Brief Personal Background of Alphonso “Cheeseburger†McClainAs a child I grew up in a Christian home my father a minister and my mother a saved homemaker. Attending Solid Rock Church, I sat on the front row, playing bongos anxiously waiting for the first opportunity to play drums. When the drummer was absent it would be my turn to play the drums.
Every Sunday after church I would practice playing the organ. I was finally blessed to play the organ for they young teen choir. As the Lord continued to bless my musical gift I was appointed to play for the adult choir and then the senior choir. I continued in that position until I went on the road as a traveling musician.
My road career began with the Salem Travelers of Chicago. While playing for the Salem Travelers we would often be on programs with the Mighty Clouds of Joy. The Mighty Clouds of Joy began to see how the Lord was blessing me and because they only had an organist they would ask me to play for them. After playing for them several times, I was offered a full time position as their 1st Keyboard/Piano Player. While a part of the group we participated in many festivals with such artist as James Cleveland, Andre’ Crouch, The Hawkins Family, Kirk Franklin, The Winans, Paul Simon, Jimmy Buffet, B.B.King, George Clinton, and many more, The Aresenial Hall Show, The bobby Jones Gospel Show and many local shows. We were also interviewed on The Tom Joyner Morning Show in Chicago. The Mighty Clouds of Joy traveled to several countries such as Africa, Switzerland, Sweden, Japan, and Germany, just to name a few.
Although I accepted a full-time position, in 1991 as Music Director at WAJJI Records in Washington, DC, I continued to play for The Mighty Clouds of Joy part-time. In 1992 my position ended at WAJJI Records, I went back to The Mighty Clouds of Joy full-time and moved to Augusta, Georgia where the tour bus was centrally located. During my full-time tenure with The Mighty Clouds of Joy I produced, arranged, and played on the Grammy Award Winning Album, “Pray For Me†and the Stellar Award Winning CD “Powerâ€.
In 1996 I left the Clouds and the road life and moved to Rockford, IL to be the Minister of Music at Christ Tabernacle Church. I began living what I call “a truly saved lifeâ€. I have been blessed to coordinate several musical events such as The Gospel Showcase for First Night (a non-alcoholic New Year’s Eve Celebration), the S.O.N. Fest (Save Our Neighborhood) at Church Hill Park. I taught choir and piano lessons at MAPP Camp for 2 years as well as played with local Jazz Saxophonist Harlan Jefferson.
I am married to the former Raymona Powell and we have 2 sons, Richard (Berger) 19 and Jarre’ 13.
I am presently fulfilling the gifts of producing and song writing for several artists that are soon to come forth while serving as Minister of Music at my father’s church in Chicago.
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I Know It Was The Blood
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