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2,000 begin 3-day celebration of Wagner’s life
The concert was a virtual Who’s Who of gospel musicians.
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MOVING TRIBUTE: Marvin Winans Jr. sings “You Never Let Me Down” at Victory Christian Center in Coitsville during a memorial concert Monday evening for Bishop Norman L. Wagner, pastor of Calvary Ministries International, who died Jan. 30. A capacity crowd of about 2,000 attended the event, which featured a star-studded cast of Grammy-Award winning Gospel musicians.
COITSVILLE — A star-studded cast of Grammy Award-winning gospel musicians paid tribute to Bishop Norman L. Wagner at a Monday evening concert before a capacity crowd of about 2,000 at Victory Christian Center.
Bishop Wagner was pastor of Calvary Ministries International from March 1971 until his death Jan. 30. He was presiding prelate of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World from 1998 to 2004, with more than 2,000 churches under his auspices.
Among the performing artists on the program, who constitute a virtual Who’s Who of Gospel music, were Marvin Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Tye Tribett, Vicki Winans, Marvin Sapp, Jonathan Nelson and Anthony Williams.
All of the artists traveled at their own expense and performed free of charge, said Debor’ah Benton, publicist for the event.
Coordinated by Pastor Marvin Winans of the famed Winans Family, the theme of Monday’s concert was “The Celebration of a Worshipper,” in honor of Bishop Wagner’s commitment to and love of worship.
“This is a sad occasion that brings us together, yet a happy one, because he lived a life that was indicative of his worship, and he’s been inspirational,” Winans said in a pre-concert news conference.
“He was very progressive,” Winans said, noting that Bishop Wagner conducted an annual Pentecost in Perspective conference, in which he showcased up-and-coming Gospel music artists, in addition to preaching. He was also a pioneer in television ministry, Winans added.
Bishop Wagner was “the kind of person that would encourage you no matter what you were going through,” Winans said.
One of those attending the concert agreed with Winans’ observation. “He was just a kind-hearted person. ... He always had a calm, quiet demeanor” in conversation, said Anita Caldwell of Warren. “Nothing seemed to ever upset him,” said Caldwell, whose nieces and nephews attend Calvary Ministries.
In the concert, Winans sang “Best for Last,” with Bishop Wagner’s choir as he had previously done.
An organist and pianist, who founded the Perfecting Church in Detroit, Winans won a Grammy for his 1985 song “Bring Back the Days of Yea and Nay.”
His brother, Benjamin (BeBe) Winans, won a Grammy in 1989 for his contribution to “Abundant Life,” a track on his brother, Ronald’s album, “Family and Friends Choir.”
Having starred as Harpo in Broadway’s “The Color Purple,” BeBe Winans is the host of the nationally syndicated “BeBe Winans Radio Show.” The gospel and rhythm and blues singer recently participated in the remake of “We Are the World” to benefit Haiti earthquake relief efforts.
His sister, Gospel-singer Priscilla (CeCe) Winans, began her solo career with the Grammy-Award winning 1995 album, “Alone in His Presence.” In Monday’s concert, she sang “Don’t Cry for Me,” a song written by BeBe Winans and recorded by her.
“Even though we’re going to cry because we’re going to miss him, we don’t have to cry for him because he’s in a much, much better place,” she said.
BeBe and CeCe Winans released a new album, titled “Still,” in October; and Marvin Winans’ new album, “The Worship Experience,” will be released in May.
Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin, a three-time Grammy-award-winner, was associate pastor for more than a decade at Marvin Winans’ church. Today, he is senior pastor at Perfecting Faith Church, which he established in 2001 in Freeport, Long Island, N.Y.
Hezekiah Walker, a Grammy-winning Gospel artist, is pastor and bishop of Love Fellowship Tabernacle in Brooklyn, N.Y. and Bensalem, Pa., and founder and leader of the Love Fellowship Choir.
Gospel singer Marvin Sapp is founder and senior pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, Mich. Having sold more than 500,000 copies, his album, “Thirsty,” was the best-selling Gospel album of 2008.
Bishop Wagner’s funeral observance continues today with public viewing from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Calvary Ministries International, 1812 Oak Hill Ave., and a 7 p.m. memorial service at the Covelli Centre, 229 E. Front St.
On Wednesday, public viewing continues at the Covelli Centre from 9 to 11 a.m., followed by the 11 a.m. funeral, with Bishop Horace Smith, presiding prelate of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, delivering the eulogy.