Robert Lowry

Robert Lowry (March 12, 1826 – 25 November 1899) was an American preacher who became a popular writer of gospel music in the mid- to late-19th century. His best-known hymns include "Shall We Gather at the River", "Christ Arose!", "How Can I Keep from Singing?" and "Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus".

Born in Philadelphia, Lowry studied at the University at Lewisburg and entered the Baptist ministry in 1854. During the following 45 years he held a number of pastorates in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Between 1869 and 1875 he combined his pastoral work with a professorship in rhetoric at his alma mater, and later served as the University's chancellor. From 1868 he acted as hymnals editor to Biglow and Main, the country's leading publisher of gospel and Sunday School music; under his supervision more than 20 hymnals were produced by the firm, many of wide and enduring popularity.

Despite his protestations that preaching was his main vocation and that music was merely a sideline, it is as a hymnwriter that Lowry is chiefly remembered, ranking with such as W. H. Doane and Ira D. Sankey as one of the originators of a musical tradition that has lasted until the modern era of revival.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 12, 1826 (Philadelphia), Died November 25, 1899 (Plainfield)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1896 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist

= 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 918 7-in. 5/4/1896 Where is my boy to night Artists vary Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Berliner 0357 7-in. c. 1899 I need thee every hour Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet composer  
Berliner 0382 7-in. July 1899- Aug. 1899 Where is my wandering boy tonight Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet composer, lyricist  
Berliner 0667 7-in. 10/24/1899 Where is my wandering boy tonight? Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]605 7-in. 1/8/1901 Where is my wandering boy tonight? Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo, with organ composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]702 7-in. 2/23/1901 I need Thee every hour Christopher H. H. Booth Chimes solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1315 7-in. 3/12/1902 Where is my wandering boy to-night Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1315 10-in. 3/12/1902 Where is my wandering boy to-night Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet composer  
Victor A-339 7-in. 8/24/1903 I need Thee every hour Walter B. Rogers ; Sousa's Band Cornet solo, with band composer  
Victor B-339 10-in. 8/24/1903 I need Thee every hour Walter B. Rogers ; Sousa's Band Cornet solo, with band composer  
Victor A-649 7-in. 11/6/1903 Where is my wandering boy tonight? Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor A-1241 7-in. 4/21/1904 Where is my boy tonight? Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet composer  
Victor B-1241 10-in. 4/21/1904 Where is my boy tonight? Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet composer  
Victor A-1386 7-in. 5/31/1904 I need Thee every hour Christopher H. H. Booth Chimes composer  
Victor A-1730 7-in. 10/4/1904 Where is my boy to-night? Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet, with organ composer  
Victor B-1730 10-in. 10/4/1904 Where is my boy to-night? Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet, with organ composer  
Victor B-2452 10-in. 4/6/1905 Where is my boy to-night Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor E-2452 8-in. 9/12/1906 Where is my boy to-night? Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-2591 10-in. 6/1/1905 I need Thee ev'ry hour John H. Bieling ; Harry Macdonough Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-2700 10-in. 8/7/1905 All the way my Saviour leads me Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo, with organ composer  
Victor B-6003 10-in. 3/2/1908 Christ arose Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-6740 10-in. 1/21/1909 Shall we gather at the river Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor B-6748 10-in. 1/25/1909 All the way my Saviour leads me Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-14212 10-in. 12/18/1913 Where is my boy to-night Evan Williams Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor B-14695 10-in. 4/9/1914 I need Thee every hour Lucy Isabelle Marsh ; John McCormack Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with orchestra composer  
Victor B-14848 10-in. 5/20/1914 I need Thee every hour Alma Gluck ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra composer  
Victor B-18043 10-in. 6/30/1916 Where is my boy to-night Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor C-18700 12-in. 11/6/1916 Gospel songs no. 4 Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-21580 10-in. 3/15/1918 Yeg traenger dig hver etund Eleonora Olson Female vocal solo, with organ composer  
Victor B-21697 10-in. 5/2/1918 I need Thee every hour Albert Campbell ; Harry McClaskey Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-21697 10-in. 5/22/1925 I need Thee every hour Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-27338 10-in. 12/22/1922 Christ arose Shannon Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-27338 10-in. 7/1/1925 Christ arose! Shannon Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-27554 10-in. 2/16/1923 Shall we gather at the river Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-30749 10-in. 9/4/1924 Where is my boy to-night Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-30749 10-in. 6/16/1926 Where is my boy to-night? Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-37940 10-in. 2/21/1927 Christ arose Sheffield Male Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied composer  
Victor BVE-38068 10-in. 6/1/1927 Where is my boy to-night? Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and pipe organ composer  
Victor BVE-39776 10-in. 8/5/1927 At the river Tennessee Mountaineers Mixed vocal chorus composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-51892 10-in. 10/28/1929 Medley of Christian Science hymns Claude E. Saunier Organ solo composer  
Victor BVE-62458 10-in. 5/28/1930 I need Thee every hour Marion Talley Female vocal solo, with organ composer  
Victor BS-75811 10-in. 5/3/1933 Where is my boy tonight? Smilin' Ed McConnell Male vocal solo, with organ composer, lyricist  
Victor BS-75825 10-in. 5/3/1933 Where is my boy to-night? Smilin' Ed. McConnell Male vocal solo, with organ composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-82888 10-in. 8/2/1934 Christ arose! Buice Brothers Male vocal quartet, with piano composer, lyricist  
Victor BS-06187 10-in. 3/11/1937 Where is my boy tonight? Wilf Carter Male vocal solo, with guitar and yodeling composer  
Columbia 199 7-in. ca. 1901 Where is my wandering boy tonight Artists vary Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Columbia 199 10-in. approximately 1901 Where is my wandering boy tonight Artists vary Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Columbia 443 7-in. ca. 1901-Sept. 1902 I need Thee every hour S. C. Porter Chimes solo composer  
Columbia 443 10-in. ca. 1901 I need Thee every hour S. C. Porter Chimes solo composer  
Columbia 1780 10-in. ca. Jan.-Apr. 1904 I need Thee every hour Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with organ composer  
Columbia 3149 10-in. ca. Jan.-May 1905 One more day's work for Jesus Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with organ composer  
Columbia 4536 10-in. approximately June 1910 I need Thee every hour Archibald Brothers' Quartette Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied composer  
Columbia 39177 10-in. 1/8/1914 Where is my wandering boy tonight? Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Columbia 46388 10-in. 2/8/1916 I need Thee every hour Columbia Stellar Quartette Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied composer  
Columbia 77216 10-in. 7/17/1917 Where is my wandering boy tonight? Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Columbia 79404 10-in. 9/7/1921 I need Thee every hour Cyrena Van Gordon Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 79744 10-in. 3/1/1921 Shall we gather at the river Cyrena Van Gordon Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia 81835 10-in. 6/19/1924 Shall we gather at the river? Mrs. William Asher ; Homer A. Rodeheaver Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia 140011 10-in. 9/10/1924 Where is my wandering boy tonight Riley Puckett Male vocal solo, with guitar composer, lyricist  
Columbia 140295 10-in. 1/29/1925 Shall we gather at the river Alcoa Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied composer, lyricist  
Columbia 30200 12-in. ca. 1908-Feb. 1909 Nothing but the blood of Jesus Metropolitan Trio Mixed vocal trio, with organ composer, lyricist  
Columbia W140588 10-in. 5/5/1925 I need Thee every hour Oscar Seagle Baritone vocal solo, with organ composer  
Columbia W141639 10-in. 2/16/1926 Where is my wandering boy tonight Vernon Dalhart Male vocal solo, with violin and organ lyricist, composer  
Columbia W144401 10-in. 6/23/1927 Where is my wandering boy to-night? Ford and Glenn Male vocal duet, with organ lyricist, composer  
Columbia W144605 10-in. 9/6/1927 I need Thee every hour American Singers Male vocal quartet composer  
Columbia 90147 10-in. between 1918 and 1925 Columbia, the gem of the ocean Columbia Band Band composer  
Columbia C4402 10-in. 2/22/1945 Where is my boy tonight? Old Hickory Singers ; Claude Sharpe Male vocal quartet, with piano, bass, and guitar composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO41615 10-in. 7/30/1949 Shall we gather at the river Chuck Wagon Gang Mixed vocal quartet, with guitar composer, lyricist  
OKeh 312 10-in. ca. Aug. 1918 Where is my boy tonight? Frederick J. Wheeler Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
OKeh S-7480 10-in. June 1920 I need Thee every hour Charles Henry ; James Jordon Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
OKeh S-7754 10-in. Feb. 1921 Where is my boy tonight Elliott Shaw Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
OKeh 8693 10-in. Aug. 26, 1924 Shall we gather at the river J. Douglas Swagerty ; Mrs. J. Douglas Swagerty Female-male vocal duet, with piano composer, lyricist  
OKeh W80952 10-in. 6/1/1927 Where is my wandering boy tonight? Giddens Sisters Female vocal trio, with mandolin and guitar composer, lyricist  
Brunswick 2017 10-in. approximately July 1918 I need Thee every hour Harry McClaskey ; Marie Morrisey Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 2086 10-in. approximately July 1918 All the way my Saviour leads me Harry McClaskey ; Marie Morrisey Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick [Br cat 5099-b] 10-in. approximately mid-1917 Where is my wandering boy tonight Inez Barbour ; Frank Croxton ; Harry McClaskey ; Marie Morrisey Mixed vocal quartet, with organ composer, lyricist  
Brunswick 4694-4695 10-in. approximately Nov. 1920 Christ arose Collegiate Choir Mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 11698-11700 10-in. 10/23/1923 Where is my boy tonight? Marie Tiffany Female vocal solo, with mixed vocal ensemble and orchestra composer  
Brunswick 11964-11967 10-in. 11/24/1923 I need Thee every hour Theo Karle ; Marie Tiffany Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 13960-13962 10-in. 10/15/1924 Where is my boy tonight? John Charles Thomas Baritone vocal solo and male vocal trio, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Brunswick E27575 10-in. 5/23/1928 I need Thee every hour Marie Morrisey ; Frank Munn Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E30054 10-in. June 1929 Shall we gather at the river Kanawha Singers Male vocal quartet, with organ lyricist, composer  
Brunswick E30168 10-in. 6/20/1929 Nothing but the blood of Jesus Old Southern Sacred Singers Male vocal quartet, with organ composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E4981-E4982 10-in. 5/10/1927 Shall we gather at the river? Dixie Sacred Singers Male vocal trio, with instrumental trio composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E15964-E15965 10-in. 6/15/1925 Shall we gather at the river Homer A. Rodeheaver Male vocal solo, with organ lyricist, composer  
Brunswick E16023-E16024 10-in. 6/20/1925 Shall we gather at the river Homer A. Rodeheaver Male vocal solo, with organ lyricist, composer  
Brunswick E24853-E24854 10-in. 10/21/1927 Where is my boy tonight? John Charles Thomas Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E25618-E25619 10-in. 12/15/1927 Where is my boy, tonight? Robert A. Gardner ; Lester McFarland Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin lyricist, composer  
Brunswick E16023-E16024; E16019 10-in. 6/19/1925 Shall we gather at the river Homer A. Rodeheaver Male vocal solo, with brass quartet and organ lyricist, composer  
Brunswick 689W-690W 10-in. 4/14/1925 Where is my boy tonight Sidney J. Harkreader Male vocal solo, with guitar composer, lyricist  
Edison 816 Not documented 10/16/1911 Where is my wandering boy Irving Gillette Tenor vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison 1056 10-in. 6/5/1912 Where is my wandering boy tonight? Charles Hackett Tenor vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with chorus composer, lyricist  
Edison 4772 10-in. 6/6/1916 Where is my wandering boy to-night Walter Van Brunt Tenor vocal solo and mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Edison 5294 10-in. 1/16/1917 Shall we gather at the river Metropolitan Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Edison 8049 10-in. 6/6/1921 I need Thee every hour Metropolitan Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
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 composer  
Edison 18213 10-in. 2/3/1928 Christ arose Metropolitan Quartet Mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer  
Edison 18958 10-in. 12/21/1928 Where is my wand'ring boy to-night Vernon Dalhart Male vocal solo, with organ composer, lyricist  
Edison N-112 10-in. 2/3/1928 Christ arose Metropolitan Quartet Mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer  
Edison N-649 10-in. 12/21/1928 Where is my wand'ring boy to-night Vernon Dalhart Male vocal solo, with organ composer, lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lowry, Robert," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103429.

Lowry, Robert. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103429.

"Lowry, Robert." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103429

External Sources

Wikipedia: Robert Lowry

Grove: Robert Lowry

RISM: Robert Lowry

IMDb: Robert Lowry

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Lowry, Robert, 1826-1899 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n81150311

Wikidata: Robert Lowry - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2158096

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/3807105

MusicBrainz: Robert Lowry - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a3b8a344-1487-4448-8867-347494b91030

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/84568

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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