Robert Emmett Winsett (January 15, 1876 — June 26, 1952) was an American composer and publisher of
gospel music.
Biography
Early years
Winsett was born in
Bledsoe County, Tennessee
Bledsoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,913. Its county seat is Pikeville.
History
Bledsoe County was formed in 1807 from land that was formerly Indian Land as well as la ...
, and graduated from the Bowman Normal School of Music in 1899.
Musical career
He founded his own publishing company in 1903, and his first publication, ''Winsett's Favorite Songs'', quickly became popular among the
Baptist
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compe ...
and
Pentecostal
Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement churches of the
American South. ''Pentecostal Power'' followed in 1907; that year Winsett completed postgraduate work at a
conservatory.
He married Birdie Harris in 1908, and had three sons and two daughters with her. He settled in
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the third-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 89,142. It is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas–Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Are ...
, continuing to compose gospel songs, of which he would write over 1,000 in total. He became a
minister in 1923, and was affiliated with the
Church of God (Seventh Day).
[ ]
Birdie Harris died late in the 1920s, and shortly thereafter Winsett moved back to
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
. He founded a new company in
Chattanooga, and published more
shape note music books. He remarried, to Mary Ruth Edmonton, in 1930, and had three further children.
Winsett's final publication, ''Best of All'' (1951), sold over 1 million copies, and in total his books sold over ten million copies. His song "
Jesus Is Coming Soon" won a
Dove Award for Gospel Song of the Year at the
1969 awards. He has been inducted into the
Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame
The Southern Gospel Music Association (''SGMA'') is a non-profit corporation formed as an association of southern gospel music singers, songwriters, fans, and industry workers. Membership is acquired and maintained through payment of annual dues. ...
and the
Gospel Music Hall of Fame
The Gospel Music Hall of Fame, created in 1972 by the Gospel Music Association, is a Hall of Fame dedicated exclusively to recognizing meaningful contributions by individuals and groups in all forms of gospel music.
Inductees
This is an incompl ...
.
He is buried in the Buttram Cemetery, Dayton, Tennessee.
Further reading
*Anderson, Robert and Gail North. ''Gospel Music Encyclopedia''. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1979, p. 205.
*
Baxter, Mrs. J. R. and Videt Polk. ''Biographies of Gospel Song Writers''. Dallas, Texas:
Stamps-Baxter Music & Printing Company, 1971, pp. 226–228.
*
Stamps, Virgil O. ''Radio Song Album''. Dallas, Texas: The Stamps-Baxter Music Co., 1937.
References
External links
Biographyat the Cyber Hymnal
Winsett Southern Gospel Music Association
The Southern Gospel Music Association (''SGMA'') is a non-profit corporation formed as an association of southern gospel music singers, songwriters, fans, and industry workers. Membership is acquired and maintained through payment of annual dues. T ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Winsett, R.E.
1876 births
1952 deaths
Composers of Christian music
American gospel singers
American music publishers (people)
People from Bledsoe County, Tennessee