1887–1974

Introduction

Born: March 6, 1887, on Beck­ett Mount­ain, Rose Bud, Ar­kan­sas.

Died: De­cem­ber 6, 1974, Rose Bud, Ar­kan­sas.

Buried: St. Mary’s Ce­me­te­ry, Rose Bud, Ar­kan­sas.

portrait

Biography

Presley was the son of James Tho­mas Pres­ley and Nan­cy Brooks. He mar­ried twice, to Ju­lia Mag­da­line Ying­ling (1911) and Lo­re­na Hen­der­son (1923).

He at­tende­d his first mu­sic school at age 14, and is said to have writ­ten ov­er 1,500 songs. He be­gan work­ing for the Stamps-Bax­ter pub­lish­ers in 1930.

He was in­duct­ed in­to the South­ern Gos­pel Mu­sic As­so­cia­tion Hall of Fame in 2008.

Sources

Lyrics

  1. When the Saints Go March­ing In

Music

  1. Beautiful Pray­er, A
  2. Friend Like You, A
  3. I’d Ra­ther Have Je­sus
  4. I’m Find­ing Glo­ry

Help Needed

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