Ralph Carmichael      (QUIZ)
The Father of Contemporary Christian Music
Born: May 28, 1927, Quincy, Illinois

Ralph Carmichael grew up as the son of a Baptist minister in a musical home. His father ensured that young Carmichael had many private music lessons as a boy and as a youth, prior to his attending college at Southern California Bible College.

Carmichael was the Minister of Music at a Los Angeles Baptist Church when the Rock Revolution of the 1960's took hold. He relates that he wanted to write music his then teenage daughter could relate to. His compositions revolutionized the music of the Christian faith, and many have called him a heretic for it.

Carmichael also wrote many of the music scores for "World Wide Pictures" the motion picture company that produced full-length movies for Billy Graham.

Carmichael also is the founder of Light Records/Lexicon Music, which has launched the careers of many Christian musicians to include Andraé Crouch, Reba Rambo, and the Winans.

His contemporary hymn "Love Is Surrender" was recorded by The Carpenters on their album "Close to You" in 1970. Another one his hymns "Reach Out to Jesus" was recorded by Elvis Presley in 1971. 

Carmichael was inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1985.