Delores Bradley to perform at Concert in the Park

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October 10, 2012

Delores Bradley to perform at Concert in the Park

By Latasha Everson/The Tifton Gazette CNHI The Tifton Gazette Wed Oct 10, 2012, 07:39 AM EDT

TIFTON — Local woman Dolores Bradley will be making her debut performance at the fall series Concert in the Park at noon Friday at Veterans Memorial Park.

Bradley is a country gospel singer and songwriter. She has performed at several churches and other events.

She was born in Texas but lived most of her life in Bakersville, California. She came to Tifton in July 2009.

“There are some good people in this town,” Bradley said.

She said that she started singing and playing guitar at churches about 12 years ago, but she has been writing songs for over 30 years. She noted that she took guitar lessons a few times, but she mostly learned from people helping her along the way.

Bradley said that she has a Martin D-28 guitar. She also has two other guitars that belonged to her father and grandfather, but she doesn’t play them. In addition, she has a keyboard, accordion and a “tater bug” mandolin that’s between 80 and 100 years old.

Bradley was a licensed minister for several years, preaching in California, Arizona and Arkansas. She attends a new church in Enigma called New Beginnings Worship Center, which was formerly located in a small mobile home/office. She stated that New Beginnings is now located in a building that used to be a liquor store. It was renovated and transformed into a church with a running total of about 50 to 60 people attending every Sunday.

Bradley has been through many obstacles in her life, including dropping out of school in the 10th grade to start earning a living — she did house work for 30 years; struggling with vertigo while getting her GED in 2005; being diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2005 — she was told that she had a massive tumor in her left breast and years later after she refused treatment and surgery, was told that she was cleared of the cancer; being diagnosed with congestive heart failure in January 2010; having a pacemaker implanted in November 2011; and other struggles.

However, through it all, Bradley has kept her faith in God.

“I’m doing so well that I’m looking for full-time work. You don’t have to give up when you feel you’re against all odds,” she said.

During the time that she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, she was attending the local Moultrie Technical College. She said it was difficult but staff worked with her and she was able to graduate in November 2011 with a 3.75 GPA. She noted that at the age of 57 years old, she decided to go to college.

She received a diploma in business administration technology and the following certificates: general office assistant, medical office assistant, medical billing clerk and Microsoft Word applications professional. Also, while attending MTC, she was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society and joined Phi Beta Lambda (PBL), which is a college-level Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) organization.

Bradley’s struggles and triumphs are heard through her music. She describes some of her songs as “fun songs,” but the majority of her songs have a heartfelt story behind them.

She stated, “When I sing these songs that God has given me, people don’t realize that I’m ministering to them.”

She said she has recently released a country gospel CD called, “The Greatest Miracle,” with the help of Harry King of King’s Productions.

“Harry has been great to me and has worked with me,” Bradley stated.

The CD costs $10 and can be purchased by contacting Bradley at 382-1584 or King at 255-9896. Contact Bradley or King for booking as well.

Bradley said some of the songs on the CD are dedicated to friends who have passed away and had inspired her with powerful words or statements.

She plans to sing some of the songs off of the CD and others she has written at Friday’s concert. Also, she said Vince Stracke, who plays lead guitar and was recently in an accident, will be performing with her as well. She noted that he has just recorded his first CD also.

Bradley noted that she plans to submit her book, “Called By God,” for publication by next year. She said it took her two years to write the Christian fiction novel.

“A lot of me is in that book,” she stated. “[The words] just came to me. They would come faster than I could type them, actually.”

Bradley said she would like for the book to ultimately be a series.

The free concerts are sponsored by The Tifton Gazette and Main Street Tifton. They will continue through October. People are encouraged to bring their lunches and a lawn chair or blanket to the concert.

To contact reporter Latasha Everson, call 382-4321.

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