Charles E. Moody

Charles E. Moody

Charles Ernest Moody was a gospel songwriter from Gordon County, Georgia, United States. He was a member of the string band The Georgia Yellow Hammers from Calhoun, Georgia which included members Bill Chitwood, Bud Landress, and Phill Reeves.[1] The Yellow Hammers were a very popular string band with their biggest hit being "Picture on the Wall" which sold more than sixty thousand copies in 1928.[2] Moody's songwriting talents were very dynamic, however.

After the Yellow Hammers disbanded, Moody was the choir director of the Calhoun First Methodist Church for many years.[3] As a gospel songwriter, he is most widely known for hits such as "Kneel at the Cross" and "Drifting too Far From the Shore". Moody was born October 8, 1891, and died in 1977 at the age of 87.[4]

The Georgia Yellow Hammers, 1921

Songs

Moody's songs have been recorded by many famous artists including the Grateful Dead. Songs like "Kneel and the Cross" (1924) and "Drifting Too Far From the Shore" (1923)[5][6] are gospel standards.[7]

It is estimated that he wrote and published hundreds of songs.

References

  1. ^ http://facesofgordoncounty.com/charlesmoody.html Faces of Gordon County
  2. ^ Daniel, Wayne W. Pickin’ on Peachtree. Chicago: U of Illinois, 2001. Print.
  3. ^ http://facesofgordoncounty.com/charlesmoody.html Faces of Gordon County
  4. ^ http://nfo.net/calendar/oct08.htm Big Bands Database Plus
  5. ^ http://www.whitegum.com/introjs.htm?/songfile/DRIFTING.HTM Grateful Dead Lyric and Song Finder
  6. ^ http://facesofgordoncounty.com/charlesmoody.html Faces of Gordon County
  7. ^ http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2696 New Georgia Encyclopedia


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