Robert Sterling Arnold (January 26, 1905February 8, 2003) was an American

shape note Shape notes are a musical notation designed to facilitate congregational and social singing. The notation, introduced in late 18th century England, became a popular teaching device in American singing schools. Shapes were added to the noteh ...

music publisher, singer, composer, singing school teacher, and the cousin of country western singer, Eddy Arnold. Robert was born at Coleman in Coleman County, Texas, the son of Millard Franklin and Rowena Victoria (Lawrence) Arnold. Arnold received his musical training from southern shape note teachers such as Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Carr, W. W. Combs, L. A. Gordon, J. B. Herbert, John A. McClung, Will M. Ramsey, and Frank White. He traveled as a member of several quartets, including the Central Music Company Quartet. He also traveled extensively to teach about 300 shape note singing schools. In 1927, he joined Bill Bynum, Cecil MacDonald, and Bernie Horner to form the Overall Quartet. Sponsored by the

J. C. Penney Penney OpCo LLC, doing business as JCPenney and often abbreviated JCP, is a midscale American department store chain operating 667 stores across 49 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Departments inside JCPenney stores include Mens, Womens, Boys, Girl ...

Company, the group wore pressed blue overalls, white shirts, and black bow ties at their concerts. In 1928, he married Cora Angie McDonald, whom he met at a gospel singing at Veribest (near

San Angelo, Texas San Angelo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Tom Green County, Texas, United States. Its location is in the Concho Valley, a region of West Texas between the Permian Basin to the northwest, Chihuahuan Desert to the southwest, Osage Plai ...

). They lived in

Fort Worth Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly into four other counties: Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise. According ...

, Kennedale and Jefferson, Texas, returning to Coleman in 1975. While in Fort Worth, he had a studio and taught piano and voice. He was the founder and owner of the National Music Company, which company published about fifty singing convention books. Before that he was a partner with

Albert E. Brumley Albert Edward Brumley (October 29, 1905 – November 15, 1977) was an American shape note music composer and publisher, prolific in the genre of southern gospel. Biography Brumley was born near Spiro, Oklahoma on October 29, 1905, into a famil ...

and W. Oliver Cooper in the Hartford National Company. Robert and Cora Arnold were members of the

Church of Christ Church of Christ may refer to: Church groups * When used in the plural, a New Testament designation for local groups of people following the teachings of Jesus Christ: "...all the churches of Christ greet you", Romans 16:16. * The entire body of Ch ...

. Some of his more popular songs include ''Did You Repent, Fully Repent?'', ''Have You Thought, Really Thought?'', ''If I Could But Just Take One Soul To Heaven'', and ''I Wanta Get Right''. ''No Tears in Heaven'', written in 1935, is probably his best known song. In addition to its popularity at shape note singings ''No Tears in Heaven'' has been recorded by gospel quarters and artists such as Buck Owens, Skeeter Davis, Red Foley, and

The Chuck Wagon Gang The Chuck Wagon Gang is a Country gospel musical group, formed in 1935 by David P. ("Dad") Carter, oldest son Ernest ("Jim") along with daughters Lola ("Rose") and Effie ("Anna"). The group got their first radio break as sponsored singers for Bewl ...

. Robert Sterling Arnold is a member of the 2005

Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame Southern may refer to: Businesses * China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China * Southern Airways, defunct US airline * Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US * Southern Airways Express, M ...

inductees. Arnold was inducted into the Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame on September 14, 1985. He died in Coleman County at age 98 on February 8, 2003 and was buried in the Silver Valley Cemetery.

References

*Article by Robert S. Arnold in ''International Gospel Hour News'', Jul-Aug 1986 *A Video of Robert S. Arnold can be found by searching for ''Oldest Living Quartet'', Gaither Homecoming, Apr 29, 2008 *Obituary, ''Coleman Chronicle and Democrat-Voice'', Coleman, Texas, February 11, 2003, page 7-B. ;Specific

External links

Robert S. Arnold, from ''Singing News''

Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arnold, Robert Sterling 1905 births 2003 deaths 20th-century American singers American members of the Churches of Christ American music publishers (people) 20th-century American composers American country singer-songwriters American gospel singers American Christian hymnwriters American male singer-songwriters Composers of Christian music People from Coleman, Texas People from Tarrant County, Texas Shape note Singer-songwriters from Texas Southern gospel performers Writers from Texas People from Jefferson, Texas Musicians from Fort Worth, Texas 20th-century American male singers