Janice Kapp Perry
Encyclopedia
Janice Kapp Perry is a well-known Latter-day Saint songwriter whose contributions have resulted in roughly 50 albums and songs in the LDS Church hymnal
, Children's Songbook
, and 70 Favorite Children's Songs.
, Utah
and lives in Provo
with her husband Douglas. She has five children and over a dozen grandchildren.
Perry received a degree from Brigham Young University
in 1960 then set it aside for almost 20 years while she raised her children.
In the late 1970s she got her "two lucky breaks" as she calls them when she broke her ankle playing basketball,
and simultaneously the family TV broke. While recuperating from her injuries, and with nothing to do, her bishop asked
her to write original music for the ward roadshow, which initiated her future musical success.
Perry served as a missionary
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Chile
with her husband from 2002 to 2004.
In 2007, Perry wrote children's songs about each one of the 15 presidents of the LDS Church. In early 2008, Perry set Church President Gordon B. Hinckley
's poem "What is this Thing Called Death" to music after one of her nieces died. This was done just in time for it to be sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
at Hinckley's funeral.
Perry composed the hymn "As Sisters in Zion" for the LDS Hymnbook
and has ten songs published in the Primary songbook. She has produced more than 50 albums of original music, numerous sacred cantatas, several full-length musicals, and her music is known world-wide throughout the Church. Her music has been performed by artists such as Gladys Knight
, Brooks & Dunn
, and The Osmonds-Second Generation and she has co-written with Senator Orrin Hatch
.
She retired from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
in 2000 after 5½ years. She received the Ricks College Exemplary Woman Award in 1994, and the BYU Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1997. She is the older sister to noted painter Gary Kapp. Her husband and Gary's sister are siblings. She and Douglas enjoy traveling around the nation doing firesides.
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
, Children's Songbook
Children's Songbook
The Children's Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official songbook for children in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was first published in English in 1989...
, and 70 Favorite Children's Songs.
Biography
Perry was born in OgdenOgden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and lives in Provo
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
with her husband Douglas. She has five children and over a dozen grandchildren.
Perry received a degree from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in 1960 then set it aside for almost 20 years while she raised her children.
In the late 1970s she got her "two lucky breaks" as she calls them when she broke her ankle playing basketball,
and simultaneously the family TV broke. While recuperating from her injuries, and with nothing to do, her bishop asked
her to write original music for the ward roadshow, which initiated her future musical success.
Perry served as a missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
with her husband from 2002 to 2004.
In 2007, Perry wrote children's songs about each one of the 15 presidents of the LDS Church. In early 2008, Perry set Church President Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
's poem "What is this Thing Called Death" to music after one of her nieces died. This was done just in time for it to be sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
at Hinckley's funeral.
Perry composed the hymn "As Sisters in Zion" for the LDS Hymnbook
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
and has ten songs published in the Primary songbook. She has produced more than 50 albums of original music, numerous sacred cantatas, several full-length musicals, and her music is known world-wide throughout the Church. Her music has been performed by artists such as Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
, Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn was an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, who were both vocalists and songwriters. They were paired by record producer Tim DuBois in 1990. Before the duo's foundation, both members of the duo were solo recording artists...
, and The Osmonds-Second Generation and she has co-written with Senator Orrin Hatch
Orrin Hatch
Orrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
.
She retired from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
in 2000 after 5½ years. She received the Ricks College Exemplary Woman Award in 1994, and the BYU Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1997. She is the older sister to noted painter Gary Kapp. Her husband and Gary's sister are siblings. She and Douglas enjoy traveling around the nation doing firesides.