Albert Avilla

1906-1983

Al Avilla served as organist for the Voice of Prophecy for eight years, from 1942 to 1950. During those years he provided musical continuity within the programs and accompanied the King's Heralds Quartet and Del Delker in recordings and at numerous meetings. Born in Oakland, California, Avilla lived in San Bernardino, where he had a large organ studio. He maintained both activities by scheduling his students around the many performance needs at the VOP.

After leaving the VOP, he frequently played in evangelistic crusades and for at least two years, 1959 and 1960, provided background music for popular Physical Panorama programs hosted by the Loma Linda gymnastic team that included similar groups from academies and colleges in California and Arizona. He recorded at least two records, Overshadowed and Al Avilla, Pipe Organ.

In the early 1970s he and one of his sons installed organs in Southern California churches. He then provided dedicatory or vesper programs following the installations.

He died in Pleasant Grove, Utah, at age 77.

ds/2012

Sources: Obituary, Review and Herald, 5 January 1984, 30; Pacific Union Recorder, 2 February 1959, 4; Robert E. Edwards, Hello America! Twenty Years of Victory, Voice of Prophecy, December 1961 47,48.