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Earl Bynum, a 1985 Franklin High School graduate, was named FCPS AFCPS Alumnus of the Month for May 2024.  

During his years at FHS, Bynum was a member of the track team and manager of the girl’s basketball state championship team under the leadership of Coach Mona Sumblin.  He was also part of the FHS chorus and started the FHS gospel choir. In addition, Bynum participated in the drama department under the direction of Ken Raybuck.  Bynum played Jesus in the musical “Godspell” and the Tinman in “The Wiz.”

After graduating, Bynum returned to FHS as the assistant band director to Edwin Barton, Kaye Weaver, and another band director.  

Bynum is an international recording artist, producer, radio host, music consultant, and Executive Director of Music.  He directed the Mount Unity Choir to a streak of accolades, harvesting some of music’s highest honors.  Some of those honors include a 13-track CD/DVD that debuted on the Billboard Current Top 40 Gospel Albums Chart at #8 and boasted a Top 30 Gospel Radio single, “Bless the Name of the Lord.”  Radio singles include “I Have No Doubt” and “Psalms 117.”  Under Earl Bynum’s direction, the Mount Unity Choir was voted Steve Harvey’s Neighborhood (Hoody) Awards Best Church Choir.  Mount Unity also received the Choir of the Year Award at the Gospel Blue Mic Awards and earned the Album of the Year title at the DMV Christian Music Awards.  

Bynum is a five-time Stellar Award nominee with three 2014 Stellar Gospel Music Award nominations – Contemporary Choir of the Year, Choir of the Year, and Recorded Packaging of the Year.  One of those nominations turned into a win!  Bynum took home a 2014 Stellar Gospel Music Award for Contemporary Choir of the Year for their debut CD/DVD, Bishop K.W. Brown Presents Earl Bynum and the Mount Unity Choir Live, which Bynum also produced. Through Bynum’s genius artistic leadership, Mount Unity Choir is celebrated as one of the top church choirs and Bynum as one of the top choir directors in the country.  

Known as “Mr. International,” Bynum has completed 23 world music tours to Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, and Japan.  He is the founder and president of Hampton Roads Alliance of Music Professionals (501c3) and host of his syndicated radio show, “On Stage with Earl Bynum,” in 40-plus markets on Rejoice Media Network.  

Bynum was recently appointed the National Chairman of the Alliance of Gospel Music Professionals, a national auxiliary of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA).  He has served as a song leader for the prestigious Hampton University Ministers Conference. In addition, Bynum is also the founder of Earl Bynum Ministries, Inc., co-founder of the Independent Gospel Artist Alliance Conference (IGAA) 501c3, Senior Vice President of the Gospel Industry Network (GIN), co-chair of the Eastern Region of the National Association of Gospel Radio (NAGR), and CEO of L’rae Entertainment, LLC.    

Bynum’s current solo CD project, entitled “This Song Is for You,” landed at #21 on the Billboard Gospel Music chart and remained there for 13 consecutive weeks. Additionally, it was nominated for a Dove Award and a 2020 Stellar Gospel Music Award.