Music

Forgotten Verses #7: Till The Storm Passes By

The Statesmen introduced many of Mosie Lister’s great songs. The Statesmen’s timeless arrangements have been emulated by so many of the groups that have recorded those songs since that the Statesmen arrangement practically defines how we know these songs today. An excellent case in point is “Till The Storm Passes By.” Mosie Lister originally wrote …

Forgotten Verses #7: Till The Storm Passes By Read More »

Forgotten Verses #6: “Sweet Hour of Prayer”

William Walford, a blind preacher, wrote the words to “Sweet Hour of Prayer” in 1845. The words didn’t become well known for another sixteen years; in 1861, William Bradbury—known today for his many collaborations with Fanny Crosby—wrote the melody we sing today. The song made its first appearance in the 1861 hymnal Golden Chain. The hymn …

Forgotten Verses #6: “Sweet Hour of Prayer” Read More »

The roar of B-17 engines, and the importance of teaching children hymns

Happy Veteran’s Day! The other day, as I was outside exercising, I heard a sound that instantly took me back to my childhood. My apartment lies near the approach path for landing at one of the Asheville Airport runways, so I hear certain engine sounds all the time: The shrill whine of a commercial airline …

The roar of B-17 engines, and the importance of teaching children hymns Read More »

Michael English and Mark Lowry to leave the Gaither Vocal Band

Last week, news circulated that Mark Lowry was leaving the Gaither Vocal Band. Lowry confirmed the news in a video posted yesterday morning. Lowry indicated that a press release would be forthcoming. What Lowry didn’t add was that Michael English has also decided to leave the Gaither Vocal Band. In the official announcement, Bill Gaither commented: …

Michael English and Mark Lowry to leave the Gaither Vocal Band Read More »

Forgotten Verses #3: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Isaac Watts is counted as the father of English-language hymn-writing, and “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” is usually acknowledged as his greatest work. In fact, Charles Wesley, another person who would stand shoulder to shoulder with Watts on any top-five list of greatest English-language hymn-writers, reportedly commented that he would have given up every …

Forgotten Verses #3: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross Read More »

Scroll to Top