[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 111 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S10000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 170--RECOGNIZING LAWRENCEBURG, TENNESSEE, AS THE 
                  BIRTHPLACE OF SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC

  Mr. THOMPSON submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 170

       Whereas Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, is the home of many of the 
     first major southern gospel music songwriters, including such 
     songwriters as James D. Vaughan, Adger Pace, James Rowe, G. 
     T. Speer, and William Walbert;
       Whereas Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, is the home of the first 
     professional southern gospel music quartet, which was founded 
     by James D. Vaughan in 1910;
       Whereas Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, is the home of the first 
     southern gospel music radio station WOAN, which was founded 
     in 1922;
       Whereas Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, is the home of the Vaughan 
     School of Music, which helped train the first generation of 
     southern gospel music artists and songwriters, including V. 
     O. Stamps, Frank Stamps, the LeFevers, and the Speers;
       Whereas Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, is the home of the Vaughan 
     Family Visitor, the first influential southern gospel music 
     newspaper which was published from 1914 to 1964;
       Whereas Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, is the home of the James 
     D. Vaughan Music Company, which has published millions of 
     shape-note southern gospel music songbooks from the date of 
     its founding in 1902 until 1964; and
       Whereas the Southern Gospel Music Association recognizes 
     Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, as the official birthplace of 
     southern gospel music; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved

     SECTION 1. RECOGNITION OF LAWRENCEBURG, TENNESSEE AS THE 
                   BIRTHPLACE OF SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC.

       The Senate--
       (1) recognizes Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, as the birthplace 
     of southern gospel music; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     honoring Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, as such a birthplace.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, today I rise to submit a resolution 
recognizing my hometown of Lawrenceburg, TN, as the official birthplace 
of Southern Gospel Music.
  Lawrenceburg is not a large town by any means, nor is it altogether 
prominent in the political landscape. What this humble town lacks in 
size, however, it more than makes up for with its importance in the 
history of American music. Since the turn of the 20th century, 
Lawrenceburg has been the home of Southern Gospel Music, a musical 
tradition embraced and perpetuated by talented and dedicated artists.
  The roots of Southern Gospel Music reach back to some of the most 
gifted songwriters of our time, such as Adger Pace, James Rowe, G.T. 
Speer, William Walbert, and the great James D. Vaughan. Vaughan went on 
to found the first Southern Gospel Music quartet in Lawrenceburg in 
1910. He also founded, in Lawrenceburg, the Vaughan School of Music and 
the James D. Vaughan Music Company. This school helped train the first 
generation of Southern Gospel Music artists, such as V.O. Stamps, Frank 
Stamps, the Speers, and the LeFevers, while the music company published 
millions of shape-note Southern Gospel Music songbooks during its 
existence from 1902 until 1964.
  Lawrenceburg was also integral in getting the word out to the world 
that Southern Gospel Music was on its way. Along with the many 
traveling quartets originating from the training ground of the Vaughan 
School of Music, Lawrenceburg was the home of the first influential 
Southern Gospel Music newspaper, The Vaughan Family Visitor, which 
began publication in 1914. Eight short years later the first Southern 
Gospel Music radio station WOAN was founded, also in Lawrenceburg.
  With the endorsement of the Southern Gospel Music Association, which 
has designated Lawrenceburg the birthplace of Southern Gospel Music, I 
proudly ask my colleagues to support this resolution recognizing 
Lawrenceburg, TN, as the official birthplace of Southern Gospel Music.

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