This week’s inductee in to the Southern Gospel song hall of fame is the most beloved song from songwriter Gordon Jensen. I recall the story Gordon told at the NQC songwriter’s showcase several years ago in regards to “Redemption Draweth Nigh”. He told of how he took the song to one of the biggest groups of that time period and the group didn’t like the song and told him it wasn’t the kind of song that people wanted to hear.
Not giving up, he continued to pitch the song until it was finally recorded. Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys told Gordon that “Redemption Draweth Nigh” was the type of song that would be sung for years. Well, that statement came true as most of the groups of the early 1970′s recorded this gem. Even now, groups still record and stage what is now Gordon Jensen’s classic.
It is good Gordon didn’t listen to the first group who shot the song down but continued to believe in what he wrote because look at all the countless listeners have since heard this song in the decades that followed. Listen to a collection of artists perform this week’s inductee in to the Southern Gospel song hall of fame; Gordon Jensen’s “Redemption Draweth Nigh”.
I have been asked the artists included in the mash-up of “Redemption Draweth Nigh”. They are in order:
1. Greater Vision
2. Galileans
3. JD Sumner & Stamps
4. Down East Boys
Duane Allen’s company at the time, Silverline Music, was the publishing company for the song. Oaks later owned that firm and now part of Warner Music Group.