| Adger McDavid Pace | |
| Birth Date: | August 13, 1882 |
| Death Date: | February 12, 1959 |
| Death Place: | Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Hymn writer |
Adger M. Pace (August 13, 1882 - February 12, 1959) was an American hymn writer, music performer and teacher. He (co-)wrote close to 4,000 Southern gospel shape note songs, including Jesus Is All I Need, My Father Answers Prayers, Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, and Peace, Sweet Peace.
Pace was born on August 13, 1882.[1] He had two brothers and three sisters.[2]
Pace was hired by James David Vaughan as the music editor of his publishing company, the James D. Vaughan Publishing Company.[2] [3] Pace also taught at the Vaughan School of Music in Lawrenceburg, where one of his students was Ottis J. Knippers, a singer-songwriter who served as a judge and a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives.[4] Pace authored two musical textbooks.
Pace was also a music performer. In 1917, he joined the Vaughan Saxophone Quartet with Joe Allen, Ira Foust and William Burton Walbert.[5] From 1923 to the 1930s, Pace was a member of the Vaughan Radio Quartet, a band whose members included Walbert, Hilman Barnard and Otis Leon McCoy.[5]
Over the course of his career, he co-wrote nearly 4,000 Southern gospel songs, including Jesus Is All I Need, My Father Answers Prayers, The Homecoming Week, Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, The Glad Reunion Day, Keep Holding On, The Happy Jubilee, and Peace, Sweet Peace.[2] With Benjamin Franklin White, he co-wrote Lone Pilgrim.[6]
Pace married Johnnie Ryals. They had two sons and a daughter. They resided at 622 North Military Avenue in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.[2]
Pace died of a stroke on February 12, 1959, in Lawrenceburg, at age 76.[2] His piano is at the James D. Vaughan Memorial Museum in Lawrenceburg.[7] [8]