In the spring of 1932, Albert E Brumley sent what he called “a little ditty” off to the Hartford Music Company. Little did he know that he had just mailed what would become the world’s most recorded song in history. With over 5,000 recordings, “I’ll Fly Away” has been recorded in every country and in every language on the planet.
Albert was working as a songwriter for EM Bartlett and the Hartford Music Company when he wrote “I’ll Fly Away”. He conceived of the song in a cotton field in Oklahoma in 1929 and over the next 3 years he traveled around the NW Arkansas and the SW Missouri region teaching Singing Schools and composing music. Over this time period is when he developed the song.
Albert was reluctant to send the song to Bartlett fearing it wasn’t up to par. His wife Goldie felt differently and urged him to send it in anyway. “I’ll Fly Away” was published in the fall of 1932 in the convention songbook The Wonderful Message.
Over the years Albert E Brumley has been recognized by the Smithsonian institute as “the greatest white gospel song writer before WWII” as well as the GMA naming him” 1 of only 5 persons who contributions directly affected 20th century gospel music”. He has been placed in 7 halls of fame, been a part of 10 Grammy winning albums, has 30+ gold and platinum albums, countless Dove awards, and had an Emmy winning TV show named for this little ditty.
“I’ll Fly Away” is still owned by the Brumley family and Albert’s legacy lives on in the Brumley Gospel Sing and the I’ll Fly Away Foundation.
Author: AGM
| Author's Website: http://absolutelygospel.com/
Written: 01/19/2012
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Category: News & Scoops
Comments: 1
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