lord, as well as Ephesians 3:20–21, which speaks of God’s power at work within us. As Nathan prepares for the next chapter of his career and a transition to Los Angeles, California, he carries with him the blue-collar work ethic, grit, drive, creativity, and determination instilled in him growing up in Detroit—while never forgetting that his gifts, his purpose, and the music itself ultimately belong to God.
MY STORY
For Nathan Bankhead, the journey into music has never been a straight line. Behind the songs, the studio, and the creativity is the story of a single father who has had to navigate family challenges, periods of self-doubt, insecurity, and depression while continuing to believe that God placed a purpose inside him that could not be ignored. There were seasons when the dream of building a meaningful career in music seemed much farther away than it did when he first began writing songs as a teenager. Life had a way of asking difficult questions: Am I still good enough? Is there still a place for me? Did I wait too long? Can an independent gospel artist really compete in today’s music industry? Those questions were real, but so was the decision to keep moving.
That decision became even more important after Nathan experienced rejection from multiple gospel record labels. Rather than allowing those closed doors to become the final word on his career, he chose the fully independent route. It was not necessarily the easier road. Being independent meant learning how to become more than an artist. It meant becoming a songwriter, producer, recording engineer, business owner, marketer, and student of an industry that was constantly changing around him. At times, the very things that could have convinced him to quit became the motivation to learn more, work harder, and build something of his own.
Through it all, Nathan’s faith has remained the foundation. The disappointments, personal struggles, and uncertainty did not eliminate the dream; in many ways, they gave the dream greater purpose. Music became more than an opportunity to perform. It became a way to tell the truth about struggle, faith, perseverance, restoration, and the power of God to meet people in places they never expected to find themselves. Nathan understands what it feels like to question your value and wonder whether the next chapter will ever arrive, which is why he wants his music to reach people who may be asking some of those same questions.
Nathan’s story is still being written. He has not arrived at the finish line, and that may be one of the most important parts of the story. He is building, learning, creating, and moving forward one step at a time. Every rejection, setback, and season of uncertainty has strengthened his determination to remain faithful to the calling God placed on his life. His journey is a reminder that sometimes a closed door does not mean the end of the road—it simply means God may be leading you to build your own.
CONTACT
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