James (Jim) V. Hill
November 2, 1930 - January 9, 2018
Inducted
January 14, 2014
Presented
November 22, 2014
JIM PROVIDES “Words of Wisdom”
“I’d rather write a gospel song than to be president.”
“I believe any time you walk on a platform in a sanctuary, behind the sacred desk where His message is sent to a lost and dying world, you are in His presence, and you should look the best you can and give your best to Him.”
Gospel Music History
Jim has lived in: Clayton, Kettering, Middletown, Portsmouth
LIFE & HISTORICAL EVENTS
James Vaughn Hill was born and grew up in Portsmouth, Ohio. He was named after gospel legend, James D. Vaughn.
Jim became the tenor soloist in the Portsmouth Male Chorus sponsored by the Detroit Steel Corporation. Their two biggest concerts were an Easter concert and a Christmas concert.
He took private vocal lessons from Portsmouth voice teacher Mildred Deering. As talent scout for the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Mildred influenced Jim to study opera.
At age seventeen, while attending a Baptist camp meeting in Wheelersburg, Jim realized his need for salvation and heading straight for the altar, he give his heart to Jesus. He then told his vocal teacher, “I accepted Christ last night as my personal Savior, and I am singing a different song today.” Jim then told her, “I want to sing gospel music.” He sang for her the song entitled “The Stranger of Galilee.” As she listened, the song must have touched her heart because from that time forward, she never questioned him again about the opera.
On xxx, xx, xxxx Jim married Ruth Baldridge, daughter of Reverend A. L. Baldridge, a very popular evangelist.
Shortly after getting married Jim received his call to the army and was shipped to Korea. Upon arrival they were given ammunition and, as they were loading a truck headed for the front line, Jim heard the following message, “Jim Hill, please report to the Company Headquarters.” When reviewing his papers, they noticed he was a graduate of Ohio Business College and had taken both typing and shorthand. Short on male stenographers, they immediately pulled him out, and he was transferred to the Eighth Army Headquarters back in Seoul, Korea, where he became personal stenographer for General Maxwell D. Taylor. In 1953, the area where he was stationed experienced nightly plane attacks. In 1956, Jim completed his military service and returned home.
In 1970, Jim resigned from the Statesmen Quartet and accepted the position as an account executive (traveling salesman) for the Williams Shoe Manufacturing Company in Portsmouth, Ohio. Within two years, he was promoted to National Sales Manager.
While in the army, Jim and a group of Christian soldiers soon got together and formed a little quartet. On Sundays, a captain, with a jeep at his disposal, would take them out into the woods to hold services for those bombed-out Korean civilians who were still living in the area. They would simply get out of the jeep and start singing as the people gathered around.
Jim sang with the Campmeeting Boys.
In 1945 a group was formed with Jim singing tenor, Harold Patrick playing piano and singing lead and Pat Duncan singing baritone. In 1947, bass singer Clarence Claxon was added to the group and they became known as the Golden Keys Quartet. Except for a short time that Jim spent with the Ambassadors Quartet, this lineup remained intact for many years. They were one of few part-time groups invited to perform at the National Quartet Convention. The group performed many top gospel songs of the day, but their real forte was performing Jim’s new compositions such as that gospel music classic, "What a Day That Will Be" in the early 1950s. It was first presented by the Golden Keys Quartet and first recorded by the Homeland Harmony Quartet. The Speer Family had a very popular arrangement of the song and Ben Speer eventually published it.
Jim felt the calling to full time gospel music, and accepted the call to join the "New" Stamps Quartet in 1962. Jim's dynamic vocal talent led the Stamps to even greater heights in the gospel music community. Jim continued his career with the Stamps Quartet for several years. He continued singing lead with JD Sumner & The Stamps Quartet from 1965-1968.
Around 1968 Jim took a position with Hovie Lister and the Statesmen Quartet as lead singer. He brought several of his top songs to the Statesmen Quartet. He remained with the Statesmen until 1971.
After coming off the road, Jim took a part-time position as Minister of Music for the Towne Boulevard Church of God located in Middletown, Ohio, where he worked with the choir and led their worship for almost sixteen years.
Until 2017, Jim continued doing solo work and took part in the Gaither Homecoming series.
His nationally recognized talents and accomplishments, along with involvement in the Gaither Homecoming Series, have cemented his standing as a true southern gospel music icon.
Composer of many gospel classics including “Each Step I Take”, “For God So Loved", “No One Ever Cared So Much”, “I’ll Make It To Heaven” and “What A Day That Will Be.”
The Stamps first Skylite recording with Jim Hill singing “What a Day That Will Be,” was one of the biggest selling albums at the 1963 NQC.
In 1969 his song, “What A Day That Will Be” earned a Dove Award nomination for Songwriter of the Year and the mayor of Portsmouth designated May 22, 1969, as Jim Hill Day.