Gene Viale - Black Gospel Promo.com

About Rev.Gene Viale Gospel Singer/ Evangelist

Minister Gene Viale has been known to the Gospel Music community for over forty years. A native San Franciscan, raised, in its' Mission District, his voice was first heard as a child singing in the sunshine choir of his maternal grand parents Pentecostal church.

In his early teens he became one of the lead singers for the Voices Of Victory community choir one of the bay area's best known choirs of that time. In 1964 (at the age of 17) while visiting family and friends in Southern California, Gene met and was asked by Rev. James Cleveland to become one of his legendary James Cleveland Singers. This making the Cleveland Singers one of the first integrated groups in Gospel music. Within the week he, (together with Odessa McCastle, Roger Roberts and Rev. Cleveland) left for what was to be an extremely successful, extended tour of the United States. During a time in this country when segregation was still in place in the South land and Jim Crow was yet alive and well.

Gene received his ministry license in 1967 from the Church Of God In Christ and has since been ordained by The Fellowship under the leadership of Bishop Yvette Flunder DD. For the past forty- five years he has continued to minister, crossing all racial and denominational barriers. Gene, has been featured on eight recording projects and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs. Some of his (Chicago based) Jubilee Showcase TV appearances received Emmy's and are now part of the musical video archives kept at the Harold Washington Library in the city of Chicago.

His personal appearances have taken him, throughout the United States of America, The Republic of Panama, five countries in Europe, South Africa and Zimbabwe. He has appeared at the world famous Apollo Theater both as a Cleveland Singer and as a solo artist as well as some of the other note-able venues in this country. He has appeared with most of the greats of the traditional gospel genre, to include: Miss Mahalia Jackson, Rev. James Cleveland, Miss Albertina Walker and The Caravans, Dorothy Love Coats and The Gospel Harmonettes, Andre' and Sandra Crouch, Lee Williams and the Qc's.

Gene has received a number of awards and recognitions over the years. Some being, an award from the Chicago Urban League for service to the community, NAACP (California and Hawaii) an award for his image before the youth of the communities of color. The Gospel Music academy award (northern California) for over twenty years of service within the Gospel Music community, Certificates of Recognition from the city of Richmond, California and two Certificates of Recognition from United States Congress, for service within the communities of this country for over twenty years. He has also received the Pioneer Award from the Oakland Interfaith choir for over twenty years of Gospel Music ministry.

Gene's ministry has been a journey of love from the beginning and remains the same to this day. He feels he is called to share the love of God with all who will hear him and does so with joy. Minister Viale is a member and associate minister in good standing at the Community Baptist Church ( Rev. James E. Coffee D.D. pastor) in Santa Rosa, California. He is also a new member of the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church of Sacramento, California,( Rev. Ephraim Williams D.D. pastor.)

Gene is featured on the following album or CD projects:

"Heaven That Will Be Good Enough For Me" Rev. James Cleveland and The James Cleveland Singers, Savoy Records

"What Color Is God" Gene Viale, Checker Records

Who Does God Have But Us"45rpm Atco Records

"As Unto The Lord" Gene Viale, Camella Records

"If You Trust In The Lord" Gene Viale, Camella Records

"Cassietta George Live at Jerusalem Church Of God In Christ"

"The Only Hope" Gene Viale Live, Secret / Light Records& CD

"Gene Viale The Early Years" "A Light To This World 3rd Generation Records

"A Light To This World" Gene Viale 3rd Generation Records

About Rev.Gene Viale Gospel Singer/ Evangelist

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