About V. C. Gilbert
Lived 1901 – 1984 (aged 82). V. C. Gilbert was a songwriter.
Vivan Clark Gilbert (May 28, 1901 – May 3, 1984), also known as Jack Gilbert, was an American songwriter best known for writing the popular songs "Shifting Whispering Sands" and "Chapel by the Sea", in collaboration with his wife, Mary Hadler. Both songs were written in the 1950s, and were recorded and played around the world.
He was born Vivian Clark Gilbert in Spearfish, South Dakota, moving to Portland, Oregon in 1924. He worked as a carpet layer and as a commercial fisherman on the Columbia River. He and his wife began writing songs in the late 1940s. "Sands" was based on one of his personal experiences, and "Chapel" was reminiscent of a time when the Gilberts lived on Sauvie Island, near Portland.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in V. C. Gilbert's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped V. C. Gilbert's
Frequently asked questions
Who was V. C. Gilbert?
American songwriter
When was V. C. Gilbert born?
V. C. Gilbert was born on 28 May 1901.
When did V. C. Gilbert die?
V. C. Gilbert died on 3 May 1984.
What was V. C. Gilbert's occupation?
V. C. Gilbert was a songwriter.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). V. C. Gilbert. https://biography.guide/v-c-gilbert/
MLA: "V. C. Gilbert." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/v-c-gilbert/.
Chicago: "V. C. Gilbert." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/v-c-gilbert/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:24 UTC