Daryl Lynn Coley (October 30, 1955 – March 15, 2016) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. At 14, Coley was a member of the ensemble "Helen Stephens and the Voices of Christ". He began performing with Edwin Hawkins and the Edwin Hawkins Singers and then worked with James Cleveland, Tramaine Hawkins, Sylvester, Pete Escovedo and others. Albums of his include Just Daryl, He's Right On Time: Live From Los Angeles, When The Music Stops and others.
Early life Coley was born in Berkeley, California, on October 30, 1955.Tribune Wire Report, Gospel great Daryl Coley dies at 60, phillytrib.com, USA, March 18, 2016 In his childhood, he sang in the Oakland Children's Chorus, in Oakland, California.Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 178 His parents separated when he was five years old, with him and his two siblings being raised by his mother in a solid Christian home. Musically, Coley was first influenced by his mother. Daryl stated, "In my house, there was gospel, classical, and jazz. I had that kind of musical influence." During his childhood, he learned to play clarinet and piano.
In 1968, when Edwin Hawkins released "Oh Happy Day", the contemporary arrangement caught Coley's ear. In December 1969, at the age of 13, Coley first heard Helen Stephens And The Voices Of Christ, and by February of the next year he had become a member of the nationally acclaimed ensemble. During his high school years, Coley was a student of Phillip Reeder, Castleers choir director at Castlemont High School. Coley's musical horizons were widened by Reeder, who also encouraged him to enroll in college. As he continued his education in college, Coley's career developed further. He was a top student, was pursuing a business degree, and even helped out with the teaching of college courses.
Career Coley eventually began performing with Edwin Hawkins in the Edwin Hawkins Singers. He played keyboards for The Hawkins Family from 1977 until he left to collaborate with James Cleveland in 1983. Later, he served as musical director for Tramaine Hawkins when she launched her solo career. Concurrently, Coley branched out in secular circles, singing in jazz clubs, working with artists like Sylvester, Pete Escovedo, and others. He would later collaborate with jazz artists such as Nancy Wilson and Rodney Franklin, and pop artists such as Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire fame. Coley provided the singing voice of Bleeding Gums Murphy in The Simpsons episode "Dancin' Homer", wherein he performs a comedically over-long version of "The Star-Spangled Banner".
In 1986, Coley released his solo debut album Just Daryl, originally released in 1986 on First Epistle/Plumline Records. The album was nominated for a Grammy award, and was later re-released in 2006. After the success of Just Daryl, he moved to gospel stardom, releasing critically acclaimed albums highlighting his jazz-infused vocal stylings. In 1990, Coley released He's Right On Time: Live From Los Angeles with Sparrow Records, climbing to the #3 spot on the gospel charts. His following album When The Music Stops, released in 1992, reached #1 on the gospel charts.
In 1991, when his albums released under Sparrow Records were achieving national success, Coley fell sick, experiencing flu-like symptoms. When he visited his doctor (more than two weeks later), he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, which caused him temporary blindness. He continued to struggle with diabetes.
Death On March 15, 2016, Daryl Coley succumbed to diabetes and died in hospice care from renal failure. He was 60.Gospel great Daryl Coley dead at 60 , alwaysalist.com; accessed March 18, 2016.
Discography
Just Daryl (1986) Unless otherwise indicated, Information is taken from Allmusic.comColey, Daryl. "Just Daryl". Alliant Music Group. 1986. http://www.allmusic.com/album/just-daryl-mw0000459828 Released in 1986 under the Alliant label, Just Daryl is Coley's debut solo album. It contains Coley's celebrated cover of J.C. White's "II Chronicles," also called This Is the Answer.
"Closer" (Jonathan DuBose Jr., Daryl Coley) "II Chronicles" (JC White) "Hang On In There" (Daryl Coley) "Caught Up" (Rickey Grundy) "I've Been Born Again" (Daryl Coley) "Nobody Like the Lord" (Daryl Coley) "Deliverer" (Rev. Quincy Fielding Jr.) "Stand Still and Know" (Walter Hawkins)Hawkins, Tramaine. "Stand Still and Know". Sparrow Records. 1990. http://www.allmusic.com/song/stand-still-and-know-mt0010888490 "Spirit of the Lord (Intro)" "Spirit of the Lord" "Great is Thy Faithfulness" "Hallelujah You're Worthy" (Gary Oliver)
Personnel Daryl Coley- Arranger, Lead Vocals, Background Vocals, Grand Piano, Roland Juno 6 Synthesizer Gerald Albright- Saxophone Soloist Dale Alexander- Background Vocals LaShawn N. Baker- Alto Vocals Barbara Barrett- Soprano Vocals Alisha M. Bass- Soprano Vocals Timothy A. Beasley- Choir Director D'Wan Bell- Group Member, Tenor Sax Beverly Benedict- Tenor Sax Shandra Bennett- Soprano Vocals Cassandra T. Biles- Soprano Vocals Shawana Brown- Alto Vocals Dwayne Bryant- Tenor Sax Evelyn D. Campbell- Soprano Vocals Yvonne Cartwright- Alto Vocals Deborah M. Chisom- Alto Vocals Erica Chisom- Group Member, Alto Vocals, Tenor Sax Shaniqua Chisom- Soprano Vocals Paula R. Collick- Alto Vocals Deavon Collins- Soprano Vocals Renee Craig- Alto Vocals Traci M. Craig- Alto Vocals Val Craig- Soprano Vocals Pamela Crutcher- Alto Vocals Leroy Cunningham- Alto Vocals Rose Daugherty- Soprano Vocals Shawn T. Davis- Tenor Sax Wendy Davis- Soprano Vocals Donald Dixon- Tenor Sax Andy Evans- Tenor Sax Rev. Quincy Fielding Jr.- Grand Piano, Hammond Organ Typharee Fitzgerald- Alto Vocals Rev. Yvette Flunder- Background Vocals Kenny Ford- Synthesizer Programming Thelma E. Gaskins- Tenor Sax Randy D. Gates- Tenor Sax Feloy Gibbs- Tenor Sax Sheila Gillespie- Alto Vocals Carlton Glenn- Tenor Sax Andrew Gouche- Bass played by Jackie Gouche- Background Vocals Felicia Gray- Alto Vocals Stephanie A. Green- Alto Vocals Rickey Grundy- Grand Piano, Hammond Organ James W. Hampton Jr.- Tenor Sax Janaar Harbour- Guitar Japho Hardin- Tenor Sax Henrietta D. Hardin- Soprano Vocals Faye Lewis Harper- Soprano Vocals Gregory Harris- Tenor Sax Walter Hawkins- Background Vocals, Grand Piano, Roland Juno 6 Synthesizer Harriet M. Hickson- Tenor Sax J. J. Hodges- Drums James Hodges- Bass played by Monica Hollman- Alto Vocals Starling Hooks Jr.- Tenor Sax Cleshette Hudson- Alto Vocals Alma Jackson- Alto Vocals Sherrie Kibble- Group Member, Soprano Vocals Valencia Knight- Soprano Vocals Coreatha Knox- Soprano Vocals Priscilla Lewis- Alto Vocals Mary Louise L. Lowe- Alto Vocals LaVance Madden Jr.- Tenor Sax Shawn McClain- Soprano Vocals Dietrick McCoy- Tenor Sax Erica Miller- Alto Vocals Darlena Minor- Alto Vocals Kimberly Mont- Alto Vocals Samia R. Mosley- Soprano Vocals Tiara Murray- Alto Vocals Veronica Oatis- Tenor Sax Kenny Parker- Background Vocals Fran Patterson- Soprano Vocals Cheri M. Patton- Soprano Vocals Shandra Penix- Group Member, Soprano Vocals Rhonda V. Petty- Alto Vocals Dawn Pewitt- Alto Vocals Wanda Phillips- Tenor Sax Celena Pitts- Soprano Vocals DeConsalan Polk- Tenor Sax Delano Porchia- Tenor Sax Grace M. Sawyers- Soprano Vocals Lolita Sawyers- Tenor Sax Derrick Schoefield- Drums Patricia Scott- Soprano Vocals Deborah Scruggs- Soprano Vocals Ranetta R. Smith- Alto Vocals Margaret Steele- Soprano Vocals Virgil Straford- Record Producer, Music Director, Piano, Organ played by, Strings Torria Swanson- Alto Vocals Tara Sweat- Alto Vocals DeLoris A. Taylor- Soprano Vocals Billy Walker Jr.- Tenor Sax Nadine D. Walker- Tenor Sax Benita Washington- Group Member, Tenor Sax Kim Washington- Alto Vocals Myron Watkins- Keyboards Jomyra Weaver- Tenor Sax Antoine Weir- Tenor Sax Charles L. Weir- Tenor Sax Veronica Whitaker- Alto Vocals DeeAnne E. Williams- Alto Vocals J. Allen Williams Jr.- Arranger Sabrina S. Williams- Soprano Vocals Tracy Williams- Alto Vocals Latresa Witherspoon- Alto Vocals Paul Wright III- Record Producer
I'll Be With You (1988) Information taken from Allmusic.comColey, Daryl. "I'll Be with You". Light Records. 1988. http://www.allmusic.com/album/ill-be-with-you-mw0000103243 Coley's second studio album, I'll Be With You, was released in 1988, originally under the Light Records label and later issued under the CGI label. "The Lord's Name Is To Be Praised" (Daryl Coley) "Worthy Is The Lamb" (Rodney Friend) "That's What You've Done For Me" (Daryl Coley) "Romans 10" (John P. Kee, Daryl Coley) "More Like Jesus" (Daryl Coley) "Jesus Is The Real Thing" (Daryl Coley) "What Moved Him" (Oliver W. Wells) "Hold On Until You Bless Me" (Scott V. Smith, Daryl Coley) "I'll Be With You" (Eric Alphonson, Daryl Coley)
Personnel Daryl Coley- Record Producer, Keyboards, Vocal Arrangement, Lead Vocals, Background Vocals Alex Acuña- Percussion Gigi Bailey- Soprano Vocals Monica Barker- Production Coordinator Darrell Brown- Tenor Vocals Meredith Burton-Jeter- Background Vocals Roy M. Crayton Jr.- Keyboards Charlie Davis- Horn Section LaShanna Dendy- Alto Vocals Kim Devereaux- Background Vocals Delta Dickerson- Background Vocals Patricia Finnie- Tenor Vocals David Foreman- Guitar Rodney Friend- Keyboards Ray Fuller- Guitar Dean Galbadores- Saxophone Soloist Sonya Griffin- Alto Vocals Rickey Grundy- Keyboards, Strings Victor Harris- Tenor Vocals Kim Hutchcroft- Horn Section Rhett Lawerence- Synthesizer Programming Stephanie Lewis- Alto Vocals Debbie McClendon- Background Vocals Michelle McNally- Alto Vocals Stephen Moore- Tenor Vocals Jimmy Neuble- Bass Guitar Michael Neuble- Drums Nicole Potts- Alto Vocals Alfie Silas- Background Vocals Shari Simonsen- Strings Artis Smith- Soprano Vocals Howard Smith- Background Vocals Scott V. Smith- Record Producer, Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements, Keyboards Dayna Stockard- Alto Vocals Donald Taylor- Tenor Vocals Dorian Taylor- Soprano Vocals Ron Taylor- Tenor Vocals Felicia Terry- Soprano Vocals Lucy Walker- Alto Vocals Fred White- Background Vocals Roderick White- Background Vocals Tony Wilkins- Tenor Vocals
He's Right On Time: Live from Los Angeles (1990) Unless otherwise indicated, Information is based on the Allmusic.com page for this albumColey, Daryl. "Live...He's Right On Time". Sparrow Records. 1990. http://www.allmusic.com/album/livehes-right-on-time-mw0000271517 Coley's third album, He's Right On Time: Live from Los Angeles, was released under the Sparrow Records label. Notable songs include "I Can't Tell It All," "He's Right On Time" and "I Need Your Spirit".
"He Delivered Me (Reprise)" (Rev. Patrick Henderson, Daryl Coley) "The Comforter Has Come" (Scott V. Smith) "By Faith" (Armirris Palmore) "Thy Will Be Done" (Daryl Coley) "I Can't Tell It All" (Rev. Calvin Bernard Rhone) "I Can't Tell It All (Reprise)" (Rev. Calvin Bernard Rhone) "God and God Alone" (Phil McHugh) "He's Right On Time" (Kenny Moore, Rev. Patrick Henderson, Daryl Coley) "Medley: He'll Never Let You Down" (Steve Roberts, Willie Small) "Medley: Keep Moving On/I Need Your Spirit" *"Keep Moving On" written by Daryl ColeyColey, Daryl. "Keep Movin' On". YouTube: Daryl Coley- Topic". 25 June 2015. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qsge6O0mZfI*"I Need Your Spirit" written by Willie SmallColey, Daryl. "I Need Your Spirit". Sparrow Records. 1990. http://www.allmusic.com/song/i-need-your-spirit-mt0052446591 "You Are My Everything" (Armirris Palmore) "He Delivered Me" (Rev. Patrick Henderson, Daryl Coley)
Personnel Daryl Coley- Record Producer, Arranger, Lead Vocals, Clarinet, Piano, Keyboards Petra Acrond- Alto Vocals Debbie Alexander- Alto Vocals Clyde Allen- Baritone Vocals Sherron Bennett- Alto Vocals Gary Bias- Saxophone Jo Bradford Bradley- Soprano Vocals Beverly Brown- Soprano Vocals Ray Brown- Trumpet Vanessa Brown- Acoustic Percussion, Electronic Percussion