Kurt Kaiser | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kurt Kaiser |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Genres | Worship Contemporary Christian |
| Occupation(s) | Worship leader, singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1959–present |
| Labels | Integrity |
| Website | [www.kurtkaiser.com] |
thumb|250px|Kurt Kaiser at home at the piano
Born in Chicago, Illinois, December 12/17/1934, Kurt Kaiser attended The American Conservatory
of Music. From there, he attended Northwestern's School of Music, where he earned both a
Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Music.
He then joined Word Records, in 1959 as Director of Artists and Repertoire,(A&R) he would
later move up to be Vice President and Director of Music of Word Records.
He produced and arranged albums for the likes of: Kathleen Battle,Ernie Ford, Larnelle Harris, Burl Ives,Ken Medema, Christopher Parkening, George Beverly Shea, Joni Eareckson Tada, Ethel Waters
and Anne Martindale Wiliams , he also recorded 16 piano solo albums of his own.
He won a Dove Award in 1994 for his album titled "Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs" .
He is also the recepient of a "Lifetime achievement award" , given by A.S.C.A.P (American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers)in 1992.
From 1965 through 1970, Kaiser served as director of the Baylor Religious Hour Choir.
At the same time, Kurt Kaiser and his friend Ralph Carmichael began writing Christian
Rock Musicals geared to reach out to the youth of that time.
Their first musical, "Tell it like it is" sold 2,500 copies, completely selling out
the first run, it then completely sold out it's second run of 100,000 copies as well!
This musical is also where "Pass it on" comes from.
"It was the beginning of youth finding a place in church again," according to
Ralph Carmichael. The two continued on to write two more musicals, "Natural High" and
"I'm Here, God's Here, Now We Can Start"
He became a regular on Youth for Christ rallies. Kurt Kaiser would, in time, leave Word and start up his own label, which he still runs to this day, from his his home in Texas.
Kurt Kaiser was invited to Sweden to perform for a gathering of dignitaries and guest at the prestigious Museum of History at Stockholm , at the request of the Ambassador of United States, in 1999.
He also found time to record with Bill Pearce ("Nightsounds") on the CD "A touch of Gold" "Kurt Kaiser came playing piano through Chicago " according to Pearce " he and I hooked up with my trombone and before I knew it we were recording "head arrangements" for Word. Then things at Word really started shaking and Paul Mickelson and Ralph Carmichael were raising the level, using professional sidemen and before we knew it Word records was paying our production fees. We were playing with name people, including members of the Chicago Symphony string section, lead trumpet Bobbie Lewis, Mark McDunn and studio players; John Haynor was playing bass trombone with us. Guys like this were playing backgrounds. We were just at the right place at the right time. I was working hard and new young arrangers came through with good ideas and we were doing albums with top musicians. It was just a gift of God with timing that put me in the middle of all this. I was the only one doing anything at Word in brass work at all apart from a guy in Detroit named Chuck Ohman who was a fine trumpeter whom I had worked with in Percy Crawford's days. I was just blowing bubbles, making 30 or 40 albums over the years - there were so many I lost count. Incredible! "
In 2001 he was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame
He helped start up Day Spring Baptist Church in Waco, Texas and is their choir director. The choir rehearses in his house twice a week. Kaiser, in addition, has written most of choir's material and has also produced several pieces for smaller choirs.
He recieved the "Faithfulness in Service " award in 2003.
Kaiser conducts choral workshops and performs solo as well. He's described by friends as someone who will constatly try to help and teach anyone he meets. Ken Barker, senior editorial director at Word, recalled one time when he was eating with Kaiser at a restaurant where a young woman was struggling to play the piano to entertain the customers. Kaiser gave the woman a quick clinic on how she could improve her playing.
He continues to be active as a producer as well:
Three years ago, while sharing tea with my dear friend, Katy Stokes," Recalls artist, Carianne " I bashfully presented this sketchy idea of a lullaby CD. Katy's eyes brightened as she said, "Go talk to Kurt!" It took a little prodding, but I finally went to Kurt Kaiser and performed a few of my original lullabies. He immediately started bouncing ideas around and before I knew it, we were off and running…well, that is until everything was put on hold when I found out I was pregnant! The beautiful result is the sweet face you see on the cover of the CD: Tristan Lynn.
A scholarship was recently establish in he and his wife's name at Baylor University
(The Kurt and Patricia Kaiser Endowed Music Scholarship Fund).
Kaiser lives in Waco Texas with his wife, they have four children (all attended Baylor) and ten
grandchildren
Discography
"Kurt Kaiser Piano" (1959, Word W 3093-LP/WST 8035-LP)
"Preludes to Faith"(1962, Word W-3157-LP/WST-8095-LP)
"Hymntime Sing-Along"(1963 Word W-3176-LP/ WST 8110-LP)
"From London...Kurt Kaiser's Sweeping Strings" (1965 Word W-3301-LP/WST-8301-LP)
"Master Designer" (1965, Word W 3322-LP/ WST 8322-LP)
"Hyms of Prayer" (1966, Word W-3227/ WST-8327-LP)
"Kurt Kaiser: Pass it On" (1972, Word WST-8562-LP)
"An Offering" (1975, Word WST-8679-LP)
"Alone with the Music" (1987, Word 701-90460196 CD)
"The Lost Art of Listening" (1991, Word 701-9329-609-CD)
"Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1994, Sparrow)
References
- [Mike : David Ewards: Patrice Eyries "Word Album Discographies"]
- [John "The Baptist Standard"]
- [Kaiser website]
- [Creek Music]
- [Label Group]
- [Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music]
- [Lorenz.com]
- [Alliance Music]
- [FredBock.com]
- [Carianne]
- [Bill Pearce interview]
- [Kurt Kaiser interview]
- [GMA Hall of Fame]
- [Article about Kurt Kaiser]
- [Kurt Kaiser Dove Award Source]
- [Scholarship set up in the name of Kurt & Pat Kaiser]