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 51-75 of 100 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 51-75 of 100 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lowry, Robert," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103429.

Lowry, Robert. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103429.

"Lowry, Robert." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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