Al Matthews, former Host, Producer, Director of Gospel Greats, once heard on Portland, Oregon’s 1290 KKSL, and 1640 KKJY, was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Throughout his early years, he attended Tendley Temple Methodist church and other churches all over the city. He sang in different choirs, but it was the joy of hearing and seeing others sing that caught and held his attention. The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Rev. James Cleveland, Rance Allen, Clara Ward & The Ward Singers, The Five Blind Boys, The Dixie Hummingbird and of course Mahalia Jackson were voices heard around his house on any given day.
Al would eventually drift away from the church, but what he learned would stay with him for the rest of his life. As did other influences, by way of secular radio, Al became intrigued by announcers; Georgie Woods, Butter Ball, Jerry Blavat, and Jocko who were just a few of the local personalities that flooded the airwaves, giving him a sense of what he wanted to be when he grew up. It was while singing and performing with a local Philadelphia secular group that the entertainment bug truly took hold of Al’s life.
After traveling around the country for many years, he eventually found himself living in Scranton, Pennsylvania. There he volunteered at Marywood College’s radio station, helping future broadcasters, creating programs, and assisting in production. While this was exciting, he wanted to get into the mainstream of broadcasting. This desire was amplified after meeting Herb Ward of WARM a local radio station serving the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. Herb was instrumental in making radio an even larger goal in Al’s life, but still, the dream would be another few years in coming. In 1976, Al moved to San Francisco, California, and within a year had enrolled in classes at the Ron Bailie School of Broadcasting. Completing the one-year course at the schools campus in San Jose. However, securing a job in radio would not take place until 1982, when he began working as KASH/KSND, in Eugene, Oregon. Although he was happy to finally be working in the field at a semi-automated station, he was not where he wanted to be. After two and a half years, he moved on to other employment outside of radio.
In 1993 and 1994 Al found himself alone with Chaplain Fred Williams organizing and producing the Gospel Music Extravaganza’s for and at the Oregon State Penitentiary. Then, in 1995 Al moved to Portland, Oregon, and in 1996 began working for Crawford Broadcasting’s Portland stations KKSL 1290, and KKPZ 1330. It was in February of 1997 that he began hosting Gospel Greats, the only daily gospel music program in the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington Metro area. In 1998, he not only served as Master of Ceremony for the event but received a nomination for a Perseverance Award from the 88 Keys Gospel Music Foundation for his efforts and commitment to gospel music and received the same nomination and won it in 2000. He became Producer and Director of Gospel Greats in May of 1999, and in that same year, he founded Halmatt Productions, signing management contracts with Minister Eugene Blackmon, (the 1998 recipient of the Perseverance Award). Cary Simms and Demetra Crawford a.k.a. Madam Flossie Mae.
Now He’s here to share the Gospel in the way he knows best, musically, with you on Gospel Intervention.
Al would eventually drift away from the church, but what he learned would stay with him for the rest of his life. As did other influences, by way of secular radio, Al became intrigued by announcers; Georgie Woods, Butter Ball, Jerry Blavat, and Jocko who were just a few of the local personalities that flooded the airwaves, giving him a sense of what he wanted to be when he grew up. It was while singing and performing with a local Philadelphia secular group that the entertainment bug truly took hold of Al’s life.
After traveling around the country for many years, he eventually found himself living in Scranton, Pennsylvania. There he volunteered at Marywood College’s radio station, helping future broadcasters, creating programs, and assisting in production. While this was exciting, he wanted to get into the mainstream of broadcasting. This desire was amplified after meeting Herb Ward of WARM a local radio station serving the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. Herb was instrumental in making radio an even larger goal in Al’s life, but still, the dream would be another few years in coming. In 1976, Al moved to San Francisco, California, and within a year had enrolled in classes at the Ron Bailie School of Broadcasting. Completing the one-year course at the schools campus in San Jose. However, securing a job in radio would not take place until 1982, when he began working as KASH/KSND, in Eugene, Oregon. Although he was happy to finally be working in the field at a semi-automated station, he was not where he wanted to be. After two and a half years, he moved on to other employment outside of radio.
In 1993 and 1994 Al found himself alone with Chaplain Fred Williams organizing and producing the Gospel Music Extravaganza’s for and at the Oregon State Penitentiary. Then, in 1995 Al moved to Portland, Oregon, and in 1996 began working for Crawford Broadcasting’s Portland stations KKSL 1290, and KKPZ 1330. It was in February of 1997 that he began hosting Gospel Greats, the only daily gospel music program in the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington Metro area. In 1998, he not only served as Master of Ceremony for the event but received a nomination for a Perseverance Award from the 88 Keys Gospel Music Foundation for his efforts and commitment to gospel music and received the same nomination and won it in 2000. He became Producer and Director of Gospel Greats in May of 1999, and in that same year, he founded Halmatt Productions, signing management contracts with Minister Eugene Blackmon, (the 1998 recipient of the Perseverance Award). Cary Simms and Demetra Crawford a.k.a. Madam Flossie Mae.
Now He’s here to share the Gospel in the way he knows best, musically, with you on Gospel Intervention.
If You'd Like To Help Support This Music Ministry, We'd Appreciate It.
|
|
|
