Bentley DeForest Ackley was born in Pennsylvania on September 27, 1872. He died September 3, 1958.
His brother, Alfred Ackley, was a good music composer; writing approximately 1500 songs. He was also an accomplished cellist.
Ackley had great music talent early; he learned how to play the melodeon, piano, coronet, clarinet, and piccolo as a boy.
In 1888 he moved to New York, and began playing the organ in several churches.
He joined the Billy Sunday – Homer Rodeheaver evangelism team as secretary, pianist, and traveled with them eight years. He wrote over 3,000 Gospel tunes.
Some of the songs he wrote are:
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Sources
The Painting and history of Ackley can be found at: http://www.cyberhymnal.org
Reynolds, Baptist Hymnal. Broadman Press, 1976. page 381
Forrest M. McCann, Hymns & History. A.C.U Press, 1997. page 469
