The Rudy Atwood Story — by Rudy Atwood

The Rudy Atwood Story

1. Pianists — United States — Biography
ML417.A89 A3 ~ 789.14 ~ LC: 75123066 ~ OCLC: 90745 ~ 126p.

The Rudy Atwood Story is presently held by 33 libraries including The Library of Congress and the Los Angeles Public Library

Table of Contents

PREFACE 7

1 PRELUDE Early Remembrances 13

2 VARIATIONS Moving Into Evangelism 21

3 THEME Radio Evangelism Becomes My Niche 29

4 RECITATIVE Preaching 37

5 FOUR-PART HARMONY The Quartet 43

6 THE BEAT OF THE METRONOME Teaching 51

7 GRACE NOTES My Family 55

8 PIANISSIMO Favorite Hobbies 63

9 THE MINISTRY OF MUSIC Scripture Songs 67

10 COUNTER-MELODIES Banquets, Conferences, Playing for the Congregation 73

11 RECORDING Devotional Discs 83

12 MELODY FORTISSIMO Sacred Concerts 89

13 MOMENTS MUSICAL Saturday Night Musicales 97

14 WHERE CROSS THE CROWDED WAYS Traveling Amongst Christians in the USA 101

15 EMBELLISHMENTS Grand People I Have Worked With 113

16 POSTLUDE Coda 121

To Grace

with whose help my book

has become a reality

* * * * * * *

THE RUDY ATWOOD STORY

For more than thirty-one years pianist Rudy Atwood has been gathering ardent admirers through his ministry of music on "The Old Fashioned Revival Hour." At last we have the autobiography of this gifted musician, where, in his own words, he tells the story of how his early love for God and music shaped his life and guided him toward the radio and television ministry he holds today.

Rudy Atwood is loved by everyone who knows his music. It has been said of him: "You have set a new style of playing the Gospel hymns. Everywhere I go throughout the United States, I hear little Rudys. Your playing is responsible for changing and improving the playing of Gospel music in evangelical circles."

Early in his musical education, Mr. Atwood discovered the mastery of Johann Sebastian Bach. He was at once enthralled by "the musician's musician," and even today the works of Bach are his favorites. In his words, "His genius satisfies me in every way. I believe it was said of Chopin that when he was preparing for a recital, he shut himself in and practiced only Bach." From those early days—Mr. Atwood was just ten years old then—the beloved Christian pianist has been influenced by many great masters of music. He is quick to advise young music students today that they must look to the classics and to the rudiments of musical science if they are going to realize their dreams in music.

THE RUDY ATWOOD STORY is a fascinating book. The reader is led through Mr. Atwood's life from earliest days, to the time in 1938 when he became known to millions of radio listeners as the musical minister of "The Old Fashioned Revival Hour." He is led also through nearly every state in the Union and Canada, from concert tour to concert tour, and each one holds an exciting or humorous incident. Always written with wit and compassion, this is a story you will find entertaining and heart-warming.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rudy Atwood lives with his wife Grace in South Pasadena, California. The Atwoods have two children, a daughter, Robin, and a son, Mark. An ordained Baptist minister, Mr. Atwood was pianist with "The Old Fashioned Revival Hour" for over thirty years and has been staff musician with the Church of the Open Door since 1967. From 1962 to 1967, Mr. Atwood was minister of the Country Church of Hollywood, and in the early fifties he taught music at Westmont College.

Listen to Rudy playing "Heavenly Sunshine" on the piano

Listen to him playing "How Great Thou Art"

The Rudy Atwood Story is hosted online by ccel.us

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