Glenn Draper and Billy Graham
Dr. Glenn Draper spent over 30 years conducting choral music at the First Presbyterian Church and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Dr. Draper led concert tours around the world that included Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. Dr. Draper was proud of his male chorus at Keesler Air Force Base and had a weekly radio program on NBC.
Dr. Draper joined Ben Haden at the First Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga in 1968. Dr. Draper said, “Ben hired me in the back booth at the Southern Restaurant in Red Bank eating fried chicken, baked beans, cole slaw and cornbread. We shook hands and I started to work the next Sunday.”
Dr. Billy Graham noted several times that if Cliff Barrows, his music director, ever retired he’d hire Dr. Draper away from Rev. Haden.
Dr. Draper said he enticed UTC students to join the Chattanooga Singers by feeding them during their lunch hour Krystal hamburgers, French fries, and Cokes.
Dr. Draper appeared on several national television programs and recorded over 40 LP’s, cassettes and compact disc’s with various choral musicians.
For over 20 years Dr. Draper hosted television concerts during the Christmas season. Dr. Draper passed away June 19, 2019, but left a legacy that influenced thousands.
Dr. Draper dedicated his life to choral music, but it didn’t start out that way. Click here to listen to part of Dr. Draper’s story.