Marion W. Easterling

Marion Wesley Easterling (March 12, 1910 - December 10, 1989) was an American music composer in the genre of southern gospel who claimed he had written around 300 songs.[1] His compositions include "When I Wake Up To Sleep No More", "Lord Lead Me On", "Standing By The River", "Rainbow Of Love", and "When He Reached Down His Hand For Me".[1]

Biography

Marion Wesley Easterling was born in Chilton County, Alabama on March 12, 1910.[1] He attended the public schools in Chilton County and then attended various music schools including the Vaughan School of Music.[1] He also took correspondence courses from New York and Chicago to further his musical education.[1] His first song to become a hit was "Lord Lead Me On" written in 1937.[1] Other hit songs written by Easterling include "Standing By The River", "Rainbow Of Love", "When He Reached Down His Hand For Me", and "When I Wake Up To Sleep No More".[1] In 1938, Easterling was the youngest composer to sign a five-year contract with Stamps-Baxter Music Company.[1]

Easterling also brought gospel music through the media of radio to Chilton County.[1] He hosted a morning gospel show "America's Favorites" on WKLF radio station in Clanton, Alabama.[2] His first broadcast was on December 2, 1947[1] and it became the nation's longest continuously running daily Gospel radio program.[2] He was awarded the Broadcast Media Gospel Award in 1976.[1] On April 17, 1986, Easterling was recognized on the U.S. Senate floor in a tribute by Alabama Senator Jeremiah Denton.[3] Easterling died December 10, 1989, in a Birmingham, Alabama hospital and is buried in Martin Memorial Cemetery in Clanton, Alabama.[4]

References

Footnotes
  1. 1986 Congressional Record, Vol. 132, Page S 4479
  2. Love, Joyanna. "WKLF celebrating 70 years of broadcasting", The Clanton Advertiser, February 1, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  3. 1986 Congressional Record, Vol, 132, Page S 4478
  4. The Montgomery Advertiser, December 12, 1989, Page 6C. Retrieved May 29, 2022.

Sources
  • 1986 Congressional Record, Vol. 132, Pages S 4478 - S 4479
  • The Montgomery Advertiser, December 12, 1989, Page 6C. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  • Love, Joyanna. "WKLF celebrating 70 years of broadcasting", The Clanton Advertiser, February 1, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2022. WKLF celebrating 70 years of broadcasting
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