Stebbins, George C(oles)
- Harry Eskew
- and Mel R. Wilhoit
Extract
(b East Carlton, NY, Feb 26, 1846; d Catskill, NY, Oct 6, 1945). American evangelistic musician, composer of gospel hymns, and hymnbook compiler. He attended singing-schools and learned to play the piano before moving to Rochester, New York, where he studied singing and joined a church choir as the tenor of its solo quartet. After moving to Chicago he became a charter member of the Apollo Music Club, was associated with the Lyon and Healy Music Company, and traveled to Boston to sing in the massed choir for the 1872 Peace Jubilee. He also became acquainted with those who would become the leading figures in American revivalism during the next decade. In 1874, he moved to Boston and directed music in various churches, including Clarendon Street Baptist Church, pastored by A.J. Gordon, composer of the music for the hymn, “My Jesus, I love thee.” In 1876 he accepted Dwight L. Moody’s invitation to work as an evangelistic singer. He was paired with numerous evangelists under Moody’s general auspices, including George Needham, George Pentecost, and Daniel Whittle (upon the untimely death of musician Philip P. Bliss in a train crash)....
