Overview of Inspirational Christian Music of the 50s and 60s

• artists & songs of the 50s and 60s

Beverly Dixon Dunn
Orchestrated by Mark Davidson
• FOR YOU
• FOLLOW ON
• TEACH ME LORD TO WAIT
• HOW BEAUTIFUL HEAVEN MUST BE
Cornerstone

Bill Carle
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• A GLIMPSE OF JESUS
• THY WILL BE DONE
Sacred

Tony Fontane
• IT MATTERS TO HIM ABOUT YOU
RCA Victor

Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
Orchestrated by Paul Mickelson
• HE IS SO PRECIOUS TO ME
• LOVE LIFTED ME
RCA Victor

Beth Farnum
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• AMAZING GRACE
• THE STRANGER OF GALILEE
• AN EVENING PRAYER
• WHY SHOULD HE LOVE ME SO
Sacred

Jim Bohi
Orchestrated by Paul Mickelson
• JUST OVER IN THE GLORYLAND
• I’LL FLY AWAY
• COME AND DINE
Cornerstone/Supreme

Johnny Crawford
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• JUST AS I AM
Supreme

Vangie Carmichael
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• HE LEADETH ME
• FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS
• I CANNOT HIDE FROM GOD
• I FOUND A FRIEND
Sacred

Bob Daniels
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• IT IS SPRINGTIME
Sacred

Ralph Carmichael Orchestra
• IN THE GARDEN
• SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER
Word

Bill Pearce & Dick Anthony
Orchestrated by Paul Mickelson
• THERE’S A NEW SONG IN MY HEART
• OVER THE SUNSET MOUNTAINS
• OH SAY BUT I’M GLAD
• THE LIGHTS OF HOME
Word

Helene Landrum & Joseph Belessi
Orchestrated by Paul Mickelson
• I DISCOVERED THE WAY OF GLADNESS
• DAY BY DAY
• MAKE ME A BLESSING
Supreme

Paul Mickelson Orchestra
• WHAT A FRIEND
• IN THE GARDEN
RCA Victor - Supreme

John Gustafson
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• SHOW A LITTLE LOVE
Christian Faith

Ben & Beth Allen
Orchestrated by Paul Mickelson
• SOONER OR LATER
• I FIND THEE SO PRECIOUS
Supreme

102 Strings, Ralph Carmichael
• LOVE IS SURRENDER
Sacred

The Good Twins
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• GOD FILLS THE WORLD
• THIS JESUS OF CALVARY
• GOD PROVED HIS LOVE ON CALVARY
• WHEN JESUS DIED
Supreme

Mary Jayne
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• SURELY I CAN BELIEVE
• I’LL BE THERE
• TO BE USED OF GOD
Word - Capitol

Redd Harper
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• EACH STEP OF THE WAY
• LORD KEEP YOUR HAND ON ME
Word

Georgia Lee
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• I FOUND WHAT I WANTED
• RETURN
• THE HEART IS A REBEL
Word

Ronnie Avalone
Orchestrated by Paul Mickelson
• ALL THAT THRILLS MY SOUL
Supreme

Ethel Waters
Orchestrated by Paul Mickelson
• HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW
• I DO, DON’T YOU? /PARTNERS WITH GOD
Word

Norman Nelson
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• OH I NEVER SHALL FORGET THE DAY
Word

Paul Mickelson Orchestra
• TENDERLY HE WATCHES
• COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
• MASTER CONTROL
Word

Joseph Belessi
Orchestrated by Paul Mickelson
• I ASKED THE LORD
Supreme

Helene Landrum
Orchestrated by Paul Mickelson
• HE’S ONLY A PRAYER AWAY
Supreme

Albie Pearson
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• THERE’S STILL A CHANCE
Vibrant - Light

Flo Price
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• THIS IS MY FATHER’S WORLD
• UNTIL THEN
Christian Faith

Anne Criswell Jackson
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• AMAZING GRACE
• IT’S REAL
Custom - Light

Ray Felton & Helen McAlerney Barth
Orchestrated by Scott Douglass
• BLESSED QUIETNESS
Zondervan

Doug Oldham
Orchestrated by Rick Powell
• SOMETHING WORTH LIVING FOR
• REMIND ME
Impact/Benson

Bill Brown Orchestra & Chorus
• HE NEVER SLEEPS
• BEAU SOIR

Worlds Apart Soundtrack
Orchestrated by Lyle Murphy
• OF LOVE I SING
• SHEPHERD OF LOVE
• TOGETHER
Youth Films/Gospel Films

Dave Boyer
Orchestrated by Jonathan Tunick
• OF LOVE I SING
• THE SOLID ROCK
• CALVARY COVERS IT ALL
Reverence

Anita Bryant
Orchestrated by Stan Applebaum
• GREAT SOMEBODY
• TWO WONDERFUL HANDS
Columbia

Bill Carle
Orchestrated by Kurt Kaiser
• HOW GREAT THOU ART
Word

Ronnie Avalone
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• I KNOW A NAME
• SING PRAISE TO HIS NAME
Word

Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO
Capitol

Flo Price
Orchestrated by Ralph Carmichael
• YOU’RE WALKING DOWN SUNSHINE LANE
• BRIGHT NEW WORLD
Word

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An overview of some of the best in orchestrated inspirational Christian music in the 50s and 60s including albums, artists, songs, and a music timeline.

Free scripts used on this page provided by DynamicDrive.com.

Last update June 10, 2008.

• timeline

Events in the history of ‘50s & ‘60s Christian music.

Items auto rotate until a frame is clicked:

1944

• Sacred Records is founded in California by Earle Williams.

1948

• The 12-inch 33-1/3 rpm vinyl LP record is introduced by Columbia Records.

1949

• The 7-inch 45 rpm single debuts from RCA Victor.

1950

Ralph Carmichael and his chorus and band of seminary students win an Emmy® Award for the Campus Christian Hour on channel 2 in Los Angeles.

1951

• Word Records is founded in Waco, Texas by a young sportscaster named Jarrell McCracken with the recording, The Game of Life.

1951

• Bill Kenny ’s rendition of Stuart Hamblen ’s It Is No Secret (What God Can Do) is on the top 40 pop charts for 22 weeks (Cashbox sales).

1952

• The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is formed.

1953

• Crying In The Chapel by June Valli is a hit on the pop music charts.

• Christian Faith Recordings (Alma Records) founded.

1954

• This Ole House written by Stuart Hamblen is a big hit for Rosemary Clooney on the pop music charts.

1954

• The Four Girls — actress Jane Russell and singers Connie Haines and Beryl Davis, all members of the Hollywood Christian Group, and Della Russell — record the song, Do Lord.

1955

• Pop singles on the hit parade include He, The Bible Tells Me So and Open Up Your Heart (and Let The Sunshine In)

1957

• Paul Mickelson’s first string album, The Music of Paul Mickelson: Sacred Songs with Singing Strings is released by RCA Victor.

1957

• Tony Fontane, pop singer /entertainer, survives a near fatal auto accident, and makes a promise to God that if He lets him sing again, he’ll do it only for Him.

1957

• Paul Mickelson, organist for the Billy Graham Crusades, makes a difficult decision to leave the team and devote his energies to producing Christian music.

1958

• Stereo LPs are introduced bringing another dimension to recorded music.

• Paul Mickelson becomes Music Director at Word Records.

1960

• Elvis Presley’s first Gospel album, His Hand In Mine, is released by RCA Victor.

1960

• Ralph Carmichael becomes Nat King Cole’s regular arranger/conductor at Capitol Records in Hollywood.

• Sacred Records is acquired by Word Records.

• Supreme Recordings is founded in Glendale, California by former RCA and Word Records arranger/conductor Paul Mickelson.

1961

• Kurt Kaiser named Music Director at Word Records.

1962

• Ralph Carmichael is music director for the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Variety Show on ABC-TV (Fall Season 1962).

1963

• The Tony Fontane Story is released by Gospel Films Inc. (now Gospel Communications International).

1964

• The first compact audio cassette recorder is introduced by Philips in the USA under the Norelco name.

1965

• Dave Boyer , MC and entertainer known professionally as Joey Stevens at the famous 500 Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey sets out one night to commit suicide — but instead has a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ.

1966

• Cliff Richard, British pop music star, speaks openly on stage about his faith in Christ at a Billy Graham meeting at Earls Court in London.

1966

• 8-track stereo cartridges introduced in cars.

• Ralph Carmichael founds Light Records and Lexicon Music as a joint venture with Jarrell McCracken’s Word Records.

1967

• Ralph Carmichael and Kurt Kaiser collaborate to produce the youth musicals, Tell It Like It Is and Natural High.

1968

• Andraè Crouch & the Disciples are signed by Ralph Carmichael to Light Records.

1969

• The Jesus Movement begins in Southern California at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa.

• FIRST CHRISTIAN ROCK ALBUM:

Upon This Rock by Larry Norman is released by Capitol Records. It doesn't sell well until after it is licensed by Benson and released on their Impact label.