Paul Mickelson

Paul Mickelson (December 30, 1927 – October 21, 2001) was an American organist, arranger, and record label executive who specialized in Christian music. First performing for mass media at the age of 16, he gained national recognition as organist for the Billy Graham crusade from 1950 to 1958. He left Graham to concentrate on recordings, becoming an executive at Word Records before founding Supreme Records and its subsidiaries. He recorded and released numerous albums of religious music as an organist and orchestral arranger/conductor.

Biography Mickelson was born and grew up in Burbank, California. He began music lessons at the age of nine. At the time of his first recording session he was appearing on 20 local radio shows each week as an organist. He signed as a recording artist to RCA Victor Records in 1953, and also became A&R director for religious music.

Later in life he was a concertizing representative for Church Organ Systems. He had joined the Seventh-Day Adventist church by 1997, and was organist for the denomination's 2000 General Conference Session.

Mickelson died on October 21, 2001, of a myocardial infarction while visiting Sacramento, California. At the time of his death he was a member of the United Community Church in Glendale, California. Billboard stated that Mickelson's initial Supreme Strings album was a surprise in the religious field, as the beauty of the arrangement and performance was unsurpassed in the popular field. Most Supreme Records albums contain artistic participation by Mickelson, either as pianist or organist accompianment, or as arranger and conductor. The majority of his organ output uses full theater organ registrations. In all, more than 700 of his arrangements were recorded.

Mickelson was able to purchase multiple organs of note, including the organ from NBC's Hollywood Studios (the organ he first used to record as a solo artist) and the Robert-Morton unit from MCA's Whitney recording studios.

Personal life In addition to his music career, Mickelson was an ordained minister. 1950s - The Billy Graham Team (with Tedd Smith) - International LP 5033 1950s - Paul Mickelson Organ Selections - Sacred LP 7020 (10") 1950s - Gospel Songs And Hymns As You Like To Hear Them Sacred LP9015 1950s - When They Ring The Golden Bells - RCA Victor LPM-1059 1954 - Modern Sacred Music - RCA Victor LPM 3210 1955 - Christmas Bells - RCA LPM-1115 1956 - Best Loved Hymns - RCA Victor LPM-1352 1950s - The Music of Paul Mickelson - RCA Victor LPM-1405 1950s - Paul Mickelson Plays the Conn Classic Organ - Word WST-8003 1960s - Paul Mickelson Plays for Youth - Word WST 8018 1960s - Day Is Dying In the West - Console CS 6001 1960s - Eventide - Console CS 6003 1960s - Christmas Concert at the Console - Console CS 6005 1960s - Paul Mickelson's Organ Music - Console CS 6006 1960s - Paul Mickelson in Concert - Console CS 6007 1970s - Love Songs - Singcord ZLP 974S 1976 - Paul Mickelson Plays The Music Of John W. Peterson On The Robert Morton Pipe Organ - Singcord ZLP 975S 1977 - Because He Lives - Singcord ZLP-3020S

As conductor/arranger 1955 - Singing Strings: The Music of Paul Mickelson - RCA Victor LPM 1138 1958 - Paul Mickelson Orchestra: Great Moments in Religious Music - RCA Victor LPM 1754 1959 - Resplendent Themes - Word W7002 1959 - Cathedral Symphony of London: Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!! - Word W-7004 1960 - The Mickelson Touch - Word W-3113 1960s - Paul Mickelson Choir: Choirsing - Supreme SS-2018 1960s - Paul Mickelson Conducts a Symphony of Strings - Supreme SS-2022 1960s - Paul Mickelson Choir: Choirsing Volume 2 - Supreme SS-2023 1968 - The Supreme Strings - Supreme SS 2050 1970s - The Four Sides of Paul Mickelson - Supreme SS 2071, Pye CSCL 40006 1970s - The Supreme Strings Volume 2 - Supreme SLP 384 - Paul Mickelson Singers: He's the One - Supreme SLP-496 - Paul Mickelson Singers: Beautiful Sunshine - Supreme SLP-502 1976 - The Gift: A Christmas Cantata - Singcord ZLP 989S 1979 - The Dawn Of Life: A Musical On The Life Of Christ - Singspiration ZLP 3098 1970s - The Supreme Strings: I Am Loved - New Dawn ZLP 3106S