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Richard Vernon Anthony Anthony (December 8, 1932 – December 20, 2019) was an American musician who composed, conducted, produced, sang and performed sacred music.

Background and personal life

Richard Vernon Anthony was born in Waukegan, Illinois, the second of five sons of Joseph and Ruth Anthony. He was born into a Baptist family which was very involved with religious music. His aunt was the organist for the Waukegan church his family attended and both of his parents were members of the church choir. He began studying music at age seven; his parents hoped he would be able to play for church services. He graduated in 1949 from Waukegan Township High School, attended Bethel College, St. Paul, Minnesota, and majored in vocal performance at American Conservatory of Music, Chicago. Anthony served in the U.S. Navy as a chaplain's assistant. He was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal; during his time on the carrier, Anthony organized and led a large choral group. Anthony, a baritone, is also a pianist and organist.

Anthony married Dorothy Bartlett, a harpist and educator in 1954. Dick and Dorothy had three children, Karyn, Scott and Cheryl.

Dick Anthony died in Fort Worth, Texas on December 20, 2019, at the age of 87.

Career

Radio and television

Anthony worked as a radio presenter with Jack Wyrtzen's "Word of Life" radio broadcasts and "Songtime" weekly show on the ABC television network from New York City. Anthony did not begin singing professionally until he became the arranger for the quartet who performed on the Word of Life. He joined the staff of Chicago radio station WMBI in 1952, performing about 25 broadcasts each week. He worked with gospel songwriter John W. Peterson on a daily radio program called "Cheer Up. Anthony also appeared on "The Songsters" and "Keep Praising" at WMBI. Anthony frequently performed duets with singer Bill Pearce on broadcasts, recordings and live concerts. Anthony and Pearce met when both worked at WMBI Radio; Pearce was also a member of WMBI's "The Melody Four" quartet. Both Anthony and Pearce also performed as members of "16 Singing Men".

In 1963 Anthony left WMBI and moved his family to Long Beach, California to direct music at the First Baptist Church of Lakewood. There they expanded the music program from a single choir to ten choirs involving 500 singers and musicians. Anthony left Long Beach in 1967 for an opportunity to work with the newly established television department of "Radio Bible Class". Anthony became the executive producer and musical director for the "Day of Discovery", a nationally syndicated television series, and for the "Radio Bible Class" ministry with Richard DeHaan. The telecasts originated first from St. Petersburg, Florida and later from Winter Haven, Florida. The radio broadcasts came from Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1983 Anthony produced a television series called " Praise Song" for the Southern Baptist Radio and TV Commission. It consisted of various musicians (including 16 Singing Men, Bruce McCoy and Kim Boyce) performing Christian songs in unusual settings. It was broadcast on the ACTS TV network.

Composing, producing, arranging and conducting

Anthony was arranger, accompanist and orchestral conductor for other musicians and for several albums with "The Melody Four" quartet. He organized, arranged and conducted about a dozen albums with "16 Singing Men" for Word Records and Zondervan Records. In all, in recording studios in Chicago, Hollywood and London, he produced more than 100 Christian music albums. Anthony published more than 30 collections of original compositions and arrangements for various vocal and instrumental groups, including four cantatas and a youth musical.

Anthony received many offers to work with non-religious music, but was not interested as he preferred to work solely with religious music. He had no bias against secular music and often arranged and composed his religious music with an ear toward popular music as he saw it as a way to reach people. In 1965, he opened Anthony Publishing Company/Anthony Music in Long Beach, which published both religious music and books about it.

Performing

Anthony performed in concert, first with Bill Pearce, "The Melody Four" and "16 Singing Men", and, in later years, with his wife and family. He performed internationally with Lareau Lindquist and the mission organization "Barnabas International", including at Carnegie Hall and Chicago's Orchestra Hall. At Royal Albert Hall he was guest soloist and conductor of a 1000 voice choir. Anthony also performed regularly on a Sunday music program of BBC Radio. He has also performed in remote locations in South America and Africa. From 1985 to 1995, he was artist-in-residence at Northwestern College in St. Paul Minnesota, performing daily radio programs on the college's 10 radio stations as well as lecturing and tutoring on musical composition, arranging and piano improvisation. During the summers of 1987-93 Anthony directed music sessions and conducted evening concerts for the Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference in Muskegon, Michigan.

Retirement and recognition

In 1995 Anthony retired to Fort Worth, Texas where he served for 14 years as organist at Birchman Baptist Church. In 2015, Anthony was recognized for his years of work with Moody Radio with a Media Award from the National Religious Broadcasters.

Discography

Notes

1. His brother is the entertainer Al Anthony.
2. The chorale group performed and recorded under other various names: The Choristers, Dick Anthony's Singing Men, the Radio Bible Class Men of Music and Billy Graham's Hour of Decision Crusader Men, among them.

References

1. ^ "Religious Music on Commercial Rise, Naras Told". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 3 November 1962. pp. 38–. ISSN 0006-2510.
2. "Sacred Reviews". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (19 June 1954). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 44–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
3. ^ Cook, Marlene (February 7, 1982). "Al Anthony is riding the crest of popularity with his Superstars". Midlothian Star Herald. p. 22. Retrieved December 6, 2017 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
4. ^ Rodney, Les (August 28, 1965). "Unusual Music Minister". Independent. p. 11. Retrieved December 5, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ "Talented Duo in Appearance Friday at EC". Springfield Leader and Press. November 29, 1967. p. 20. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Sacred Program Set For Tonight". Holland Evening Sentinel. April 27, 1959. p. 3. Retrieved December 6, 2017 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
7. ^ "Dick Anthony Family Sets Concert at Center". Elizabethtown Chronicle. July 10, 1975. p. 9. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Recording Artists To Appear in Concern at Riverdale Baptist". The Pointer. December 28, 1961. p. 14. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "TV Artist to Appear Locally". The Daily Journal. September 25, 1969. p. 5. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Musical family group to give concert in Bridgewater". The Central New Jersey Home News. July 18, 1981. p. 4. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "An evening of religious music with the Dick Anthony family Tuesday". Ukiah Daily Journal. August 16, 1981. p. 11. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Richard Vernon Anthony". Legacy. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
13. "Musical Program Set By Baptists". The Port Arthur News. April 6, 1977. p. 19. Retrieved December 5, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "News and reviews of new albums". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (27 February 1965). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 42–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
15. ^ Jim Ruark (11 October 2011). The House of Zondervan: Celebrating 75 Years. Zondervan. pp. 102–. ISBN 978-0-310-86627-5.
16. ^ "Artist Will Give Sacred Concert Here". The News-Palladium. August 24, 1963. p. 5. Retrieved December 5, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Reviews of new sacred albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 29 May 1954. pp. 60–. ISSN 0006-2510.
18. "Reviews and ratings of new albums". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (27 June 1960). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 33–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
19. "Nightsounds with Bill Pearce". Bill Pearce Associates. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
20. Yeo, Douglas (February 2010). "An Interview With Bill Pearce". Online Trombone Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
21. "Hall of Honor: Melody Four Quartet". Homecoming Magazine. August 1, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
22. ^ "Performers to Sing in Sacred Concert". South Holland Star Tribune. October 21, 1971. p. 6. Retrieved December 6, 2017 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
23. "To Produce TV Bible Shows". Independent Press Telegram. September 23, 1967. p. 13. Retrieved December 6, 2017 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
24. ^ "Radio Class Offers Bible Series". The Tampa Times. March 2, 1968. p. 4. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
25. ^ "Dick Anthony To Perform in Christian Artist Series". The Missoulian. September 14, 1974. p. 4. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
26. Shackton, Cathy (January 28, 1984). "Around Town". Tampa Bay Times. p. 106. Retrieved December 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
27. ^ "Dick Anthony in Concert Immanuel Baptist Church". Wausau Daily Herald. December 1, 1989. p. 17. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
28. ^ "Bible Church Hosts Couple". Hanover Evening Sun. November 28, 1966. p. 35. Retrieved December 6, 2017 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
29. Don Cusic (12 November 2009). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock, and Worship: Pop, Rock, and Worship. ABC-CLIO. pp. 356–. ISBN 978-0-313-34426-8.
30. "News and reviews of new albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 16 March 1959. pp. 55–. ISSN 0006-2510.
31. "Sacred Concert in Boone May 20". Boone News Republican. May 6, 1966. p. 5. Retrieved December 6, 2017 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
32. "Group in Concert of Sacred Music". The Times. January 30, 1970. p. 18. Retrieved December 5, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
33. "NRB Announces 2015 Media Award Recipients". Narional Religious Broadcasters. December 18, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
34. "NRB Honors Recipients of the 2015 NRB Milestone Award". National Religious Broadcasters. March 12, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
35. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (May 29, 1954). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 60. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
36. "Goings On". Independent. March 19, 1966. p. 7. Retrieved December 4, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
37. "Billboard Album Reviews - 4 Star". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 3 May 1969. pp. 51–. ISSN 0006-2510.
38. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (November 2, 1959). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 63. ISSN 0006-2510. dick anthony music. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
39. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (May 2, 1964). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 24. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
40. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (August 24, 1963). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 40. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)

• Hammond Times - Vol.31, Number 6, 1969 - "Day of Discovery"
• Ludington Daily News (1982) - "Music Director, Dick Anthony - Day of Discovery"

External links

• Dick Anthony at Discogs

• 1932 births
• 2019 deaths
• American gospel singers
• People from Waukegan, Illinois
• United States military musicians
• Singers from Illinois
• American male organists
• 21st-century American organists
• 21st-century American male musicians