A Selma native left town at 19-years-old for his career said he is turning his attention back home as he releases his new single, “Every Chance I Get” this week.

Arthur Dower, 48, now lives in Los Angeles and has worked to secure a successful career in gospel music. Dower was named Gospel Entertainer of the Year by the Black Music Association and Academy of America in 2012 and began singing at age four where he and family members formed singing groups such as “The Morning Doves” and “The Supreme Angels.”

“It;s not about sales, it’s not about popularity, it’s about people like me being touched by hearing the song,” Dower said about his new single that debuted Tuesday. “A song like that just needs to be heard.”

He said the song is now available on iTunes and other music sites like Amazon. Dower plans to hold an album release party in Selma on Aug. 23, where he will debut the entire album.

Dower’s musical influences include Lisa Page and Darley Coley. He said his focus in Los Angeles has been to minister to others, reaching out to some in the homeless ministry, as he was once homeless in Chicago, trying to become a musician.

“I left Selma when I was 19, and went to Chicago where I worked for a church,” Dower said. “I was being rebellious and wanting to get away from Alabama so I ended up homeless and it didn’t work out.”

But faith pulled him through, landing him in the hands of people in California who helped him develop his gospel career. Over the years he has worked with big names in the industry such as Mary-Mary, Kim Burrell, Prince and Yolanda Adams.

His single, “Every Chance I Get,” speaks to finding faith even in the worst parts of life’s journey.

He got his first big break by appearing on Dr. Bobby Jones’ show on the BET network where he said his name rose through the industry after that.

“Its very hard to be an artist in the industry at the age I am,” Dower said about being 48 and releasing a single. “I do thank God that in gospel music it’s not an age thing, that you can still accomplish your dreams.”

His manager Dwayne Bull wrote the single and Dower attributes his mentors Leslie Davidson, his mother in Selma, and Marie Adams in Los Angeles for his success.

For information about Dower’s upcoming tour, contact his management at 424-202-7094.