Ira Stanphill
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Ira Forest Stanphill (14 February 1914-30 December 1993) was a well known American gospel songwriter of the mid-twentieth century. Stanphill was born in Belleview, New Mexico.
By the age of 10 years, Stanphill had already become a fluent musician, having learned to play the piano, organ, ukelele, and accordion. At 17 years, he was composing and performing his own music for church services, revival campaigns and prayer meetings.
Stanphill was educated at Junior College in Chillocothe, Missouri and later in life received an honorary PhD from Hyles-Anderson College in Hammond, Indiana.
As a singer evangelist, Stanphill travelled the United States and Canada extensively and around the world to forty countries over his career to preach and perform his music. Many famous secular singers performed his works, which were received with great acclaim and are still popular. Entertainers such as Elvis Presely (Mansion Over the Hilltop) His Hand in Mine and Johnny Cash (Suppertime) The World of Johnny Cash are among those who have performed Stanphill's works. "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow", "I Walk with His Hand in Mine" and "We'll Talk It Over" are a few of his titles that are familiar and still performed today, most notably by the Christian singer-songwriter Bill Gaither.
Stanphill passed away Overland Park, Kansas in 1993 and was interned in Johnson County Memorial Gardens, Johnson County, Kansas.
[edit] Sources
- Baxter, Mrs. J. R. and Videt Polk. Biographies of Gospel Song Writers. Dallas, Texas: Stamps-Baxter Music & Printing Company, 1971, pp. 19-21.
- Osbeck, Kenneth W. 101 More Hymn Stories. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1985, pp. 231-232.
- Reynolds, William Jensen Companion to Baptist Hymnal. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press, 1976, pp 434.
