William Burton Walbert

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.

William Burton Walbert
BornMay 18, 1886
Barren County, Kentucky
DiedDecember 2, 1959
Birmingham, Alabama
OccupationHymn writer
Spouse(s)Mable Grace Vaughan
Children1 son
RelativesJames David Vaughan (father-in-law)

Early life

Walbert was born in Barren County, Kentucky on May 18, 1886. 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. 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.

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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