In Memory of Professor Alex Bradford

“We will not see again the likes of Professor Alex Bradford. This most vivid and memorable of all Gospel figures now joins the list of great Gospel singers- Mahalia Jackson, Clara Ward, Rosetta Tharpe, Brother Joe May, Goldia Haynes- whose departures made the seventies such a gloomy period for gospel lovers.”- Tony Heilbut
Alex Bradford was born in January of 1927 in Bessemer, Alabama. His multi-talented mother, Olivia Bradford Spain, always encouraged her children to be successful and to be the best at whatever they did. Alex’s passion was music. As a very young boy, Bradford was a child prodigy, mastering jazz piano and vaudeville techniques, which molded his flamboyant showmanship. Growing up in the Baptist church and also influenced by a Pentecostal church down the street made Gospel become Alex Bradford’s first love.
After World War II, Bradford moved to Chicago, and not too long after, he became acquainted with singers such as Mahalia Jackson, who he would play for, and Roberta Martin, for whom he wrote several songs for. In 1950, Alex met up with Willie Webb, an original member of the Roberta Martin Singers, and that’s when Bradford discovered his gift of singing. He was the first male to apply the “High Who,” which was a common style among many female singers, such as Willa Ward and Marion Williams. This style was eventually used by Little Richard.
In the early 1950’s, Alex Bradford put his own group together and began recording for Apollo and Specialty Records, and he wrote many songs that are still sung today. The most popular one includes “Too Close To Heaven,” which has been recorded by several artists. He also wrote “He’ll Wash You Whither Than Snow,” “Since I Met Jesus,” “Lord, Lord, Lord,” and so many others. In the 1960’s Alex Bradford and his group, along with Princess Stewart and Marion Williams & the Stars of Faith, traveled around Europe with the Broadway play, THE BLACK NATIVITY, and into the 1970’s, he did a few other Broadway plays including YOUR ARMS TOO SHORT TO BOX WITH GOD and DON’T BOTHER ME, I CAN’T COPE.
Not only did Alex Bradford work with groups, he also worked with choirs. For several years, he worked in Newark, New Jersey at the Greater Abyssinian Baptist Church, and he also worked with the Cornerstone Baptist Church Youth Choir of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
As the result of a serious stroke, Alex Bradford died on February 15, 1978. Though Alex Bradford was recognized, he TRULY did not receive all of the credit that he deserved. He was truly one of the greatest Gospel singers EVER to sing Gospel music.
May he never be forgotten and may Alex Bradford’s legacy live on forever!!!
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