When it comes to musical artistry and worship at Resurrection, Pastoral Musician and Artist in Residence W. Clifford Petty is truly in a league of his own. Last week, the accomplished singer, clinician, conductor, musician, recording artist, producer, composer, arranger, and educator had two of his works added to the GIA Publications “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism: An African American Ecumenical Hymnal.”

Petty’s songs “Psalm 51: Have Mercy On Us” and “Psalm 67: O God, Let All The Nations Praise You” were included among 696 others in the hymnal, which will be used for worship and reference in Black churches across the country.

During his 25 years here at Resurrection, Petty has written and composed hundreds of original songs, has planned and curated music for dozens of national conferences annually, and has taught music basics and lessons to nearly 2,000 Resurrection Catholic School students. Prior to his time at Resurrection, Petty taught for a decade at the historic St. Jude Educational Institute.

Petty has been a musical mainstay at churches across the state since the young age of 10. His musical expertise has also allowed him to release four albums: “In Spirit and Truth” (2006), “Touch Jesus” (2009), “The Mass of New Beginnings” (2013), and “We Are Filled With Joy!” (2016).

Petty is a two-time graduate of Alabama State University, and is a member of The Good Ground Ensemble, The American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Alabama Vocal Association (AVA), National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Professional Music Fraternity, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. He also serves as Grand Knight of Knights of Peter Claver, Father Manuel Williams Council #345.

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