Gospel star Daryl Coley dies aged 60
GOSPEL SINGER Daryl
Coley died on 15th March at age 60, reportedly in hospice care.
Born in Berkley, California on 30th October 1955, Coley spent
his formative years in Oakland, California. As a child he learnt to
play keyboards and clarinet and by 1977 he was playing keyboards for
the extremely popular Hawkins Family. He wrote "I Am Determined" which
became a hit for Tramaine Hawkins. In 1983 Coley performed for a while
with the Rev James Cleveland and the following year Coley was singing
background vocals on albums by acts like Sylvester, Nancy Wilson and
Ramsey Lewis. In 1986 Coley's album 'Just Daryl' for Plumbline Records
reached the gospel Top 10 and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best
Male Gospel Soul Vocalist. After an album for Light Records it was
Coley's association with Sparrow Records which took him to the top of
the gospel music tree. Albums like 'He's Right On Time', 'When The
Music Stops' and others received extensive radio play across the US.
In the early 1990s, Coley was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes which
caused him temporary blindness, but he still kept performing and
recording. His last album was 'Praise And Worship', released in 2006.
His career was celebrated in January 2014 by BMI as part of their 15th
annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards in Nashville.
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Daryl Coley may God bless him