| |
Home
Basket
Email Us
Jerry Arhelger
Rob Baker
Wes Davis
Janis English
George Hamilton IV
Redd Harper
Steve Hughes
Andy Humphries
Inheritance
Inside Out
Kingsfold Choral Society
Judy Leigh
Erv Lewis
New Christian Music CDs
George Beverly Shea
Adam Watson
Whitby Gospel Music Festival
Links...
UKCMA
NCM Radio Show
Web Design
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tracks
Wonderful Words of Life
Ballad of Ira Sankey
The Ninety And Nine
Bringing In The Sheaves
Alleluia
Name Them One By One
Count Your Blessings
Can we Say We Are Ready?
The Old Homestead
Home On The Range
Praise God For Whom All Blessings Flow
When My Life's Work Is Ended
|
CHURCH BOOKINGS/enq@newmusicenterprises.com
IRA SANKEY
Ira David Sankey was born on August 28th 1840 in Western Pennsylvania. Raised on his father's farm, he worked until his early teens. At seventeen he moved to nearby Newcastle and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. Gifted with a fine voice and a charismatic disposition, he took part fully in the activities of the church.
Sadly and rudely the tragic Civil War interrupted these tranquil years. During the danger and clamour of army life he yearned for the years gone by!
Delighted to be at the end of his term as a Union soldier, he chose to return to peaceful Pennsylvania as a tax collector for the Internal Revenue Service. In his spare time he enthusiastically perfected his musical gift., Soon his rich baritone voice began to attract attention. People would come from miles around just to hear his singing. At the age of 21 however he suddenly met the challenge and adventure of a lifetime!
In 1870 Ira was appointed as a delegate to the International Convention of the YMCA being held in Indianapolis. An up and coming evangelist- preacher, Dwight L. Moody would lead a morning prayer meeting. On that day apparently Mr. Moody was not too enamoured with the quality of the singing and asked Ira to start something up!
Thus began a powerfully impactive, evangelistic partnership that was to the duo all over the World. Ira would sing to the vast crowds dressed in his trendy, dress-suit, and then the stocky, no-nonsense, country preacher, D. L. Moody would mount the platform and speak.
Before long their audiences ranged from the poorest of the poor right up to England's Queen Victoria and America's President U.S. Grant. Their style of team evangelism pioneered the later twentieth century work of Billy Graham, Cliff Barrows, and George Beverly Shea.
How the Victorians would love to hear and sing along to the sentimental gospel songs and the majestic hymns popularised by Ira! Ira popularised a new style of Gospel Song that was designed (as he would say) to awaken the apathetic...melt the cold heart...and guide the honest seeker in repentance and faith to the Saviour of the World.
In his day untold multitudes heard Ira Sankey's rich, inspiring voice on songs, many of which he co-wrote, like 'Hiding In Thee', 'Faith Is The Victory', 'The Ninety & Nine', and 'Under His Wings'. 'God Be with You 'Til We Meet Again' became his closing theme song. These wonderful gems have since become well-beloved, evergreen classics of hymnology!
But the best of songs could never be heard without a singer. Ira established a practice that to this day continues to expand...he was the pioneer of the gospel singer of today!
His is a precious, sacred song legacy to those who follow in the Gospel Music Train.
Millions of ordinary people in almost every walk of life, whether they regularly attend church or not, still enjoy singing or listening to the message of the gospel in Ira Sankey style....music that tugs at heart strings, moistens eyes, sets feet a'tapping, and voices a'humming! PAUL DAVIS
|
|
|
Add To Basket