Deitrick Haddon Shares His Journey from Mumford High to Gospel Star
Deitrick Haddon, one of gospel music’s new stars, joined the Mason and Starr Morning Show to talk about his journey, his roots, and the people who helped shape his career.
Mason kicked off the interview by asking Haddon about his high school, and Haddon proudly shared that he attended Mumford High School, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. He spoke about how Mumford has produced some of the most talented gospel artists, including the Winans, Fred Hammond, and the Clark Sisters. “All of them went to Mumford,” Haddon said. “Twinkie, Dorinda, Karen—all of them.”
Mumford High School has clearly left a mark on gospel music history.
Famous Mumford High Alums
Haddon also shared a chance encounter on a plane. He met Robert, the former owner of New Line Cinemas and a Mumford alum. “We were both in first class, and he asked me what school I went to. When I said Mumford, he lit up and said, ‘I went to Mumford too!'” Haddon said. Robert told him that Mumford used to be a performing arts school, and that’s how Eddie Murphy ended up wearing a Mumford sweatshirt in Beverly Hills Cop, because producer Jerry Bruckheimer, also a Mumford alumnus, made sure the school was represented.
Haddon talked about how, at just 13 years old, he became the minister of music at his church. “Part of it was because I was the ‘PK’, the pastor’s kid,” Haddon laughed. “My dad said, ‘You’re going to lead the choir.'” He was responsible for leading about 80 voices, and it was during this time that he began writing songs and having the choir sing them every Sunday. “Sunday mornings were my testing ground,” Haddon said. “I could tell by the crowd’s reaction if a song worked or not. If one of the church mothers came up to me and said, ‘Deitrick, I don’t know what y’all were singing this morning, but don’t sing it again,’ I knew it was a flop. But if they slipped five dollars in my hand, I knew I had something.”
Haddon’s most memorable experience at Mumford was singing at an “I Care” rally with the Winans and Oprah Winfrey. His teacher, Ms. Jackson, now Ms. Thompson, told him and his group, Mumford Edition—the school’s version of New Edition—that they would be singing with the Winans. “We were stunned,” Haddon said. “We practiced, and when Marvin Winans started playing, we joined in. I sang my part, and the school went crazy. Marvin stopped in the middle of the song and said, ‘Who is this taking over my song?’ The crowd went nuts, and that’s when I knew—if I could sing with the Winans and get that reaction, I could make a career out of this. I knew I could do something special.”
Seeing how Haddon went from a 13-year-old church choir leader to a gospel legend is an amazing journey. His talent and dedication are evident, and it helps showcase the legacy Mumford High School has given to the world of entertainment.
