Two Losses for the Detroit Gospel Music Community: Ronald J. Kelly and Bishop Earl J. Wright Jr.

By Robert M. Marovich

The Thomas Whitfield Company and the Detroit gospel community lost two towering figures, tenor vocalist Ronald J. Kelly and keyboardist extraordinaire Bishop Earl J. Wright Jr. in a matter of days.

Kelly, whose powerful vocals never failed to wreck a church, auditorium, community center, or wherever he sang, can be heard on many Thomas Whitfield Company’s albums. He also sang with Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Vickie Winans, to name just two others.

Bishop Wright accompanied a passing parade of contemporary gospel artists. In addition to Thomas Whitfield, Bishop Wright played keyboards for Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Keith Pringle, Yolanda Adams, Commissioned, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark and the Southwestern Michigan State Choir of COGIC, the Clinton Utterbach Ensemble, the Winans, and Witness.

Please keep the Kelly and Wright families, as well as the Whitfield Company members and alumni, in your prayers during this time. Information on the Celebration of Life for Bro. Kelly is on the image and Bishop Wright’s information is forthcoming.