Record Spotlight P a u l M i c h e l s o n
N othing But the Blood of Jesus,’ is the first number I can re member playing as a boy,” said friendly, smiling Paul Michelson, vice-president of Word Records. “ That was when I was about 11 years old. I think I was trying to copy my older sisters who were studying piano at that time.” Youthful looking Paul Michelson has played for more than a dozen well known Christian broadcasts. For seven years he was organist for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Team both in this country and abroad. “ It would be hard to single out the most mem orable moment during that time,” Paul said thoughtfully. “ Naturally, I enjoyed travelling and participating in the meetings, in addition to the various film, television and radio min istries. I think, however, that the day Dr. Graham spoke to 187,000 people in London, England will always be an unforgettable experience. At 3:00 in the afternoon, he addressed 67,000 people in the White City Stadium. Hurriedly the team travelled across town to meet the assembled 120,000 people in Wembley Stadium. God was good in giving so many precious souls.” Paul Michelson was bom December 30, 1927 in Burbank, California. “ I’m still a native son, while we live in Glendale, just a few miles from there.” The well-known musician ex plained the “ we” with another of his infectious smiles, by saying, “ I mar ried a wonderful girl whom I met at a Christian conference grounds. She was the camp nurse. Her name is Josephine, but she likes to be called ‘Jo,’ ” he confided. When he was only 11 years old, Paul began studying with Lucia O’Brien Liverette, and at 17 started playing on the “ Challenge to Youth” program. Later work included play ing on “The Pacific Lutheran Hour,” “The Baptist Laymen’s Hour,” and “ The Morning Bible Hour.” He went on to explain, “ In fact, in those days we didn’t have tape recorders, so I was doing 18 to 20 programs a week.” As vice-president of Word Records, Paul spends a great deal of time studying new music, arranging, lis tening to choral and other musical groups, and recording. “You would be interested to know,” Paul explained, “that Word Records actually began in a kitchen. Yet today, based on the number of sales and new record re leases, it is the world’s largest reli
gious recording company. Jarrell McCracken, then a student at Baylor University, had the production line for his first records right in the kitchen of his own home. God has w'onderfully blessed the work. All of the artists who record for WORD are born-again Christians.”
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Standard Publishing Cincinnati 31, Ohio Gentlemen: Please send FREE sam ples of story papers checked below: □ Four and Five As to what he likes to do in his “ spare” time, he replied, “ I guess I like to go on a sort of ‘postman’s holi day.’ I like to do the very thing I ordinarily do. My favorite is arrang ing and conducting.” Several new interesting albums have just been re leased under two labels featuring the baton artistry of Paul Michelson. Both were recorded in London. “We do the recording there since the sounds cannot seem to be duplicated in any other place. Everyone who has heard the new releases has found them the extra blessing we had prayed they would be. Much of our time is spent in prayer and medita tion. We seek the Lord’s will concern ing which songs should be done, and the way in which they should be re corded.” One of the albums is on Word Records, the other bears the RCA label. For five years, Paul was director of religious recordings for RCA Victor. “ No, I haven’t made any special New Year’s resolutions,” he concluded the interview. “ I just want to make sure that the weeks and months ahead will be carefully planned so that all the time available will be spent on that which will be to the honor and glory of the Lord. With a smile and farewell, the busy musician was off to another assignment in this life of testimony in song. Nam e................................................... Street................................................. C it y ........................................ State SEND FOR YOUR FREE COPY TODAY Bible Institute • Los Angeles 17, Calif. 43 JANUARY, 1959
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