Album Notes
A virtuoso pianist and prolific composer, Darryl Cherry combines classical and blues styles to create a unique tapestry of progressive and traditional music which has the potential to define the next evolution of Gospel music.
Covenant Live is an inspiring and anointed evening of music featuring a suite of Minister Cherry's original compositions performed by an 85-voice Gospel choir with a progressive and dynamic live band under the direction of one the most gifted and anointed music ministers in America.
The Covenant Mass Choir has worked with the following artists: Dorothy Norwood, Albertina Walker, Faith Evans, Donald Malloy, Linda Henry & The Daughters of Faith and James Perry. Minister Darryl Cherry & the Covenant Mass Choir has served as an opening act for such major recording artists as John P. Kee, Take 6, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, New Jersey Mass Choir, and more.
We pray this music speaks to and blesses you, enriches and enhances your walk and fellowship with God. We dedicate this work to our Lord and Savior, and to the household of faith.
“Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” —Psalms 40:4-5
The Reverend Darryl Francois Barclay Cherry was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He grew up watching his late father, Reverend Bennie Lee Cherry and mother, Sarah Delores Cherry play the piano and organ for many years. They taught, directed, and sang in numerous choirs over the years and would always take Darryl with them to church programs, concerts and operas to expose him to music. Once Darryl was eight years old, the family moved to New Jersey where his two sisters still reside.
At a very young age he would listen to James Cleveland, The O'Neal Twins, Dorothy Norwood, Sarah Jordan Powell and others on his father's record player and would immediately run to the piano and emulate what he heard on the records. Several years later he started taking formal piano lessons from his teacher and mentor, Professor Aaron F. Brown, a very gifted and well known established musician. Darryl practiced for hours each day, at church and in his home for several years until he was proficient enough to play for his home church.
He has played for six of the nine choirs at The First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey. He was the Director of the Columbia University Gospel Choir in New York City. He was also a keyboard player for the Jenkins Brothers. This gave him the opportunity to perform on programs with The Winans, Keith Pringle, The Late Reverend Ernest Davis Jr's Wilmington Chester Mass Choir, Alvin Freeland & Company and others. Reverend Cherry has also performed at the world famous Apollo Theater in New York City.
In 1988, after demonstrating the calling on his life, Darryl was licensed to preach the Gospel. At twenty-three, Minister Darryl Cherry became an associate minister of the Church of God In Christ Inc., one of the largest black Pentecostal denominations in the world. Minister Cherry became Reverend Cherry when he was ordained by Reverend Dr. Delmus Moss of Orange Valley Baptist Church on August 13, 1995.
Minister Cherry has a vision to spread an anointed ministry in song across the nation. He loves the Lord, and is truly an anointed musician and preacher.
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