T HOMAS NATHANIEL KELLY was born July 15, 1913 in Irondale, Alabama to Sylvester and Ella Kelly. He was the fifth of eight siblings, all who preceded him in death. The family migrated to towns in Pennsylvania and Ohio, eventually making it to Detroit, MI in the early 1920s. Brother Kelly, as he was affectionately known, accepted Christ at an early age. He joined the U.S. Army in 1940 and served in World War II as an aviation engineer. He was in the South Pacific on the island of Tinian, where he watched the atomic bombs take off to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. He had many fascinating stories about his time in the Service. After returning home, he found employment at Chrysler Eldon Axle Plant as a Hi-Lo driver for 30 years, retiring in 1975. Brother Kelly was joined in holy matrimony with Rose, they lived happily for 50 years, and raised three children – James, Donald (who preceded him in death) and Anna. He often said his wife Rose "broke the mold" and they were inseparable until her death, but now are together again. Brother Kelly was a self-taught musician and began singing with gospel groups as a teenager. He toured the country singing with The Marine Four, Progressive Jubilee Singers, Optimistics, Conquering Jubilee Singers, The Wandering Four, Golden Rods and even had weekly appearances on WJLB-AM live radio. In 1946, he founded an a cappella gospel quartet, the Masters of Harmony. He adored singing and was fiercely devoted to a cappella style, in his concerts there were never any instruments, only harmonizing voices. The Masters traveled throughout the country proclaiming the glory of God through song. Brother Kelly shared his gift of music with the world for over 90 years. One of his favorite songs to minister was "Top of the Hill." Until his death, he served as the lead singer and manager of The Masters of Harmony. He was a trailblazer in his own right and shared the rich, joy of gospel a cappella music. Brother Kelly faithfully served the Lord throughout his life, as a member of Alpha and Omega Spiritual Church, he served on the Usher Board #2. At the time of his death, he was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church where he shared his musical gift with the congregation through concert. Brother Kelly was quick to tell anyone who asked, that the secret to long life was nothing but the Lord. He was full of energy, and even after 100 years old he continued to sing, walk with his friends and travel with his family. One of his favorite things to do was enjoy a good meal while watching Westerns. He adored his grandchildren, especially the little ones. Brother Kelly rarely met a stranger, and if he did, they were a friend by the end of their conversation. He had a strong, lively spirit and confidently stood for his beliefs. Brother Kelly was a joy to be around and left a lasting impression on everyone he met – he had personality. When performing, he often told jokes and connected with audience members young and old when he sang his rendition of "Old McDonald." There was no doubt that God's light shined through him. Brother Kelly received many awards and accolades for his music ministry. In 2017, he and The Masters of Harmony appeared on Steve Harvey's show "Little Big Shots – Forever Young." He was awarded the prestigious Michigan Heritage Award, for a cappella gospel singing, the state's highest distinction to honor individuals who continue their cultural traditions with excellence and devotion. He was interviewed by WXYZ's Glenda Lewis for the "Person of the Week" and had 90,000 views on Facebook. Brother Kelly appeared in and performed for a photo exhibition of "Detroit Greats of Gospel Music." Several articles about Brother Kelly have been written in The Michigan Chronicle, Detroit Free Press, and Lansing State Journal. Keith N. Owens wrote, "witnessing his comfort on stage with an audience was as much fun as listening to the performance." If you Google "Thomas Kelly Detroit" many articles and videos will appear, which is just a testament to how far you can go when you are faithful to God. On April 1, 2019, Brother Thomas Kelly was called home to be with the Lord. He worshipped God with all his heart and now gets to sing his praises forevermore. Left to cherish his memories are his children James (Ruth) and Anna; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, 11 great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and the Masters of Harmony