B. D. Ackley
Encyclopedia
Bentley DeForest "B. D." Ackley (September 27, 1872, Spring Hill, Pennsylvania
– September 3, 1958, Winona Lake, Indiana
) was a prodigious American
musician and gospel composer.
His brother Alfred Henry "A. H." Ackley (January 21, 1887 – July 3, 1960) composed with him, and is credited with the popular hymn He Lives
. As a young man, B. D. had already learned several instruments, including the melodeon, piano, coronet, clarinet and piccolo. After moving to New York City
in 1888, he began playing the organ in churches.
In 1907, he joined Billy Sunday
and Homer Rodeheaver
, an evangelist team, as secretary-pianist, and traveled with them for eight years. As a composer and editor with the Rodeheaver Company, he wrote over 3,000 Gospel tunes.
"I met B. D. Ackley", fellow evangelist, Dr. Oswald J. Smith recalled, "in Buffalo, New York, where he was minister of music in the Churchill Tabernacle when I was preaching there one time. The first hymn I wrote with B. D. Ackley was Joy In Serving Jesus in 1931. From the time I met him and his brother, I stopped writing music altogether. They could write so much better."
.
Spring Hill, Pennsylvania
Spring Hill is a census-designated place in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 970 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Spring Hill is located at ....
– September 3, 1958, Winona Lake, Indiana
Winona Lake, Indiana
Winona Lake is a town in Wayne Township, Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,908 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Winona Lake is located at...
) was a prodigious American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician and gospel composer.
His brother Alfred Henry "A. H." Ackley (January 21, 1887 – July 3, 1960) composed with him, and is credited with the popular hymn He Lives
He Lives
"He Lives" is a Christian hymn, otherwise known by its first line, "I Serve a Risen Savior". It was composed in 1933 by Alfred Henry Ackley , and remains popular today....
. As a young man, B. D. had already learned several instruments, including the melodeon, piano, coronet, clarinet and piccolo. After moving to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1888, he began playing the organ in churches.
In 1907, he joined Billy Sunday
Billy Sunday
William Ashley "Billy" Sunday was an American athlete who, after being a popular outfielder in baseball's National League during the 1880s, became the most celebrated and influential American evangelist during the first two decades of the 20th century.Born into poverty in Iowa, Sunday spent some...
and Homer Rodeheaver
Homer Rodeheaver
Homer Alvan Rodeheaver was an American evangelist, music director, music publisher, composer of gospel songs, and pioneer in the recording of sacred music.- Early career :...
, an evangelist team, as secretary-pianist, and traveled with them for eight years. As a composer and editor with the Rodeheaver Company, he wrote over 3,000 Gospel tunes.
"I met B. D. Ackley", fellow evangelist, Dr. Oswald J. Smith recalled, "in Buffalo, New York, where he was minister of music in the Churchill Tabernacle when I was preaching there one time. The first hymn I wrote with B. D. Ackley was Joy In Serving Jesus in 1931. From the time I met him and his brother, I stopped writing music altogether. They could write so much better."
Death
B. D. Ackley died in 1958, aged 85, and was interred in the Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw, IndianaWarsaw, Indiana
Warsaw is a city in and the county seat of Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States. Cradled among Winona Lake, Pike Lake, Hidden Lake and Center Lake, Warsaw is nicknamed "Lake City," though other cities in the surrounding area are also referred to by that nickname...
.
External links
- Biography & works at the Cyber Hymnal
- New York Times abstract
- NPH website
- The Interpreter's Friend website
- Wheaton College archives