William_Burton_Walbert

William Burton Walbert

William Burton Walbert

American singer


William Burton Walbert (May 18, 1886 – December 2, 1959) was an American Southern gospel songwriter, singer, composer, and editor. He (co-)wrote many songs, and he was the director of the Vaughan School of Music in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Early life

Walbert was born in Barren County, Kentucky on May 18, 1886.[citation needed] He attended the Vaughan School of Music in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.[1]

Career

Walbert worked for the James D. Vaughan Music Company, where he taught shape note singing schools.[citation needed] After James D. Vaughan's death, Walbert took charge of the school.[1]

Walbert was also a music performer. In 1917, he joined the Vaughan Saxophone Quartet with Joe Allen, Ira Foust and Adger M. Pace.[2] From 1923 to the 1930s, Walbert was a member of the Vaughan Radio Quartet, a band whose members included Pace, Hilman Barnard, and Otis Leon McCoy.[2]

Walbert (co-)wrote many Southern gospel songs, including Peace Like a River, Oh, What a Blessing, Tell It Everywhere You Go, and I've Never Loved Him Better.[1][3]

Personal life and death

Walbert married Mable Grace Vaughan, James David Vaughan's daughter, in 1915. They had a son, James D. Walbert,[1][3] who became a pianist.[4]

Walbert died of a stroke on December 2, 1959, in Birmingham, Alabama, at age 72.[1][3] His funeral was held in Lawrenceburg.[1][3] He was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1959.[citation needed]


References

  1. "William Walbert, Song Writer, Dies". The Tennessean. December 3, 1959. p. 62. Retrieved October 11, 2018 via Newspapers.com.
  2. Goff, James R. (2002). Close Harmony: A History of Southern Gospel. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press. p. 117. ISBN 9780807853467. OCLC 469931653.
  3. "Gospel Song Writer Dies". The Kingsport Times. Kingsport, Tennessee. December 3, 1959. p. 26. Retrieved October 11, 2018 via Newspapers.com.
  4. Oermann, Robert K. (June 12, 2009). "Lifenotes: James D. Walbert". Music Row. Retrieved October 11, 2018.



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