Who is Pastor Richard Hartley? Meet 'The Rev' star who has appeared in Mariah Carey's music videos
Richard Hartley isn't your ordinary church pastor. This New-York based pastor has performed with musical legends like Michael Jackson to Mariah Carey, in his long-spanning career as a pastor and musical choir coach. Aside from performing alongside such legends, Hartley has also appeared on television with Aretha Franklin, and in a movie with Diana Ross. He has also been lauded by Luther Vandross, Ashford and Simpson, Andrae Crouch and others.
Hartley kicked off his musical journey by singing at the age of four in the Church of God in Christ. He eventually grew up to be one of the most sought after choir directors in New York City. Hartley was selected for a role in Vy Higgensen's 'Mama I Want to Sing' musical, which eventually led to him starring in major roles on several musicals and traveling to over 20 countries with his musical troupe. He appeared in two of Mariah Carey's videos and also performed at the Grammy Awards show, Soul Train, The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Soul Train Music Awards show.
He has reportedly traveled to London, Germany, erstwhile Yugoslavia, China, Turkey, Russia, Greece, Paris, Ghana and Senegal for gigs and performed for over a decade in Tokyo Disneyland for an audience of 20,000 people. For the past 14 years, Rev Hartley has served as pastor and co-founder of Haven International Ministries in Rockaway, New York.
Besides his many musical accomplishments, Hartley has a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Brooklyn College in 1983. He continued studying in the same college for his post-graduate degree in counseling. He also received his Bachelor's and Master's in theology and doctorate in divinity in 2014 from the Mason Kelly Washington Religious Institute, New York.
Hartley and his family are all set to appear on 'The Rev'. After spending years traveling across the globe, the pastor is back home to Long Island, New York City. He has embarked on a mission to build his hometown's choir group with the help of his lovely wife, Stacey. Alongside that, we will also see the couple pushing their children to pursue their dreams. The network describes the show as, "In this hilarious, melodic and inspirational new series, there’s never a dull moment in the world of larger-than-life Pastor Richard Hartley. When he isn’t preaching and inspiring his congregation at his Long Island, NY church, he’s dealing with his rambunctious and loving family, all while utilizing his musical skills to make the church’s choir top notch. Having spent years traveling the globe working with incredible choirs and A-list musicians, Richard is now focused on his hometown choir and, with the help of his wife Stacey, trying to get his millennial children, Judea and Jordan, out of the house so that they can build their own dreams."
'The Rev' is all set to premiere on Thursday, January 21, 2020, at 10.30 pm ET/PT on USA Network.
