Introduction

Biography

Slater was the son of Al­fred Ri­chard Slat­er, a brass found­er, and Ma­ry Ann Smith.

Known as the fa­ther of Sal­va­tion Army (SA) mu­sic, he joined an SA drum and fife band at age se­ven.

He went on to learn to play the vio­lin, and be­came a mu­sic teach­er and mem­ber of the Royal Al­bert Hall Or­ches­tral So­ci­ety.

Converted to Christ in 1882, he be­gan work­ing in the SA Mu­sic De­part­ment at Clap­ton, ris­ing to the rank of bri­ga­dier, and re­tir­ing in 1913.

Works

He wrote ov­er 500 songs, and pro­duced:

• Dictionary of Mu­sic, cir­ca 1908
• Sal­va­tion Ar­my Song Writ­ers, 1929