Dick Anthony (musician) explained

Richard Vernon Anthony Anthony (December 8, 1932 – December 20, 2019) was an American musician who composed, conducted, produced,[1] sang[2] 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.[3] His aunt was the organist for the Waukegan church his family attended and both of his parents were members of the church choir.[4] He began studying music at age seven; his parents hoped he would be able to play for church services.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] Anthony, a baritone, is also a pianist and organist.

Anthony married Dorothy Bartlett, a harpist and educator[6] in 1954. Dick and Dorothy had three children, Karyn,[6] Scott and Cheryl.

Dick Anthony died in Fort Worth, Texas on December 20, 2019, at the age of 87.[7]

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.[4] [8] Anthony did not begin singing professionally until he became the arranger for the quartet who performed on the Word of Life.[9] He joined the staff of Chicago radio station WMBI in 1952, performing about 25 broadcasts each week.[10] [4] [11] He worked with gospel songwriter John W. Peterson on a daily radio program called "Cheer Up.[12] Anthony also appeared on "The Songsters" and "Keep Praising" at WMBI.[13] Anthony frequently performed duets with singer Bill Pearce on broadcasts, recordings and live concerts.[14] [15] [11] [16] Anthony and Pearce met when both worked at WMBI Radio; Pearce was also a member of WMBI's "The Melody Four" quartet.[17] [18] Both Anthony and Pearce also performed as members of "16 Singing Men".[19]

In 1963 Anthony left WMBI and moved his family to Long Beach, California to direct music at the First Baptist Church of Lakewood.[13] [4] [20] There they expanded the music program from a single choir to ten choirs involving 500 singers and musicians.[4] Anthony left Long Beach in 1967 for an opportunity to work with the newly established television department of "Radio Bible Class".[21] 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.[11] [22] The telecasts originated first from St. Petersburg, Florida[23] 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.[24]

Composing, producing, arranging and conducting

Anthony was arranger, accompanist and orchestral conductor for other musicians and for several albums with "The Melody Four" quartet.[20] He organized, arranged and conducted about a dozen albums with "16 Singing Men" for Word Records[25] [26] [1] 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,[27] 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.[4] In 1965, he opened Anthony Publishing Company/Anthony Music in Long Beach, which published both religious music and books about it.[4] [28] [29]

Performing

Anthony performed in concert, first with Bill Pearce,[20] "The Melody Four" and "16 Singing Men", and, in later years, with his wife and family.[30] 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.[31] Anthony also performed regularly on a Sunday music program of BBC Radio.[22] 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,[32] 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.[33] [34]

Discography

References

External links

Notes and References

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

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