Born to a family of singers and musicians, Apostle Willie O. Coates, Jr. was always surrounded by music; and he not only sang at home but also in church, school, talent shows, and special community events. Music is major in defining and shaping the journey of this life. While in the eighth grade, a friend introduced Apostle Coates to jazz with an album by Ahmad Jamal entitled “Live at the Pershing” (a jazz piano trio) which stretched and expanded his musical capacity. In high school, Apostle Coates was fortunate to have a brilliant musician and teacher for a music instructor named John Fitzhenry who became a great influence as both a mentor and a father figure. In 1964, Apostle Coates studied music at Ball State College’s School of Music where he sang and played a lead role in his first opera performing as a high priest.

Apostle Coates found a kinship with the style and music of jazz artists John Coltrane, Pharaoh Sanders and Gary Bartz who were searching for what was to come next as they looked for a higher consciousness in their own spiritual journey. In response to social perils and human needs, he wrote his first song “Do You Care.” From school days to liberation days and on to his church days, Apostle Coates founded and sang with scores of singing groups and sang songs from various worship streams including Hosanna Integrity, black gospel, etc. But in 1994, he stopped singing the music of others and started tapping into the psalmist anointing. “We hadn’t seen books on this and it was uncharted waters but the Holy Spirit was guiding us.” After a life of music and finding Christ, Apostle Coates realized that for him “it is all about the music.”

The diversity of Apostle Coates’ musical creativity encompasses both his earthly and spiritual experiences. The musical combination of both these dimensions has the ability to minister and lead a person from one realm to another. Apostle Coates’ heart is to first worship God and then lead the masses into the Presence and power of the Almighty God.