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The remarkable legacy of the last
quarter century surrounding
Detroit’s Gospel music scene is
indisputable and perhaps unmatched
by any other city in America (with
all due respect to Chicago, New
York, and the Bible belt).
Motown’s roster of artists reads
like a hit-list of performers for
the Stellar Awards. With marquee
names like the Clark Sisters,
The Winans, Commissioned
and Vanessa Bell Armstrong,
just to name a few, Detroit has
firmly established its place at the
top of the Gospel totem pole.
Among the most revered personalities
to ever sit before a Grand piano or
hold a boom microphone have been
current favorites like Fred
Hammond, CeCe Winans and
Deitrick Haddon as well as
legendary icons like the late Dr.
Mattie Moss Clark and the late
Ron Winans.
But one particular figure has earned
his stripes for being responsible
for spawning a generation of
Contemporary Gospel artists from
Motown, Michigan down to Mobile,
Alabama through his music, his
ministry, his performance and his
praise …his name is the late
Minister Thomas Whitfield.
Donald Lawrence,
Byron Cage and Yolanda
Adams, among others, have all
credited Minister Whitfield for
having a life-changing influence on
their gifts and careers. His
special brand of ministry that
understood the delicate yet
necessary balance between
showmanship and worship catapulted
Minister Whitfield into an elite
class of pioneers that include
cherished figures like James
Cleveland, Mahalia Jackson
and Thomas Dorsey.
The passing of Thomas Whitfield in
1992 left an undeniable void for his
style and presence but fortunately
not for an extended period of time,
as the choir he established – The
Company – would go on to record,
while a series of tribute albums
would follow in his absence.
Keeping the vision and spirit of the
late Minister Whitfield alive are
his very committed and talented
siblings, David and Larry
Whitfield. From their early
days as members of The Company, to
their debuts on the highly acclaimed
A Tribute To The Maestro
release (Crystal Rose), to their
current roles as artistic and
executive generals behind The
Whitfield Music Group, Larry and
David are carrying the torch first
lit by Thomas Whitfield…and the
flame is burning brighter with each
passing day.
BLACKGOSPEL.COM
spoke with the equally talented
Whitfield Brothers about their brand
new album entitled, This Time
(Barrow), the endless (and highly
deserved) references to their
celebrated brother and their
long-term plans for The Whitfield
Music Group. Their candid story is
a testimony of fraternal love and
eternal ambitions.
Christopher Heron:
The impact of the late Thomas
Whitfield’s music ministry is so
incredibly profound. Many of
today’s familiar recording artists
like Byron Cage, Yolanda Adams and
Donald Lawrence, to name a few,
continue to speak so highly of his
talent and influence on their
careers. Thomas Whitfield was your
brother. What made his talent and
ministry so special to your family,
to other influential artists in
Detroit and to the Gospel music
world in general?
David Whitfield: We, coming from
a musical family (where our mother
played both piano and guitar and was
a singer and our father was a dancer
and singer, as well) it was very
exciting seeing Thomas grow into his
ministry. And what made it so
special was the fact that in doing
music, we became well prepared as to
what we would become later.
CH: Genuine fans of Gospel music can
still recall what would become
anthems sung by Thomas Whitfield &
Company like Hallelujah, Anyhow
or Lift Those Hands And Bless Him
or We Need A Word From The Lord.
You, brothers (David & Larry) took
up the mantle your brother (Thomas)
carried up until ‘92 by establishing
the Whitfield Music Group over a
decade ago, after he passed away.
What inspired you to launch the
choir that would carry his name and
continue the vision and mission
established by the late Thomas
Whitfield?
DW:
One of
my last conversations with Thomas
was before he went to Dallas to
perform. We discussed with him
working together (the brothers) and
doing a project together. So we
were inspired to continue the
ministry that provided the timeless
message and that is "Jesus Saves"
and continuing the ministry as a
message for the world..
CH: Many of us can still recall the
popular, highly acclaimed album you
both worked on with Donald Lawrence,
as a farewell salutation to your
brother – A Tribute To The
Maestro(Benson). How
special was that project? And at
what point shortly before or after
that album did you decide it was
important to launch the Whitfield
Music Group?
DW:
The
Tribute project was the brain child
of former business manager Brian
Spears. It was very special working
with talents like Donald Lawrence,
The Company, Fred Hammond, Vanessa
Bell-Armstrong, Mike Powell, and
Earl J Wright, as well as many
others. To see all these artists
show love, as they all paid tribute
to the man who had a big influence
on them, through song was
unbelievable.
CH: The last album to bring
attention to the life and ministry
of the late Thomas Whitfield was
Still, released by the Whitfield
Company, nearly seven years ago.
Your brand new album, This Time, by
the Whitfield Music Group features
all new selections (except for Oh In
My Spirit and Backslider). Is this
album a reflection of the talent and
ministry evident in Larry Whitfield,
Demetrius Nabors and the gifted
singers or is it a continuation of
the Whitfield ministry launched over
a generation ago?
DW:
It’s
both. It is a continuation of the
Whitfield ministry, with a
reflection of the brothers’ heart,
as well as those he also influenced
in his ministry like the singers and
Demetrius "Krayon" Nabors. Thomas
Whitfield's ministry was one that
brought the best out of who he not
only worked with at that time, but
out of those who understood the call
of God in their own respective
ministries.
CH: The late Thomas Whitfield was
considered a pioneer for introducing
a wonderful contemporary choral
sound to Gospel music and presenting
Praise & Worship before it was
popularized by his protégés. Those
key ingredients are very evident in
your new album, This Time. But
could you give us a sense of your
new album and what your album
represents to you as an artist and
minister?
DW:
This Time represents the testimony
of those who have answered the call
to continue this ministry from a
ministerial perspective.
Larry Whitfield: And artistic
wise, we endeavor to take this
ministry to another level and to
continue reaching the masses.
CH: In conclusion, I must declare
that you’ve successfully captured
the essence of Thomas Whitfield’s
music ministry on this album,
whether intentionally or
inadvertently. From the vocal
nuances, to the musical arrangements
to your lead vocals, Larry, I hear
and feel that special quality that
Minister Whitfield was anointed
with. I’m not sure if it was your
intention but the special blessings
found in “Thommy” seem to have made
its way through the family. Are you
comfortable with those comparisons?
And where do David and Larry hope to
take the Whitfield Music Group over
the next 12-15 years as an artistic
group and ministry?
LW:
I’m very comfortable and take pride
in being able to minister through
music. I sat under my brother's
ministry for years as a child, as my
brother David did when he was a
child.
DW: My
time with Thomas was in the
formative years. From the
beginning, I learned what ministry
was truly all about. As far as the
comparisons, I don’t feel it is
intentional, as much as it is a
"Whitfield Thang!" As far as where
Whitfield Music Group will be over
the next 12 to 15 years, I will say,
“Where the Lord directs us and
wherever He will allow us to go!”
This music ministry is still geared
toward letting the common person
know that "Jesus saves" and He is
still doing it today!
LW: We endeavor to be now as it was
back in the time of "The Maestro"…a
"Message for The World!” We thank
and praise God, for His grace and
mercy, His loving kindness and for
allowing us, as brothers of Thomas,
to continue this ministry of music
that was started over a generation
ago by a man we all love and
respected.
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