Music News
Kurt Neuswanger • June 10, 2020
Famous Hymnwriter Has Local Connection
The other day I mentioned the story of hymnwriter Philip Bliss
on KJOL, and found out that one of his descendants lives in Grand Junction!
Philip Bliss wrote “I Will Sing Of My Redeemer” and “Hallelujah! What a Savior!” He also wrote the music for “It Is Well With My Soul.”
Bliss was born in a log cabin in Pennsylvania in 1838. His father taught the family to pray daily and his mother taught him to love music.
He became a music teacher, encouraged by his wife Lucy, who was also musical. He had hoped to attend a summer music academy but lacked the funds until his wife’s grandmother found out.
“How much does it cost?” she asked.
“As much as thirty dollars,” he told her.
“That’s a good deal of money,” she replied. Then she brought out an old stocking into which she had been “dropping pieces of silver for a good many years” and found enough to pay for the academy.
Bliss moved to Chicago, where he wrote and performed gospel songs and collaborated with D.L. Moody’s songleader Ira Sankey. Moody urged Bliss to become a full-time missionary singer, and he teamed up with evangelist Major Daniel Whittle.
In 1876, Philip and Lucy were returning to Chicago by train when a bridge collapsed, sending the train plummeting 60 feet into a ravine. Bliss survived and escaped. But then he went back into the wreckage to save his wife, and they both died in the fire.
Meanwhile, Philip’s trunk somehow survived the train wreck. Inside they found the text to a poem, “I Will Sing of My Redeemer.” James McGranahan, who was named to replace Bliss as song leader, took the poem and set it to music.
“I Will Sing Of My Redeemer” quickly became a popular hymn. In fact, it was one of the first songs recorded by Thomas Edison on his newly-invented phonograph! You can hear the song if you click this link.
Shirley Holloway is the secretary at Redlands Community Church
in Grand Junction. Upon hearing the story of Philip Bliss, she told me her grandmother’s maiden name was Bliss. After researching her family history, she learned that she was in fact related to Philip Bliss!
So now you have several new reasons to smile the next time you sing “I Will Sing of My Redeemer”!
-Kurt Neuswanger
KJOL Music Director
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Recently I played a KJOL classic, “ Almighty ” by Wayne Watson . For those who don’t remember Watson, he had a string of hits during the 80s and 90s, including: Celebrate Friend of a Wounded Heart For Such A Time as This Home Free Another Time, Another Place (with Sandi Patti) Touch of the Master’s Hand As for “Almighty,” I found an article that explains the back story. In 1990, when Wayne was 36, a close family friend became ill and died, leaving behind her four young daughters. As Wayne struggled to understand how God could allow this tragedy, he sat at his piano and began to write a song that reaffirmed the sovereignty of God. Well time marches on, with the innocence gone, And a darkness has covered the earth But His Spirit still dwells, He speaks, "it is well, " And the hopeless still offered new birth He will break the leash of death, it will have no sting Let the prisoner go free, join the dance and sing Almighty (almighty) Most holy God Faithful through the ages Almighty, Most holy Lord Glorious, Almighty... When his friends heard the song, they told him he should record it. Wayne was reluctant, thinking it didn’t really match his typical style. Eventually he started singing it in his concerts, and the response was so strong, he included it on “ Home Free ” in 1991 and it became a No. 1 hit.
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Every week, an estimated 30 million worshippers sing the most popular worship song of our generation, “Shout To The Lord” by Darlene Zschech and Hillsongs Australia. You’ve probably heard (and sung) it. But do you know the story behind the song ? Darlene Zschech wrote “ Shout to the Lord ” 30 years ago. She says the song was born out of a low point in her life. She had married at age 19 and moved to Sydney, where she began singing at the Hills Christian Centre. But at home her husband’s business was failing and times were tough One day she sat down at her daughter’s piano and started singing some words she’d been thinking about. She turned it into a song but was too shy to tell anyone. Finally she sang it for the worship director (but she made him turn around and not look at her!). He convinced her to sing it at church. By the end of the first chorus, people were standing to their feet and singing along! In 1994, the Hills Christian Centre recorded it, and in 1996, Hosanna Music released “Shout to the Lord” in the U.S. under the name Hillsongs Australia. It went straight to the top of the praise & worship charts. It has had more than 160 million views on YouTube just in the last 10 years.
