Daryl Coley

Daryl Coley entered the world on October 30, 1955, in Berkeley, California, and later gained recognition as a leading gospel performer who also pursued distinctive explorations in jazz and pop. Following his parents’ separation at age five, he and his siblings relocated to Oakland, California, to live with their mother, whose deep affection for both music and faith filled their household with gospel, classical, and jazz sounds. That atmosphere led the boy to develop skills on piano and woodwinds. The Edwin Hawkins Singers’ 1968 pop breakthrough with “Oh Happy Day” sparked a particular zeal in Coley for spiritual music. At fourteen he began appearing with Helen Stephens & the Voices of Christ, remained active in music through high school, yet paused performances to enroll in college, where he studied business. In 1977 he withdrew from school after securing regular work with the Edwin Hawkins Singers, staying until 1983, when he became an accompanist for James Cleveland. He also served as musical director for Tramaine Hawkins. During the mid-1980s Coley expanded his stylistic range by performing in jazz venues alongside Nancy Wilson and Randy Franklin, supplying backing vocals for Stevie Wonder, and supporting disco legend Sylvester. In addition, he supplied the singing voice of Bleeding Gums Murphy on the television series The Simpsons. His debut solo album, Just Daryl, arrived in 1986 and fused jazz-inflected phrasing with gospel intensity and Christian themes, launching a string of releases that brought commercial success and critical recognition in gospel music. A diabetes diagnosis in 1991 created a serious setback, briefly depriving Coley of his sight, though he eventually recovered his vision and resumed his career. He stayed busy recording, performing, collaborating with fellow artists, participating in an Oakland ministry, and hosting the radio program God Said I Can. In 2016 declining health led to his death on March 15 in hospice care, surrounded by family; he was sixty.