March 28 - Bill Gaither (The Musical Birthday Series, 8th Annual Cycle)

Previous postings for March 28th may be found here: Paul Whiteman (2019), Lady Gaga (2020), Alf Clausen (2021), Lady Gaga (2022), Joey Roukens (2023), Joseph Weigl; Myfanwy Piper (2024), and Jay Livingston (2025)

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Bill Gaither (b. 28 March 1936) is an American singer and songwriter of Southern gospel and contemporary Christian music. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We Gaither Together

The songs that were sung by Bill Gaither

Were meant to make faith even faither;

Though some would observe of his brand

That both music and doctrine are bland.

 

 

 

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March 20 - Sister Rosetta Tharpe (The Musical Birthday Series, 8th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for March 20th may be found here: Bernd Alois Zimmermann (2019), Vera Lynn (2020), Lauritz Melchior (2021), Marian McPartland (2022), John Braham (2023), Yunchan Lim (2024) and Yunchan Lim (2025)

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Sister Rosetta Tharpe (20 March 1915 – 9 October 1973) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Might Have Beens

If Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Had played on the autoharp

Instead of electric guitar,

She wouldn't have been a star

With a ranking of number six

On Rolling Stone's all-time picks.

 

 

 

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February 1 - Victor Herbert; George Beverly Shea (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 1st are here: Renata Tebaldi; Victor Herbert; George Beverly Shea (2020), James P. Johnson; Clara Butt (2021), James P. Johnson (2022), Harry Styles (2023), Hildegarde (2024), and Francesco Stradivari (2025)

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Victor Herbert (1 February 1859 – 26 May 1924) was a cellist and composer, best known for his highly successful operettas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the Victor

Although consistently praised for his music, many of Herbert's operettas were criticized by theatre critics for their weak librettos and conventional lyrics. In the 1970s and 1980s, however, the operettas began to be revived more frequently, albeit often with heavily rewritten librettos. – adapted from Wikipedia

The Herbert operettas look

Alright, until you read the book.

Their dialogue and plots gives pause,

And when they are revived, these flaws,

(Acknowledged by the Herbert-smitten),

Will lead the script to be rewritten

To fix the holes (and there are lots)

In Herbert's operetta plots.

 

 

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George Beverly Shea (1 February 1909 – 16 April 2013) was a bass-baritone known for his long association with Billy Graham's crusades.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Time To Every Purpose

Back in the day,

George Beverly Shea

Interpreted Protestant hymns.

His music was made

On a gospel crusade,

And was not in the background at gyms.

 

 

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February 13 - Tennessee Ernie Ford (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 13th are here: Eileen Farrell (2020), Dale Wood (2021), Feodor Chaliapin (2022), Leopold Godowsky (2023), and Eileen Farrell (2024)

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Tennessee Ernie Ford (13 February 1919 – 17 October 1991) was an American singer and television host who enjoyed success in country and western, pop, and gospel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hymntime

Ford insisted on ending with a hymn on his own show despite objections from network officials and the ad agency representing Ford, who feared it might provoke controversy. — Wikipedia

When the star of the show, Ernie Ford,

Insisted on hymns for his Lord,

The sponsors were fearful

Of receiving an earful

When taking religion on board.

 

 

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August 29 - Marion Williams (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 29th are here: Charlie Parker (2019), Michael Jackson; Dinah Washington (2020), Wilhelm Hieronymus Pachelbel (2021), Raphael George Kiesewetter (2022), and Dinah Washington (2023)

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Marion Williams (29 August 1927 – 2 July 1994) was an American gospel singer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calling

She stayed with gospel in spite of pressure to switch to popular blues tunes or the opera. – Wikipedia 

With a voice which could not be ignored,

She could have found ample reward

From secular choices

Afforded to voices, –

But she opted to sing for the Lord.

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.]