My Friend | New Single
The new single My Friend (Radio Edit) feat. Jon Gibson is a melodious R&B song for every generation. We invite radio stations to add this song to their rotation. Music directors, DJs, program managers, etc. can receive a free hi-res .mp3 or .wav file of Avery Stafford's My Friend!!!
Music Bio
Avery Stafford is an American gospel and R&B singer from the Portland, OR metroplex. He is a prolific vocalist and songwriter with a discography of six independent albums. His fifth album, "Undignified" earned Stafford two nominations from the 16th Annual Los Angeles International Awards for Christian Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year. Additionally, his rendition of "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" was well-received. One of the tracks on the album, "Eyes of a Child," earned Stafford the March 2007 Winner Award for Best Song in the Song of the Year International Songwriting Competition. Stafford's sixth album, "End of Five" (2012), received critical acclaim from Soul Tracks and other music critics.
His last two singles, "Hourglass" and "Manna (Come On Down)," were released on 10.18.23 and 12.12.24 respectively. His new single, “My Friend (Radio Edit) feat. Jon Gibson," wwill release on January 31, 2025.
More About Avery:
- Lead Pastor of Common Ground Church in Beaverton, OR
- Artist Representation: BMI
- Best Songwriting Influences: Lionel Richie, James Taylor
- Best Vocal Influences: Sam Cooke, Jon Gibson, John Legend
- Previous Endorsements: Audix Microphones, Spectraflex Cables
The Story Behind the Song
Never Before Released Single
Avery wrote "My Friend" in 2008 and added it to his 2012 album entitled End Of Five. Nicknamed EO5, the album departed from Stafford's usual praise and worship to the writing. It was inspired by one particular U.K. review of a previous Stafford album. In that article, the reviewer noted that his music (especially his vocals) was world-class but "too religious" and lacked anything to say about the real world. The review was somewhat harsh. Rather than internalizing the stinging review, Avery took it as a challenge to strengthen his songwriting and create lyrical melodies that addressed his observations of the world. "Can I write new songs rooted in my faith but appealing to audiences that don't vibe with my Christian repertoire? The result was EO5. And "My Friend" is arguably the best track on the album!
The song was recorded and produced by Jon Gibson, a CCM/R&B force of nature. People who know Avery know that JG is his favorite vocalist and musical artist. "The opportunity to collaborate was a joy and a privilege." End Of Five has been scrubbed from its original distribution and will be re-released on January 31, 2025. The first single, "My Friend," was never released as a single to music media until now. It will be released and promoted as an R&B/Soul track. Tunecore will distribute a radio-edited version on 1.31.25.