John W. Peterson, Composer of Gospel Hymns, 84, Dies

  John W. Peterson, Composer of Gospel Hymns, 84, Dies

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: October 3, 2006

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 2 (AP) — John W. Peterson, who wrote more than 1,000 gospel hymns in a musical career that began before World War II, died at his home here on Wednesday. He was 84.

The cause was cancer, said Derek Beach, a funeral director with Messinger Indian School Mortuary in Scottsdale.

Mr. Peterson’s songs included “It Took a Miracle,” “Over the Sunset Mountains” and “So I Send You.”

Mr. Peterson headed his own music publishing businesses in Scottsdale since moving to Arizona in the 1970’s. Earlier, he was for more than 10 years the president of Singspiration, a sacred-music publishing company in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Born Nov. 1, 1921, in Lindsborg, Kan., he served as an Army Air Forces transport pilot in the war.

After leaving the service, he graduated from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and moved to Montrose, Pa., for a job as music director for Singspiration. He later led the organization before moving to Scottsdale and helping found Good Life Productions and later starting his own John W. Peterson Music Co.

He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1986.

John W. Peterson (1921-2006) was born in Lindsborg, Kansas, and began his musical career while he was still in his teens.  During World War II, he served as an Army Air Force pilot flying the famed "China Hump."  Later, he attended Moody Bible Institute and served on the radio staff there for a number of years.  In 1953, he graduated from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and shortly thereafter settled in Pennsylvania to continue his songwriting career.  He then moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where for over ten years he was President and Editor-in-Chief of Singspiration, a sacred music publishing company.  He also served on the board of Gospel Films, Inc. of Muskegon, Michigan for several years.  Later hemoved to Scottsdale, Arizona where he continued his writing and and co-founded Good Life Productions.  A few years later, the John W. Peterson Music Company was established.  During this time, he also served on the board of Family Life Radio Network in Tucson, Arizona.  He had wide experience as a choral director, and throughout his career was in great demand as a guest conductor of his own works. His music is loved and sung around the world.  Mr. Peterson has composed well over 1000 individual songs, including titles such as:  "It Took a Miracle," "Over the Sunset Mountains," "So Send I You," "Springs of Living Water," "Heaven Came Down," "Jesus Is Coming Again" and "Surely Goodness and Mercy."  In addition, he has written 35 cantatas and musicals.  Among these are "Night of Miracles," "Born a King," "No Greater Love," "Carol of Christmas," "Jesus Is Coming," "King of Kings," "Down from His Glory" and "The Last Week."  Approximately 10,000,000 copies of these cantatas and musicals have been published and sold. In 1967, the National Evangelical Film Foundation presented Mr. Peterson with the Sacred Music Award in recognition of his accomplishments in the field of sacred music.  In the same year, he received the honorary degree, Doctor of Sacred Music, from John Brown University.  In 1971, he received the honorary degree, Doctor of Divinity, from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon; and in 1979, he received the honorary degree, Doctor of Fine Arts, from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.  In 1977, his autobiography, "The Miracle Goes On," was published by Zondervan Publishing House, and a film by the same title was released by Gospel Films.  In 1986, Mr. Peterson was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and in 1996 at MusiCalifornia, he received the prestigious Ray DeVries Church Music Award.  He's listed in "Who's Who in America" and "Who's Who in the World."