Featuring Zacardi Cortez, the Vision of My Brother Kerry Douglas, and Lessons from a Gospel Music Family
"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."
— Psalm 126:3
27,146,775 views Mar 17, 2025
Provided to YouTube by Duetti Lord Do It For Me (Live) · Zacardi Cortez Imprint ℗ 2022 Blacksmoke Music Worldwide Released on: 2022-09-16 Main Artist: Zacardi Cortez Lyricist: Zacardi Cortez Lyricist: Marcus Calyen Auto-generated by YouTube.
When the thunderous voice of Zacardi Cortez rings out on "Lord Do It For Me," it doesn't just play in my ears—it reverberates through my bloodline.
Behind that Billboard chart-topping anthem is Blacksmoke Music Worldwide, an independent gospel powerhouse founded by my only brother, Kerry Douglas. Long before the Stellar Award Hall of Fame induction, the national radio records, and the packed arenas, there was simply a family anchored in faith, resilience, and an unwavering belief that God could take what was broken and turn it into a global ministry.
Growing up alongside the heartbeat of the gospel music industry, I witnessed the raw truth behind the praise:
• Faith That Survived the Struggle: The artists who found a home at Blacksmoke—from Zacardi Cortez with his powerhouse vocal anointing, to James Fortune, to our beloved late brother Keith "Wonderboy" Johnson—didn’t start at the top. They came with real battles, real scars, and real faith. They sang because their lives depended on God making a way out of no way.
• Family Over Fame: Kerry didn’t just run a record label; he built a family sanctuary. When the world counted people out, Kerry believed in their God-given gifts before anyone else had the vision. In our home and in the studio, everyone was treated as kin. When Keith "Wonderboy" Johnson passed away as preparations were underway for the Stellar Awards, the loss wasn't an industry headline—it was an ache in our living room. We mourned a brother who had poured out his entire soul into the kingdom.
• Financial Structure & Divine Stewardship: Watching Kerry pioneer Blacksmoke taught me a lasting truth: spiritual passion must be matched by business discipline. You cannot sustain a ministry or a movement without an economic engine. True success honors God when faith, family loyalty, and financial structure work in divine harmony.
Discovering My Own Truth:
For years, I stood behind the scenes, celebrating and supporting the greatness in my family. But watching my brother pour belief into others became the very catalyst for discovering my own calling.
It taught me that my testimony matters, my voice has weight, and my journey as The Grandpreneur was birthed from the same DNA of perseverance that built Blacksmoke. God doesn't just do it on a stage—He does it in our homes, in our businesses, and in our hearts when we dare to step into our truth.
"Lord, do it for me" isn't a plea of desperation. It is a declaration of confidence in the One who has brought us this far by faith.
🎙️ Tune in to Episode 03:
Join me as I open up the family archives, share candid memories from life inside a gospel music empire, and talk about what it truly takes to build legacy from the ground up.
