Avery Stafford

Avery Stafford is an award winning contemporary Gospel and R&B vocalist from the United States.

Born in Los Angeles, CA in 1965, Avery grew up in a small California town called Madera. He began singing at an early age in church, which is also where he learned and developed his craft for singing Gospel music. In 1987, Stafford recorded an album with his singing group The Enlighteners in Fresno, CA entitled "So Good Inside." Two years later, Avery, his new wife Nina, and their daughter and unborn son moved to Abilene, TX. While there, Avery completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Christian Ministry from Abilene Christian University. In 1992, the Staffords moved to Port Orchard, WA where Avery served as Youth Minister for the Port Orchard Church of Christ. There had began expanding his song writing skills and wrote several songs that would later be recorded on his second and third albums, "Lift Up Your Voice" (95) and "Come Bless Da Lord" (96). 1995 led the Staffords, now with a daughter and two sons, to Portland, OR where Avery enrolled in Multnomah Biblical Seminary. His second and third albums where recorded during his residence at MBS. He created a vocal praise team called One A'Chord, featuring several voices of Portland area college students. One was his very close friend Ike Graul, who currently leads P.U.M.P. Church of Christi in Northeast Portland. Avery completed his Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies in 1998. That same year, he accepted the Worship Pastor position at El Camino Christian Church in Sunnyvale, CA. While there, he recorded his fourth album "Bridges" with limited resources but newly written songs.

During his tenure at Valley Church in Cupertino, CA, he recorded the album that began to give him recognition. "Undignified" was recorded in 2004 and released in 2005. Produced in the studio owned by Michael Toy, Avery was able to utilize Bay Area musicians who assisted in creating an award winning Independent release. Artists included Mark Kenoly, Tim Abbott, Tony Bolivar, Patrick Collins (also co-producer), and several others. "Undignified" earned Stafford two nominations from the 16th Annual Los Angeles International Awards for Christian Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year. "Eyes of a Child"earned Avery the March 2007 Winner award for Best Song in the Song of the Year International Song Writing Competition. In the Fall of 2008, he was also chosen by the Pure Gospo Awards Show as their picked for Best Soloist.

Avery is now recording a brand new album being produced by the incredible Eddie M, former saxophonist for Sheila E., Prince, and many others. He is also collaborating with with his good friend and CCM/R&B legend Jon Gibson. Projected release date for the new album is Summer 2009. He currently serves as Pastor of Worship Ministries for Trinity Church of Sunnyvale in the California Bay Area, where he began in 2006.