Marvin Louis Sapp (born January 28, 1967) is an American gospel singer-songwriter, record producer, and pastor from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Enjoying early success as a member of the Grammy-nominated group Commissioned in the 1990s, he launched a solo career in 1996. His breakthrough came with the platinum-certified song “Never Would Have Made It” from the album Thirsty (2007), which topped the U.S. Billboard Gospel Songs chart and reached No. 82 on the Hot 100.
Marvin has released ten studio albums, including Here I Am (2010), which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200—the highest-charting position ever for a gospel album at the time. He’s received numerous accolades, including multiple Stellar, BET, Dove, and Soul Train awards, and eleven Grammy nominations. Alongside his musical career, he founded Lighthouse Full Life Center Church with his late wife and, since 2019, has served as Senior Pastor of The Chosen Vessel Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
Marvin married MaLinda Prince Sapp in 1992; she served as Administrative Pastor until her passing from colon cancer in September 2010, and they had three children together. His enduring influence spans music, ministry, and mentorship, with his life and testimony chronicled in a biopic titled Never Would’ve Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story.
