James McGranahan

James McGranahan (July 4, 1840 - 9 July 9, 1907) was a nineteenth-century American musician and composer, known mostly for his hymns and gospel songs. A good friend of Philip P. Bliss, he was also associated with other well-known gospel songwriters such as William B. Bradbury, George F. Root, and Daniel W. Whittle; he eventually replaced Bliss as Whittle's song leader in full-time evangelistic ministry after Bliss' tragic death in the Ashtabula River Railroad Disaster.

Biography Early life and education James McGranahan was born on July 4, 1840, in the tiny village of Adamsville, Pennsylvania. Raised on a farm, the ninth of twelve children, he was of Scotch-Irish descent. His grandfather had emigrated to the American colonies from Belfast, Ireland, just before the Revolutionary War, and enlisted and served in the Continental Army. Showing some musical talent at an early age, he wanted to study music, but his father discouraged him, as he felt that his son was needed more on the farm. Nevertheless, at the age of 17, James found someone who could take his place on the farm, and began studying music. There he not only earned enough money to pay for his substitute, but for music lessons for himself as well.

In 1860, when he was 19 years old, James enrolled at William Bradbury’s Normal Academy of Music in Geneseo, New York, the same school (and year) that Philip P. Bliss attended. He studied under T. E. Perkins, Carlo Bassini, and others; he also met a young woman named Addie Vickery, who would go on to become his wife (in 1863), accompanist, and partner in all of his future endeavors. Around the same time, he met J. G. Towner of Rome, Pennsylvania, a vocal teacher who was also tutoring Bliss; in 1862 he asked McGranahan to come and work with him, so for two years they held music conventions and gave concerts in both Pennsylvania and New York. When not doing so, he served as the local postmaster while working as a clerk in the country store. He also pioneered the use of male choirs in gospel singing, when he found himself with an all-male choir at a meeting in Worcester, Massachusetts; he quickly adapted the music he had to fit male voices, then later on published Gospel Male Choir Numbers 1 and 2 and Male Choir and Quartet. In 1967, the Hawaii State Legislature considered making "Aloha Hawaii" the official state song, but "Hawaii Pono'i" was chosen instead. It was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 1998.

Death After a little more than a decade of working alongside Whittle, McGranahan's health took a turn for the worse, forcing him to give up his evangelistic work. Since close friends lived in Kinsman, Ohio, he built a home there, where for 20 years diabetes took a steady toll on his life, until on July 9, 1907 (interestingly enough, Philip P. Bliss' birthday), he passed away. His funeral took place three days later; a memorial service was held for him a month later, at which Daniel B. Towner sang his song “Christ Returneth”.