Robert Sterling Arnold
Encyclopedia
Robert Sterling Arnold was a shape note
music publisher, singer, composer, and singing school
teacher. He was born January 26, 1905 at Coleman
in Coleman County, Texas, the son of Millard Franklin and Rowena Victoria (Lawrence) Arnold.
Arnold received his musical training from southern shape note teachers such as Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Carr, W. W. Combs, L. A. Gordon, J. B. Herbert, John A. McClung, Will M. Ramsey, and Frank White. He traveled as a member of several quartets, including the Central Music Company Quartet. He also traveled extensively to teach about 300 shape note singing schools.
In 1928 he married Cora Angie McDonald, whom he met at a gospel singing at Veribest
(near San Angelo, Texas
). They lived in Fort Worth
, Kennedale
and Jefferson, Texas
, returning to Coleman in 1975. While in Fort Worth, he had a studio and taught piano and voice. He was the founder and owner of the National Music Company, which company published about fifty singing convention books. Before that he was a partner with Albert E. Brumley
and W. Oliver Cooper in the Hartford National Company.
Some of his more popular songs include Did You Repent, Fully Repent?, Have You Thought, Really Thought?, If I Could But Just Take One Soul To Heaven, and I Wanta Get Right. No Tears in Heaven, written in 1935, is probably his best known song. In addition to its popularity at shape note singings and inclusion in Stamps-Baxter's popular Heavenly Highway Hymns, No Tears in Heaven has been recorded by gospel quarters and artists such as Buck Owens
, Skeeter Davis
, Red Foley
, and The Chuck Wagon Gang
.
Robert and Cora Arnold were members of the Church of Christ.
Robert Sterling Arnold is a member of the 2005 Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame
inductees. Arnold was inducted into the Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame on September 14, 1985. He died in Coleman County at age 98 on February 8, 2003 and was buried in the Silver Valley Cemetery.
Shape note
Shape notes are a music notation designed to facilitate congregational and community singing. The notation, introduced in 1801, became a popular teaching device in American singing schools...
music publisher, singer, composer, and singing school
Singing school
Historically, singing schools have been strongly affiliated with Protestant Christianity. Some are held under the auspices of particular Protestant denominations that maintain a tradition of a cappella singing, such as the Church of Christ and the Primitive Baptists...
teacher. He was born January 26, 1905 at Coleman
Coleman, Texas
Coleman is a city in Coleman County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,127 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Coleman County.-Geography:Coleman is located at ....
in Coleman County, Texas, the son of Millard Franklin and Rowena Victoria (Lawrence) Arnold.
Arnold received his musical training from southern shape note teachers such as Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Carr, W. W. Combs, L. A. Gordon, J. B. Herbert, John A. McClung, Will M. Ramsey, and Frank White. He traveled as a member of several quartets, including the Central Music Company Quartet. He also traveled extensively to teach about 300 shape note singing schools.
In 1928 he married Cora Angie McDonald, whom he met at a gospel singing at Veribest
Veribest, Texas
Veribest is an unincorporated community in Tom Green County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 40 in 2000...
(near San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo is a city in the state of Texas. Located in West Central Texas it is the county seat of Tom Green County. As of 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total population of 93,200...
). They lived in Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, Kennedale
Kennedale, Texas
Kennedale is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,763 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Kennedale is located at ....
and Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson is an historic city in Marion County in northeastern Texas, United States. The population was 2,024 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County, Texas, and is situated in East Texas...
, returning to Coleman in 1975. While in Fort Worth, he had a studio and taught piano and voice. He was the founder and owner of the National Music Company, which company published about fifty singing convention books. Before that he was a partner with Albert E. Brumley
Albert E. Brumley
Albert Edward Brumley was a shape note gospel music composer and publisher.Brumley was born near Spiro, Oklahoma on October 29, 1905. Pre-Dustbowl Oklahoma was primarily made up of sparse agricultural communities; Brumley's family was no different. He spent much of his early life chopping and...
and W. Oliver Cooper in the Hartford National Company.
Some of his more popular songs include Did You Repent, Fully Repent?, Have You Thought, Really Thought?, If I Could But Just Take One Soul To Heaven, and I Wanta Get Right. No Tears in Heaven, written in 1935, is probably his best known song. In addition to its popularity at shape note singings and inclusion in Stamps-Baxter's popular Heavenly Highway Hymns, No Tears in Heaven has been recorded by gospel quarters and artists such as Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
, Skeeter Davis
Skeeter Davis
Mary Frances Penick , better known as Skeeter Davis, was an American country music singer best known for crossover pop music songs of the early 1960s. She started out as part of The Davis Sisters as a teenager in the late 1940s, eventually landing on RCA Records. In the late '50s, she became a solo...
, Red Foley
Red Foley
Clyde Julian Foley , better known as Red Foley, was an American singer, musician, and radio and TV personality who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II....
, and The Chuck Wagon Gang
The Chuck Wagon Gang
The Chuck Wagon Gang is a multi-award–winning Southern Gospel musical group that was formed in 1936 by founding member D.P. Carter with his son Jim and daughters Rose and Anna...
.
Robert and Cora Arnold were members of the Church of Christ.
Robert Sterling Arnold is a member of the 2005 Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame
Southern Gospel Music Association
The Southern Gospel Music Association is a non-profit corporation formed as an association of southern gospel music singers, songwriters, fans, and industry workers. Membership is acquired and maintained through payment of annual dues...
inductees. Arnold was inducted into the Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame on September 14, 1985. He died in Coleman County at age 98 on February 8, 2003 and was buried in the Silver Valley Cemetery.