Early life

Daryl Coley was born in Berkeley, California

Berkeley, California

Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...

 in 1955, spending his formative years in Oakland, California

Oakland, California

Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...

. His parents separated when he was five years old, with he 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

Clarinet

The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...

 and piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

.

In 1968, when Edwin Hawkins

Edwin Hawkins

Edwin Hawkins is a Grammy Award-winning American gospel and R&B musician, pianist, choir master, composer and arranger. He is one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. He are best known for his arrangement of "Oh Happy Day" , which was included on the Songs of the Century list...

 released "Oh Happy Day

Oh Happy Day

"Oh Happy Day" is a 1967 gospel music arrangement of an 18th century hymn. Recorded by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, it became an international hit in 1969, reaching US #4 and UK #2 on the pop charts...

", 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 had become a member of the nationally acclaimed ensemble. During his high school years, Coley was a student of Phillip Reeder, choir director at the school. Reeder helped Coley broaden his musical boundaries and even influenced him to advance to college. Coley's career advanced further as he pursued studies in college; being a top student, working toward a business degree, and even assisting in teaching college courses. However, when things began to open up musically, Coley took a break from his studies.

Career

Coley eventually began performing with Edwin Hawkins

Edwin Hawkins

Edwin Hawkins is a Grammy Award-winning American gospel and R&B musician, pianist, choir master, composer and arranger. He is one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. He are best known for his arrangement of "Oh Happy Day" , which was included on the Songs of the Century list...

 in the Edwin Hawkins Singers. He played keyboards for The Hawkins Family from 1977 until he left to collaborate with James Cleveland

James Cleveland

The Reverend Dr. James Cleveland was a gospel singer, arranger, composer and, most significantly, the driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound, bringing the stylistic daring of hard gospel and jazz and pop music influences to arrangements for mass choirs...

 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

Pete Escovedo

Peter "Pete" Michael Escovedo is a Mexican-American musician percussionist.-Biography:With his two brothers, Pete formed Escovedo Bros Latin Jazz Sextet, before Santana hired Pete and Coke Escovedo for his group.He led the 14-24 piece Latin Big band Azteca.Father to musician Sheila Escovedo, aka...

, and others. He would later collaborate with jazz artists such as Nancy Wilson and Rodney Franklin

Rodney Franklin

Rodney Franklin is an American jazz pianist and composer.At the age of six he took jazz piano lessons at Washington Elementary School...

, and pop artists such as Philip Bailey

Philip Bailey

Philip Irvin Bailey is an American R&B, soul, gospel and funk singer, songwriter, percussionist and actor, best known as one of the longtime members of Earth, Wind & Fire. Together with Verdine White, B. David Whitworth, and Ralph Johnson he forms the heart of the current EWF line-up on...

 of Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...

 fame. During this period, Coley found himself struggling with homosexuality

Homosexuality

Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...

. Coley has made a point of speaking out about his homosexuality.

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", Coley 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

Sparrow Records

-Background:Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then A&R director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by EMI in 1992, it is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group, and has been named by Billboard Magazine as "America's Best Christian Music Record Label"...

, 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 (more than two weeks later), he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes

Diabetes mellitus type 1

Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. The subsequent lack of insulin leads to increased blood and urine glucose...

, which caused him temporary blindness. He has continued to struggle with diabetes throughout his life.

Just Daryl (1986)

Released in 1986 under the Alliant label, Just Daryl is Coley's debut solo album. It contains Coley's celebrated song "II Chronicles".

1. "Closer"
2. "II Chronicles"
3. "Hang On In There"
4. "Caught Up"
5. "I've Been Born Again"
6. "Nobody Like the Lord"
7. "Deliverer"
8. "Stand Still"
9. "Spirit of the Lord (Intro)"
10. "Spirit of the Lord"
11. "Great is Thy Faithfulness"
12. "Hallelujah You're Worthy"

I'll Be With You (1988)

Coley's second studio album, I'll Be With You, was released in 1988 under the CGI label. It contains Coley's celebrated song "II Chronicles".

1. "The Lord's Name Is To Be Praised"
2. "Worthy Is The Lamb"
3. "That's What You've Done For Me"
4. "Romans 10"
5. "More Like Jesus"
6. "Jesus Is The Real Thing"
7. "What Moved Him"
8. "Hold On Until You Bless Me"
9. "I'll Be With You"

He's Right On Time: Live from Los Angeles (1990)

Coley's third album, He's Right On Time: Live from Los Angeles, was released under the Sparrow Records

Sparrow Records

-Background:Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then A&R director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by EMI in 1992, it is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group, and has been named by Billboard Magazine as "America's Best Christian Music Record Label"...

label. Notable songs include "He's Right On Time" and "I Need Your Spirit".

1. "The Comforter Has Come"
2. "By Faith"
3. "Thy Will Be Done"
4. "I Can't Tell It All"
5. "I Can't Tell It All (Reprise)"
6. "God and God Alone"
7. "He's Right On Time"
8. "He'll Never Let You Down"
9. "Keep Moving On"
10. "I Need Your Spirit"
11. "You Are My Everything"
12. "He Delivered Me"
13. "He Delivered Me (Reprise)"

When the Music Stops (1992)

When the Music Stops is Coley's second live album and his fourth overall. Released in 1992, it is also Coley's second album under Sparrow Records. Notable songs include "You Can Do All Things" and "In Times Like These".

1. "You Can Do All Things"
2. "Real"
3. "He'll Make A Way"
4. "Don't Hold Back"
5. "Jesus Never Fails"
6. "In Times Like These"
7. "When the Music Stops"
8. "It Shall Be Done"
9. "Integrity"

In My Dreams (1994)

Coley's In My Dreams is fifth studio album. Released under Sparrow Records in 1994. His notable song is "To Live Is Christ".

1. "He That Dwelleth (Psalm 91)"
2. "Try Me Once Again"
3. "He's Already Forgotten"
4. "To Live Is Christ"
5. "Blessed Assurance"
6. "Heart Of The Matter"
7. "God Is My Strengh"
8. "You Are The Melody"
9. "You Are My God"
10. "In My Dreams"

Beyond the Veil: Live at the Bobby Jones Gospel Explosion XIII (1996)

Coley's sixth studio album is Beyond the Veil: Live at the Bobby Jones Gospel Explosion XIII. It is also his fourth live album. It was released in 1996 under Sparrow Records, and contains songs such as "Sweet Communion", "Lamb of God", and "Wonderful".

1. "Wonderful"
2. "Lamb of God"
3. "Sweet Communion"
4. "Standing On The Promises"
5. "Beyond the Veil"
6. "Nobody Like the Lord"
7. "So Much"
8. "We Are One"
9. "What's In Your Name"
10. "Beyond the Veil (Reprise)"

External links

• Official Daryl Coley MySpace Page
• Discography on Yahoo! Music
• http://www.gospelflava.com/articles/darylcoley2.html