Billy Ray Hearn
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology
Co-edited by J. R. Watson, Emma Hornby, Jeremy Dibble, Colin Gibson, Margaret Leask, Michael Hawn, and Carlton R. Young
Abstract
A visionary and innovator in the Christian music industry, Hearn is primarily known as the founder of Sparrow Records, currently a part of the Capitol Christian Music Group family of record labels and distributors owned by Universal Music Group, a subsidiary of media conglomerate Vivendi. Billy Ray Hearn retired from full-time work in 1996. He was elected to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1997 and received a lifetime achievement award from the Gospel Music Association in 1999. His ability to support and promote recording artists, producers, and songwriters of several different popular music genres—including classical, folk, gospel, pop, rock, singer-songwriter, and others—has been key to the success of his long career as a Christian recording industry executive.