From Tamale to Gospel Artiste of the Year: Piesie Esther’s long road
Piesie Esther, born Esther Owusu in Tamale in 1981 and raised in Nsuta-Atonsu in the Ashanti Region, released her debut album Apae Ama Me in 2002.…
Category
Gospel Music
New gospel songs, albums and music videos from artists across Nigeria, Ghana, the USA, the UK and beyond.
An art teacher’s choice: the story behind “I Surrender All”
"I Surrender All" was written by Judson W. Van DeVenter, an American art teacher and musician who struggled for years between a career in art and…
Two writers, twelve verses, one tune: the story of “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
"Crown Him with Many Crowns", first published in 1851, has words by Matthew Bridges and Godfrey Thring and is sung to George Job Elvey's tune Diademata.…
Forgotten in America, revived in London: the unusual journey of “To God Be the Glory”
"To God Be the Glory", with words by Fanny Crosby and music by William Howard Doane, was first published in 1875. Ira Sankey used it in…
Written after a drowning: the story of “‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”
Louisa M. Stead wrote "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" in 1882, a few years after her husband drowned trying to save a boy in…
“Bread of heaven”: the Welsh journey of “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”
"Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" began as a Welsh hymn by William Williams Pantycelyn, the greatest Welsh hymn writer, and was translated into English by…
More than 350 Yoruba film soundtracks and a gospel career: Tope Alabi
Tope Alabi, born in Lagos in 1970, is one of Nigeria's best-known Yoruba gospel singers. She built her career composing soundtracks for Yoruba films, with more…
“Count your blessings, name them one by one”: Johnson Oatman’s 1897 hymn for discouraged people
"Count Your Blessings" was written in 1897 by Johnson Oatman Jr., with music by Edwin O. Excell. Written to encourage people facing trouble and discouragement, it…
“On Christ the solid rock I stand”: the cabinet-maker pastor behind “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less”
Edward Mote, an English cabinet-maker who later became pastor of Rehoboth Baptist Church in Horsham, West Sussex, wrote "My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less" in…
Written to comfort two grieving husbands: the story of “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”
"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms", published in 1887, began when music teacher Anthony J. Showalter received letters from two former pupils whose wives had died. Writing…