Jim Walbert
James David Walbert (born September 28, 1917 in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee; died June 7, 2009 in Birmingham) was a composer, arranger and piano teacher, most famous for his participation in the Vaughan family Southern Gospel music enterprises founded by his grandfather.
Walbert was the son of William Burton and Grace Mable Vaughan Walbert. His grandfather, James D. Vaughan, was called the "father of Southern Gospel Music" and founded a music publishing company and the WOAN-AM radio station in Lawrenceburg. The station, the first to broadcast from Tennessee, attracted numerous musicians and singers to the small town. Walbert continued his study of piano in Nashville, Chicago and New York.
Walbert learned to play saxophone, violin and piano early in life. He accompanied many of the touring Vaughan Gospel Quartets and taught at the Vaughan School of Music. He began touring on his on in the early 1940s, performing classical works for voice and piano. During World War II he played saxophone and piano in the army band at Fort Monroe, Virginia.
In 1947 Walbert moved to Birmingham and opened his own piano studio, continuing a teaching career that continued until his retirement in 2003. Among his students were gospel stars Fay Jennings Thompson, Derrell Stewart, Gordon Stroker, Edsel Bourland and Jackie Marshall. As a member of the Musician's Union, Walbert accompanied visiting entertainers on stage in Birmingham and supplemented his income by performing at weddings, holiday parties and restaurants. He had a regular booking at the Guest House Motor Inn.
Among Walbert's hundreds of compositions, "Peace Like a River" stands out for the popular recording by Tennessee Ernie Ford. He had other songs recorded by the Statesmen Quartet, the Blackwood Brothers, the Vaughan Quartets, and Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver.
Walbert died after a stay in a nursing home. He was survived by his wife, Eileen, a noted civil rights activist; two children, David and Pam; nine grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren. He was buried at the Mimosa Cemetery in Lawrenceburg, Tennesseee.
Walbert was inducted into the Southern Gospel Piano Roll of Honor and the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame.
References
- Walbert, James D. (Summer 1990) "James D. Vaughan and the Vaughan School of Music." Rejoice! 2
- "James D. Walbert (Jim)" obituary (June 10, 2009) The Birmingham News
External links
- James Walbert at Findagrave.com