Dottie Rambo (Joyce Reba Lutrell - Rambo) March 2, 1934 - May 11, 2008

The Queen of Gospel Music

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Dottie Rambo got her start in Southern Gospel by writing songs and performing at revivals. She was eight years old when she first became interested in writing songs. She ran home one day and shared a song with her mother which she had just done. Her mother told her she must have heard it and Dottie told her, "No, it just came to me."

By the age of 12, she had left home to sing full time. Her father did not like the idea that she wanted to sing and write Christian music. When she refused to become the country star he wanted her to be, her father forced her to leave home. She had given her life to Christ and wanted nothing but Christian music in her life. Her mother took her to the bus station where she then headed to Indianapolis, Indiana.

Governor Jimmie Davis of Louisiana heard her music and signed her to a writing contract when she was still in her teens, paying her $3,000 which was more than she had made up to that point. While Governor Davis was listed as a writer on some of her songs, he had never written a word. He took advantage of this child and received the wages paid to the writer.

She married Buck Rambo when she was 16, and their daughter Reba (now a pastor at the River At Music City with husband Dony McGuire) was born when Dottie was 18. Reba began performing with the group when she was three years old. As she grew older, the Rambos grew to be one of the most popular family trios in gospel music.

In addition to performing, Rambo continued to write. An extremely prolific songwriter, she has written more than 2500 songs. Her tunes have been recorded by dozens of secular artists and hundreds of gospel artists. Whitney Houston’s version of “I Go To The Rock” was included on the movie soundtrack for The Preacher’s Wife, which sold over two million units. Driven by Houston’s performance, the song also won a Dove Award in 1999.

Other popular songs by Rambo include “Tears Will Never Stain The Streets Of That City,” “He Looked Beyond My Faults” (to the tune of "Londonderry Aire” aka “Danny Boy”), “Too Much To Gain To Lose,” “If That Isn't Love,” and “We Shall Behold Him.”

Like her songs, Rambo’s awards are also numerous. She got her first Grammy in 1968 for a solo project called It’s The Soul Of Me. In 1994, she was named “Songwriter Of The Century” by the Christian Country Music Association. In 2001, ASCAP recognized Rambo with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Rambo is also a dual member of the GMA Hall Of Fame, having been inducted both as an individual and as part of the Rambo Trio. She was recently inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.

As the years have passed by, Dottie Rambo has endured more than her share of pain and heartache. She suffers with chronic back trouble and has undergone 10 surgeries. At various times, her health problems have left her in comas.

She has experienced a comeback of sorts in later years, though. Barbara Mandrell hosted a televised Tribute To Dottie Rambo in 2002. Then in 2003, Rambo released her first project in 18 years, Stand By The River, which included a duet with Dolly Parton on the title song.

Dottie was headed toward Ft. Worth, Tx. when her bus hit a guardrail and crashed into an embankment.


Dottie Rambo & The Crabb Family - Tears Will Never Stain The Streets Of That City


Dottie Rambo - Sheltered In The Arms Of God


"Too Much To Gain To Lose" By Dottie Rambo & The Martins


Dottie Rambo - Sweet Mountain Mornin'



A PARTIAL LIST OF HER SONGS



A Brand New Breed Of Believers
A Hymn From Way Back Home
A Soul Was Born
Ain't Gonna Let The Mountains Praise The Lord
Ain't It Good To See The Sunshine Again
And That's The Way It Was
Angels Sound The Golden Trumpet
Another Mountain, Another Valley
The Artist
As Long As We Can Talk It Over
Before You Die
Behold The Lamb
Being Me
Best You Can Be
Between Here And Sunset
Big House On The Hill
Big, Big Man
Brand New Feeling
Breaking Bread
Bring All Your Needs To The Altar
Build My Mansion
By And By The Night Will Vanish
Castaway
Caught In The Middle And Holding
Church Triumphant
Come Spring
Constantly Aware Of His Love
Dad's Grave
Dark Valley
Destined For The Throne
Don't It Make You Feel Little
Don't Let Me Walk To Far From Calvary
Don't Lift The Anchor
Don't Pick Up The Pieces
Don't Take Jesus
Don't Take My Cross Away
Don't Wish The Good Times Away
Down By The Creekbank
Eternity Will Be Long Enough
Father Dear I'm Coming Home
Fill In The Blanks
First Million Years
First Time I Heard About Jesus
First Time I'll Be Home
Flesh Of My Flesh, Bone of My Bone
Follow The Leader
For What Earthly Reason
From Earth To Somewhere
Full Up No Vacancy
Garden of My Heart
Germs (My Invisible Dog)
Gettin' To Know You Better
Ginny Is Afraid Of The Dark
Give Him All The Glory
God Has No Certain Dwelling Place
God's House Of Rest
Going Through and Growing Through The Trials
Going To A Wedding
Good Lord Walks With Me
Good Music And People
Good Ole Days
Harbor In The Time Of Storm
He Ain't Never Done Me Nothing But Good
He Changed My Tears To Showers Of Blessings
He Hasn't Lost His Touch
He Just Takes Me
He Knows Just When To Give The Song
He Looked Beyond My Fault And Saw My Need
He Must Die
He Never Once Stopped Beliveing In Me
He Never Sends Me Where He's Never Been
He Plants Me Like A Seed
He Restoreth My Soul (AKA-In The Valley, AKA-In The Valley He Restoreth My Soul)
He Waits For The Sound Of My Voice
He Was The Talk Of The Town
He Went Out Of His Way
Headed For Judgment
Heaven Will Never Welcome A Sweeter Mama
Here Today Gone Tomorrow
He's Already On His Way
His Name Is A Strong Tower
His Steps Didn't Stop At Calvary
Holy Hills Of Heaven Call Me
Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome In This Place (AKA-Holy Spirit You Are Welcome)
Home Never Looked So Good To Me
Home's Where The Heart Is
How Graciously Grace Has Covered My Sin
I Am Adopted
I Call Him Lord
I Can Rise Above It
I Don't Have The Heart
I Don't Want To Do Anything
I Found My Place
I Gave Him Nothing 'Til I Gave Him All
I Gave It All Away
I Go To The Rock
I Have Hope
I Heard Footsteps
I Just Came Into His Presence
I Just Came To Talk With You Lord
I Love The Name
I Still Believe
I Want To Live So I Can Die Right
I Will Glory In The Cross
I Will Lift You There
I Will Never Turn Back
I Will Not Overshadow
I Wonder If The Angels Could Use Another Singer
I Won't Ask For More
If Heaven's A Dream (Let Me Dream On)
If I Could Do It All Over Again
If I Were My Brother
If That Isn't Love
I'll Only Love Him Forever
I'll Sleep Beside You Someday
I'll Still Feel The Same About You
I'm Gonna Leave Here Shoutin'
I'm Not A Mountain
I'm Only Gonna Be Here Long Enough
I'm Simply Lost For Words
In And Out
In One Mind
In The Beginning
In The Valley, He Restoreth My Soul
Into the Holy of Holies
Is That The Lights Of Home
Is There Anything I Can Do For You
It Will Pass
It's A Long Line
It's All In Jesus
It's Hard To Sing The Blues
It's Me Again Lord
I've Been Talkin' To The Lord About You
I've Learned To Lean On The Lord
I've Never Been This Homesick Before (AKA-Never Been This Homesick)
I've Seen All This World
Jesus Means Everything To Me
Jesus Star of the Morning
Jesus Thou Art Fairer To Me
Just Couldn't Cut the Bluegrass
Just Enough Heaven
Just For A Day
Just In Time
Just One Of A Kind
Keep A Lamp Shining Bright
Keeper Of The Well
Kind Shepherd
Let Go Of This World
Little Boy
Looks Like Everybody's Got A Kingdom
Lord Of Me
Lord, Do It Again
Lord, Walk With Me
Lost Years
Love Is
Love Letters
Made Up Mind
Makin' My Own Places
Mama Always Had A Song To Sing
Mama Rocked My Cradle
Mama's Teaching Angels How To Sing
Mama's Treasures
Marvelous Grace
Mary Was The First One To Carry The Gospel
Maybe When The Sun Comes Up
Mercy Throne
Midnight In the Middle Of The Day
Million Treasures
Multiply
Must Be My Soul Givin' Away
My Altar
My Father's A King
My Heart Can See
My Heart Is Fixed
My Old Friend
My Song Is New
My Unchanging Friend
My Visit To Heaven
Naaman
New Beulah Land
New Shoes
No Less A King
No Lock On My Mansion Door
Not Until
Nothing
Nothing Like Home To Me
Now You Can Walk With Me
Oh Blessed Hope
Oil & Wine, The
Old Home Place
On The Sunny Banks
One Day Nearer Home
One Door To Heaven
One More Valley
One Step At A Time
Out To Sea
Overture
Papa
Parables
Perfect Rose
Prisoner Of Love
Promises
Puzzles
Queen Of Paradise
Reach Out For The Life Line
Reach Out Your Hand
Reaching Around The World
Red Scarlet Cross
Remind Me Dear Lord
Remind Me Remind Me Dear Lord
Resurrection Day
Ringing Of The Hammer
Running My Last Mile Home
Sailing Toward Home
Send In The Clouds
Senses
Sheltered In The Arms Of God
Shepherd Of The Hills
Silent Bells
Sing Alleluia To The Lamb
Sing Me A Song Of Tomorrow
So My Feet Can't Get Wet
Solid Gold
Somebody Prayed For Me
Somebody Stepped On Board
Son Is Shining
Sons of Thunder, Daughters Of The Light
Souvenirs Of Yesterday
Speak Through Me
Stand By The River
Stand Still And See His Glory
Sunday Is Father's Day
Sunshine Shine On
Sweet Mountain Mornin'
Take Me For A Cleansing
Talk It Over Again
Teach Us To Pray
Tears Will Never Stain The Streets Of That City
Thank You For The Valley
Thank You Sweet Lord
Thanks For Just Being You
That Same Road
That Was Before The Cross and the Crown
That's Just His Way
The Church Triumphant
The End of the Story
The First Time I Heard About Heaven
The Garden Of My Heart
The Good OLE Days
The Grass Is Greener On The Other Side
The Harvest
The Healers Comin' Down The Road
The Holy Hills Of Heaven Call Me
The Kind Shepherd
The Mercy Throne
The New Beulah Land
The Other Side of Me
The Red Scarlet Cross
The Ringing Of The Hammer
The Road That Leads To Heaven
The Sandals
The Soul Of Me
The Stable Housed A Mighty King
The Taste Of The Lamb
The Things I Learned At Mother's Knee
The Touch Of Mama's Hand
The Whole World Is A Vineyard
The Whole World Is Singing
The World Needs Some Good News Bad
The Wounds Of Calvary
There Is No Darkness In Him
Then You Can Walk With Me
They Didn't Take Him To Calvary
Things Are Gonna Get Better Afterwhile
This Is My Father's World
This Is My Valley
This Little Sheep's Coming Home
Til There's A Mountain To Move
Tiny
Today Is Tomorrow's Yesterday
Tomorrow I May Go Home
Too Much To Gain To Lose
Touch Through Me
Touched By His Love
Traveling Man
Troubles Can Make Or Break A Man
Unlock My Mind, Take Back Your Memories
Unmerited Favor Of God
Until He Comes
Wait For An Answer
Waiting For The Son To Come on Down
We Are Like Children
We Don't Have As Far To Go
We Shall Behold Him
We've Weathered Storms Before
What Can I Offer
What Will It Be Beyond The River
When All Goes Well
When His Kingdom Comes
When I Lift Up My Head
When Is He Coming Again
When Payday Comes
When We All Shall Gather There
Where Did All The Good Folks Go
Where Goes The Wind
Which Road Leads To Heaven
Who's Gonna Teach My Children's Children
Wonder If Anyone Cares At All
World's Gonna Know We've Been Here
You Were My Way Back Home
You Will Have To Live The Song
You're Never There
Zacheus
Ziklag To Zion





A PARTIAL LIST OF ARTISTS WHO HAVE RECORDED HER MUSIC



2nd Edition
Aaron & Jeoffrey
Allison Durham Speer
Amy Lambert
Andrae Crouch
Andrae Crouch & The Disciples
Anthony Burger
Barbara Mandrell
Bekki Smith
Benny Hinn
Beverly Thompson
Bill & Gloria Gaither
Bill Gaither
Bill Monroe
Blackwood Trio
Bret Walton
Bruce Burgess
Bruce V. Allen
Canton Baptist Temple
Carla Ann Harris
Charlie Louvin
Christopher Murrell & Robert Irving
Commissioned
Connie Smith
Continental Singers
Cornerstone
Creek Bank Singers
Crist Family
Cynthia Clawson
Danniebelle Hall
Darlene Zschech & West Australian
David Clydesdale Singers
David Phelps
Dennis O'Daniel
Dennis Parker
Dino
Dolly Parton
Don March/Sanctuary Choir
Doug Oldham
Dove Brothers
Downings
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Dwight Lenox
Elaine Crockett
Eleanor Riley
Elvis Presley
Evans Family
Evaughn High
For Heaven's Sake
Forbes Family
George Beverly Shea
Georgia Mass Choir
Glenn Shoemaker
Gospel Music Workshop of America
Greater Vision
Guy & Ralna
Guy Segroves
Hallelujah Minstrels
Hank Snow
Hayes Family
Hope's Call
J.D. Crowe & The New South
Jackie Johnson
Janet Paschal
JD Sumner & Stamps Quartet
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jessica King
Jessy Dixon
Jim & Jesse
Jim & Joann Wells
Jimmy Snow
Jimmy Swaggert
Joe Isaacs
John Starnes
Jolene Riley
Josh Williams & High Gear
Julianne R. Johnson
Katie Jordan
Kay Chandler
Larnelle Harris
Larry Stephenson
LBC Singers
Loni Williams
Lulu Roman
Mark Lowry
Maurice Sklar
Mercy River
Michael Amante
Michael Faircloth
Monica Rivae Ministries
Morris Chapman
Nancy Grandquist
Naomi Sego
Nathan DiGesare
New Hope Quartet
New Journey
New Road
Oklahoma Baptist Fetival Choir
Omega Baptist Church Choir
Paid In Full
Pfeifers
Phil Driscoll
Phil Johnson
Porter Wagoner
Rambos
Ray Boltz
Rebecca Linda Smith
Red Meat
Rev. Al & Pashion Lewis
Revivaltime Choir
Rhonda Vincent
Robert Winecoff
Roger Neal
Ron Jarman
Ron Kenoly & Hosana Music
S Sanders
Sandi Patty
Sandy Hosey
Sharon Corkran
Sharon Hardman
Shawn Erwin
Shirley Brown
Singing Canadians
Sondra Burnett
Sonshine Express
Sonya Cunningham
Steve Green
Stuart Varnado
Studio Choir
Talley Trio
The Blackwood Brothers
The Cathedral Quartet
The Celebration Singers
The Collingsworth Family
The Crabb Family
The Diplomats
The Dixie Echoes
The Gospel Echos
The Gospel Harmonettes
The Gospel Lads
The Happy Goodman Family
The Inspirations
The Isaacs
The Johnson Sisters
The Kingsmen Quartet
The Lamplighters
The LeFevres
The Oak Ridge Boys
The Paramount Singers
The Perry Sisters
The Pfeifers
The Speer Family
The Talleys
The Tennessians
The Village Singers
Thelma & Sue
Tim Surrett
Tommy Webb
Triumphant Quartet
Vanesa Lopez
Vanessa Bell Armstrong
Vickie Winans
Walt Mills
Walt Mills & Homeland Quartet
Wendy Bagwell & The Sunlighters
Whitney Houston

 

 

 
 

 

 

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