MAGAZINE

Emoni Wilkins & The Voice That Transcends Genres, Generations and Borders

written by

LUCIANO LAYNE

From the moment a microphone was placed in her hand on the West Side of Chicago, it was obvious Emoni Wilkins wasn’t just another young person singing in church—she was born into a calling that would forever change her life.

What started as a spark, nurtured by her family and her community, grew into a lifelong calling that has taken her voice from small neighborhood choirs to world stages, iconic recording studios, and even television screens.

Her résumé reads like a world tour through music history. She’s appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, sung alongside the late jazz giant Ramsey Lewis, and backed up icons like Patti LaBelle, Celine Dion, Yolanda Adams, Michael McDonald, and Enrique Iglesias. She’s just as comfortable in gospel circles—lending her voice to Kirk Franklin, CeCe Winans, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Shirley Caesar, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and Byron Cage—as she is on pop stages with Nick Carter or Disney productions. NBC fans might remember her from The Sing-Off, where she performed with breakout group TEN. And that’s just the live side of things.

In the studio, Wilkins has worked with Grammy-winning producers and innovators across genres. She’s cut tracks with everyone from Lou Rawls to Mandisa, from Tommy Sims to Frayne Lewis. What sets her apart isn’t just her ability to adapt, but the way she elevates every record she touches—always enhancing, never overpowering.

But Wilkins isn’t content with just singing the songs. For years she’s been shaping the next generation of voices. As a vocal coach and arranger, she’s built a reputation for drawing out the truth inside every singer she mentors. It’s not just about scales or technique—

it’s about helping people find their tone, their texture, their story. You can hear her influence in the rise of artists like Jekalyn Carr, Bri Babineaux, and Maranda Curtis, all of whom carry something of her teaching in their sound. Students walk away from her sessions not just knowing how to sing, but how to command a stage and connect on a soul-deep level.

She’s also an entrepreneur, with a project that ties directly back to her life’s work: In The Key of D-Elixir, a wellness product designed to keep voices strong. Made with singers and speakers in mind, the all-natural formula is meant to reduce mucus, soothe inflammation, ease allergies, and boost immunity—a practical extension of her mission to protect the one instrument no artist can replace.

Three decades in, Wilkins’ story is bigger than the stages she’s stood on or the stars she’s worked beside. It’s about discipline, faith, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. It’s about passing on the lessons she’s learned to anyone willing to listen. And it’s about proving that a voice—when used with care and conviction—can outlast generations and borders.

Emoni Wilkins isn’t just a singer. She’s a vessel of sound, spirit, and strength. Whether she’s front and center or behind the scenes, her presence lingers. She leaves you with more than a note—she leaves you with a feeling.