[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 95 (Tuesday, June 25, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     DEATH OF RALPH H. GOODPASTEUR

 Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, on June 20, 1996, the First 
Church of Deliverance in Chicago lost a minister of music and music 
director who had brought great joy, great energy, and great 
spirituality to its services for over 48 years. On that same date, 
gospel music lost an innovator, and a tremendous talent, a singer, 
pianist, composer, and arranger who performed with such great artists 
as Mahalia Jackson, Ethel Waters, Earl ``Fatha'' Hines, Sally Martin, 
and Nat King Cole.
  Ralph H. Goodpasteur died on June 20, 1996. His death is a great loss 
to the First Church of Deliverance, to its ministers, staff, and 
congregation, to gospel music, to his relatives, and to his legions of 
friends.
  Ralph Goodpasteur was born on December 12, 1923, in Columbus, IN. He 
was educated in the public schools in Richmond, IN. He was a graduate 
of the University of Southern California, with a degree in English and 
music, and George Williams College, where he received a masters degree 
in music.
  His musical ability was apparent at an early age, and he began a 
musical career at age 7. His church life dates back almost as long as 
his musical interests. He was baptized at the Second Baptist Church at 
age 7. His entire life was spent combining those two great loves. 
Religious music, songs of praise and spiritual uplifting, were all part 
of his special gift, one that he shared with millions.
  In 1943, he became pianist and director of the gospel choir of the 
Grant A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles, CA. In 1948, however, my home town 
of Chicago, IL was fortunate enough to become Ralph Goodpasteur's home 
town.
  In Chicago, he brought life and joy, not just to the congregation at 
the First Church of Deliverance, but to every life he touched. His 
impact on his community was enormous. The love, the admiration, and the 
respect his adopted home town of Chicago had for him was evidenced by 
the fact that Mayor Harold Washington of Chicago issued a proclamation 
making October 4, 1987, Ralph Goodpasteur day. He has been recognized 
for his many contributions by institutions ranging from the Chicago 
Historical Society to the Smithsonian Institution to academic 
institutions throughout the world.
  His life was a life of service to others, through his work in the 
church, and through his music generally. He was a wonderful gospel 
singer and composer, and used gospel music to move people, and to bring 
them closer to God. He was the first African-American to have a song 
published as a hymn in the 1975 edition of the National Baptist Hymnal, 
Southern Baptist Convention.
  He was a special friend to me personally. I called him Uncle Ralph, 
as did many others, and he gave of his time to help me in my election 
effort. ``Uncle Ralph'' helped in may ways, but most importantly, with 
campaign finance. He was good at that, and brought the same commitment 
to excellence to the task that he brought to every endeavor he 
undertook. I will miss him.
  Ralph Goodpasteur lived a life filled with accomplishment. He will be 
long remembered by all those who knew him, or who heard him perform. He 
has left all of us something very enduring, however; his legacy of 
music will live on and on for generations to come.
  I regret that all of my colleagues have not had the opportunity to 
come to know Ralph Goodpasteur. I urge every Member of this Senate to 
allow his wonderful music to become a part of their lives.

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