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He Touched Me
The gospel song "He Touched Me" was written by
songwriter and music producer Bill Gaither
and recorded by the Bill Gaither Trio in 1963.
Bill Gaither grew up on a farm in Alexandria,
Indiana. He became a high school English teacher and part-time
church music director. In 1962 he married fellow teacher
Gloria Sickal. Over the years the two have collaborated on
over 600 songs, numerous recordings, videos and books. They
have three children and four grandchildren. Bill Gaither has
been awarded many music accolades including Grammy awards, Dove
awards and seven times being named the Gospel Music Association's
Songwriter of the Year. Recently he and Gloria were named
Songwriters Of The Century by the American Society of Composers and
Publishers. Today they continue in their full-time music
ministry through the popular Gaither Homecoming concerts and videos.
One of the more popular Gaither television and video projects is a
documentary focused on the profound part gospel music played in the
life and career of Elvis Presley.
It is entitled "He Touched Me, The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley."
Bill Gaither's inspiration for the writing of the
song "He Touched Me" came very late one night. He had been
asked to play the piano for a revival meeting in Huntington,
Indiana. He was accompanying Doug Oldham, who was providing
the music for his father, Dr. Dale Oldham, the speaker for the
evening. After the meeting, as the three rode back to Bill's
home in Anderson, Indiana, they discussed how deeply they had felt
the Spirit at the meeting. Dr. Oldham dropped Bill off at home
and his parting words were, "You should write a song that says, 'He
touched me' oh, He touched me.'" Gaither couldn't sleep and he
couldn't get the preacher's words out of his head. He
remembered how many of the people at the revival meeting seemed to
have come in heavy laden and had left uplifted with joy and hope.
The next morning his wife Gloria awoke to find him still up and
working on the song. Soon Doug Oldham began performing the
song at revivals and concerts and he recorded it, as did the Bill
Gaither Trio and many others.
Elvis recorded "He Touhed Me" on May 18, 1971 at
RCA's Studio B in Nashville. He was backed vocally by The
Imperials, Millie Kirkham, Ginger Holladay and Temple Riser.
It was first released in March 1972 as a single with "Bosom of
Abraham" as the B-side. Then it was released that April 1972
as the title song of the album "He Touched Me." Elvis received
the second of his three Grammy awards for this album, which was
named Best Inspirational Performance for 1972.
The album includes the songs "Amazing Grace", "Lead Me Guide Me" and
"I John" among others. |
