Person Results

E. O. Excell

1851 - 1921 Person Name: Edwin O. Excell, 1851-1921 Composer of "LITTLE STARS" in Culto Cristiano Edwin Othello Excel USA 1851-1921. Born at Uniontown, OH, he started working as a bricklayer and plasterer. He loved music and went to Chicago to study it under George Root. He married Eliza Jane “Jennie” Bell in 1871. They had a son, William, in 1874. A member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he became a prominent publisher, composer, song leader, and singer of music for church, Sunday school, and evangelistic meetings. He founded singing schools at various locations in the country and worked with evangelist, Sam Jones, as his song leader for two decades. He established a music publishing house in Chicago and authored or composed over 2,000 gospel songs. While assisting Gypsy Smith in an evangelistic campaign in Louisville, KY, he became ill, and died in Chicago, IL. He published 15 gospel music books between 1882-1925. He left an estate valued at $300,000. John Perry

H. C. Ball

1896 - 1989 Translator of "Los niños son de Cristo" in Mil Voces para Celebrar

Speros Demetrios Athans

1883 - 1969 Person Name: S. D. Athans Author of "Estrellitas" in Melodias Evangelicas para el Uso de las Iglesias Evangelicas de Habla Española en Todo el Mundo Speros Demetrios Athans was born 1883 in Turkey. Raised in the Greek Orthodox Church, Athans left home at age 15, after his father’s death. He spent two years on the island of Corfu, Greece, and two more in Egypt, then went to Great Britain, where he worked as a sailor. In 1903 he went to America, and during immigration processing, someone gave him a New Testament in Greek. A year later, he joined a Nazarene church in Chicago, Illinois. He then enrolled in a Bible school and university. While in school in California, he began to study Spanish and to work with the Latino community. In 1910 he decided to work in evangelism. In 1931, he joined the Methodist missionary work in Latin America, retiring in 1949. © The Cyber Hymnal™ (hymntime.com/tch)

J. S. Fearis

1867 - 1932 Composer of "[Just as the stars are shining]" in Assembly Songs John Sylvester Fearis, 1867-1932 Born: February 5, 1867, Richland, Iowa. Died: September 2, 1932, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Fearis’ father was a successful singing school teacher, and a painter by trade. At a young age, John learned to read music in his father’s classes. He was passionately fond of music, and, taking lessons on the reed organ, he was soon able to play in Sunday school and church. Later he took charge of the church choir, and taught singing classes in nearby towns. He wrote his first hymn tune at age 16. He eventually joined the editorial staff of the Choir Leader, published by the Lorenz Publishing Company in Dayton, Ohio. Sources-- Choir Herald, December 1932, p. 219 Emurian, p. 17 Hall, pp. 393-4 Lyrics-- Brightly Beams Another Morning Children’s Day Show Me the Way, My Shepherd What Comfort to Our Hearts What Wonderful Love Is the Love Music-- Be Thou Exalted Beautiful Isle of Somewhere God May Call for You Little Raindrops Promise Made to Mother, The Songs in the Night Show Me the Way, My Shepherd There’s Light for a Step Wherever He Leads Me I’ll Go --hymntime.com/tch