William Burton Walbert (May 18, 1886 – December 2, 1959) was an American Southern gospel songwriter, singer, composer, and editor. He (co-)wrote many songs, and he was the director of the Vaughan School of Music in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.
Walbert was born in Barren County, Kentucky on May 18, 1886.[citation needed] He attended the Vaughan School of Music in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.[1]
Walbert worked for the James D. Vaughan Music Company, where he taught shape note singing schools.[citation needed] After James D. Vaughan's death, Walbert took charge of the school.[1]
Walbert was also a music performer. In 1917, he joined the Vaughan Saxophone Quartet with Joe Allen, Ira Foust and Adger M. Pace.[2] From 1923 to the 1930s, Walbert was a member of the Vaughan Radio Quartet, a band whose members included Pace, Hilman Barnard, and Otis Leon McCoy.[2]
Walbert (co-)wrote many Southern gospel songs, including Peace Like a River, Oh, What a Blessing, Tell It Everywhere You Go, and I've Never Loved Him Better.[1][3]
Walbert married Mable Grace Vaughan, James David Vaughan's daughter, in 1915. They had a son, James D. Walbert,[1][3] who became a pianist.[4]
Walbert died of a stroke on December 2, 1959, in Birmingham, Alabama, at age 72.[1][3] His funeral was held in Lawrenceburg.[1][3] He was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1959.[citation needed]