Sax Preacher

Award Winning Cover Band

THE LEGENDARY SAX PREACHER

Sax Preacher aka Darrell Wilson was born and raised in Chicago, IL. He began playing the Sax at Englewood High School in 1972.  After graduating from high school in 1976, Sax Preacher went on to pursue a career in music. He continued his music studies at Olive-Harvey College where he met and took private lessons with jazz great Jimmy Ellis.  He also studied music at Kennedy-King College (Doug Turner) & Loop College (James Mack).  Later he attended Columbia College and Majored in Arts, Entertainment & Media Management with a Minor in Theatre.  After leaving college and starting a few production companies with other people. He teamed up with Lincoln University Music Major Tyrone Williams (Omari Jahi Aton), recorded and produced 3 CDs & 2 Live DVDs on TOMA Records, and have sold to this date over 10,000 copies through their own distribution channel. Sax Preacher stated;

"In 1987 after taking my will to its extreme, I was diagnosed with a rare incurable lung disorder called Sarcoidosis. The doctor said that because of the scar tissue on my lungs, I would never play the saxophone again.   The Creator proved the doctors wrong, they said I had only 18 months to live, but when GOD calls you on a mission you might run for a while but you can’t hide. I stopped running, repented of my transgressions, and GOD through the use of nature’s herbs, prayer, and a change in diet healed me.

By 1990, 9 years after the original conception of T.O.M.A. I came to the realization that our people have been so used and abused in other production companies that it was hard for them to trust anyone with their careers. This was a great concern of mine, so I was inspired by God to take the Temple of Music Assoc. to another level of service. And so was born The Temple of Mercy Association."

Sax Preacher and Omari (Keyboards), have been performing songs from their CD's at Gigs throughout the Chicago and Suburban areas. Mostly performing as a duet and sometimes with the back up band, Energy, Time, & Space. The current members of E.T.S. are Earl O'Neal (Guitar), James Thornton (Bass), David Ivory (Bass), and Glover Washington, Jr. (Drums). The Band has been with TOMA Production since 1987. Sax Preacher and Omari have shared the stage with R Kelly & MGM, Lou Rawls, Art Porter, Roy Hytower (Doctu), Tyrone Davis, Buddy Ace, Koco Koco Taylor, Otis Clay, Bernie Mac, Adele Givens, Jeffery Osborn, Phillis Hyman, Theresa Griffin and many, many more.

He’s the founder of the Temple of Mercy Association, Former Board member of the Pastors of Englewood, Board Chairman & President of the United American Progress Association, CEO of Toma Records, Publisher of the "Wake Up" Newspaper, Member of the "Clergy Advisory Council" for the Cook County Sheriff's Dept., Founder of the We C.A.R.E. Coalition, Past Master of Franklin Lodge #25, Past Grand Lecture @ Wm V. Banks Grand Lodge

Chicago

• Black on Black Love @ Harambee House “03”
• Senator Barack Obama’s 1^st Fundraiser for U.S. Senate “03”
• Black on Black Love @ Cook County Jail – Division 10 “03”
• Juneteenth Fest @ Garfield Park “03”
• Russell Maryland Foundation @ Condessa Del Mar “03”, “04”
• Senator Ricky Hendon Fundraiser @ Union Hall “03”
• We C.A.R.E. Coalition Fundraiser @ Wyatt Community Center “03”
• Wedding Anniversary @ Holiday Inn in (Hillside, IL.)
• Black on Black Love @ Carter G. Woodson Library “03”
• Coalition to Save Public Housing @ Church of The Epiphany “03”
• A.G.I.C. Fundraiser @ Dusable Museum “03”
• The Legacy Theatre “03”, “04”
• Spirit of Chicago Boat Cruise “03”
• Annual Malcolm X Kwanza Celebration “00” – “12”
• Bud Billiken After Parade Concerts “00” – “07”
• Martins Caribbean Festival of Life “05” – “11”
• Annual Pre-Bud Billiken Celebration @ Dusable Museum “05” – “12”
• Wedding Anniversary @ Montford Point Marine
• Youth Empowerment Program @ Muhammad University of Islam “04”
• AARP Christmas Party @ Lake Meadows Community Room “07”
• Who’s Who in Black Chicago Party @ Hyatt Regency Down Town Chgo “07”
• Gospel Luncheon @ Diplomat West, Elmherst, IL. “06”, “07”
• Fundraiser for Congressman Jessie Jackson, Jr. @ Park Nat’l Bank Penthouse “07”
• Bolingbrook Golf Club “07”
• Valentines Day Party @ Harambee House “07”
• Wedding Anniversary @ The Martinque “07”
• Jones Family Reunion @ The Ramada Inn “07”
• Wedding @ Bobak’s Signature @ 7 Bridges, Woodridge, IL. “07”
• Woodlawn Community Serv. Corp. Dinner @ Harambee House “07”
• Cancer Awareness Banquet @ Hawthorn Race Track (Turf Rm) “06”
• Taste of Austin Fest “06”
• Wedding Anniversary @ Crystal Sky Banquet Room “06”
• ComEd Headquarters Party in Oakbrook Terrence, IL. “07”
• WACA Blue Monday Extravaganza @ The Chgo Yacht Club "03" “04”
• Pullman Porter Museum Awards Dinner @ Hyatt Regency McCormick Pl. “05”
• Chicago Music Awards @ The Park West "09"
• AARP Live Festival @ Chicago's Navy Pier "09"
• United Baptist State Convention of Illinois 64th Annual Session, Lansing, IL. "09"
• 27th Annual Conference of The Int'l Assoc. of Ministers' Wives & Ministers' Widows, Inc., Oakbrook, IL. "09"

CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT JAZZ IN THE PARK CONCERTS "07" - "14"

• Sherwood Park * Ogden Park * Hamilton Park * Normandy Park * Lindbloom Park * Avalon Park * Sherman Park * Fernwood Park * Hayes Park * Hamilton Park * O'Halleren Park * Jessie Owens Park* Fuller Park * Murray Park

CHURCHES

• Church Musical @ Gifts From God Ministries "08" "09"
• Wedding @ Zion Hill Baptist Church “07”
• Church Service @ Joliet Church of God, Joliet, IL. “07”
• Pastors of Englewood Breakfast @ Mt. Olive Baptist Church “03 – “07”
• Pastors of Englewood Breakfast @ Greater Salem Baptist Church "08" - “11”
• Singles Night @ Faith Temple COGIC “06”

SCHOOLS

• Ella Flag Young Elementary School “03”
• Wendell Holmes Elementary School “03”
• Westcott Elementary School “03” – “08”
• George Patten Elementary School “03”
• Marshall High School “03” – “04”
• Englewood High School “07”

PLACES PLAYED From 1990 to 1999

• Bud Billiken Parade “90 – “99”
• Cook County Jail – Division 4 – Christmas Party “93”
• Wm V. Banks Hall “91”
• Black Heritage Fest @ The 1^st Chicago Center Theatre “90”

Lounges / Night Clubs

• City Limits “90”

PLACES PLAYED From 1980 to 1989

• Bud Billiken Parade
• Englewood – Auburn Fun Fest
• Talent Search “88” @ Kennedy King College
• 5^th Annual Taste’N Tunes Fest “87”
• Accounters Community Center – Neighborhood Fest “86”, “87”
• John A. Bell Hall
• Altgeld-Murray Community Center Christmas Show “83”
• Chicago Office of Film & Entertainment “Music Alive” “87”
• Performed @ James Petrillo Band Shell “87”
• Performed @ The Bismark Hotel "82"
• New Regal Theater “88”
• Chicago Defender Best Dressed @ McCormick Hotel “89”
• Grand Ballroom “85”
• Margarets Hall
• Post Office Knights of the Round Table @ Holiday Inn Mart Plaza “88”
• Lind bloom Park “89”
• Koco Fest “88”
• Anti-Drug Coalition Rally @ Garfield Park Golden Dome “89”
• WSSD Radiothon “89”
• Simpson’s Lake View Resort (Grand Junction, Michigan)

AWARDS

• Chicago Music Awards @ East of The Ryan Ballroom ( Best R&B Band “87”)
• Winner of The Chicago Park District 1987 Music Talent Search @ Daley Plaza “87”
• Midwest Music Exchange Chicago Fest "1982" winner R&B Category
• Chicago Music Award of Honor “2009”

Lounges / NightClubs

• Spats (formerly Dingbats) “86”
• Bobs Place “86”
• The Humming Bird “86”
• Copherbox I & II
• Ace of Spades Van Club “87”
• The New Caesars’ Palace
• Cadillac Bob’s Show Room
• Chic Rick House “85”
• Eloise’s West
• New Club Casa Blanca “89”
• Spitz Show Lounge “88”
• Johnnie Wayne’s Lounge
• Dating Game
• Manhattan Club
• Tiger Lounge
• Antilla’s Supper Club “85”
• Renaissance VI
• Taste Entertainment Center “87”, “89”
• Cardinal Club “87”
• Nice & Easy Lounge “89”
• Charlie’s Hideaway
• Sandpiper Lounge “85”

Clubs in Los Angeles, California 1988

• Pied Piper Lounge
• Page 4
• Marla Gibbs Place

Out of the Country

• Finland: Helsinki, Tampere
• Canada: Thunderbay, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton

Set List