Scripture: John 14:1-15
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so,
I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Song: I'm Feeling Fine
Mosie Lister has had a varied musical career, as a singer, songwriter and vocal arranger. All three of those gifts from the Lord were evident very early in his life. The background for his music was laid in his home in Cockran, Georgia, where he was born in 1921.
At age 81, songs and choral arrangements continue to flow from his creative, youthful mind. He freely calls the songs gifts from God. Very few men, or ladies, have been as prolific, and have had as many extremely popular songs flow from their pens.
These days he not only continues to write songs, but is an effective choral arranger, primarily associated with Lillenas, a music production company which is a subsidiary of The Nazarene Publishing House. His company, Mosie Lister Publications, merged with Lillenas in 1969. He was then able to give his time fully to writing and arranging. Mosie has always said, "I want to write music that moves the heart and stirs the soul."
The popularity of his songs is evident in the fact that thousands of Southern Gospel Music singers have recorded them, as well as a sizable number of popular singers such as Elvis Presley, Jimmy Dean, George Beverly Shea, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, B. J. Thomas and Floyd Cramer, just to name a few.
Following is the story behind one of the classics from Lister's pen, just as he told it:
"I used to listen to a particular group on the radio in Atlanta who had a tenor singer who like to sing slow songs and get to the top of his range and just croon, with voices backing him up. I thought, ‘I would love to write a song in that style.'
"I wrote a song, imagining what that particular high tenor would sound like if he were singing my song. The whole of it was built around the idea, ‘I'm feeling fine, because I've got heaven on my mind.' I really don't know where the original thought came from.
"A few days passed, and I showed it to no one. I received a call from Urias LeFevre of the LeFevre Trio. He asked if I had any new songs. I said, ‘Yes,' and I took my new song to their home. They quickly began working on it. They even recorded it, and I didn't even know it. A month or so later I heard it being sung on the radio.
"I was surprised when I heard my song being sung in a fast tempo -- really fast. My response was one of shock. I thought they had completely ruined my song. But, they sounded as if they were enjoying it, and it moved along quite well. They started including it during personal appearances. Other groups began to sing it.
"The Blackwood Brothers went to New York City to sing on the Arthur Godfrey Show, and they carried my song and used it during the week that they were there. From there the song began to spread. It went from one place to another. People enjoy singing I'm Feeling Fine because it is "fun" to sing.
"Thanks, Eva Mae LeFevre. If you hadn't taken my slow song and sung it fast, I don't think anyone else would have ever listened to it."
"Mosie Lister has recently written a sequel to his song, and he titled it, I'm Still Feeling Fine. It is high on the Singing News and U.S. Gospel News charts.
Reflection:
Wouldn't it be tremendous if we, in our Christian journey, came often to the point of "feeling fine," prompted by thoughts of spending eternity with our Heavenly Father, who loves us and gave His Son to provide a way for us to come unto Himself.
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 02/01/2006
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Category: Behind the Songs
Comments: 7
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Hi,
I remember The Couriers singing that song, but I didn't know the Blackwood Brothers sang it. Where could I find a recording of that?
Ron
The Blackwood Brothers recorded "I'm Feelin' Fine" in 1954 on RCA...it was originally issued as a 45 RPM single, and was later put on the LP "Gloryland Jubilee"(RCA Camden 794).
It is also on the Gaither Gospel Series CD featuring the Blackwood Brothers.
tHANKS FOR THAT INFORMATION, JOHN
I think there has been an error - that is NOT Mosie Lister in the picture above. No big deal, but I thought you might want to find a correct pic.
No it's not Mosie...it's the guy who wrote the article, Lindsay Terry.
Great info.I'm feeling fine was pretty good but what about (O'What a Saviour.I'm most sure Mosie wrote that great song & that man is indeed what you call a gospel songwriter.Thanks Mosie for writing (O'What a Saviour my favorite gospel song.
Mosie Lister did not write "O What A Savior"...that song was written in 1948 by Marvin Dalton.
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