Kelontae Gavin

Kelontae Gavin is a contemporary gospel singer, songwriter, and worship leader. He was born on March 28, 1999, in Charleston, South Carolina, and raised in Ridgeville, South Carolina. Gavin began singing at the age of four at Favor Ministries, a non-denominational church in Ridgeville. He gained national attention in 2014 after a video of him singing the gospel hymn “I Won’t Complain” in his high school cafeteria went viral. He was discovered by manager Marquis Boone in 2016 and subsequently signed with Tyscot Records.

Gavin’s debut album, The Higher Experience, was released in 2018 and peaked at number two on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. His earlier single “Higher” (2016) and the album track “No Ordinary Worship” helped establish his presence in gospel music. He followed with The N.O.W. Experience in 2021, which included the single “Hold Me Close” that reached number one on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart in 2021. The song “Peace Be Still” arrived in 2022. His album Testify (2023) featured the single “Live Again,” which also reached number one on the Gospel Airplay chart in 2024. Another single, “Great,” had topped that same chart in 2023.

A multi-instrumentalist proficient in keys, organ, guitar, bass, and drums, Gavin has served as a worship pastor at House of Hope Atlanta. He also founded “Worship School” to mentor emerging gospel artists. His work has earned him multiple Stellar Gospel Music Award nominations.