Thomas Anthony Whitfield (April 30, 1954 - June 20, 1992) gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, pianist, choir director and producer best known for helping to shape the fabric of contemporary gospel music with his elaborate choral arrangements and the merging of musical styles ranging from jazz to classical into traditional gospel foundations. This style earned him the respectable title of "Maestro" by many of his colleagues and supporters. He was best known for organizing one of the popular contemporary gospel choirs of all time, the Thomas Whitfield Company, and for producing best-selling records for Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Douglas Miller, Keith Pringle, Paul Morton and for Aretha Franklin.
Whitfield began a line of notable achievements in producing for both established and fresh talent. In 1984, Whitfield produced the historic debut project Peace Be Still, for a virtual unknown singer at the time by the name of Vanessa Bell Armstrong; earning him his first of three GRAMMY nominations. That year, he also wrote "Time To Come Back Home" for Shirley Caesar's GRAMMY and Dove Award winning "Sailin" album. Whitfield's popularity and demand continued to escalate - possibly pointing that he may have reached the beginning of his recording zenith. Production on projects from the Soul Children of New Orleans, Keith Pringle, Douglas Miller, the Winans, the Michael Fletcher Chorale and Paul S. Morton followed. In 1986, "I'm Encouraged" was released; a live recording session held at the Civic Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. The project climbed to the #1 spot on Billboard's Top Gospel Album charts.
During Whitfield's final years with Sound of Gospel, Whitfield discovered Texas native Yolanda Adams and produced her first project Just As I Am for the Detroit label in 1988 which skyrocketed up Billboard's Gospel charts.
An opportunity of a lifetime was awarded to Whitfield when the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin confronted him with the task to head the musical direction for her upcoming live recording - a project that the media labeled the sequel to her best-selling and award-winning "Amazing Grace" LP. In 1989, Aretha Franklin took home a GRAMMY Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female for "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism" and a Dove Award for Traditional Gospel Album of the Year - an album that featured musical and choral arrangements from Thomas A. Whitfield. Some of the album's serious highlights include the moving opener of "Walk In The Light" and Aretha Franklin being serenaded by Whitfield's entrancing piano accompaniment on "Ave Maria".
In 1989, Teresa Hairston (head of Benson Music Group's black gospel department) contacted Whitfield and expressed interest in signing him, along with the Whitfield Company to her label. SOG released two successful projects ("The Annual Christmas Services", "...And They Sang A Hymn") in 1990, while Whitfield went into the studio to record "My Faith" for Benson. The project contained the Edwin Hawkins' composition "Glorify The Lord" and featured musical appearances from Vanessa Bell-Armstrong and Karen Clark-Sheard (from the renowned Clark Sisters). In 1992, Benson released what would be Whitfield's last recording, "Alive And Satisfied".
Whitfield's musical brilliance and influence has left a tremendous impact on today's leading contemporary gospel artists. Musicians such as protege' Rudolph Stanfield,Donald Lawrence, Fred Hammond, John P. Kee, Byron Cage, Ricky Dillard, J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise, Walter Hawkins, Richard Smallwood and many others. He is still highly regarded for his numerous innovations during the eighties and early nineties and being one of the pioneers to master the usage of the MIDI-sequencing and synthesizers in gospel music; all helping to earn him his own style: the "Whitfield" sound.
Discography
Brand New (1978)
Things That We Believe, Vol. I (1979)
Things That We Believe, Vol. II (1980)
Hold Me (1983)
Halleujah Anyhow (1984)
I'm Encouraged (1986)
The Annual Christmas Services (1988)
...And They Sang A Hymn (1989)
My Faith (1990)
Alive And Satisfied (1992)
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I was honored to be in a workshop Choir with The Maestro in CT in the late 80's. I was the only Caucasian in the choir, and I was also a soloist. Minister Whitfield called me aside Sunday night when it was all over, and gave me a word from the Lord concerning my fervent style of Worship. I will never forget it, or him......RIP great man
StumblebumBand 5 months ago
he died the day before my 16th bday. I still cry sometimes. He is greatly missed and will never be forgotten.
evanglillianlloyd 6 months ago
I am so hurt about this. OmG. The man was so far ahead of the game vocally and musically. I hate he's gone. He was a prodigy. Omg, I just want to b ready when the Lord calls
keyzitis 9 months ago
Yes, not to come off as a rude jerk but I wonder if he felt sick before he had collapsed and passed away in 1992? I know he's been gone now nearly 20 years, but I wonder how his family is doing now? God works in mysterious ways, but like anybody, I feel bad that he left so so soon, although I know now he's a peace and in the hands of the Father.
marcusrob02 10 months ago
My friend!
mashiyachministries 11 months ago
Heaven will have a beautiful choir... And earth will have give heaven no greater director than the Minister Thomas Whitfield. Amen!!!
1buddylove 1 year ago
Wow...this was short but so informative. I've always loved the Maestro. I too miss his his awesome contribution to gospel music. See ya in the "Heaven Mass Choir" Maestro.
dougiemac622 2 years ago 2
DITTO!!!!!!!!
MisterNelson 2 years ago
THOMAS WHITFIELD.... just no adequate words. All of that and then some..
MisterNelson 2 years ago
Thomas Whitfield had a relationship with GOD that was totally off the chain. It showed in his music, and that's why some of us sing his music regularly, to usher in the very prescence of GOD. No disrespect to our young current artists, doin a great job, but those of us that grew up on Whitfield and sung his music, we shall never forget those days.
mrmusic1961 2 years ago