Michael Charles

Michael Charles was long considered the Dean of Kansas City’s gospel community. He began singing in youth choirs directed by Kansas City gospel icon Alma Whitney. He toured and recorded nationally with the Raymond Rasberry Singers. He also performed with the Rev. James Cleveland and Richard Smallwood. The composer and arranger of more than 200 gospel songs, Charles served as choral director for St. James United Methodist Church, Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Choir. He also conducted gospel workshops nationally and founded Alpha Mu Lambda, a gospel fraternity active in the 1980s.