Ira Stanphill
Encyclopedia
Ira Forest Stanphill 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
, ukulele
, 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 traveled 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 Presley
(Mansion Over the Hilltop) and Johnny Cash
(Suppertime) 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
Stanphill died less than two months shy of this 80th birthday in Overland Park, Kansas
, and was interred in Johnson County Memorial Gardens, Johnson County, Kansas
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
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
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
, and accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
. 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
Hyles-Anderson College
Hyles–Anderson College is an unaccredited Bible college in unincorporated Crown Point, Lake County, Indiana, with a postal address at 8400 Burr Street, Crown Point, Indiana 46307-1499. The college is a ministry of the First Baptist Church of Hammond. It focuses primarily on training pastors,...
in Hammond, Indiana
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 80,830 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hammond is located at ....
.
As a singer evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
, Stanphill traveled the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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 Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
(Mansion Over the Hilltop) and Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
(Suppertime) 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
Stanphill died less than two months shy of this 80th birthday in Overland Park, Kansas
Overland Park, Kansas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
, and was interred in Johnson County Memorial Gardens, Johnson County, Kansas
Johnson County, Kansas
Johnson County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States. The county is largely suburban, being part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, and containing many of its affluent southwestern suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 544,179. Its county...
.
Sources
- 1. Baxter, Mrs. J. R. and Videt Polk. Biographies of Gospel Song Writers. Dallas, Texas: Stamps-Baxter Music & Printing Company, 1971, pp. 19-21.
- 2. Osbeck, Kenneth W. 101 More Hymn Stories. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1985, pp. 231-232.
- 3. Reynolds, William Jensen Companion to Baptist Hymnal. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press, 1976, pp 434.