wfn.org | UCC - Jeffrey Paul Radford dies

[powellb@ucc.org]

Aug. 14, 2002
Proclamation Identity and Communication Ministry
United Church of Christ
Barb Powell, press contact
216-736-2175
<powellb@ucc.org>
<http://www.ucc.org>

CHICAGO -- Jeffrey Paul Radford, Minister of Music for Trinity
United Church of Christ in Chicago, died Monday, Aug. 12, in St.
Francis Hospital, Blue Island, Ill. He was 49.

Radford began his music ministry at Trinity in October of 1972. He was
described as the "right arm" of the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Trinity's
pastor, in leading the membership from fewer than 100 in 1972 to 8,000
today, the largest congregation among the 6,000 churches in the United
Church of Christ. At his death, Trinity's seven choirs included 950
singers.

Radford's musical genius extended far beyond the walls of Trinity United
Church of Christ. Within the United Church, he taught courses at Chicago
Theological Seminary, led workshops all around the country, and was a
featured organist and choir director for many national events. His work
with the James Cleveland Gospel Music Workshop of America, the Thomas
Dorsey Music convention and his international fame caused him to be
invited to bring the Sanctuary Choir and the Women
Fs Chorus of Trinity
to Switzerland on three separate occasions.

Radford led a delegation of African-American musicians to Cuba to teach
gospel music to the Afro-Cubans and to show the Cuban Church how the
African-American musical tradition had breathed life into the
African-American Church. He also traveled with selected choir members to
Puerto Rico to represent the United States at a national youth
conference.

Radford was influential in developing two new hymnals within the past
decade, The New Century Hymnal of the United Church of Christ and the
African-American Hymnal. He also played a major role in bringing a
Hammond B3 style organ to the United Church of Christ's Amistad Chapel
in its Church House in Cleveland, home of the denomination's national
offices. The Hammond B3 style organ is often a key part of the
African-American traditional gospel sound.

In September, Radford was scheduled to be awarded the degree of Doctor
of Arts from Chicago Theological Seminary. He still will receive it
posthumously.

"Dr. Radford was a giant among us," said Pastor Jeremiah Wright. "His
legacy will live forever in the hearts and minds of those whose lives he
has touched."

Shocked by the news, African American leaders throughout the
United Church of Christ who worked closely with Radford reacted
immediately.

"Jeffrey was a consummate musician who brought us the richness and
feeling of the African-American religious tradition -- and he gave it
freely to all," says the Rev. Paul Sadler, pastor of Mt. Zion
Congregational UCC in Cleveland.

"Jeffrey was a model for all of us," said the Rev. John Selders, pastor
of Amistad UCC in Hartford, Conn. "His strong ability to articulate a
breath of musical expressions in the UCC was unprecedented. From
African-American to Euro-American, from hymns to anthems, from gospel
music to the singing of the psalms, Jeffrey excelled at arranging,
composing, performing and directing them all."

Hundreds of thousands of people will continue to benefit from Radford's
contributions to the innovative, multiracial, multi-cultural and gender
neutral The New Century Hymnal. Radford added an authentic
African-American voice by giving the hymnal playable arrangements of
many best-loved African-American hymns, spirituals and gospel songs. The
success of The New Century Hymnal and the Amistad Chapel project at the
UCC national offices in Cleveland are both the fulfilled dreams of the
Rev. Thomas E. Dipko, former Executive Vice President for the former
United Church Board for Homeland Ministries. Radford was critical to
both projects.

"Jeffrey Radford has touched uncounted lives with diverse music that
leaves no doubt about its power to be 'God's balm in Gilead that heals
the soul,'" said Dipko. "His death in the middle years of life
challenges us to live our days, as he did, with a doxology in our
hearts. The church has lost an artist who called forth from us music
beyond our expectations, larger than life, the sound of voice and
instrument that bridged heaven and earth. We hear the angelic choir more
clearly and surely because he lived the music that was his cherished
ministry."

The Rev. John H. Thomas, UCC General Minister and President, reflected
about seeing Radford work with the youth choir at the last UCC General
Synod, the denomination's biennial meeting. "Few of us will forget
Jeffrey's spirited leadership of the youth choir," said Thomas. "I pray
that many of the young people he inspired will take up leadership of the
church
Fs music just as he so elegantly led all of us."

Radford will lie in state at the Brokins Funeral Home, 9315 South
Ashland Ave., Chicago, from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15. On Friday,
Aug. 16, the body will lie in state at Trinity United Church of Christ,
400 West 95th Street, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral will take place
at the church at 8 p.m. on Friday. Radford is survived by two brothers,
William M. and Rollo A. (Willie Pearl) Radford, and one nephew, Calvin.
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