Kirk Talley

Kirk Talley (born June 9, 1958), is a Southern Gospel performer/songwriter. He sang for several years with the Cathedral Quartet, The Hoppers and The Talleys.

Early career
Born in Johnson City, TN, Talley began performing Southern Gospel Music in 1972. He was a member of the groups "The Hoppers", The Cathedrals and the Talleys. During his time with The Cathedrals, Talley wrote his first #1 song "Step Into the Water". The song remained at the top of the charts for nine months.

While with the Talleys, Kirk wrote the song "He Is Here". The Talleys received the 1992 Dove Award for 'Song of the Year' for this song. The song was also nominated for the 34th annual Grammy Awards that same year.

Solo career
Kirk began a solo career in 1993. He has been traveling and singing all across the United States and into Canada. Kirk's first "Singing News" #1 as a soloist came from his project titled "I Speak to You". The song, "Joy on the Other Side of Jordan" was only the beginning for Kirk's list of accomplishments.

Blackmail
In 2003 it was revealed that Kirk was experiencing homosexual feelings, which he struggled to suppress. Walbert Keith Farmer was indicted for extortion, after authorities stated he tried to blackmail Kirk by threatening to reveal that the singer was gay.

FBI agents arrested 39-year-old Farmer after he met Kirk Talley. An FBI agent's affidavit stated that Farmer told Talley that he would reveal Talley was homosexual, unless Talley paid him nearly 15-thousand dollars.

The agent's affidavit also stated that Talley felt the Internet was the only place he could express his distress about his homosexual feelings. Farmer's attorney says Talley and his client met in an Internet chat room.

Kirk admitted this to his fans, and also admitted to the fact that his first marriage ended due to this issue.

Reparative therapy
Various members of the clergy developed an intense plan to change Kirk's sexual orientation. It is reported that he still experiences homosexual feelings to this day, with which he continues to struggle. He is said to have "pulled his life together", but admits to struggling daily with the temptation to act on his homosexual urges.