Biography
Since the 1970s, Alvin Darling has composed and cut both traditional and contemporary gospel material. Born in Newark and long established as a New Jersey pastor, he issued his first sides—including the 1978 album All Together for One—on the modest Inspirational Sounds imprint before moving to the more widely distributed Savoy and Emtro labels. What began as the Alvin Darling Ensemble later became Alvin Darling & Celebration; the reconfigured group made its Billboard gospel-chart debut in 1992 with the live recording Medley of Praise, which showcased the Sounds of Serenity, Voices of Faith, and the North Jersey GMWA. The ensemble continued to issue projects well into the 2010s, among them the 2009 set You Can Make It and the 2013 album Waiting Right Here, the latter marking the group’s strongest chart placement to date. Songs penned by Darling have also been interpreted by Shirley Caesar, Albertina Walker, Bishop Jeff Banks, and Dorothy Norwood.
Albums
