LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Don Hustad, a leader in evangelical church music who taught for 40 years at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., died June 22. He was 94.
Hustad, once full-time organist for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), served on the faculty of Southern Seminary’s School of Church Music from 1966 until his retirement in 1986. He continued to teach courses and lecture at the seminary for the next 20 years.
He published five books, including “Jubilate!” — a book that analyzes evangelical church music and sets forth his own philosophy of church music — and “True Worship: Reclaiming the Wonder & Majesty.”
In 1961 Hustad became team organist for BGEA. He played during the Graham crusades and directed the men’s choir for the “Hour of Decision” radio broadcasts. He worked with the association until 1967 when he began serving on staff at Southern Seminary.
He graduated from John Fletcher College in University Park, Iowa, in 1940, and earned a master of music degree from Northwestern University in 1945. He taught at Olivet Nazarene College in Kankakee, Ill., from 1946 to 1950, when he became director of Moody Bible Institute’s sacred music department in Chicago. In 1955, Hustad reentered Northwestern, this time seeking a doctorate in music.
Hustad is survived by his wife, Ruth; three daughters; four granddaughters; and eight great-grandchildren.
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