Ira David Sankey (1840–1908)

Sankey, Ira David, was born in Edinburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1840, of Methodist parents. About 1856 he removed with his parents to Newcastle, Pennsylvania, where he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Four years afterwards he became the Superintendent of a large Sunday School in which he commenced his career of singing sacred songs and solos. Mr. Moody met with him and heard him sing at the International Convention of the Young Men's Christian Association, at Indianapolis, and through Mr. Moody's persuasion he joined him in his work at Chicago. After some two or three years' work in Chicago, they sailed for England on June 7, 1872, and held their first meeting at York a short time afterwards, only eight persons being present. Their subsequent work in Great Britain and America is well known.

Mr. Sankey's special duty was the singing of sacred songs and solos at religious gatherings, a practice which was in use in America for some time before he adopted it. His volume of Sacred Songs and Solos is a compilation from various sources, mainly American and mostly in use before. Although known as Sankey and Moody’s Songs, only one song, "Home at last, thy labour done" is by Mr. Sankey, and not one is by Mr. Moody. Mr. Sankey supplied several of the melodies. The English edition of the Sacred Songs & Solos has had an enormous sale; and the work as a whole is very popular for Home Mission services. The Songs have been translated into several languages.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Pseudonymns:
Harry S. Low­er
Rian A. Dykes

American Gospel Singer and Composer. A prolific hymn writer, he was known as the "Sweet Singer of Methodism." He composed or arranged around 1,200 hymns during his lifetime, most notably "The Ninety and Nine," "Take Me as I Am," "How Can I Keep from Singing," and "A Shelter in the Time of Storm." In 1980 the Gospel Music Association recognized his many contributions to gospel music by inducting him in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. --- William Bjornstad