Daryl Coley

Daryl Lynn Coley 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. In his childhood, he sang in the Oakland Children's Chorus, in Oakland, California. 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, 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.

Discography

''Just Daryl'' (1986)

Unless otherwise indicated, Information is taken from Allmusic.com

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"
"II Chronicles"
"Hang On In There"
"Caught Up"
"I've Been Born Again"
"Nobody Like the Lord"
"Deliverer"
"Stand Still and Know"
"Spirit of the Lord "
"Spirit of the Lord"
"Great is Thy Faithfulness"
"Hallelujah You're Worthy"

;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.com

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"
"Worthy Is The Lamb"
"That's What You've Done For Me"
"Romans 10"
"More Like Jesus"
"Jesus Is The Real Thing"
"What Moved Him"
"Hold On Until You Bless Me"
"I'll Be With You"