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Norman J. Clayton

1903 - 1992 Composer of "[While Jesus whispers to you]" in The All-Girl Trio & Choir No. 4 Norman John Clayton Born at Brooklyn, NY, the 9th of 10 children, he gave his heart to Jesus at age six at South Brooklyn Gospel Church, his mother being a founding member of the Baptist group. He was musically inclined, and became church organist at age 12, and also played trumpet. He remained an organist for the rest of his life. A songwriter, he usually began writing the music before the words. He would memorize scripture to assure his music was biblically-based. Much of what he wrote was for special occasions. When young he first worked on a dairy farm, then held an office job in NYC. Clayton entered the building trades industry, working for his father’s construction business, and during the depression, with a commercial bakery. He married Martha Adaline Wistendahl, and they had two children: Muriel and one other (no name found). In the early 1940s, Jack Wyrtzen invited him to be an organist with NYC ‘Word of Life’ rallies. For 15 years he provided music, was organist, vibraphonist, director of the inquiry room, and radio evangelist. He created his own publishing house, and from 1945-1959 he published 30 of his own songbooks. His company was eventually purchased by the Rodeheaver Company, and he joined them as a writer/editor, providing other songs during that period. He died at Carmel, NY. John Perry

H. R. Palmer

1834 - 1907 Composer of "[While Jesus whispers to you]" in Living Hymns Palmer, Horatio Richmond, MUS. DOC, was born April 26, 1834. He is the author of several works on the theory of music; and the editor of some musical editions of hymnbooks. To the latter he contributed numerous tunes, some of which have attained to great popularity, and 5 of which are in I. D. Sankey's Sacred Songs and Solos, London, 1881. His publications include Songs of Love for the Bible School; and Book of Anthems, the combined sale of which has exceeded one million copies. As a hymnwriter he is known by his "Yield not to temptation," which was written in 1868, and published in the National Sunday School Teachers' Magazine, from which it passed, with music by the author, into his Songs of Love, &c, 1874, and other collections. In America its use is extensive. Dr. Palmer's degree was conferred by the University of Chicago in 1880. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) =============== Palmer, H. R., p. 877, i. The hymn "Would you gain the best in life" (Steadfastness), in the Congregational Sunday School Supplement, 1891, the Council School Hymn Book, 1905, and others, is by this author. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

Helen C. A. Dixon

1877 - 1969 Person Name: Mrs. C. M. Alexander Author of "While Jesus Whispers to You" in The Christian Hymnary. Bks. 1-4 Dixon, Helen Cadbury Alexander (b. 1877, Birmingham, Eng.; d. Mar. 1, 1969, Birmingham, Eng.) was the daughter of Richard Cadbury, a prominent British industrialist and philanthropist who was a member of the Quaker fellowship and keenly interested in evangelical mission work; attended the university and spent some time in Germany, studying music and language; in 1904 married Charles M. Alexander, songleader with evangelist R. A. Torrey; traveled with her husband and assisted him in his worldwide ministry with both Torrey and J. Wilbur Chapman (q.v.) until his death in 1920; assisted J. Kennedy Maclean in writing the biography, Charles M. Alexander: A Romance of Song and Soul-Winning, 1921; in 1924 married Amsji C. Dixon. Don Hustad, DNAH Archives

William Ellsworth Witter

1854 - 1931 Person Name: Will E. Witter Author of "While Jesus Whispers to You" in Living Hymns Witter, Will Ellsworth, was born Dec. 9, 1854, near La Grange, New York, and educated at the Genessee State Normal School, New York, and the University of Rochester. From the latter he passed in 1880 to the Rochester Baptist Theological Seminary, and in 1884 he entered the Baptist Ministry. He has written several songs and poems, one of which:— While Jesus whispers to you (The Divine Call) has come into somewhat prominent use. It was written in July 1878, and originated mainly in the great anxiety of the author respecting two of his pupils. In 1878 it was set to music by H. R. Palmer, and included in his Book of Anthems, 1878: from whence it passed into Good as Gold, and I. D. Sankey's Sacred Songs and Solos, London 1881. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)