Arranger/conductor, composer and former
record and music publishing company executive. Pioneered the
creation of what is known today as contemporary Christian
music.
Both Ralph Carmichael’s mother, who
was a Bible teacher, and his father, who was a preacher, played
the piano. His dad also liked to play the fiddle, but the church
said it was the devil’s instrument and he had to give it
up. So it probably was not coincidence when Ralph’s father
gave him a violin and arranged pivate lessons for him while he was
only three and a half years old. Later, trumpet and piano lessons
were added.
After high school, he attended Southern
California Bible College (now Vanguard University) in the late
1940’s.
Carmichael, enamored with the popular big
bands and orchestras of the ‘40s and how they reached
large audiences, began experimenting with these music styles as
vehicles to more effectively reach people with the Gospel.
His pranks almost got him expelled, and his
lack of interest in homilethics and Hebrew cost him a diploma.
But, realizing his musical talents, the college hired him after
graduation to set up their first department of evangelistic music.
There Carmichael put together a band comprised of
seminary students that landed a spot on a local TV station with
a program called the ‘The Campus Christian Hour.’
The college wanted their name kept off the credits (what would
people think of a Gospel Big Band?) -- that is, until the program went on
to win an Emmy Award in 1950!
In addition to Christian music in the
‘50s and ‘60s, Carmichael also arranged and/or
conducted orchestras and choruses for some of the biggest names
in pop music including Nat King Cole, pianist Roger Williams,
Peggy Lee, Jack Jones, Debbie Reynolds, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing
Crosby, Stan Kenton, Sue Raney, and Tex Ritter.
Carmichael left secular music by 1970 and
became very much involved with his Christian record company,
Light Records, and music publishing business, Lexicon Music.
He wrote new songs and musicals, signed up new artists, did a
radio show, and produced new albums aimed at young people. More...
MAIL:
PO Box 936, Newbury Park, CA 91319
“...the ‘Campus Christian Hour’ on Channel 2
[Los Angeles, 1949]...drew so much hate mail from Christians that the station asked
for more shows.”
(See page 2 for Christian music)
POP MUSIC
Has arranged and/or conducted for:
Nat King Cole, pianist
Roger Williams, Jack Jones,
Peggy Lee, Debbie
Reynolds, Tex Ritter,
Ella Fitzgerald, Bing
Crosby, Stan Kenton,
Rosemary Clooney, Count
Basie, Duke Ellington,
Kay Starr, Barbara
McNair, The King Sisters,
Eddie Fisher, Julie
London, Al Martino,
Jane Powell, Lena
Horne, Pete Fountain,
Ben Blue,
Stan Freberg,
Sue Raney,
and others.
TELEVISION
Was music director or wrote music cues for:
I Love Lucy
The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Variety Show,
(ABC-TV Fall
1962)
Red Skelton
Bonanza
CHRISTIAN FILM MUSIC SCORES
Joni 1979 • The Late Liz 1971
The Cross And The Switchblade 1970
His Land 1970 • For Pete’s Sake 1966
The Restless Ones 1965
Shadow Of The Boomerang 1960
4-D Man 1959 • The Blob 1958
The Heart Is A Rebel 1958
The Persuader 1957
Wiretapper 1955 • Oiltown USA 1954
Souls In Conflict 1953
FOUNDED:
Light Records /Lexicon Music, Inc. 1968
LINKS:
This page updated May 1, 2008.
