A Newark-born New Jersey native and veteran pastor, he released his earliest recordings, including 1978's All Together for One, on the small Inspirational Sounds label, and eventually moved to labels with a greater reach, including Savoy and Emtro. The Alvin Darling Ensemble evolved into Alvin Darling & Celebration, who first reached Billboard's gospel chart in 1992 with Medley of Praise, a live document that featured the Sounds of Serenity, Voices of Faith, and the North Jersey GMWA. Alvin Darling & Celebration released several albums into the 2010s, including 2009's You Can Make It and 2013's Waiting Right Here, the group's highest-charting releases. Additionally, Darling's compositions have been recorded by the likes of Shirley Caesar, Albertina Walker, Bishop Jeff Banks, and Dorothy Norwood. ~ Andy Kellman