Thomas Anthony Whitfield (April 30, 1954 - June 20, 1992) is a famous gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, pianist, choir director and producer of America for helping to form contemporary gospel music with a choir setting elaborate and amalgamation of musical styles ranging from jazz to classics into traditional gospel foundations. This style earned him the honorable title of "Maestro" by many of his colleagues and supporters. He is famous for organizing one of the contemporary popular chorus churches of all time, Thomas Whitfield Company , and for producing bestsellers for Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Douglas Miller, Keith Pringle, Paul Morton, and Aretha Franklin.
Video Thomas Whitfield (singer)
Biography
Early years and careers
Thomas Whitfield, the eldest of five boys, was born in Detroit, Michigan to Thomas and Jacqueline Whitfield. He picked up music at a very early age and was inspired by his great-grandmother to take piano lessons at the age of five and will come forward to play the organ at the age of ten. His influence remains one of the greatest musicians in Detroit, including famous organists Herbert Pickard and Timothy Beard. After graduating from Detroit High School, he attended the Detroit Conservatory of Music and eventually shared his skills and knowledge as a music instructor at Finney High School. While teaching, Whitfield continues to gain recognition in the region for his unique musical style and will eventually work with Beverly Glenn Chorale, Craig Brothers and Rev. James Cleveland.
In 1977, Whitfield, with his best friend Tyrone Hemphill, took the lead in setting up The Thomas Whitfield Company (short-term Whitfield Company); a local music service featuring some of the best singers and musicians in Detroit. This remarkable institution remains a clear incubator for most of Whitfield's most popular creations and will forever be attached to the musical heritage and recording career. Amazingly, it did not take long for Whitfield to get the attention and recognition that he was late to get. Sound of Gospel, a local Detroit gospel music branch from Westbound Records operated by Armen Boladian music teacher, noticed the fresh sounds and Whitfield approaches to gospel music and signed it and the group afterwards; produced the inaugural "Brand New" release in 1978. The sophisticated brand of the traditional Detroit gospel made by artists like Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, Donald Vails, Pdt. Charles Nicks and Pdt. James Cleveland remains a prominent and popular style of the region and is usually the majority country formula expected of the region. Whitfield, on the other hand, combines the traditional gospel with stylish piano performances, stunning rhythmic parts, melodic choir harmony, and musical arrangements. This style is heard on "Repeat The Sounding Joy", a funk-disco fusion that eventually became one of the early hits, and other works including "The Lord Is Blessing Me", "I'm His Today" and "That's How God Work ".
Big break: Hallelujah Anyhow
After receiving local attention with the release of "Brand New" and "Things That We Believe, Vol. I" and "Things That We Believe, Vol. II" during 1978-1980, Whitfield recorded his first direct recording sessions (a popular trend in gospel music modern) with the Company at St. Paul God In Christ in Detroit. The album was finally released in 1983. At the same time, Whitfield began his relationship with Onyx International Records (a subsidiary of Gospel Benson Records) and also released "Hold Me"; a solo project that seems to threaten SOG's current contract with the Whitfield Company. While "Hold Me" was released on a more recognizable label and so far one of Whitfield's cutting-edge productions to date, it has also helped to increase the popularity and exposure of "Hallelujah Anyhow" and store albums on Billboard's Gospel. Ladder music for over a year.
Understanding the agreement with both music labels is that Whitfield noted "Hold Me" as a solo entry while SOG was primarily interested in Whitfield attached to the choir; felt that his choir was a "sales card". SOG continues to record them as: Min. Thomas Whitfield & amp; Thomas Whitfield Company. Whitfield wrote most of the songs (except for "Soon As I Get Home" and "There Not A Friend" - written by Roscoe Corner) and produced both projects. Songs like "God Wants Our Praises", "No Friends", "Walk In The Light", the infectious arrangements of "Oh, How I Love Jesus" and the brilliant ballad "Hallelujah Anyhow" are fame.
Whitfield embarked on a series of important achievements in producing a well-established and fresh talent. In 1984, Whitfield produced the historic debut project Peace Be Still, for an unknown virtual singer at the time by the name of Vanessa Bell Armstrong; earning him the first of three GRAMMY nominations. That year, she also wrote "Time To Come Back Home" for Shirley Caesar's album, GRAMMY and Dove Award, "Sailin". Whitfield's popularity and demand continues to increase - perhaps indicating that he may have reached the beginning of his record auspices. Productions on projects from Soul Children of New Orleans, Keith Pringle, Douglas Miller, Winans, Michael Fletcher Chorale, and Paul S. Morton followed. In 1986, "I'm Encouraged" was released; a live recording session held at the Civic Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. The project climbed to # 1 spot on the Billboard's Top Gospel Album charts.
During Whitfield's final years with Sound of Gospel, Whitfield invented Texas native Yolanda Adams and produced his first project Justin I Am for the Detroit label in 1988 which skyrocketed on the Billboard's Gospel charts.
The chance of a lifetime was given to Whitfield when the Queen of Souls Aretha Franklin confronted him with the task of leading the musical direction for the recording of his live broadcast - a project whose best-selling and award-winning label media. "Amazing Grace" LP. In 1989, Aretha Franklin brought home GRAMMY Awards for Best Soul Gospel Appearance, Women for "One God, One Faith, One Baptism" and Dove Award for Traditional Gospel Album of the Year - an album featuring the musical and choral arrangements of Thomas A Whitfield. Some of the album's serious highlights include a moving opener from "Walk In The Light" and Aretha Franklin accompanied by a piano accompaniment that captivates Whitfield on "Ave Maria".
Next year
In 1989, Teresa Hairston (head of the black department of Benson Music Group) contacted Whitfield and expressed interest in signing him, along with the Whitfield Company to his label. SOG released two successful projects ("The Annual Christmas Services", "... And Them Sang Hymn") in 1990, while Whitfield came into the studio to record "My Faith" for Benson. The project contains the composition of Edwin Hawkins "Glorify The Lord" and features musical appearances from Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Karen Clark-Sheard (from the famous Clark Sisters). In 1992, Benson released what would be Whitfield's final recording, "Life and Satisfaction". The album, for so many Gospel music historians, feels like a prophecy and a "love letter" to Whitfield's presence in the gospel music industry. The album features a praise-and-worship ballad that moves "Precious Jesus", "Let Everyone Praise Him" ​​(which features popular examples used in a number of recent Gospel options) and reflective "We Remember (Medley)". Medley features some of Whitfield's most valuable classics strung together in one song. At this time, Whitfield has been contacted by Paramount Pictures to appear in the movie Leap of Faith, starring Steve Martin. He finally declined the offer; feels that despite his good visibility he feels it can undermine the dignity of his ministry. He also began working with Quincy Jones' musical mogul "Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration" - a powerful display of modern musical arrangements mostly handled by Mervyn Warren.
Death
On June 20, 1992, after a long chorus practice, Whitfield went with four members of the choir to Big Boy Brother Elias; popular local restaurant on Telegraph Road. At the table, he began to hold his chest and began to breathe the air. After being given CPR by his dinner companion and arriving at Garden City Hospital, Whitfield died on June 21, 1992 due to a heart attack.
Legacy
The brilliance and influence of Whitfield music has left a tremendous impact on today's leading contemporary Gospel artists. Musicians like protà © à © gÃÆ'  © 'Rudolph Stanfield, Donald Lawrence, Fred Hammond, John P. Kee, Byron Cage, Ricky Dillard, J.J. Hairston & amp; Young Praise, Walter Hawkins, Richard Smallwood, Big Jim Wright, Edward Dawson and many others. He was still greatly appreciated for his many innovations during the eighties and early nineties and became one of the pioneers to master the use of MIDI editing and synthesizers in gospel music; all helping to give him his own style: the sound of "Whitfield".
In 1993, Benson Records released a tribute album dedicated to Thomas Whitfield's memory and musical excellence. It featured new settings from the Whitfield hit and featured a list of music and musician guests including Donald Lawrence, Clark Sisters, Fred Hammond, Kevin Bond, Larry & David Whitfield and the Whitfield Company.
Thomas Whitfield was posthumously posthumously with James Cleveland 1999 Award at the 14th Annual Music Awards held in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Thomas Whitfield Company continues to perform and record since its founder passed and ensures to keep Whitfield's legacy alive. They have recorded "Still", a Gospel album of Ten, and featured new and rare selections from Whitfield, along with music from former Whitfield musician Rudolph Stanfield. The song, "Do not Give Up On Jesus", sung by Daryl Coley and Vanessa Bell Armstrong also appeared in the 1999 best-selling WOW gospel compilation.
Larry and David Whitfield, brothers of "Maestro", decided to set up the Whitfield Group (not to be confused with the Whitfield Company) in January 1994. Since their inception, the musical entourage has recorded a project and has been opened to artists including Yolanda Adams, Vanessa Bell Armstrong , Men of Standard and Kim Burrell.
There are a number of artists who have sung Whitfield praise and have re-recorded the music. Some of the most memorable awards include:
- Shirley Murdock "We Need a Word From God" ("Home")
- Vickie Winans "We Need the Word From God" ("Bringing All Together")
- Edwin Hawkins Music and Mass Seminar Mass Choir "Precious Jesus" ("Dallas")
- Bishop Paul S. Morton "Down to the Cross" and "Nothing but Blood" ("Still Stand")
- Tarralyn Ramsey "Saved" ("Tarralyn Ramsey")
- Donald Lawrence/Tri-City Singers "The Little Drummer Boy" ("Hello Christmas")
- Byron Cage "Still Say Yes" ("Prince Of Praise")
- Byron Cage "In Case You've Forgotten"
- The Clark Sisters "You Can not Take My Faith Away" ("Tribute To The Maestro")
- Generate Pugh "Wrapped, Tied, Rotated" ("Worshiping Perspective")
- Donald Vails features Yvette Flunder and Shirley Miller "Just Know Jesus" ("My Soul Loves Jesus")
- Rodney Posey "Dear Jesus" ("Live In Praise & Worship with Whitfield Company")
- Mark S. Hubbard & amp; The Voice "Raise Their Hands And Bless Him" ​​(featuring Ted & Sheri) ("Blessin 'Waitin' On Me)
- Dr. Ed Montgomery/ALC "With My Whole Heart"
Benson Records released the rare "Alive And Satisfied" VHS video from Thomas Whitfield and the Whitfield Company. The video also features award presentations for Whitfield because of his record of gold and emotional honor from Fred Hammond. BMG Heritage Records also re-released the double CD of Aretha Franklin's "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism" (1987) in 2003. The album featured four new bonus pieces including an unreleased version of Walter Hawkins' classic "Be Gratitude".
Maps Thomas Whitfield (singer)
Discography
Album:
- New (1978)
- The Things We Believe, Vol. I (1979)
- The Things We Believe, Vol. II (1980)
- Hold Me (1983)
- Halleujah Anyhow (1984) # 15
- I Driven (1986) # 1
- The Annual Christmas Services (1988)
- ... And They Sang A Hymn (1989) # 2
- My Faith (1990) # 30
- Living and Satisfaction (1992) # 2
- Hold On (2000) # 8
Compilation:
- Unforgettable Years, Jil. One (1992)
- Unforgettable Years, Jil. Two (1992)
- The Best Of Thomas Whitfield (1999)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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