John T. Benson

Mr. John T. Benson, Sr. was born on February 19, 1861 in the Edgefield community in east Nashville and was brought up in the Tulip Street Methodist Church where his father was a charter member. John T. and his wife were involved in the founding of an independent holiness church that later became the Church of the Nazarene. Mr. Benson served as minister of music, first in the mission and then in the Church. The Bensons wrote some gospel songs, but their greatest contribution was in the publishing and distribution of song books and hymnals. He founded the John T Benson Publishing Company in Nashville. John Sr. died on June 24, 1930 in Nashville.

NN, Hymnary. Source: http://www.gmahalloffame.org/speaker-lineup/john-t-benson-sr/