Fanny Crosby

Frances Jane van Alstyne (née Crosby; March 24, 1820 – February 12, 1915), more commonly known as Fanny J. Crosby, was an American mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer. She was a prolific hymnist, writing more than 8,000 hymns and gospel songs, with more than 100 million copies printed. She is also known for her teaching and her rescue mission work. By the end of the 19th century, she was a household name.

Crosby was known as the "Queen of Gospel Song Writers" and as the "Mother of modern congregational singing in America", with most American hymnals containing her work. Her gospel songs were "paradigmatic of all revival music", and Ira Sankey attributed the success of the Moody and Sankey evangelical campaigns largely to Crosby's hymns. Some of Crosby's best-known songs include "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour", "Blessed Assurance", "Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home", "Praise Him, Praise Him", "Rescue the Perishing", and "To God Be the Glory". Some publishers were hesitant to have so many hymns by one person in their hymnals, so Crosby used nearly 200 different pseudonyms during her career.

Crosby also wrote more than 1,000 secular poems and had four books of poetry published, as well as two best-selling autobiographies. Additionally, she co-wrote popular secular songs, as well as political and patriotic songs and at least five cantatas on biblical and patriotic themes, including The Flower Queen, the first secular cantata by an American composer. She was committed to Christian rescue missions and was known for her public speaking.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 24, 1820 (Brewster), Died February 12, 1915 (Bridgeport)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1899 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter

Notes: Name also appears as Frances van Alstyne, Frances Jane Crosby, Frances J. Crosby, or F. J. Crosby.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Berliner 0740 7-in. 11/16/1899 Blessed assurance J. J. Fisher Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]570 7-in. 12/5/1900 Blessed assurance J. J. Fisher Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1914 7-in. 1/27/1903 Safe in the arms of Jesus Choir [i.e., Lyric Trio] Vocal chorus lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1914 10-in. 1/27/1903 Safe in the arms of Jesus Choir [i.e., Lyric Trio] Chorus lyricist  
Victor B-2217 10-in. 2/6/1905 Safe in the arms of Jesus Trinity Choir Chorus, with organ lyricist  
Victor B-2530 10-in. 5/8/1905 Tho' your sins be as scarlet Harry Macdonough ; Frank C. Stanley Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-2699 10-in. 8/7/1905 Rescue the perishing Frank C. Stanley Male vocal solo, with organ lyricist  
Victor B-2700 10-in. 8/7/1905 All the way my Saviour leads me Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo, with organ lyricist  
Victor B-2701 10-in. 8/7/1905 Near the Cross Frank C. Stanley Male vocal solo, with organ lyricist  
Victor B-2998 10-in. 1/10/1906 Saved by grace John H. Bieling ; Harry Macdonough Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-3083 10-in. 2/2/1906 Jesus is calling Harry Macdonough ; Frank C. Stanley Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-3354 10-in. 5/2/1906 Blessed assurance Trinity Choir Chorus, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-3922 10-in. 10/25/1906 Pass me not, O gentle saviour Harry Macdonough ; Frank C. Stanley Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-6261 10-in. 6/9/1908 Jesus is calling Harry Macdonough ; Frank C. Stanley Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-6545 10-in. 10/15/1908 Only a beam of sunshine John H. Bieling ; Harry Macdonough Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-6748 10-in. 1/25/1909 All the way my Saviour leads me Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-9331 10-in. 7/28/1910 Rescue the perishing Reinald Werrenrath Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-9358 10-in. 8/18/1910 Some sweet day, bye and bye Harry Anthony ; James F. Harrison Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-9410 10-in. 9/6/1910 Near the Cross Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-9487 12-in. 9/28/1910 Open the gates of the temple Evan Williams Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-10250 10-in. 5/2/1911 Safe in the arms of Jesus Trinity Choir Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11257 10-in. 11/21/1911 Close to thee Harry Anthony ; James F. Harrison Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11259 10-in. 11/21/1911 Bye and bye Harry Anthony ; James F. Harrison Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-18599 12-in. 11/6/1916 Gospel songs no. 3 Victor Mixed Chorus Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-23684 10-in. 2/19/1920 Engang min livstraad briste skal Eleonora Olson ; Ethel Olson Female vocal duet, with violin and organ lyricist  
Victor B-24310 10-in. 7/9/1920 Tell me the story of Jesus Homer A. Rodeheaver Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-25583 10-in. 9/30/1921 Near the Cross Raymond Dixon ; Alice Green Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-26416 10-in. 4/18/1922 Jesus my all Elsie Baker ; Olive Kline Female vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-26453 10-in. 5/5/1922 Pass me not, O gentle saviour Clifford Cairns ; Charles Harrison Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-27783 10-in. 4/26/1923 Saved by grace Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-31306 10-in. 11/7/1924 Only a beam of sunshine Franklyn Baur ; Lewis James Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-32593 10-in. 5/11/1925 Blessed assurance Mark Love Male vocal solo, with organ lyricist  
Victor BVE-33126 10-in. 8/3/1925 Saved by grace Reinald Werrenrath Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-33164 10-in. 8/12/1925 Safe in the arms of Jesus Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor CVE-33410 12-in. 9/14/1925 Open the gates of the temple Richard Crooks Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-33496 10-in. 11/2/1925 Calling thee Mrs. William Asher ; Homer A. Rodeheaver Female-male vocal duet, with pipe organ lyricist  
Victor BVE-39743 10-in. 7/29/1927 To the work Alfred G. Karnes Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) lyricist  
Victor BVE-40319 10-in. 10/20/1927 Rescue the perishing Stamps Quartet Male vocal quartet, with piano lyricist  
Victor CVE-42513 12-in. 2/17/1928 Open the gates of the temple Richard Crooks Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ lyricist  
Victor BVE-56739 10-in. 10/2/1929 Pass me not, oh gentle saviour John Seagle ; Leonard Stokes Male vocal duet, with organ lyricist  
Victor BS-74999 10-in. 1/23/1933 Rescue the perishing Salvation Army Male Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied lyricist  
Victor BVE-82843 10-in. 7/31/1934 From the cross to the crown Smith’s Sacred Singers Male vocal ensemble, with piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-82859 10-in. 7/31/1934 Jesus is calling Smith’s Sacred Singers Male vocal quartet, with piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-82861 10-in. 7/31/1934 Saved by grace Smith’s Sacred Singers Male vocal quartet, with piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-83647 10-in. 7/27/1934 Saved by grace Seth Parker Trio Mixed vocal trio, with organ songwriter  
Victor BVE-83650 10-in. 7/27/1934 Close to Thee Seth Parker Trio Mixed vocal trio, with organ lyricist  
Victor BS-056926 10-in. 10/17/1940 Saved by grace Edward MacHugh ; William Meeder Male vocal solo, with organ lyricist  
Columbia 1747 10-in. between January and March 1904 Safe in the arms of Jesus Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with organ lyricist  
Columbia 3685 10-in. between January and August 1907 Saved by grace Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 4458 10-in. between January and July 1910 Rescue the perishing Harry Anthony ; James F. Harrison Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 4771 10-in. ca. Jan.-Nov. 1910 Some sweet day by and by Harry Anthony ; James F. Harrison Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 19176 10-in. 12/30/1910 What a gathering Harry Anthony ; James F. Harrison Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 19902 10-in. 5/23/1912 Safe in the arms of Jesus Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 39484 10-in. 7/8/1914 What a friend Thou art to me Chautauqua Preachers’ Quartette Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied lyricist  
Columbia 46450 10-in. 2/25/1916 Safe in the arms of Jesus Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 79020 10-in. 3/4/1920 Calling thee Mrs. William Asher ; Homer A. Rodeheaver Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 79411 10-in. 9/13/1920 Rescue the perishing Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 80871 10-in. 2/26/1923 Tell me the story of Jesus Homer A. Rodeheaver Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 81511 10-in. 1/31/1924 He hideth my soul William McEwan Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 30320 12-in. 12/6/1909 Saved by grace Gipsy Smith Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 30842 12-in. ca. 1911 Never give up Gipsy Smith Male vocal solo and organ, with cello lyricist  
Columbia 48882 12-in. 8/7/1916 Saved by grace Oscar Seagle Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 49228 12-in. 6/18/1917 Open the gates of the temple Daniel Beddoe Male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 49404 12-in. Open the gates of the temple Warren Proctor Male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 49954 12-in. 3/28/1921 Open the gates of the temple Charles Hackett Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 49991 12-in. 10/4/1921 Open the gates of the temple Tandy MacKenzie Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 140839 10-in. 8/11/1925 Safe in the arms of Jesus Franklyn Baur ; Elliott Shaw Male vocal duet, with violin and organ lyricist  
Columbia W144604 10-in. 9/6/1927 Rescue the perishing American Singers Male vocal quartet lyricist  
OKeh S-7743 10-in. Feb. 1921 Open the gates of the temple James Jordon Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh 8844 10-in. Jan. 1925 Jesus is calling Jenkins Family Mixed vocal trio, with guitar and mandolin lyricist  
OKeh 9048 10-in. Apr. 1925 Safe in the arms of Jesus Jenkins Family Mixed vocal trio, with organ lyricist  
OKeh S-70120 10-in. Aug. 1921 Saved by grace Wilfred Glenn Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh S-70222 10-in. Oct. 1921 Safe in the arms of Jesus Charles Hart ; Elliott Shaw Male vocal duet, with organ lyricist  
OKeh 80014 10-in. 4/28/1926 Some sweet day, bye and bye Land Norris Male vocal solo, with banjo lyricist  
OKeh W80953 10-in. 6/1/1927 Jesus is calling Giddens Sisters Female vocal trio, with mandolin and guitar lyricist  
OKeh W400296 10-in. 2/22/1928 Though your sins be as scarlet Trenton Melody Makers Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied lyricist  
Brunswick 2086 10-in. approximately July 1918 All the way my Saviour leads me Harry McClaskey ; Marie Morrisey Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick E27963 10-in. 8/3/1928 When my life work is ended Frank McCravy ; James McCravy Male vocal duet, with instrumental trio songwriter  
Brunswick XE26629-XE26630 12-in. 2/24/1928 Open the gate of the temple Daniel Beddoe Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Brunswick E26979-E26980 10-in. 3/14/1928 Though your sins be as scarlet Maury Pearson Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Brunswick C3750 10-in. 6/27/1929 Open the gates of the temple John Wahlstedt Male vocal solo, with organ lyricist  
Edison 2065 10-in. 12/24/1912 Close to Thee Frederick J. Wheeler ; John Young Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 2084 10-in. 1/8/1913 Rescue the perishing Frederick J. Wheeler ; John Young Vocal duet (tenor and baritone) and mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 2085 10-in. 1/8/1913 Draw me nearer Harry Anthony ; James F. Harrison Vocal duet (tenor and baritone) and mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 3527 10-in. 1/20/1915 Open the gates of the temple Adelaide Fischer Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 3771 10-in. 5/11/1915 Draw me nearer Frederick J. Wheeler ; John Young Vocal duet (tenor and baritone) and mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 4040 10-in. 7/30/1915 Open the gates of the temple Hardy Williamson Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 5449 10-in. 3/17/1917 Saved by grace Artists vary Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 5589 10-in. 5/29/1917 Some sweet day, bye and bye Metropolitan Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 5965 10-in. between 1/10/1918 and 1/14/1918 Safe in the arms of Jesus Calvary Choir Vocal chorus, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 7153 10-in. 2/9/1920 Only a step to Jesus Fred East ; Lewis James Vocal duet (tenor and baritone), with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 7788 10-in. 2/9/1921 Pass me not, o gentle Saviour Metropolitan Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 7798 10-in. 2/14/1921 Never give up Metropolitan Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 9699 10-in. 9/11/1924 Tell me the story of Jesus Homer A. Rodeheaver Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 9829 10-in. 11/5/1924 Open the gates of the temple Charles Hart Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 10279 10-in. 3/26/1925 All the way my Saviour leads me Amy Ellerman ; Olive Marshall Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Crosby, Fanny," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102169.

Crosby, Fanny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102169.

"Crosby, Fanny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102169

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