Hymn Composer. He is best remembered for his tune "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms," published in 1887, for which he wrote the music and chorus and fellow hymn writer Elisha Hoffman wrote the verses. Born in Cherry Grove, Virginia and educated in local public schools, he was trained at the Ruebush-Kieffer School of Music and began teaching in singing schools by the age of 14. He came to Dalton, Georgia in 1884 and in 1890 formed the A.J. Showalter Company, Printers, Binders, and Music Publishers. In 1895 he studied music in Europe. During his life, he wrote and published over 20 books on music theory, harmony, and composition which were widely used in singing schools throughout the Southern US and composed almost 200 hymns. His other tunes include "One By One" (1889), "Heaven's My Home"(1889), "Draw Me Closer, Lord, to Thee" (1898), "Walking in the King's Highway" (1901), "The Light of the World is Jesus" (1903), and "What a Savior!" (1904). He died in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the age of 66. In 2000 he was inducted into the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame.
Hymn Composer. He is best remembered for his tune "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms," published in 1887, for which he wrote the music and chorus and fellow hymn writer Elisha Hoffman wrote the verses. Born in Cherry Grove, Virginia and educated in local public schools, he was trained at the Ruebush-Kieffer School of Music and began teaching in singing schools by the age of 14. He came to Dalton, Georgia in 1884 and in 1890 formed the A.J. Showalter Company, Printers, Binders, and Music Publishers. In 1895 he studied music in Europe. During his life, he wrote and published over 20 books on music theory, harmony, and composition which were widely used in singing schools throughout the Southern US and composed almost 200 hymns. His other tunes include "One By One" (1889), "Heaven's My Home"(1889), "Draw Me Closer, Lord, to Thee" (1898), "Walking in the King's Highway" (1901), "The Light of the World is Jesus" (1903), and "What a Savior!" (1904). He died in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the age of 66. In 2000 he was inducted into the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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