Annette John-Hall: At 79, sharing the gift of his voice

All you have to do is watch the audience react to Elder Goldwire McLendon every time he sings to understand the profound impact he has.

People get choked up. Some weep outright. Heck, just watching him perform on YouTube puts a lump in your throat.

See, McLendon sings gospel. And he has for, oh, 70 years, ever since he was 9 and singing in Sunday school in Jacksonville, Fla., his hometown.

He has sung in prisons, in concert halls, and at his own place of worship, Mount Olive Holy Temple in Philadelphia, where he has ministered for 40 years.

But it wasn't until McLendon decided to audition for Sunday Best, BET's gospel singing competition, that the whole nation understood just how remarkable his gift was.

At 79, McLendon was easily the oldest contestant by at least 30 years. And yes, he'd sometimes forget the lyrics.

But his life experience came through whenever he hit the stage. After a typically moving performance early in the competition, judge Tina Campbell of Mary Mary, the gospel sister duo, told McLendon: "You got a standing ovation from God. He's all over you."

Outsinging a field of 20, McLendon made it all the way to Sunday's finals before losing to 27-year-old powerhouse LeAndria Johnson.

But it didn't matter. What matters is that now, in the winter of his life, McLendon's season is finally here.

Call it what you want. Wisdom. Talent. Showmanship.

McLendon chooses to credit his gift and the effect it has to a higher power.

"The Lord set me up and used me," he said before performing in concert with other Sunday Best contestants at New Covenant Church of Philadelphia Saturday.

He almost didn't allow himself to be used.

"Do you know how old I am?" he'd ask his children when they'd urge him to audition.

Never comfortable in a crowd, McLendon could easily have taken one look at the hundreds of hopefuls at the Convention Center audition on that cold March morning and said, "I don't want to be bothered with all of those people," says his daughter-in-law, Karen McLendon, 56. But she says he stuck it out because of "the prodding from the Lord."

Possessing a silky smooth tenor reminiscent of Sam Cooke, with a smidgen of James Cleveland's thunder thrown in, McLendon sang as a soloist in the Savettes Choral Ensemble and the Brockington Choral Ensemble in the '60s and '70s. He was ordained as a minister in 1978 and pastored St. James Holy Church in Tennille, Ga., for 16 years before reuniting with his family - five children, 15 grands and 14 great-grands - in Philly.

They all sing, but Pops, as his family lovingly calls him, is arguably the best.

There's just something about him.

"Not only is he anointed, but his [life] experience has to do with his being anointed," says Orlando Wright, who placed third in the competition. "All these years, he's been faithful - not perfect - but faithful, and God has to honor that."

McLendon is enjoying a national recognition he had never known before. He's in the midst of a 40-city tour featuring Sunday Best contestants, where he's the headliner. He gets fan mail every day from viewers inspired to go back to church or pursue a passion late in life because of him.

McLendon's only regret is that Ruth, his wife of 59 years, is in the final stages of Alzheimer's disease and cannot enjoy his season with him. He has cared for her since 2003.

"Beautiful high soprano," he says of his wife's voice. "She wrote music, and we used to harmonize all the time. . . . I'm trying to control myself talking about her."

Still, despite personal heartache, there's much to enjoy - and be thankful for.

"It ain't over," he says, "till God says it's over."