Rich Traditions Remain the Cornerstone of 47th Annual Brumley Gospel Sing and Company’s Roots in Americana Music
I’ll Fly Away Remains The Most Recorded Song Ever
New York, New York –When Albert E. Brumley began writing music in the late 1920s, he never imagined his songs would go on to become some of the most popular and recorded Gospel and Americana music of our time. If it wasn’t for hits like “I’ll Fly Away” or “Turn Your Radio On,” we wouldn’t have some of the most profound and longstanding favorites of the industry. “I’ll Fly Away” remains the most recorded song ever. The song sold 1 million copies in 1946 even before the RIAA was established and has since gone on to sell millions more. Most recently “I’ll Fly Away” hit #2 on the Australian Folk charts in 2014 – over 80 years after its original release.
When the Hall of Famer passed away in 1977, the legacy of Brumley Music was left at the helm of his son’s Bob and Bill. It was with passion and dedicated energy that they continued to build the Brumley Music Company which Albert began in 1944 and Hartford Music Company which Albert purchased in 1946. Bob Brumley purchased the company from Bill and became sole owner in 1986.
Brumley Music set into motion the path of preserving Albert’s legacy, giving back to the community through the I’ll Fly Away Foundation and making sure the hundreds of recording artists who still perform many of Brumley’s greatest hits keep their feet firmly grounded in Gospel and Americana. So much is the Brumley Music Company set in tradition that the company still operates out of the same offices they did back in the early mid 1900s in Powell, Missouri, from the very place Albert drew most of his inspiration for his music, which he called “Memory Valley.”
One doesn’t have to look far to sense the influence Brumley Music has had on the Gospel, Americana and Country music industry. Artists like Keith Urban, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, George Jones, Alison Krauss, Mumford & Sons, Alan Jackson, Vince Gil, Jars of Clay, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash, The Oak Ridge Boys, Crystal Gayle, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and even Kanye West have recorded or performed Brumley original songs. Most have which gone on to become Gold or Platinum selling albums. Songs from Brumley Music have received 9 GRAMMY Awards, 25 GRAMMY nominations, won countless DOVE Awards, IBMA, CMA, ACM and Americana Awards. “I’ll Fly Away” greatly influenced the TV show by the same name which won three Golden Globe Awards, five Golden Globe nominations, 3 Emmy Awards, received 23 Emmy nominations, won a Peabody Award and four NAACP Awards. Albert E. Brumley’s music was also featured prominently in the legendary hit television series “The Waltons” and in Spike Lee’s documentary “When the Levees Broke.” His music was also featured in the movie “O’ Brother Where Art Thou” which starred George Clooney and the seven-time Platinum selling soundtrack. The current hit HBO series “Treme” also featured music by Brumley. And movies including “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Apostle” and “Daddy’s Dyin, Who’s Got the Will” also featured his music.
Brumley Music will celebrate the 47th year of the popular Brumley Gospel Sing held in Lebanon, Missouri. The Brumley Gospel Sing originated in 1969 in a rodeo arena in Springdale, Arkansas as an idea by Albert E. Brumley. The popular four-day event brings together dozens of the most popular Gospel performers and more than 20,000 Gospel music fans from all over the world. Known as the “Granddaddy of All Gospel Sing” or “the Bonaroo of Gospel Music,” the Brumley Gospel Sing is a tradition for thousands of guests who have returned each and every year since its inception.
This year’s Brumley Gospel Sing will feature artists like Dailey & Vincent, Karen Peck and New River, Jeff & Sheri Easter, the Hopper’s, the Booth Brothers and a host of others throughout the four days at Cowan Civic Center. Unlike many of the musical events offered across the country The Brumley Gospel Sing has not increased the price of a ticket from last year and offers a wide-range of activities including artist meet and greets, special promotions and city-wide programs.
“We’ve paid close attention to keeping our Gospel Sing true to my dad’s original ideas and ideals,” said Bob Brumley, President & CEO of Brumley Music Company. “Gospel music continues to be the fastest growing sector of the music industry. We know some of the new programs we plan to launch this year will not only continue my dad’s legacy but bring about a new excitement for Gospel and Americana music to the younger generation.”
“I’ll Fly Away,” “Turn Your Radio On,” “If We Never Meet Again (This Side of Heaven), “I’ll Meet you in the Morning” and “He Set Me Free,” are amongst the host of favorites written by Albert E. Brumley. All in all he wrote over 800 songs. From the Americana side there are songs like “Rank Strangers to Me,” “There’s A Little Pin Log Cabin” and “Flowers in the Wildwood” to name a few. Brumley’s life in Pre-Dustbowl Oklahoma chopping and picking cotton on his family’s farm played a big role in his storytelling through music. His lyrics are rich in portraying the common man and his beliefs and life in rural America.
This year Brumley Music plans to embark on several new initiatives that will bring much of the traditions and music to a range of demographics and audiences across the world. Through a soon-to-be-released new website, digital downloads, newly released material, songbooks, larger market events and documentary style TV, the Brumley Music Company is hitting all the right notes through an aggressive plan for maintaining its rightful place in music’s history.
Albert E. Brumley’s awards include Inductions into the Country Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma and Arkansas Music Hall of Fame. His name graces a 13 miles stretch of a highway in McDonald County, Missouri and he was named one of only five persons in the U.S. whose contributions directly affected 20th Century Gospel Music by the Gospel Music Association in Nashville, Tennessee. His songs have been inducted into the SESAC Hall of Fame and he has received “Citations of Achievement” from BMI Nashville. The Smithsonian Institute made a study of Gospel Music naming Albert E. Brumley “the greatest Gospel songwriter before WWII.” Bob Brumley is also an inductee in SGMA, Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2011. For more information about Brumley Music or The 47th Gospel Sing call 1-800-435-3725 or the press contact below.
ABOUT BRUMLEY MUSIC COMPANY: Brumley Music Company, located in Powell, Missouri, is a music publishing and production company founded in the early 1940s by Albert E. Brumley. It also operates The Hartford Music Group which is part of the Brumley Music Company. President and CEO, Bob Brumley operates the company whose mission is to uphold Albert E. Brumley’s legacy while producing and providing inspirational music built on a rich tradition and heritage. Brumley’s hit Gospel song “I’ll Fly Away” remains the most recorded song ever and serves as the namesake as the company’s foundation “The I’ll Fly Away Foundation.” The company produces songbooks, the popular annual “Gospel Sing” four-day musical event, oversees the wide catalog of Brumley original music, publishing and licensing. Find out more at www.facebook.com/thebrumleysing or www.twitter.com/BrumleyMusic. Brumley Music can also be reached by calling 1-800-435-3725.
For ticket information to the 47th Annual Gospel Sing go to www.brumleymusic.com.
All photo credits: Brumley Music Company