Ron Tilley admits the only instrument he plays is the radio. But that hasn’t stopped him from leading a music ministry career that spans seven decades.
Tilley, who’s 86, has served as Minister of Music at nine different Baptist churches, including at his current role at Calvary Baptist in Lenoir City. He is now retiring after 72 years.
“I was obsessed with it, I guess you might say,” said Tilley, describing his lifelong passion for the music ministry.
Tilley was saved in 1947 at Broadway Baptist in Maryville. Growing up he sang in the church’s choir, until he started leading the music ministry at Calvary Baptist Church at age 15, with the encouragement and mentorship of the longtime pastor, A.A. Carlton.
“I had good training even while I was serving. He saw potential,” Tilley recalled.
Tilley’s musical talent ran in the family. His father taught the traditional “shape note” singing method in churches, while his brother — whom Tilley humbly described as “more talented than me” — earned the distinguished honor of playing the bugle at Arlington National Cemetery. Tilley also sang throughout high school, so he wasn’t intimidated by the prospect of leading a church’s music ministry even at 15.
Career achievements
Tilley majored in church music at Carson Newman University, and he balanced his music ministry work with running Tilley Lane Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep Dealership for over 50 years, making him a bi-vocational minister.
But notably, Tilley helped form the popular gospel quartet The Kingsmen Quartet in 1953, which performed on local radio and TV shows.
The group eventually performed on the 1970s show “Hee Haw”, where the gospel quartet performed as backup singers, and they even auditioned for the Ted Mack Amateur Hour — essentially the forerunner of American Idol and America’s Got Talent today.
“So, it was nothing for us to sing in front of a 1,000 or 2,000 people,” Tilley said.
Through the years, he spent 40 years at Union Baptist in Knoxville, with other stops at Central Baptist of Oak Ridge, Alice Bell Baptist in Knoxville, Second Baptist of Lenoir City, and First Baptist of Loudon.
In addition to music, Tilley served as youth director in all of the churches (except First Baptist of Loudon) and youth music director for Loudon County Baptist Association in the 50s.
He also served as music director for the Doug Sager Winter Bible Conference for 25 years in Pigeon Forge and was a board member of the Southern Baptist Acts TV Network (East Tennessee) from 1975 to 1985.
In a proclamation from the House of Representatives that was presented to Tilley last month, State Rep. Tim Burchett stated, “I’ve seen some pretty impressive resumes in my time, but none may be as impressive as Brother Ron’s … Ron, thank you for being a role model, friend to all, and most importantly a good steward to Christ.”
Ministry philosophy
Tilley believes the key for a music minister is to keep the focus on God and not on oneself, and to try to reach the entire congregation through a blended musical style.
“You always want your music to set the stage for the Word,” he added. “I’m not one to dance on stage, but I do think the message of the music is important and always to try to honor God and not myself.”
When asked what he enjoys the most about leading worship with other people, he responded simply: the witnessing.
“We tried to pick songs that would empower people through the Lord,” Tilley said.
He is concerned about the lack of young people getting involved in church music ministries today, “I think the problem is that it’s more of a vocation than it is a love for some people today. It’s a love for me; it is a labor of love,” he said.
And then there’s time. “You have to practice, you have to commit. And a lot of people don’t do that. People don’t want to commit,” said Tilley.
Plus, the trend toward more performance-oriented “entertainment” worship often focuses on emotion rather than reverence, according to Tilley.
“God speaks in a still small voice when He wants to,” Tilley said, emphasizing the importance of quietness in worship.
But above all, Tilley advises music ministers today to know their congregations, whether they be seniors, millennials, or teenagers.
“The only advice I’d have is to not set your sights on just one type of music. By that I mean do a blend that will reach your membership,” he said.
Still going strong
Tilley will remain as Calvary Baptist’s interim music minister until a new person is finalized.
Sandra, Tilley’s wife of 15 years and “teammate” in the ministry, helps him get everything ready for Sunday service.
She added, “When he’s on the platform singing, he’s singing what he means … showing people this is what the Lord’s done for me and He can do the same for you.”
Outside of music ministry and his decades in business, Tilley looks forward to a round of golf now and again, something he hopes to harmonize into this new rhythm of retirement.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Zoë Watkins and originally published by the Baptist and Reflector.
