Several of Fanny Crosby’s (1820-1915) never-published hymns were recently discovered, restored and brought to life Thursday evening at Heaven’s Encore in Lipscomb’s Alumni Auditorium.
The evening’s musical director Bobby Blazier asked a variety of artists to take Crosby’s lyrics and set them to music. The evening also celebrated the 150th anniversary of Crosby’s death and was recorded live on Periscope.
“She was a very powerful, amazing woman with an amazing amount of heartbreak and heartache in her life,” Blazier said. “But her joy would fill the country. That joy comes out in her songs.”
Founder of American Policy Roundtable Dave Zanotti hosted the event alongside Wayne Shepherd.
Zanotti and Shepherd recorded the event for a special radio show on The Public Square.
This World Premiere of undiscovered hymns and new music will be heard on over 200 radio stations as well as internet and podcast broadcasts. Zanotti said the program will even reach some of the underground churches in China.
The pair led the audience through the life of Crosby, pausing only for autobiographical video interludes and scheduled performances of each song available on the new album.
Featured performances included The Blind Boys of Alabama, Ernie Hasse & Signature Sound and Nashville’s own The Calling.
“What we want is for this music to come to the world as quick as possible,” Zanotti said. “This is the premiere. We hope thousands of radio stations pick this up, but we don’t have a single dime invested. We are invested in something more – in the music.”
Crosby composed over 8,000 poems and songs during her 95 years. She was also an educator for the blind, the first woman to ever address Congress and she knew all the presidents during her lifetime.
“It’s time we reintroduce her to generations of people who may have no idea who she is,” Blazier said. “She is significant in American music. She was only five-foot-tall but she was a dynamite woman who walked very humbly on this earth and carried an amazing mantle.”
The Calling honored Crosby by performing her favorite hymn “Safe in the Arms of Jesus” during the night’s celebration.
According to Zanotti, it was Crosby’s grandmother that instilled within her the love of Jesus and the knowledge of His Word — which inspired her poetry and songwriting.
“The world needs to hear this again – somebody that probably could have had everything but she had nothing,” Blazier said. “She spent her life composing these lyrics and we honor that by putting it to music.”
Photos by author