was 23. Dr. Don Aultman, former vice president of Lee, has always been a good friend, supporter, and influence—both in music and education. When Aultman started Teen Talent in 1962, he invited Alford to be the first director of the pro- gram. In 1967, he asked Dr. Alford to write a Church Training Course book. Titled Music in the Pentecostal Church, it was adopted as a textbook for several col- leges and universities.


Dr. Charles W. Conn, former general overseer and Lee president, was another strong influence on Delton. After mak- ing the decision to leave a 15-year stint with the Lee Singers, Delton accepted the invitation from Conn to become dean of the college and then the vice president and dean.


Lee’s current president, Dr. Paul Conn, was first a student of Delton’s who ulti- mately became a very good friend and colleague. Later, Delton served as a con- sultant and adjunct faculty member while Lee was developing the graduate program in music.


Accomplishments


Delton Alford attributes much of his success in music and education to his passion for excellence. In his words, “Excellence means going beyond what is normally expected to achieve the extraor- dinary. This requires the right blend of ability, sensitivity, and passion. If you go over the edge and have too much energy or too much passion, it ends up being just ‘showbiz.’”


Delton and his wife, Myrna, are minis- try partners. She is an accomplished musi- cian, achieving excellence as performer, writer, and arranger. A hallmark of their accomplishments was the organization of the Lee Singers and everything that ensued—the trips overseas, the group Sec- ond Edition, singing for the United States military, and performances at the 1964 World’s Fair, the Kennedy Center, Atlanta Symphony Hall, and with the Chatta- nooga Symphony.


Delton authored the first choir book published in the Church of God, titled Magnify the Lord, in 1963. He has writ- ten, arranged, and produced music for


Benson Music, Diadem, Pathway, and SpiritSound.


Several of Alford’s students while at Lee—Walt Mauldin, Bill Green, Danny Murray, Phil Thomas, Mark Bailey, and others—are now faculty at Lee. Scores of successful music ministers and educators throughout the church are protégés of Delton’s.


“Important changes took place dur- ing the time I was at Lee—the first self- study and the achievement of accredita- tion and its reaffirmation were critical ones. Lee was becoming influential in the church with the creation of the four-year


Another huge moment was when the Lee Singers were first invited to sing with the Chattanooga Symphony. That was the first of many performances to come after the choir received a great review in the Chattanooga Times, leading to many open doors nationally and abroad. In 1984, Delton was asked by the Executive Committee of the denomina- tion to become director of music at Path- way Press and chair of the Church Music Committee. “That had to be a divine invitation,” he stated. “I became more involved in publishing, producing, and local church music ministry.”


In January 1992, a formal Department of Music Ministries was created, and Alford was appointed as director. He said, “SpiritSound became the creative music entity for the Church of God. It’s been 26 years of music leadership and there’s just no question that it was ordained by the Lord.”


Alford strongly believes that church and worship music ought to be inclu- sive. Nowhere in Scripture is exclusive language used to describe musical styles or performance behaviors. He said, “As Pentecostal musicians, we ought to be an influence today and a part of the conver- sation about the continuance of music that will impact the lives of believers through the world.”


liberal arts program. The divisional struc- ture initiated in 1968 was the precursor of Lee becoming a university.”


Big Moments


Early in the Lee Singers history, con- troversy existed about church music, about Lee, and about education. Alford remembers the turnaround that began at the Memphis Coliseum on youth night at the 1966 Church of God General Assem- bly. “Cecil Knight was supposed to speak that night, but when the Singers sang, the Spirit of the Lord moved and hun- dreds of people came to the altar. This changed the image of the group. Before that, it was hard to get an appointment in a church because we were perceived as nonspiritual. After that, it wasn’t so much an uphill battle anymore.”


Alford continued, “During the last several years, SpiritSound received three Dove nominations, Christian Bookseller Association awards, and recognitions for creative and sales performance in gospel music. That’s a good example of how we can be part of the conversation both in terms of quality and whatever is this indefinable ‘thing’ that we talk about— warmth, emotion, spirit.


“The first 50 years have been blessed of God, and I am very thankful and certainly not altogether worthy. I am anxious to see and experience what will unfold during the next season of service and ministry.”


Wanda Griffith is a writer, singer, and speaker who lives in Cleveland, Tennessee.


EVANGEL • SEP 2010 25


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32