Genetter Bradley

Who is Genetter Bradley?

Sister Genetter Bradley is the 4th of five girls born to the union of the late Ernest and Elnora McCluney. Her mother saw to it that all five girls, no brothers, were exposed to singing at an early age. At the tender age of three, Genetter along with her three sisters (Iola, Leola and Beulah) formed the singing group known as the McCluney Sisters.

They were tutored by their cousin, Sister Bethina Byers and occasionally performed at various churches around Kansas City, Missouri. As a result, her love for singing grew deeper especially for worship services.

As she grew to maturity, Sister Bradley would always watch the lead singers of various groups. She vowed to God that if he gave her the ability to deliver his message through song, she would never stop giving him the glory, the honor and all the praise.

And so, through the years, she has learned to be sensitive to the music of the church, God’s spirit and what he intended her life to become which she feels is attributed to being born in the south, raised in Kansas City and watching her father sing in a quartet.

Sister Bradley joined Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church when she was eleven years old. At that time there were only six young choir members. One of the first songs she taught them was “We Are Soldiers in the Army”. Sustaining more than fifty years, only four of the original six still remain active in the choir and Genetter is one of those four. She remains a member of Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church where L. Henderson Bell is pastor.

At a young age, she traveled extensively with the Kansas City Melody-Aires performing in various cities and venues, i.e., the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York and the famed Metropolitan Opera House in Philadelphia, just to name a few. In retrospect, the events of her past years solidify her deep belief that “dreams can never reach their fruition unless we make them God’s dream too".

So she lives by her favorite scripture, “I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day, The night cometh when no man can work”. John 9:4.

A biographical sketch of Sister Bradley’s life activities include but are not limited to: Lead singer with the “Wings of Grace” (1982. She toured with such groups as the Staple Singers, The Caravans and many more. Sang and helped “The Kansas City Melody-Aires land their first recording contract with Simco Records and then Peacock Records. She performed at the Famed Apollo Theatre in New York City (1966). In the early 1970’s she served as a Disc Jockey on the Gospel radio station KPRT. In 1974 she was introduced to Recom Records by Shirley Caesar and recorded her first Album titled “Moving in the Right Direction with her own group “Genetter Bradley and the Bradley Singers”.

During the 1980’s, she became the director of the Music Department at Mt. Pleasant. In 1983 she developed and established the Music and Arts Seminar showcasing national artist Betty Griffin-Keller, her son Derald Conway, Daryl Coley, Shirley Caesar, Albertina Walker, Inez Andrews, Curt Carr and many others. In 1985 the Seminar Choir, along with the Mt. Pleasant Music Department she recorded the album entitled “Behold A City…United as One”. In 1986 The Seminar presented a dramatization production for each song on the album at the Kansas City Follie Theater. In 1987 The Seminar choir went to Nashville, TN to perform at the nationally acclaimed Bobby Jones Gospel Show.

She is the former owner/founder of Dear’s Little School House and Net’s House of Splendor and has a Bachelors Degree in Cosmetology and received her instructor’s license to teach in the Kansas City, MO School District. Sister Bradley was a devoted wife of 42 years to the late Deacon James Bradley and the proud mother of three children: James Bradley Jr., Cynthia Johnson, recording artist Derald Conway and a host of grandchildren.

Christian indie record label, Dreamin’ Out Loud Entertainment was launched in 2009 in order to record new Gospel music with Ms. Genetter Bradley before her husband fell ill. After Deacon James’ illness, Dreamin’ Out Loud Entertainment became a Contemporary Christian Pop label but as of 2021, the label is multi genre and has finally recorded a song with Ms. Genetter called “Catch Me If U Can”.

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