Hymnology Archive Podcast

Record collector and former radio host Steve Krampitz talks about the music and careers of Bill and Gloria Gaither, especially their song “Because He Lives,” and his personal interactions with them.

D.J. Bulls is worship and communications minister at Glenwood Church, Tyler, Texas, choir director at Tyler Legacy High School, and owner of fearless4you music. In this episode, we discuss his favorite hymn, “Be with me, Lord, I cannot live without thee,” by Thomas Chisholm and Lloyd Sanderson, his current approach as a church music director, his work on Timeless: Ancient Psalms for the Church Today, especially his setting of Psalm 123, and his massive hymnal collection.

Gospel composer and musician A. Jeffrey LaValley shares the story behind his best-known song, “Revelation 19:1 (Hallelujah, salvation and glory),” speaks to his adaptation of “The Lord is my light and my salvation” by Lillian Bouknight, and talks about the role of hymns in his life, especially in relation to his album Hymns (2016).

In this episode, we explore the long recorded history of “Precious memories,” starting with the original version by John B.F. Wright, then the gospel choir adaptation by Roberta Martin and Georgia Jones. Includes performances by the McDonald Quartette (1932), the Roberta Martin Singers with Norsalus McKissick (1947), four evolving approaches to the song by Rosetta Tharpe (1947, 1956, 1964, 1968), culminating in the performance by Aretha Franklin and James Cleveland (1972).

Filipino-Canadian pastor Brian Najapfour joins me to discuss the life and hymns of British pastor Joseph Hart.

Chris Fenner talks with Sam Rose about their backgrounds in singing hymns, and they discuss a couple of their favorite hymns, “Be thou my vision” and “My shepherd will supply my name.”