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 (Results 26-50 of 100 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 26-50 of 100 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lowry, Robert," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103429.

Lowry, Robert. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103429.

"Lowry, Robert." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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