Sankey, Ira D(avid)

noted American evangelistic singer, gospel hymn composer, and hymnbook compiler; b. Edinburgh, Pa., Aug. 28, 1840; d. N.Y., Aug. 13, 1908. As a youth of 17, Sankey became choir leader in the Methodist Church of New Castle, Pennsylvania. He served for a year with the N.Y. 12th Infantry Regiment at the time of the Civil War.

In 1870 Sankey was a delegate to the YMCA convention at Indianapolis, where his forceful singing attracted the attention of the evangelist preacher Dwight L. Moody. He joined Moody as music director and remained at this post for some 30 years, until approaching blindness forced his retirement in 1903.

Of his many gospel tunes, the most popular has proved to be The Ninety and Nine (1874), which Sankey improvised at a moment's notice during a service in Edinburgh, Scotland. His chief publications were Sacred Songs and Solos (London, 1873) and six volumes of Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs (1875-91). As president of the publishing firm Biglow & Main from 1895 to 1903, Sankey brought out numerous works, including many of his own. He is not to be confused with another gospel song writer, Ira Allan Sankey, a lesser light.