* Winner of the 2004 Tiffany Award for Instrumental Artist of the Year! *
Nurtured in Memphis, Tennessee, the influence of music was very prevalent in Wydell's household and in the city itself.
At the age of 10 Wydell was anointed with Holy oil by his pastor to play the piano, because the church was without a musician. Not long after that he began playing, under the unction of the Holy Spirit, by ear. At the age of 17 he formed the North Memphis Community Choir, a community choir comprised of his fellow high school students who ministered in song in the Memphis area.
Upon graduating from high school, Wydell attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Business Administration/Management. While attending Howard, he composed and played for the Howard Gospel Choir's 25th Anniversary/Live Recording (1994).
For 22 years the Lord has blessed Wydell to write music and play keyboard instruments by ear. His musical endeavors have included working with various renowned artists and recording projects, including the Gospel Music Workshop of America - Live (1991, Salt Lake City, Utah and 1996, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) and The GMWA Male Chorus - Live (1996), Douglas Miller, Richard Smallwood, Reverend Daryl Coley, Yolanda Adams, Dorothy Norwood, Denise Tichenor, Lorraine Stancil, Calvin Bernard Rhone, Reverend Donald Vails, Donnie McClurkin, Dr. Margaret J. Douroux, Donald Lawrence, and Melba Moore. He has also performed with the Community Association for Choirs and the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, as well as the Men and Women of the Gospel Concert sponsored by the Washington Performing Arts Society.
Minister Croom's talents have also opened doors for him to travel, perform and record internationally. He recorded with the Christus Zentrum Arche Gospel Choir - Live, the Joyful Gospel and the Tostedt Community Gospel Choir (1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, Hamburg, Germany). In June of 1999, he traveled to Paris for a music missions concert tour. In March 2001, he traveled with a group of ministers and missionaries to the Philippines to lead worship, minister and encourage pastors and missionaries.
It has been within the last few years that God has moved Wydell closer to his passion for doing music ministry full-time. The most recent move in that direction was the opportunity to study music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts where he finished with a dual degree in Music Business/Management and Music Production & Engineering. After that he served as the Minister of Music & Arts at Dorchester Temple Baptist Church in Boston.
In the continued fulfillment of God's promise in his life, Minister Croom has released his first solo CD entitled Seasons, which he dedicated to his musical mentor and dear friend, the late "Maestro", Minister Thomas A. Whitfield. The CD contains a soothing blend of instrumental gospel songs that are guaranteed to take you to a place of serenity.
Wydell and his wife live in the Middle Tennessee area. For engagements please send email to WydellL@hotmail.com
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