Detroit Mourns Death of Pastor Oscar Hayes; Homegoing Service Details

Photo courtesy of Oscar Hayes’s Twitter page.

Gospel music historian and enthusiast Marcel West of Detroit informed JGM of the passing of Pastor Oscar Hayes.

Here is Pastor Hayes’s bio, according to his LetsSingIt page:

Stellar Award nominee Pastor Oscar Hayes was born October 12, 1967, in Detroit Michigan, to Ms. June Hayes. Oscar grew up on the fast track. Living on the north-end exposed him to the streets at an early age. The tragedy of losing his best friend to gun violence and coming close to death himself slowed him down.

Hayes was captivated by another gospel legend, Marvin Winans. One night at a gospel concert, young Hayes gave his life to Christ. Although he had never had any formal training, he asked God for the gift of music, and the world has benefited from his entreaty. In 1988, Hayes formed a group comprised of young singers mostly from the ghetto from whence he came. Since that time, Oscar has become a driving force in Gospel Music.

He performed with such notable personalities as Luther Vandross; Stevie Wonder; Michael Jackson; Dr. Benny Hinn Crusades, Shirley Caesar; Aretha Franklin; Kirk Franklin; Donald Lawrence; Hezekiah Walker; Fred Hammond; and was a regular guest on the Dr. Bobby Jones BET gospel television show.

Oscar wrote songs for the legendary Craig Brothers, Pastor Edgar Vann and Second Ebenezer Mass Choir, the title song for Derrick Milan & Peter’s Rock Mass Choir and was guest songwriter and director for the National Progressive Baptist Churches of America. He toured the United States over the last 10 years.

Oscar made guest appearances on Singsation, Mo Gospel videos, the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade, and at the prestigious World’s Fair. Internationally, Oscar toured the Bahamas, Trinidad, Barbados, Canadian Provinces, Prague, Russia, and Germany.

In 1990, John P. Kee took note of this young music talent and demanded a recording contract from Tyscot Records. This recording introduced Hayes to a new world. Hayes’ first recording, “Got 2 Tell It,” placed him immediately among the cream of the crop of Gospel Music. His sophomore project, Simply Determined, won him the GMWA Best New Artist of the Year Award, both locally and nationally, and he charted on Billboard for more than thirteen weeks. Oscar then recorded his next project, Another Level, with the Charisma Music Group. The world supported his efforts with great numbers and once again he charted on Billboard. Hayes’ fourth project, Live in New Orleans, was recorded with Westbound Records in 2000. Hayes remained on Billboard for 28 weeks and received various awards for his work.

Oscar was selected to sing with the legendary Elvis Presley Tour. This catapulted Hayes into yet another sphere. He began composing music for commercials, which included Big Red Gum, Farmer Jack Grocery Market, Rite Aid, and other major product companies. Hayes also scored music for Off-Broadway musicals. He wrote the hit song, “Should’ve Listened,” for Ms. Vickie Winans. He also starred in the hit musical, Gotta Find Me An Angel, featuring Tommy Ford (“Martin Show”) and Lisa Raye (“Players Club”).

He earned a Bachelors degree from William Tyndale Christian College, and a Master’s and Th.D. from A.P. Clay Christian Seminary in Baton Rouge, LA. Hayes pastored one of Detroit’s fastest growing congregations, Nazarene MBC. He was president and founder of ACCO, a community based company, which feeds, clothes, and educates more than 100 families weekly. He received two keys from the city of New Orleans and more than fifty social and civic awards from Detroit institutions and houses of worship.

Hayes believed that “To get what you’ve never had, you’ve got to do what you’ve never done.”

Homegoing arrangements for Pastor Oscar Hayes, courtesy of Marcel West:

Saturday -1/24/15 Instate 12pm-8pm
Nazarene Church
901 Melbourne, Detroit, MI.

Sunday- 1/25/15 Memorial Musical 5pm
New St. Paul Baptist Church
21050 Ascension, Warren, MI
Pastor Tolan Morgan

Monday- 1/26/15 – 10am Homegoing Services
2nd Ebenezer Church, 14601 Dequindre, Detroit, MI
Bishop Edgar L. Vann.