I love researching the history or origins of many things, and yesterday the idea came to me to find out the history of some of my old favorite songs. I am posting this blog, because in my search I found that others have this same passion and were having a hard time finding the answers. I hope this blog helps everyone in the search of answers for their questions as well. If you have any information not listed and would like to contribute you may contact me at sylviam.clemons@gmail.com.
This song was written by Joyce Reba Luttrell; better known as Dottie Rambo in 1974. Dottie was a nickname her mother Elizabeth started calling her and it just stuck. She was born in Anton, Kentucky on March 2, 1934. She is the daughter of Vernon and Elizabeth Luttrell. She learned to play the guitar and started writing her own songs by the age of eight years old near her Kentucky home on a creek bank. She found inspiration from her grandfather who was a preacher. She was twelve years old when she became a born again Christian and made a commitment to write and sing Christian songs. She had to make a huge sacrifice as her father gave her the option to stop singing Christian music or move out. She left home and went on the road singing in churches. When she was sixteen, she was at a revival meeting when she meet Buck Rambo and they got married shortly after. They formed a trio called, "The Gospel Echoes" and traveled throughout various places in the US. In 1951 she had a daughter they named Reba and by 1964 Reba joined the group and they changed their name to "The Singing Rambos." A governor of Louisiana heard one of her songs and flew her and her family to his mansion so that she could sing her songs for him. He paid her to publish her songs and started promoting the songs in the 1960's that started her professional career in gospel music.
Throughout her music career she has written over 2,500 songs that put her in the ranks with Fanny Crosby among the women who have had the greatest impact in gospel music. Several music icons have recorded her songs as well as songs being in movies. Several of her songs are included in hymnals. The best-known inspirational song and the biggest hit song is "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need." Other well-known songs she has written "We Shall Behold Him,' 'If That Isn't Love,' 'Build My Mansion Next Door to Jesus,' 'To Much To Gain To Lose,' 'Remind Me Dear Lord,' 'Tears Will Never Stain the Streets of that City,' I've Never Been This Homesick Before.' 'I Go to the Rock,' "Troubles Just All Roll Away' and 'Somebody Prayed for Me.' This is just a few that I know and love myself. Many of her songs she is known for are referred to as valley songs. What a God given talent and legacy to leave us with!
She lost her life at the age of 74 on May 11, 2008, in a fatal bus accident when her tour bus ran off the highway near Mt. Vernon, Missouri on their way to a concert in Texas. Her going home celebration was held on May 19, 2008 with over 4,000 people in attendance at the Christ Church in Nashville, Tennessee, followed by her final resting place at Woodlawn's Cross Mausoleum in Nashville, Tennessee.
Lyrics:
You made my heart a garden filled with flowers
And the green grass like a carpet
Kissed by the morning dew.
You blessed the seeds of love I sow
Warmed my heart so they could grow.
Now shelter me in your arms Lord
'Cause a storm is passin' through.
Walk through the garden of my heart and calm the storm, Lord.
Less the pretty roses fail to bloom again.
You made the winds a gentle breeze.
Now let me feel your sunshine please, Lord
Walk through the garden of my heart.
I can bring the water to the roses
And plant the seeds of kindness
So the bitter weeds can't grow.
But I can't cause the rain to fall
On the dry and thirsty soil.
And I can't cal the storm of life
Or the angry winds that blow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOALiNSRfmw Posted by Mr. Scott
from: The Rambos Album "Yours, Until He Comes" 1974
This hymn was written by an African American singer, songwriter and pianist by the name of Thomas Andrew Dorsey in 1943. Dorsey wrote so many classic gospel songs such as Take My Hand, Precious Lord, Peace in the Valley, The Old Ship of Zion, and On the Battlefield. He is widely regarded as the father of gospel music that has touch of blues. He also organized the first Gospel Choir and the first gospel publishing house by an African American composer. Dorsey going through long time of racial discrimination against him and his fellow blacks and his life's personal hardships he realized that all human beings needed the Lord which inspired him to compose this hymn.
This post is inspired by a friend of mine, Newton Sindo, that reached out to me back in 2020 from Malawi, Africa who hosts a radio show on Trans World Radio called "Essence of Hymns where he also shares stories such as this one with his audience. Trans World Radio has millions of listeners in Malawi and the surrounding countries such as Zambia and Mozambique he told me when he first introduced himself to me. It was a true blessing to know that he is sharing our stories with so many people. Who knew how God would use this journal to share with so many people. In this moment I needed this reminder that if I ever needed the Lord before, I sure do need Him now. I need him at all times no matter what we are going through or how life is going we need Him.
Thomas A. Dorsey was born in Villa Ricca, Georgia on July 1, 1899, to Rev. Thomas M. and Etta P. "Spencer" Dorsey. Music and religion were part of Dorsey's young life growing up as his father was a Baptist preacher and his mother was a piano teacher. His family moved to Atlanta Georgia when he was eight years old where he eventually dropped out of school while in the fourth grade at the age of 12. It is here where he learned to play blues on the piano. He later moved to Chicago where he first composed his own copyright song in 1920 making him one of the first musicians to copyright the blues this is when he was best known as Georgia Tom. He battled depression until he received deliverance after a minister prayed for him while attending a church service with his sister-in-law. He called this God's interruption, and his mother often advised him to choose God's music over the devil's. He then turned his focus to serving the kingdom of God.
While traveling he received news that his wife and child passed away in 1931 and this is when he penned his most famous hymn "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" for the memorial service. In 1932 he co-founded the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses an organization dedicated to training singers and musicians from all over the nation. Dorsey wrote Peace in the Valley for Mahalia Jackon in 1937. He re-married in 1940 to Kathryn Mosely, and they had two children of their own. He was the music director at Chicago's Pilgrim Baptist Church for 50 years. Dorsey spent time on tour marketing his songs and became a successful Black music publisher. His music has been sung by many famous singers and has had many numbers one gospel hits. He was the first African American to be elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the first in the Gospel Music Association's Living Hall of Fame. Dorsey died of Alzheimer's at his home in Chicago on January 23, 1993, but he sure left a legacy of so many wonderful hymn's that continues to bless so many today.
