"Follower of Christ" (1991) Oscar Hayes & Abundant Life Fellowship

This is track 2 from the 1991 album "Got To Tell It".
Written by Joseph W. Harris
Arranged by Darius Twyman and Oscar Hayes
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 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 benefited from his entreaty. In 1988, Hayes formed a group comprised of young singers mostly from the ghetto from whence he came: history began. Since that time, Oscar became a driving force in Gospel Music.

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 G.M.W.A. Best New Artist of the Year Award, both locally & nationally and again he charted on Billboard for more than thirteen weeks. Oscar then recorded his next project, "Another Level" independently with the Charisma Music Group. The world supported his efforts with great numbers and once again he charted with Billboard. Hayes' 4th Project, "Live in New Orleans" was recorded with Westbound Records in 2000. Hayes remained on Billboard Charts for 28 weeks and received various awards for his work.

He performed with such notable personalities as: Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, 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 B.E.T. gospel television show. Oscar has written 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 the guest songwriter & director for the National Progressive Baptist Churches of America. Oscar made guest appearances on the following T.V. shows; Singsation, Mo Gospel videos, C.T.N. The Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade and the prestigious World Fair. Internationally, Oscar toured in the Bahamas, Trinidad, Barbados, Canadian Providences, Prague, Russia and Germany.

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

Oscar Hayes died on January 19, 2015.